According to a Los Angeles Times report, the Tenchi Muyo! anime series airing on the Cartoon Network has been edited for American audiences to remove some of the violence and add bathing suits to some of the female characters.

The series itself is about a normal teenage boy who also happens to be the long-lost prince of the planet Jurai, and has drawn quite a lot of fans. The cable outlet said Tenchi Muyo! has earned good ratings.

More than half a million video versions of the anime have sold in the United States, which also is a large figure for an anime release. The Tenchi stories share essentially the same plot: An extraterrestrial villain threatens Earth, and Tenchi invariably saves the day, using his powers as a Jurai prince. The lead character also copes with six women from outer space who have crushes on him.

In the American version, the four principal parts are played by Matt K. Miller (Tenchi), Petrea Burchard (Ryoko), Jennifer Darling (Ayeka) and Sherry Lynn (Sasami). "There's such a dichotomy in Tenchi," said Miller. "He's supposed to be this shy shrine-keeper's assistant, yet he goes out battling for Jurai--and has to deal with the attention of all the female characters." Tenchi airs Mondays through Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. on the Cartoon Network.