Tai Chi Chasers (known In Asian territories as Tai Chi Senjimon, lit. 1000 Characters of Tai Chi) Is a children's action-adventure anime (and Saturday-Morning Cartoon) co-production by Toei Animation, JM Animation, Iconix Entertainment, Dongseo University and Korean TV network KBS.
After a strange and devastating attack on his home, a young boy named Rai is shocked to discover that he's a secret descendant of the Tigeroids: an ancient race of peaceful beings locked in a struggle with the ruthless and cunning Dragonoids. In a parallel universe called Suhn, the Tigeroids and Dragonoids are battling furiously to recover 500 lost tai chi characters. Whoever retrieves these precious and potent symbols will possess the ultimate power to rule their realm…and destroy their enemies. As Rai hones his innate tai chi skills to fight the Dragonoids, he must find the lost tai chi and battle to become one of the champion Tai Chi Chasers!
Licensed by 4Kids Entertainment, it's notable for deviations from the usual card game show formula in that the cards (the Tai Chi Characters, which, surprisingly for a 4Kids dub, are kept foreign) act more like spells, weapons and techniques, and that the heroic Tigeroids and the evil Dragonoids fight each other instead of relying on monsters.
A third season was streamed on Daily Motion in 2019 in Japanese with English subtitles, later reuploaded on Vimeo in 2021. It was split into 2 chapters: The Southern Suhn Arc (Episodes 1-7) and The Northern Suhn Arc (Episodes 8-13).
Tropes:
- Darker and Edgier: Korean dub involves the fact that Garnia dies saving Jahara, and multiple other deaths, with a gruesome transformation of General Vicious.
- Disappeared Dad: Rai's father. Even his mother doesn't know where he is.
- Edutainment Show: Part of the show is teaching kids about Asian adages.
- Facial Markings: When in battle, both Tigeroids and Dragonoids have these.
- Forbidden Technique:
- Rai is often warned not to play that card, especially in the next-to-last episode before the Season Finale. Said card is usually a Dragonoid-only ability. Rai's ability to use them leads the Tigeroid forces to accuse him of being a Dragonoid mole.
- The Hideous card is forbidden to be used by Dragonoids. Another card is shown forbidden in season 3 called Po, the Grief card used by elder Sid.
- Gotta Catch Them All: The main characters search for the lost Tai Chi symbols.
- Harmful to Minors:
- Rai watches his mother and home being blown up. Although his mom might still be alive.
- In the Korean and Japanese dubs, the physical aggression of the characters to their own friends is uncensored, including Phoebe strangling Jakata.
- The sexual activity in Korean and Japanese dubs is uncensored. Examples incude Hak seeing Sena naked, Rai threatening to strip off Phoebe, and saying degrading things about women.
- Diga has killed and left to suffermany people, which includes Phoebe and Luka's parents, and used their blood to bring the Dragon assault Squad to life as shown in Episode 31.
- Honor Before Reason: Rai, to a degree, in the first episode, one of his most notable qualities. During the card-stacking contest, Tori is in the lead, with Rai behind. Due to having to leave to help the others, he quits, and Rai is made winner by default, despite wanting to win fair and square. He even shows pity on his rival, Kyo due to the fact that he didn't win fairly.
- Master of Threads: Jahara uses her 'Sa' card to create threads that she can use for manipulating her enemies moves. That's creepy enough on adults, she regularly fights children.
- Mysterious Protector: The Masked Tigeroid to Rai, who is Rai's mother.
- No Ending /
No Export for You: The English version only stops at season 2 which ended on a cliffhanger. Season 3 was never dubbed but subbed. - Plot-Based Photograph Obfuscation: Rai's father; his face is covered by a Lens Flare. It is shown in a later episode.
- The Reveal:
- Rai can use Dragonoid Tai Chi.
- It's now been stated that Rai is half-Tigeroid half-Dragonoid.
- The Mole: The other Tigeroids believe Rai is one due to being half Dragonoid. The actual spy for the Dragonoids is none other than Elder Sid.
- The Smurfette Principle: Sena and Phoebe are the only female in the group.
- Too Dumb to Live: Rai's Leeroy Jenkins style actions can cause him to appear like this.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Female example as team leader Sena has trouble living up to the expectations of her father, a well-regarded Tigeroid general.
