Anime & Manga Guide

Tenchi Muyo! OVA
(Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki!, No Need For Tenchi!)
This is the original direct-to-video mini-series that began in 1992.  It is usually called 'Tenchi Muyo - Ryo Ohki' to differentiate it from the later series. The hapless Tenchi finds himself forced to defend the Earth against superpower-wielding aliens, as well as defend himself against the amorous advances of alien women.  It's very funny plus there's a great storyline as Tenchi unravels the secret history behind the whole situation and faces his principle enemy, Kagato [mature situations, brief nudity]. Up until 2003 the Tenchi Muyo OVA series was 13 episodes long, composed of the original 7-episode series and a second 6-part series. In 2003, a third series of episodes began to be released in Japan. The first volume of series 3 ('Here Comes the Bride!') was released in America in 2005. These newest episodes tie in characters from the 'Tenchi in Tokyo' series as well.

Tenchi Muyo TV! (Tenchi Universe)
(Tenchi on Earth, Tenchi Muyo Adventures in Time & Space)
This 1995 TV series came to American TV in 2000. In America, the original 13 OVA episodes were added on to the end of this series, but really the Tenchi TV series was meant to stand alone. All of the characters from the original OVA are re-introduced and although the details are different from the OVA the overall results are the same - mayhem and hilarity! If you have seen the earlier OVA then the start is a bit slow as the characters are re-introduced. The middle of the series is very funny (the magical Sasami episode is an all-time anime classic!) and the last section has good story and action. For DVD releases, this series is usually called 'Tenchi Universe'. 26 episodes, mature situations

Tenchi Muyo! (The Movie):  In Love
Arch-criminal Kain has escaped from prison and taken revenge on the Galaxy Police. His next target is the Jurai royal family! To stop his sinister plans Tenchi and the gang must go back in time to save a very special person - Tenchi's mother. The first Tenchi feature is an excellent action-drama film, and certainly the best of the three moves released to date. 

Tenchi Muyo! Movie II: Daughter of Darkness (1997)
This movie was called Tenchi Muyo! Manatsu no Eve ("Midsummer's Eve") in Japanese.  Not as epic as the first movie, it's more like an extended episode.  A strange girl shows up claiming to be Tenchi's daughter.  This could have been pretty funny, but for the most part it was pretty weird. [mature situations, brief nudity]

The New Tenchi Muyo! (Shin Tenchi Muyo) Tenchi In Tokyo
In 1997 the series took a different direction with a new art style and a new setting. In this series Tenchi moved to Tokyo in a vain attempt to escape the insanity of his overcrowded home.  Less comedy and more romance-drama.

Tenchi Muyo! Movie III: Tenchi Forever (Tenchi Muyo! In Love 2)
Tenchi Forever was actually called "In Love 2" in Japan.  The third movie is most similar to Tenchi in Tokyo and does not have a lot in common with the rest of the Tenchi franchise. It focuses on the Tenchi-Aeka-Ryoko triangle but is a drama-fantasy rather than a comedy. [nudity]

Tenchi Muyo GXP (Galaxy Police Transporter)
This new (2002) TV series is set in the Tenchi Muyo universe but is actually a separate story. It's about a strangely accident-prone kid who was a neighour of Tenchi's until he is accidently drafted into the Galaxy Police! There are many new characters, but also some tie-ins to the main Tenchi story. In true Tenchi Muyo tradition, slapstick comedy and beautiful women are both present in abundance! American DVD release began in 2004.