The Original Series, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, was a six episode OVA (Original Video Animation or Direct-to-Home Video) series; released in Japan in 1991-92, and later in North America in 1992-93 by Pioneer USA (now Geneon Entertainment). As its popularity grew, it spurred a seventh episode (also known as the Tenchi Special) and the Mihoshi Special. In 1994, the second OVA series was created and released, featuring episodes 8-13; these episodes explain each of the characters in more detail and introduces a new one. In 2003 and 2004, a third OVA series was released, with episodes 14-19, centering around the three goddesses introduced in the second OVA series.

Several variations of the original series were created. The first of these was Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, TV Series (also known as Tenchi Universe), in 1995; it is a twenty-six episode TV series that retells the original series differently. Next, Shin Tenchi Muyo! (also known as Tenchi in Tokyo), in 1997, is yet a third version of the story, but this time centered in Tokyo with a girl named Sakuya Kumashiro. It is also a twenty-six episode TV series.

Tenchi Muyo! GXP, released in 2001, goes back to the original OVA timeline; however this time the main character of this twenty-six episode TV series is Seina Yamada, a cousin of Tenchi Masaki who accidentally joins the Galaxy Police. Unlike all previous Tenchi Muyo! incarnations, GXP was licensed in the United States by FUNimation and is set to be released on DVD in early 2004.

Their are also three movies: Tenchi Muyo in Love!, 1996; Tenchi Muyo: Manatsu no Eve (The Daughter of Darkness), 1997; and Tenchi Muyo in Love 2: Haruka naru omoi (Tenchi Forever), 1999.

Tenchi Muyo has also two complete spin-offs. The first, Pretty Sammy, the Magical Girl, in 1995, is a three episode OVA Series that centers around a girl named Sasami Kawai who magically becomes Pretty Sammy. The second, Pretty Sammy (also known as Magical Project S), in 1996, is an alternate version of the OVA storyline.

Other versions of Tenchi Muyo! are also available as graphic novels, video games and radio dramas.

Before the popularity of series like Love Hina and Ai Yori Aoshi, Tenchi Muyo! was also considered to be the standard to judge series with a milquetoast/meek but kind male lead surrounded by attractive but often bizarre women. These were later pejoratively called "harem comedy" or "harem anime," although, in the strictest sense, many shows given this title don't fit the bill.

Tenchi Muyo! was one of the early successes for AIC, the animation company behind it, which went on to create El Hazard, Battle Athletes, Ah! My Goddess and many other beloved anime series.

For many American fans, Tenchi Muyo! was the series that introduced them to anime, or cemented their love for it. Along with Robotech, Ranma 1/2 and others, Tenchi helped to firmly establish the American anime community in the 1990s.

The Main Characters