Tenchi Series

A lot of people who don't regularly watch Tenchi Muyo! may be confused by the very different plot lines of the different TV series. It can be confusing. In fact, it was because of the different Tenchi universes that the original director of Tenchi Muyo!, Hiroki Hayashi, quit.

In this section, I will try to show what happens in each series and how each series is different.

Note: Right now, everything is very rough. I will go into further detail with more pages one day, but I don't have the time right now. This will do.

Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OAV Series), or Tenchi Muyo!, as shown on Cartoon Network and as released in America

This is often voted the best of the three Tenchi series. Tenchi Muyo! was the first to be released, in two separate parts, called the 1st OAV and the 2nd OAV. It is often referred to as the OAV series. OAV stands for Original Animated Video. The reason why it is called the OAV is because, well, that's what it is--a direct to video release. It is the only series that is still in production at this time, with a 3rd OAV currently in production in Japan.

The major characters in this series are: Tenchi, Ryoko, Ayeka, Sasami, Washu, Ryo-Ohki, and Mihoshi. Other important characters include Yosho, Noboyuki, the Guardians (Azaka and Kamidake), Tsunami, Tokimi, Kagato, Dr. Clay, Zero, and others.

It is often pointed out that the first OAV could stand alone as its own little series. The 1st OAV, consisting of 7 episodes, ended after Sasami had a nightmare where Tokimi stole Tenchi away from Sasami, then Ayeka and Ryoko got thrown into a lake when their own plan backfired, and when Mihoshi crashed and destroyed Tenchi's house.

The second OAV consisted of another 7, and possibly 8, episodes. The reason why I said possibly 8 is because after episode 13 there are images showing what happened to Dr. Clay. These images are sometimes counted as an extra episode. After that, Washu is shown revealing that Dr. Clay's proudest possession, an ancient vase from a long dead civilization, was a fake produced by Washu herself because she needed the money. ^^; After that they show initial character sketches of the second OAV and interviews with the voice actors from both Japanese and English versions.

The 3rd OAV is currently being produced in Japan. It is known that it will revolve less around Tenchi and his relationship with the girls, and more on the three Goddesses, Tsunami, Washu, and Tokimi.

The 1st OAV series itself is based on a series of graphic novels by Hitoshi Okuda. The comic series was "Tenchi Muyo!" or "No Need For Tenchi!" in America. After the first six episodes were released, a special was released. The series was so popular that a continuation of the series was made, the 2nd OAV, and then the Mihoshi Special. There was also a movie on this time line, called "The Daughter of Darkness," or "Eve of Summer" in Japan.

A detailed summary of the OAV will be posted whenever I have time to make it.

The Tenchi Universe

This series has many names. It is known widely as The Tenchi Universe, or just Tenchi Universe. It is also called plainly the TV series. Another less known name is Tenchi Muyo on Earth. It was made after the success of the OAV series. The story tells the story of Tenchi and the girls, but this time a new girl, Kiyone, is introduced. The relationship between the characters are also slightly different. For example, in this series, Washu is not a Goddess, but she is still a mad scientist. It was also less serious and was made to more entertaining.

This series has 26 episodes that were released in 8 volumes. There were also two movies, one of which is Tenchi Muyo In Love, released first, and Tenchi Forever, which was renamed from Tenchi Muyo In Love 2. Tenchi Forever is the last production from The Tenchi Universe storyline. I am more familiar to this storyline than I am to any of the other Tenchi series because I have seen more of it.

A detailed summary of The Tenchi Universe will be posted whenever I have time to make it.

Tenchi in Tokyo (Shin Tenchi Muyo!)

Perhaps the most widely HATED of the three Tenchi series (not including Pretty Sammy). I personally don't have anything against it besides the alteration of the artwork, but the story is good. In this series, many things have changed. For example, Tenchi is not related to Ayeka and Sasami in this series. Also, the artwork is noticably different. Washu is noticably drawn differently. There are also some less noticable changes to the other characters. Even our beloved Sasami is drawn slightly differently. The personalities of the characters are also slightly different, but that happens with every new series.

Tenchi in Tokyo is once again the story of Tenchi and his relation with the girls. However, unlike the other series, most of the action takes place on Planet Earth. Most of the characters have the same roles. Amagasaki, the big-nosed classmate of Tenchi, is back. Also, Mr. Fujisawa, from the anime El Hazard, is thrown in. El Hazard is an anime in production from Pioneer (there is a voice mix-up, but that will be discussed in the other characters section).

In this series, Tenchi, for the first time ever, shows affection to a girl. He falls in love to a girl named Sakuya in Tokyo. This makes everyone else (noticably the nosy Ayeka) suspicious and jealous. Also, Tenchi goes on a date with Ryoko in this series. That was...weird.

This series is also known as Shin Tenchi Muyo.

A detailed summary of Tenchi in Tokyo (Shin Tenchi Muyo) will be posted whenever I have time to make it.

Pretty Sammy OAV/Magic Project

Yes, the great Pretty Sammy series, the most confusing series when it comes to character placement, that is, if you're a long time fan of Tenchi. This series, unlike the other Tenchi Muyo series, has the story revolving around Sasami rather then around Tenchi and the other girls.

More will come soon.