Tenchi Muyo! is an anime series that started out as a six episode OVA that was released in Japan between 1992 and 1993 (known under the title Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki). In 1994, a one-episode OVA (Tenchi Muyo! Special: The Night Before the Carnival) was released. This was followed by a six-episode OVA series that was released in 1994 and 1995. Another six-episode OVA series was released in 2003 and 2005, and was followed by a special 20th episode.

A 26 episode anime series, Tenchi Muyo! TV (known in the United States as Tenchi Universe), was released in 1995 and it retells the original story. Another 26 episode anime series (Tenchi in Tokyo) was released in 1997. Another 26 episode anime series (Tenchi Muyo! GXP) aired in Japan in 2002.

Over the course of the franchise, directors have included Masaki Kajishima, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenichi Yatani, Kazuhiro Ozawa, Hiroshi Negishi, Yoshihiro Takamoto, and Shinichi Watanabe. There are three feature films in the franchise, as well as several spin-off series. Both Geneon Entertainment and FUNimation Entertainment hold licensing rights for the Tenchi Muyo! franchise in North America.

Tenchi Masaki is the main character of Tenchi Muyo!. He is a stereotypical teenage loser, who manages to bumble his way into various situations. At the beginning of the series, Tenchi manages to accidentally release an alien space pirate. By freeing the space pirate, he unintentionally causes the destruction of his school. Tenchi also learns he is part of the powerful Juraian race (and that he is a member of that race's royal family).

The space pirate that Tenchi released is named Ryoko Hakubi. She had been sealed in a cave for 700 years until Tenchi freed her. Most of Ryoko’s power comes from three mysterious gems, and she has a cabbit spaceship called Ryo-Ohki.

Over the course of the series, Tenchi finds himself surrounded by other alien girls. In addition to Ryoko, he is joined by the Juraian princesses Ayeka and Sasami, the scientist Washu, and space police officers Mihoshi and Kiyone. While the Tenchi Muyo! series is a harem series, there are also elements of science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and adventure added to the mix.

Tenchi Muyo! has become a classic anime series. However, due to some of the content in the series, I wouldn't recommend it for younger viewers. Personally, I would recommend Tenchi Muyo! for anime viewers who are 15 or 16 years of age and older.

Title	Episodes	Release Year(s)	Director	Studio	N.A. Licensor
Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki	20	1992-2005	Hiroki Hayashi/Kenichi Yatani	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special	1	1994	Kazuhiro Ozawa	AIC	Pioneer
Tenchi Universe	26	1995	Hiroshi Negishi	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Magical Girl Pretty Sammy	3	1995-1997	Kazuyuki Hirokawa/Takeshi Aoki/Yasuhito Kikuchi	AIC	Pioneer
Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo in Love	N/A	1996	Hiroshi Negishi	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Magical Project S	26	1996-1997	Katsuhito Akiyama	AIC	Pioneer
Tenchi In Tokyo	26	1997	Yoshihiro Takamoto	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness	N/A	1997	Tetsu Kimura	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Tenchi Forever! The Movie	N/A	1999	Hiroshi Negishi	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Tenchi Muyo! GXP	26	2002	Shinichi Watanabe	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Sasami: Magical Girls Club	26	2006	Nobuhiro Takamoto	AIC	FUNimation Entertainment
Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar	13	2009-2010	Masaki Kajishima/Koji Yoshikawa	AIC Spirits/BeSTACK	FUNimation Entertainment