天地無用! 魎皇鬼 (Tenchi Muyo!)
Masaki Tenchi is a normal young man living a normal life, until the day he accidentally releases the "demon", Ryoko from a cave she was sealed in by his ancestor 700 years ago. Soon he will find himself right in the middle of the hot-tempered Ryoko, the not-so-mild-mannered Jurai princess Ayeka, the "kawai" younger princess Sasami, the clumpsy Galaxy Police officer Mihoshi, and the ten-thousand-years-old Washu. Tenchi will learn about his real heritage and his power. Of course, all the girls fall for him in the process...
Tenchi Muyo! first released as a OVA back in 1992, the first of its kind as a pure "harem" show with enough plot to make it an instant success. A sceond OVA series soon released in 1994, and a TV adaptation (with an alternate story) was released in 1995. Subsequently 3 movies were released between 1996 to 1998, plus a new TV sequel to the first TV series in 1997. A spinoff series, Magical Girl Pretty Sammy, was produced in 1996. (I will not review this one though, as I do not plan to watch it...)
In 2002 a new TV series, Tenchi Muyo! GXP was released, and instantly put the struggling franchise back on the map. The newest entry, the third OVA series, was released in 2003 and ended its run in 2005.
Link:
tenchi-web.com (in Japanese)
Tenchi Muyo! (1992-1993)
7 episodes OVA series
First of its kind in the 1990s, a good blend of sci-fi and comedy make it one of the more enjoyable shows in that era. It is also the first show that I watch featuring full frontal nudity that was broadcasted on TV without any editing...
The 7th episode is a special and was released as part of the 2nd OVA series.
Also noteworthy, the OP for the OVA is pure music, a rarity amoung anime shows.
Dino's Rating: 9
Will Girls Like It: No Way
Tenchi Muyo! (1993-1994)
6 episodes OVA series
The second series, unlike the first one, focus more on character development, and also managed to throw in a new villian, Tokimi. However, the Tokimi part was never resolved in the series.
Dino's Rating: 9
Will Girls Like It: No Way
Tenchi Muyo! (1995)
26 episodes TV series
With the success of the OVA, it is the next logical step, and adapt it to the TV. As a result, the story was modified, and a new character, Kiyone (first appeared in the Mihoshi OVA special) is introduced as part of the regular cast. Unfortunately, the story got stretched too much to fit 26 episodes...
It is also established by the Tv series that the girl Tenchi will choose is Ryoko...
Dino's Rating: 6
Will Girls Like It: No Way
天地無用! In Love (1996)
95 minutes movie
The first ever movie, it is based on the TV series (as Kiyone is included), but it also covers the back story for the OVA as well. We will get to see Tenchi's mother and find out why she will pass away early when Tenchi was young...
A pretty good movie though, and worth the time watching.
Dino's Rating: 7
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
天地無用! 真夏のイブ (1997)
60 minutes movie
The second movie is probably the most weird for all Tenchi fans, first of all, it is based on the TV series (as Kiyone is included), but if you look at the scene when Tenchi is fighting, he is actually donning the "OVA version" look, not the TV version. Well, it is still not really part of the OVA story anyway.
Slightly worse than the first movie though.
Dino's Rating: 6
Will Girls Like It: No Way
天地無用! in Love 2 - 遙かなる想い (1998)
95 minutes movie
The final movie based on the TV series storyline, and probably the best story ever. This time the love triangle of Ryoko, Ayaka and Tenchi will get one more, as someone from Tenchi's grandpa past life will exact revenge on him by taking Tenchi away... and we will get to see how far the relationship between Tenchi and Ryoko will go.
Unfortunately, I cannot find a good picture for it...
Dino's Rating: 8
Will Girls Like It: Possible
新・天地無用! (1997)
26 episodes TV series
The lowest point ever in the Tenchi franchise. Not only is this TV series sucks as a sequel to the first TV series, it is horrible enough to make me hate it. It pretty much sinked the franchise until 2002.
Known as Tenchi in Tokyo in North America.
Dino's Rating: 0
Will Girls Like It: Good for Torture
天地無用! GXP (2002)
26 episodes TV series
A brand new series based on the OVA timeline and story, meet the most unlucky kid Yamada Seina, so unlucky that he is lucky because he is still alive... After a chance encounter with Galaxy Police officer Kaunaq Amane, he will become the most luckiest Galaxy Police officer... for luring every space pirate to his tail! Can he survive being chased by blood-thirsty pirates everyday, while all his "girls" are around him trying to get his attentions...
After lying dormant for 4 years, this series finally did some justice over the horrible 新・天地無用!, it is a breathe of fresh air to see a new character (and very unlucky indeed... not with girls though). Best part is the guest appearance of Tenchi and the girls...
Dino's Rating: 8
Will Girls Like It: No Way
Tenchi Muyo! (2003)
7 episodes OVA series
Finally a continuation of the original OVA series!! Set one year before GXP, Tokimi will send a new agent to track down Washu and find out more about Tenchi... Meanwhile, a new girl assigned as Tenchi's bride arrives at the household, and chaos ensue when the girls find out about it...
Originally only 6 episodes are produced, the 7th episode is a bonus and still in production as of this time...
Dino's Rating: N/A
Will Girls Like It: N/A