Tenchi Muyo!

This article covers the series as a whole. For more detailed information, see the articles that make up the series.
Tenchi Muyo!
Japanese volume 1 cover for No Need for Tenchi! depicting Ryoko Hakubi and Ryo-Ohki
天地無用!
(Tenchi Muyō!)
GenreComedy, harem, space opera[1][2][3][4]
Original video animations
Manga
No Need for Tenchi!
Written byHitoshi Okuda
Published byFujimi Shobo
English publisher
MagazineComic Dragon Junior
DemographicShōnen
Original runDecember 16, 1994 – June 9, 2000
Volumes12
Manga
The All-New Tenchi Muyo!
Written byHitoshi Okuda
Published byFujimi Shobo
Magazine
DemographicShōnen
Original runJuly 26, 2000 – December 9, 2005
Volumes10
Anime television series
Feature films
Related works

Tenchi Muyo! (天地無用!, Tenchi Muyō!, lit. "Do Not Turn Over" or "No Need for Tenchi") is a Japanese anime, light novel and manga franchise. The original series began with a six-episode OVA called Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (天地無用! 魎皇鬼, Tenchi Muyō! Ryōōki). This original series was created by Masaki Kajishima and directed by Hiroki Hayashi, and it was released in Japan on September 25, 1992. The series was released by Pioneer LDC in the United Kingdom in 1994.[5]

As its popularity grew, it spurred a seventh episode titled Tenchi Muyo! Special: The Night Before the Carnival (also known as the Tenchi Special) and a stand-alone Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special. A second OVA series was directed by Kenichi Yatagai and was released in 1994. A third OVA series, which was also directed by Yatagai, was released in 2003. A fourth OVA series was produced in Japan,[6][7] with the first collection released on November 30, 2016.[8][9] The following episodes were planned to be released with an interval of three months each, and the final part of the series arrived August 30, 2017.[10][11][12] On July 12, 2019, it was announced that a fifth OVA series is currently in development, with Masaki Kajishima again serving as chief director and Hideki Shirane writing and overseeing scripts.[13]

A twenty-six-episode anime television series called Tenchi Universe (天地無用!, Tenchi Muyō!) was released in 1995, and it was focused on retelling and expanding upon the original six-episode story. Tenchi in Tokyo (新・天地無用!, Shin Tenchi Muyō!) was created in 1997, and it is another alternate version of the original story. The latest version of the series called Ai Tenchi Muyo!, was broadcast on Tokyo MX in 2014.[14]

Spin-off series of Tenchi Muyo! were also created. Magical Girl Pretty Sammy is an example that was adapted into a manga series. The franchise has also spawned soundtrack CDs and other merchandise released both in Japan and in the United States.

  1. ^ Kimlinger, Carl. "Tenchi Muyo! OVA Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  2. ^ See, Raphael. "Tenchi Muyo!". T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Watch Tenchi Muyo! OVA Series Anime Episodes Streaming on FUNimation". Funimation. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  4. ^ Oppliger, John (14 May 2010). "Ask John: Where is Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari?". Ask John (column). AnimeNation Anime News Blog. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Mangaphile". Manga Mania. 1 (9). United Kingdom: Dark Horse: 4. March 1994. ISSN 0967-1315.
  6. ^ "4th Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki Announced After 10 Years". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. ^ "4th Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki OVA Reveals More Cast, Anime Character Designs, 3rd Key Visual". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Tenchi Muyou Season 4 Reveals Staff, Ending Song, Fall OVA Launch, Visual". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  9. ^ "天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 1巻 特装版". 30 November 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Amazon.
  10. ^ "天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 2巻 特装版". 22 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Amazon.
  11. ^ "天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 3巻 特装版". 31 May 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Amazon.
  12. ^ "天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 4巻 特装版". 13 September 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Amazon.
  13. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 12, 2019). "Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki OVA Series Gets 5th Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "Ai Tenchi Muyo Brings Back Original Characters". Anime News Network. 2004-08-29. Retrieved 2014-08-30.