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Tenchi Muyo! watch order

Teenager Tenchi Masaki frees the space pirate Ryoko from a cave behind his family's shrine, and soon his house is full of alien princesses, a Galaxy Police officer, a genius scientist and a cabbit. The franchise has several separate continuities: Masaki Kajishima's ongoing OVA series (with GXP), the Tenchi Universe TV series and its films, and the standalone Tenchi in Tokyo.

Start with OVA 1 (with episode 7, The Night Before the Carnival) and OVA 2. Then either keep going with OVA 3, GXP and the newer OVAs, or watch the TV retelling Tenchi Universe and its films Tenchi Muyo in Love and Tenchi Forever.

First-timer order

The first two OVA series are the classic introduction. From there, Tenchi Universe and its two films tell a complete, self-contained story; the longer OVA line (OVA 3 onwards, plus GXP) is the one that's still going.

  1. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 1) OVA, 1992–93, 6 episodes

    Where it all began: Tenchi releases Ryoko, and Ayeka, Sasami, Mihoshi and Washu arrive one by one. This is Kajishima's original continuity, the one that's still running.

  2. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki: The Night Before the Carnival OVA, 1993, 1 episode

    A 43-minute special counted as episode 7 of the OVA series, released between OVA 1 and OVA 2. Watch it right after OVA 1.

  3. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 2) OVA, 1994–95, 6 episodes

    Episodes 8–13, continuing directly from OVA 1. It ends on a cliffhanger that wasn't picked up until OVA 3 eight years later.

  4. Tenchi Universe TV, 1995, 26 episodes

    The first TV series (just 'Tenchi Muyo!' in Japan) retells the setup with a different plot that runs to its own ending. It's a separate continuity from the OVAs and one of the two best places to start.

  5. Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo in Love Movie, 1996, 1 episode

    The first film, set after Tenchi Universe with the same version of the cast. Watch it after Universe.

  6. Tenchi Forever! The Movie Movie, 1999, 1 episode

    Tenchi Muyo in Love 2, the sequel to the first film and the final chapter of the Universe continuity.

Story order

Each continuity in turn: the OVA line in watch order (with GXP before OVA 4), then Tenchi Universe and its films, then the standalones. The continuities don't connect, so the order between them doesn't matter.

  1. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 1) OVA, 1992–93, 6 episodes

    Where it all began: Tenchi releases Ryoko, and Ayeka, Sasami, Mihoshi and Washu arrive one by one. This is Kajishima's original continuity, the one that's still running.

  2. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki: The Night Before the Carnival OVA, 1993, 1 episode

    A 43-minute special counted as episode 7 of the OVA series, released between OVA 1 and OVA 2. Watch it right after OVA 1.

  3. Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special (optional) OVA, 1994, 1 episode

    A comedy side story (Galaxy Police Mihoshi Space Adventure) that debuts Kiyone and a first version of Pretty Sammy. Where it fits is debated; treat it as an optional extra after OVA 1.

  4. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 2) OVA, 1994–95, 6 episodes

    Episodes 8–13, continuing directly from OVA 1. It ends on a cliffhanger that wasn't picked up until OVA 3 eight years later.

  5. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki: Picture Drama (episode 13.5) (optional) Special, 1995, 1 episode

    A seven-minute picture drama (mostly still images with voices) released with the end of OVA 2. Skippable.

  6. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 3) OVA, 2003–05, 6 episodes

    Episodes 14–19, finally picking up after OVA 2's cliffhanger.

  7. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki: Final Confrontations OVA, 2005, 1 episode

    Episode 20, a seventh episode added to OVA 3 that wraps up its story. Watch it straight after OVA 3.

  8. Tenchi Muyo! GXP TV, 2002, 26 episodes

    A spin-off in the OVA universe about Seina Yamada, an unlucky boy from Tenchi's town who joins the Galaxy Police. Tenchi's cast barely appear. Watch it after OVA 3: OVA 4 starts partway through GXP's timeline.

  9. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 4) OVA, 2016–17, 4 episodes

    Episodes 21–24, the first new OVAs in over a decade, set partway through the time of GXP.

  10. Tenchi Muyo! GXP Paradise Starting OVA, 2023, 6 episodes

    A six-episode GXP follow-up written as a side story to OVAs 4 and 5. AniList places it between them; some fans watch it after OVA 5 instead, and either works.

  11. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 5) OVA, 2020–21, 6 episodes

    Episodes 25–30, the latest OVA series. No sixth series has been announced.

  12. Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar OVA, 2009–10, 13 episodes

    Kenshi, Tenchi's half-brother, is pulled into another world and made to fight in giant mecha. Officially set 15 years after GXP, but it stands almost entirely on its own; watch it any time.

  13. Tenchi Universe TV, 1995, 26 episodes

    The first TV series (just 'Tenchi Muyo!' in Japan) retells the setup with a different plot that runs to its own ending. It's a separate continuity from the OVAs and one of the two best places to start.

  14. Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo in Love Movie, 1996, 1 episode

    The first film, set after Tenchi Universe with the same version of the cast. Watch it after Universe.

  15. Tenchi Forever! The Movie Movie, 1999, 1 episode

    Tenchi Muyo in Love 2, the sequel to the first film and the final chapter of the Universe continuity.

  16. Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness Movie, 1997, 1 episode

    An hour-long film whose story doesn't connect to any series; it's closest to the OVA setup but includes Kiyone. Watch it any time after you know the cast.

  17. Tenchi in Tokyo TV, 1997, 26 episodes

    Shin Tenchi Muyo!, a third continuity in which Tenchi moves to Tokyo for school and the girls follow. It assumes you already know the characters, so don't start here.

  18. Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (optional) OVA, 1995–97, 3 episodes

    A magical-girl parody spin-off with Sasami as Pretty Sammy, in an alternate universe. Just for fun.

Release order

Everything in the order it came out in Japan, which jumps between continuities.

  1. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 1) OVA, 1992–93, 6 episodes

    Where it all began: Tenchi releases Ryoko, and Ayeka, Sasami, Mihoshi and Washu arrive one by one. This is Kajishima's original continuity, the one that's still running.

  2. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki: The Night Before the Carnival OVA, 1993, 1 episode

    A 43-minute special counted as episode 7 of the OVA series, released between OVA 1 and OVA 2. Watch it right after OVA 1.

  3. Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special (optional) OVA, 1994, 1 episode

    A comedy side story (Galaxy Police Mihoshi Space Adventure) that debuts Kiyone and a first version of Pretty Sammy. Where it fits is debated; treat it as an optional extra after OVA 1.

  4. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 2) OVA, 1994–95, 6 episodes

    Episodes 8–13, continuing directly from OVA 1. It ends on a cliffhanger that wasn't picked up until OVA 3 eight years later.

  5. Tenchi Universe TV, 1995, 26 episodes

    The first TV series (just 'Tenchi Muyo!' in Japan) retells the setup with a different plot that runs to its own ending. It's a separate continuity from the OVAs and one of the two best places to start.

  6. Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (optional) OVA, 1995–97, 3 episodes

    A magical-girl parody spin-off with Sasami as Pretty Sammy, in an alternate universe. Just for fun.

  7. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki: Picture Drama (episode 13.5) (optional) Special, 1995, 1 episode

    A seven-minute picture drama (mostly still images with voices) released with the end of OVA 2. Skippable.

  8. Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo in Love Movie, 1996, 1 episode

    The first film, set after Tenchi Universe with the same version of the cast. Watch it after Universe.

  9. Tenchi in Tokyo TV, 1997, 26 episodes

    Shin Tenchi Muyo!, a third continuity in which Tenchi moves to Tokyo for school and the girls follow. It assumes you already know the characters, so don't start here.

  10. Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness Movie, 1997, 1 episode

    An hour-long film whose story doesn't connect to any series; it's closest to the OVA setup but includes Kiyone. Watch it any time after you know the cast.

  11. Tenchi Forever! The Movie Movie, 1999, 1 episode

    Tenchi Muyo in Love 2, the sequel to the first film and the final chapter of the Universe continuity.

  12. Tenchi Muyo! GXP TV, 2002, 26 episodes

    A spin-off in the OVA universe about Seina Yamada, an unlucky boy from Tenchi's town who joins the Galaxy Police. Tenchi's cast barely appear. Watch it after OVA 3: OVA 4 starts partway through GXP's timeline.

  13. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 3) OVA, 2003–05, 6 episodes

    Episodes 14–19, finally picking up after OVA 2's cliffhanger.

  14. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki: Final Confrontations OVA, 2005, 1 episode

    Episode 20, a seventh episode added to OVA 3 that wraps up its story. Watch it straight after OVA 3.

  15. Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar OVA, 2009–10, 13 episodes

    Kenshi, Tenchi's half-brother, is pulled into another world and made to fight in giant mecha. Officially set 15 years after GXP, but it stands almost entirely on its own; watch it any time.

  16. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 4) OVA, 2016–17, 4 episodes

    Episodes 21–24, the first new OVAs in over a decade, set partway through the time of GXP.

  17. Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 5) OVA, 2020–21, 6 episodes

    Episodes 25–30, the latest OVA series. No sixth series has been announced.

  18. Tenchi Muyo! GXP Paradise Starting OVA, 2023, 6 episodes

    A six-episode GXP follow-up written as a side story to OVAs 4 and 5. AniList places it between them; some fans watch it after OVA 5 instead, and either works.

Explained

Why are there so many versions?

Tenchi Muyo! started as an OVA in 1992, and its success led to TV series and films that each retold the premise their own way instead of continuing it. Tenchi Universe (with the films In Love and Tenchi Forever) is one continuity, Tenchi in Tokyo another, and The Daughter of Darkness a standalone film. Only the OVA line, created by Masaki Kajishima, has carried on to this day, with GXP and War on Geminar set in the same universe.

Which one is canon?

The OVA series (Ryo-Ohki) is Kajishima's original and the main canon, and the newer OVAs, GXP and War on Geminar all build on it. The TV series and films aren't 'wrong', just separate tellings with the same characters, and Tenchi Universe is often called the most accessible of them.

Where should I start?

OVA 1 or Tenchi Universe; they're the two entries that introduce the cast from scratch. A popular route is OVA 1 and 2, then Universe and its two films. Leave Tenchi in Tokyo until you know the characters, since it assumes you do.

What about Ai Tenchi Muyo!, Pretty Sammy and Magical Project S?

Ai Tenchi Muyo! (2014) is 50 four-minute shorts in its own continuity, for completists. Pretty Sammy is a magical-girl spin-off starring Sasami, first as a 3-episode OVA and then as the separate 26-episode TV series Magical Project S (1996–97). None of them is needed for the main stories.

Is anything new coming?

No sixth OVA series has been announced. In 2026, Armiger Entertainment crowdfunded Tenchi Galaxy, a pilot billed as a spiritual successor to Tenchi Universe and directed by Universe's Hiroshi Negishi; it isn't part of the OVA timeline and has no release date yet.