The Tenchi Muyo franchise is a large one, filled with several different series that don’t tie together at all. There are no less than five different universes, but the ones that matter the most are the original, the Tenchi Muyo OVA series, and the Tenchi Muyo television series, Tenchi Universe. These are the ones that have the most enduring fanbases, and the ones that have received the most attention over the years.
The two both have their dedicated fanbases, but what makes one better than the other? In what areas is one superior, while the other lacks? Long-time and newbie fans can both strap in, as this list discusses both series’ best aspects in detail.
10 RYO-OHKI: BETTER LORE
Ever wanted to know what Washu’s life was like before she created her own alternate dimension lab on Earth? Curious as to who Tenchi eventually marries? Ryo-Ohki gets to answer every question anyone’s ever thought to ask.
The author has developed a massive universe through light novels, doujinshi, and television series where he fully forms an entire multiverse.
9 UNIVERSE: MORE ADVENTURE
Even though we get to see so much more of the OVA universe, we never see the main characters explore it. The creator of the canon timeline seems pretty satisfied with leaving them all on Earth and letting events happen around them. In the television series, the cast and crew go on a number of big adventures.
The second half is devoted entirely to them traveling the galaxy in order to bring Ayeka and Sasami to their home planet. This is something the OVA series is teasing only now.
8 RYO-OHKI: RYOKO'S DEVELOPMENT
There’s so much better about Ryoko in this version of the timeline. The canon Ryoko was actually being controlled by Kagato, and couldn’t stop herself from terrorizing the galaxy. This is why when she’s finally free, she shows a much softer side. She can be selfish, and certainly much more mischievous, but she cares about the entire crew.
Comparatively, Ryoko in the television series once left the whole group to starve while she gambled away all their money and ate herself sick.
7 UNIVERSE: CONDENSED
Surprisingly, the Tenchi TV series is far, far more condensed than the Ryo-Ohki series. It runs a full two episodes more than the canon series, but there’s far less side material the player has to engage with.
Rather than explaining in detail the Juraian line of succession, Mihoshi’s importance with the galaxy police, and adding so many characters, everyone gets lost, the television series tells a very simple story that runs its course and comes to a proper conclusion.
6 RYO-OHKI: CHARACTER MOTIVATIONS
Tenchi Muyo has surprisingly reasonable motivations for why everyone starts living at Casa de Tenchi. Ryoko spent a decade watching Tenchi grow up, experiencing the childhood she never got through his eyes and fell in love with him. Ayeka comes looking for her half brother Yosho.
Mihoshi likes the stability she experiences around them. Washu’s looking after her daughter, in her own way. Why are the characters in Tenchi’s television series hanging out? Ryoko likes Tenchi...just because and Mihoshi forgot she was supposed to be tracking Ryoko. Washu has no connection to any of them and seemingly stays because it’s what the original show did.
5 UNIVERSE: NAGI, RYOKO'S RIVAL
One thing Ryoko could stand to have is more of a connection to her time as a pirate. The television series understands this, and that’s why they introduce Nagi. Nagi’s a bounty hunter who’s never allowed anyone to get away from her clutches...except Ryoko.
The character works equally well challenging Ryoko to fights as she does in Tenchi’s frequently comedic scenarios, and she becomes a useful addition to the storyline.
4 RYO-OHKI: THE CAST IS MORE LIKABLE
Y’know who else is better in the original canon show? Everyone. Rather than being completely incompetent, Mihoshi always displays herself to be surprisingly useful...if a tad absent-minded.
In the television series, Washu’s presence is almost non-existent. She’s there because that’s what the cast is. She has no ties to Jurai, no ties to Ryoko, and no reason to study Tenchi. She’s also dramatically less intelligent and causes more harm than she helps out. These are subtle differences, but watching both it easily stands out.
3 UNIVERSE: KIYONE
If there’s one thing the television series concretely has that Ryo-Ohki doesn’t, it’s Kiyone Makibi. They eventually get their own Kiyone, but she’s nowhere near as awesome as the original. Kiyone Makibi is Mihoshi’s partner, the one who has to deal with all of Mihoshi’s tendencies around the clock.
If she seems annoyed by Mihoshi, it’s because she absolutely is, but it’s obvious she cares about her as well. Their focus episode together is probably the cutest thing any Tenchi series has ever done.
2 RYO-OHKI: STILL GOING
The best thing Ryo-Ohki has over Tenchi’s television series is that it’s still running. It sounds ridiculous, but arguably the series is as popular as it’s ever been, with the fourth OVA series coming out a few years ago.
A new season began recently, detailing the Tenchi family’s time raising Tenchi’s half-brother Kenshi. It also looks to tie in the GXP universe, bringing in another source of characters for more hijinx.
1 UNIVERSE: BETTER VILLAIN
The Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Ohki series doesn’t really have much in the way of villains. They have annoyances. They appear for an episode, perhaps two, and are easily dealt with. It’s understandable too—the main characters are absurdly powerful.
This is why the other series is far more useful for actual threats—Kagato doesn’t just show up, he stages a coup d’etat and takes over Jurai. They get far more mileage out of him, and defeating him is a huge deal.