Tenchi Muyo!

, is a Japanese anime, light novel, and manga series created by Masaki Kajishima and Hiroki Hayashi about a boy named Tenchi Masaki, which has grown into a larger franchise. Along with the likes of Moldiver, Tenchi Muyo! was one of the early successes for AIC, the animation company behind it, which went on to create El-Hazard, Battle Athletes, Oh My Goddess!, Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure and many other anime series. The generally accepted translation of the title is No Need For Tenchi, though at the time of its appearance it was also translated variably as No Heaven and Earth and This Way Up due to the original title's pun nature and multiple meanings.

The original series, ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki'', is a six episode Original video animation (OVA) released in Japan in 1992–93. 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 Mihoshi Special. In 1994-95, the second OVA series (episodes 8-13) was released, featuring episodes 8–13. A third OVA series (episodes 14–19) was released from 2003-2005, followed by a special twentieth episode.

Summary
The three major series continuities are ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (Tenchi Muyo!), Tenchi TV (Tenchi Universe), and Shin Tenchi TV (Tenchi in Tokyo)''. The first series, ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki'', is the original OVA which introduces the core characters. Tenchi TV and Shin Tenchi TV are alternate stories that utilize the same characters, with the addition of Kiyone Makibi. The first of the spin-offs was ''Tenchi Muyo! TV, in 1995 (known to American audiences as Tenchi Universe''); it is a twenty-six episode TV series that retells the original story, documenting how everyone met and changing the back story of some characters. Shin Tenchi TV, aka Tenchi in Tokyo is considered another retelling, chronicling Tenchi Masaki's move to Tokyo. Some character personalities are also changed in this incarnation as well.

Plot summary
Tenchi Masaki was a normal 17-year old boy - until the day he accidentally released the space pirate Ryoko. She had been sealed in a cave 700 years ago, due to the locals' suspicions that she was a demon. In a series of events, four more alien girls show up at the Masaki household. Tenchi learns much of his heritage he never knew about while dealing with the five alien girls - each of whom has some sort of romantic interest in him.