-->''[[HowWeGotHere Those days were like one big carnival we thought would never end.]]''

The first television series based on ''TenchiMuyo'', ''Tenchi Universe'' (also known as ''Tenchi Muyo! TV'') tells a similar story to ''{{Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Ohki}}'', but in a longer manner. The first half of the series, "Earth Adventure", introduces the main characters, and a short arc that explores various fantasy worlds ("Time and Space Adventures") follows. The show's second half, the "Space Adventure" arc, follows Tenchi and the gang as they travel to Jurai in attempt to stop a coup. This show is its own specific continuity; although it shares almost all of the chief characters from the OVA, many aspects of the story and characterization are changed from the OVA.

This series was followed by two [[TheMovie movies]], ''Tenchi Muyo! in Love'' (released after the series' conclusion) and ''Tenchi Forever!'' (''Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi'', released in 1999), which are both set in the same continuity.
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!!Tropes used in ''Tenchi Universe'' that are not on the ''Tenchi Muyo'' page (or are averted/subverted) include:

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Nagi.
* AwardBaitSong: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCwGLKu8_tI "The Alchemy of Love" by Nina Hagen and Rick Jude]], the theme song to ''TenchiMuyo in Love''.
* BadassBeard: "Knight-Azaka" has one.
* BeachEpisode: The "Space Adventures" arc features one.
* BigBad: Kagato. For the whole series this time.
* BountyHunter: Nagi.
* BrokeEpisode: Episode 16
* CanonForeigner: Kiyone, Nagi, Ken-Ohki, and "knight-Azaka" & "knight-Kamidake".
* CanonImmigrant: The "Time and Space Adventures" arc is based on a popular audio play that was set in the {{OVA}} universe.
* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:Ryoko]].
* EvilCounterpart: Kagato, who is the ruler of Jurai and master of the Jurai power in this canon, wields his own dark counterpart to Sword Tenchi. While the original sword is a thin, katana-like sword with a light blue blade, Kagato's is a larger sword resembling a broadsword with a black-and-red blade.
* FirstGirlWins: [[spoiler:Ryoko]].
* {{Flanderization}}: This is one of the most common complaints about this series. Most notable amongst the changes are Mihoshi being demoted from GeniusDitz to TheDitz, Ryoko and Ayeka's feud becoming less important to the story, Washu becoming an egomaniacal MadScientist with two pop-up dolls to proclaim her greatness ("Washu, you are a genius!", "Washu, you are the greatest!"), Ryoko becomes a much less likable JerkAss, Ayeka is a BitchInSheepsClothing, and Tenchi becoming more wishy-washy and easily flustered (compared to the [=OVAs=]). The trope is completely averted in the second [[TheMovie movie]]''Tenchi Forever!', since the film attempts to tell a much more subdued and personal story.
* FriendlyEnemy: When Kiyone first arrives at the Misaki estate, she makes it her mission to arrest Ryoko. Ryoko, for her part, is completely nonplussed and seems content to just share a drink with her. By the end of the episode, the "enemy" part of the equation is completely erased.
* FriendlyTickleTorture: Ryo-ohki unintentionally does this to Sasami after being scared into hiding by Mirei.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In the episode "No Need For Hunger", Ayeka reaches into a small bowl to grab a snack, complaining that they are almost out of food. What does she pull out? A condom.
* AGodAmI: Kagato flat out says this almost word-for-word.
* HowWeGotHere: The entire series.
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Each episode (save those in the "Time and Space Adventures" arc) is titled "No Need for..."
** IronicEpisodeTitle: Episode 24 is titled "No Need for Ryoko!"
* IncestIsRelative: Averted in this series, which was a major surprise compared to the originals. Washu is simply a mad scientist who was imprisoned on Earth for making doomsday devices and other bizarre inventions, Ryoko is "just" a space pirate, Ayeka and Sasami are no relation to Katsuhito, Tenchi is related to Katsuhito only through his mother's side of the family, and there's no word on whether or not Mihoshi is related to Washu (though that is doubtful).
* JerkAss: Ayeka and Ryoko in some episodes.
* KaraokeBox: Episode 16
* LikeABadassOutOfHell: Strongly implied to be how Kagato acquired his dark Jurai powers; he's literally been through hell and back!
* MarketBasedTitle: ''Tenchi Universe'' was simply known as ''Tenchi Muyo!'' in Japan, and ''Tenchi Forever!'' was released as ''Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2: Haruka no Omoi'' in Japan.
* MarryThemAll: Averted in this canon.
* TheMillstone: Mihoshi, especially towards Kiyone and Washu.
* TheMovie: 1996's ''Tenchi Muyo! in Love'' and 1999's ''Tenchi Forever!'' are set in the ''Universe'' continuity.
* MythologyGag: The third episode features a sequence based on the short gag of Ryoko joking that Ryo-Ohki's clone-egg was actually her and Tenchi's love-child from the original TenchiMuyo OAV. Here, it's extended with, among other things, Ryoko claiming to be craving "[[WackyPregnancyCravings pickles and icecream]]", then feigning morning sickness and/or labor pains, and Nobuyuki gleefully reporting to his deceased wife via the family shrine that their son has given them a granddaughter.
* OutOfGenreExperience: The film ''Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi'' (known as ''Tenchi Forever'' in the US) trandes ''Universe'' and ''Tenchi Muyo! in Love'''s action and humor in favor of a more downbeat, melancholic story. While it is, of course, still a science fiction story (one that deals with parallel worlds and time-dilation), the more sci-fi aspects are severely downplayed in order to focus more on the relationship between Ayeka, Tenchi and Ryoko, as well as to shed some light on Katsuhito's tragic past [[spoiler: as Yosho, shortly before he came to Earth]].
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Nagi to Ryoko, occasionally bordering on FoeYay.
* RashomonStyle: Ryoko and Ayeka tell wildly opposing stories of the same event at least twice in the series.
* RefrainFromAssuming: In the English version, the theme song is called "Tenchi Muyo!" (same as the Japanese version), not "Love Will Leave You Crying".
* ScoobyDoobyDoors: Subverted; in episode 14, Tenchi and company attempt to use a door invented by Washu to secretly board another ship, only to discover that the door has a very limited range of use.
-->'''Tenchi''': And why didn't we use this earlier, Washu? Tell me, please.
-->'''Washu''': Its radius is only 800 meters. It doesn't work like it would in a cartoon!
** Does this count as a LeaningOnTheFourthWall moment?
* SequelHook: After the final episode was aired in Japan, a teaser for the then-upcoming movie ''Tenchi Muyo! in Love'' was aired.
* ShoutOut: Episode 8 features a cameo by ''[[ShowWithinAShow Moldiver]]''
** Mihoshi's mech in episode 1 moves its eye back and forth exactly like [[MobileSuitGundam a Zaku.]]
* ShowWithinAShow: Type 3 -- Mihoshi is so distracted by one program that Washu's Mecha Washu-Mihoshi runs off mid-fight to watch it.
* SockPuppet: [[GoodAngelBadAngel Washu's puppets A and B]].
* SoWhatDoWeDoNow: Tenchi finds himself facing this at the end, [[spoiler:only for Ryoko to show up -- with the rest of the cast trailing her -- to remind him that carnivals come back.]]
* SpaceOpera: The "Space Adventures" arc, which is pretty much the entire second half of the show.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Ryoko; the opening title begins and ends with a shot of Ryoko, and there are some episodes which are focused towards her. Then in ''Tenchi Forever,'' Both Ryoko ''and'' Ayeka become the SpotLightStealingSquad.
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: The English version of the opening theme song is sung by the same singer (SONIA) as the Japanese version--in virtually flawless English!
* SwordBeam: Kagato uses one. And it even comes with instant facepaint!
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue
* WholeEpisodeFlashback: Rather, this is a Whole ''Series'' Flashback.
* WorkOffTheDebt: In episode 19, Ayeka and Sasami wash dishes to pay the group's bill at a diner.
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