Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki

Aired: 1992

The first OVA installment of the science-fiction romantic comedy franchise produced by AIC and Pioneer LDC (now NBCUniversal). The series begins when ordinary high school student Tenchi Masaki accidentally unseals a long-imprisoned space pirate, Ryoko, on his family's mountain shrine, kicking off a galaxy-spanning whirlwind. Together with the eccentric alien heroines Ryoko, Ayeka, Sasami, and the genius scientist Washu, Tenchi finds his quiet life upended by interstellar conflicts even as the unconventional household grows. Featuring Seiko Nagaoka's lush music and standout character animation, the OVA helped define the early-90s OVA boom and laid the foundation for the sprawling Tenchi Muyo! franchise — encompassing television series, theatrical films, and numerous spinoffs that continue to resonate with fans worldwide.