Tenchi Masaki vs. Ichigo Kurosaki (Family Lineage)

VS.

Though two completely different series, I will personally admit Bleach & Tenchi Muyo are my favorite Animes of all time. Now that's a pretty bold statement because you all could think of 10 or more great Animes that are better, grander, and spectacular that these two. Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, FLCL, and others are other animes I'm fond of, but Bleach & Tenchi Muyo have had a place in my heart from the moment I started watching it. Bleach, when it premiered on Adult Swim, became my personal favorite Anime just from the storyline, characters, setting, and of course their sick ass swords. Same can be said about Tenchi Muyo - the characters, the harem, and the overall shenanigans just made the show for me. I am unfamiliar with reading Tenchi Muyo, but I am fond of the multiple interpretations of Tenchi Muyo with Universe, GXP and Ova 3 being my favorite (In Tokyo I wasn't fond of and I have yet to see the new spinoff after GXP). Bleach you all know how it goes - read and watched. So it's only natural I compare the two protagonists of my favorite Animes because they do share some qualities befitting of the hero. 

a) Both are kind, strong, and helpful/Godlike powers

b) Both affiliated with the Supernatural

c) Both wield swords

d) Both have pasts that'll define them

e) Both have parent(s) affiliated with Supernatural prior to series

f) Both have women crushing on them (Orihime/Ryoka + Ayeka + Sasami + Mihoshi)

So this battle will be interesting because despite these two being my all time favorite fictional characters in an Anime. I will discuss their backstories, their family history, and judge their battles (not all, but some). I will NOT discuss in length their powers because that could take days. Let's begin:

Backstories

Ichigo's father is a Shinigami and deceased mother was a Quincy. Ichigo, being a hybrid child, loved his mother dearly and upon seeing her murder, Ichigo's perception of life changed. His cutesy, smiley, and positive outlook on life is now gone and it would be years later before "a certain Shinigami" brings him out of the darkness and into a world where Ichigo is the key to protecting the bridge between the human world and the Soul Society. Ichigo, aside from the tragic loss of his beloved mother, is a normal high-school boy going to Karakura High School with friends. So everything is normal and abnormal at the same time, something Ichigo has accustomed to as he encounters Shinigami, discovers more about his past, and learns the truth behind the murder of his own mother.

Tenchi's character is a bit complex since there are different interpretations of his story told (Universe and the original are completely different). On one side, Tenchi's mother died from an illness in one arc and the other, the mother was fatally wounded by the Lighthawk Wings (Achika's/Tenchi's power). Tenchi is a normal boy unaware that his own grandfather is affiliated with a royal family from outer space, making Tenchi himself royalty to the throne of Jurai. Tenchi, living with various women he met by fate in relation to his position to the Jurai throne, is comically day by day going about with the shenanigans that ensue. So despite his mother's passing, he comes to accept his newfound family lineage and does whatever he can to ensure the protection of his own home as well as preserve peace in his life using the powers that resurfaced upon Tenchi's birth right. 

Family History

Ichigo, being a hybrid child, is the son of Shinigami Isshin Kurosaki (previously Isshin Shiba) and Masaki Kurosaki, a Quincy. Ichigo has some times to the Shiba clan, but it's unclear on what specifically. Ichigo has two younger sisters, Karin and Yuzu. Karin is aware of Ichigo's involvement with Shinigami and Yuzu has some sense of the supernatural occurring around them. 

Tenchi is all over the place on this one. Tenchi has his father, Nobuyuki, and his grandfather, Katsuhito, is a heir of the Jurai royal throne leaving a large family lineage for Tenchi. Tenchi's mother in two different arcs are Achika (Universe & Kiyone (Ova) and Tenchi, in a nutshell, has buncha relatives with the title great-great-great (despite the fact that all Tenchi's family hides their age and appears youthful). 

Battles (Overlook)

Ichigo has had his fair share of wins and losses. His first major loss was against Renji & Byakuya where he couldn't name his own Zanpaktou and was weak against Captain-level Shinigami and one of his many victories was his rematch against Renji (thanks to Urahara training), defeating Kenpachi ("Zangetsu's help), Byakuya (Bankai), Grimmjow (Visored Mask), and doing much damage to Aizen in his final form (Becoming "Zangetsu"). Ichigo's power has grown - earning a new form for his Zanpaktou, gaining a new Bankai, having a fullbring, visored mask, and is a Quincy apparently. Ichigo recently discovered that he has Quincy blood and has a new Zangetsu form, becoming more badass than before. 

Tenchi has battled Kagato, Dr. Clay, and Z and has developed and matured in his usage of the sword his grandfather passed to him that represents Jurai. His lighthawk wing form is a godly power that manifests itself into sword, clothing, and shield. Because of this, his power is Godlike and surpasses the expectations of Washu, Tsunami, & Tokimi, the creators of the Universe. Tenchi, in Ova 3, was sorta on par with Z, but had to die in order for everything to go back to place resulting in Tenchi not having lighthawk wings, the very manifestation of power that defines Tenchi's badassery. 

Verdict: Despite Tenchi's harem and Godlike powers, he has little to offer because he is content with his life + Tenchi Muyo is more comedy-romance based than Bleach. Ichigo has more to prove and as such, his mother's death defines who he is and what he'll eventually become as he sets off to destroy the Vandenreich. Tenchi will always be strong in his own right, but Ichigo continues to grow stronger. They both have Godlike powers, but at the end of the day - Ichigo is the better hero.

So who do you think won? I do apologize for not elaborating much on Tenchi, this is all from memory. I've been growing more fond of Bleach, but Tenchi was back in the day (doesn't excuse the fact that Tenchi is my 2nd favorite anime of all time). Vote: http://poll.pollcode.com/wl86z 

Until then, you all stay classy now.