オリジナルビデオアニメーションorijinaru bideo animeshon
Quick definition:OVA stands for original video animation, a type of anime released directly on home video or streaming rather than being shown first on television or in cinemas.
Meaning
OVA is the abbreviation for original video animation, and it describes anime made for sale or rental on video instead of for a television broadcast. Some are short, a single episode or a small set, while others are longer series released in instalments. The term is also written OAV, original animation video, and fans often just call them OVAs.
OVAs allowed studios to try different content. Without broadcast restrictions, creators could make shorter, more experimental, more expensive or niche works, and fans could buy them to watch at home. They are commonly used for bonus stories, side episodes, sequels and special editions packaged with manga volumes or game releases.
The format was most popular in the 1980s and 1990s, in the era of videotapes and discs. Today streaming has taken over much of this role, and some releases are labelled ONA, original net animation, for works made for the internet.
Origin:OVA is an English phrase, original video animation, coined in Japan in the early 1980s when the first anime made for the home video market appeared. Sources differ on which release counts as the first. The abbreviation spread to English-language fandom and became the standard name for such releases.
Example:A series' final bonus story might be released on a disc months after the television run ends, showing the characters on a beach holiday or beginning a new adventure. Fans buy it to find out what happened next, or simply to see their favourite cast again.
Did you know?OVA episodes were often sold at a high price per episode, so studios tended to put extra effort into animation and design to make the purchase feel worthwhile. This is one reason many OVAs of the 1980s and 1990s are remembered for their detailed artwork.
