The Advent and Decline of the OVA (Original Video Animation)?

It is likely that, if you’re an anime fan, you have heard the term OVA before. But what is an OVA and how and why has this format developed? An OVA stands for “Original Video Animation” and refers to anime that’s released initially on home video formats such as DVDs and Blu-Rays (although historically this would also include VHS and LaserDisc).

It is important to note that direct to video doesn’t have the same negative reputation in Japan as it does in the West. Back when VHS began to be released, a new genre known as “V-Cinema” was developed which saw Japanese indie directors release their films straight to home video. By the time the first OVA (Dallos) was released, direct to video was viewed as a respectable, perhaps even prestigious, way to release content.

Soon after, famous OVA series such as Bubblegum Crisis, Gunbuster and more began to released. Even the venerable Lupin III and Gundam franchises began to release OVA films and series. Interestingly, the budgets of these OVA productions were often greater than TV anime. This allowed OVAs to feature higher quality animation than their TV counterparts. Without the constraints of TV, OVAs tended to be more graphic with sex and violence and varied in their runtimes since they did not have to fit a timeslot.

However, as time went on, OVA series became less common with explicit series instead airing on late night television. While OVA series are still produced (Gundam: The Origin and Hellsing: Ultimate are two recent OVA series I can think of), they are nowhere near as frequent as they once were.

Instead, what we tend to see these days are OVA episodes released exclusively for a TV series’ home video release. These episodes are, more often than not, side-stories with little to no connection to the overall plot (an infamous example would be beach episodes). Sometimes these OVAs expand on a character from the series or may answer some questions that were left unanswered but, in general, they are often viewed as filler.

When I discuss OVAs with people, these filler episodes are often their first thought. I think it’s a shame that OVAs are now relegated to extras instead of being the main event. Some of the most interesting anime that I have seen have been OVAs that take advantage of the higher budget and variable runtime for grandiose storytelling.

With the rise of streaming platforms, it seems unlikely that we can ever return to the glory days of OVA series. Nonetheless, I hope that more people realize that OVAs aren’t simply filler episodes to be added to a series and are a legitimate way of telling a story. Let me know what you think of OVAs, which OVA series are your favourites etc.

Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use amazon.co.uk or amazon.com for all of your needs!