Watching anime is a fantastic way to fill your spare time with something entertaining to do.
If you are new to the hobby of viewing Japanese anime, you may not be familiar with some of the phrases that are often used, such as OVAs, ordinary anime episodes, and special episodes.
After all of this, let’s talk about OVA episodes in anime series: what exactly are they, and how are they distinct from regular episodes?
So what does OVA (Original Video Animation) mean? The term “OVA” refers to the episodes or films of anime that were not shown in cinemas or broadcast on television before they were made available for home viewing. In certain cases, a brief segment of the OVA will be shown on television for promotional reasons, but the rest of the series will not be shown.
OVAs are often distributed via the sale of VHS cassettes, Blu-ray discs, and even DVDs.
You may be acquainted with the phrase OVA if you are an avid fan of anime, but if you are just starting in the world of anime, you could be hearing the phrase for the very first time.
This post will help you learn about Original Video Animation (OVA) if you are interested in learning more about it and wish to understand what sets it apart from both special and ordinary anime series.
What Exactly Constitutes an OVA Episode?
Original video animation often referred to as OVA, is typically made accessible for purchase on video rental or purchase before receiving a tv program or a film version.
Furthermore, in order to promote the OVA series and bring in additional viewers, several producers also distribute brief snippets of the show on television and in movie theaters as part of their marketing strategy.
At first, the OVA was exclusively successful in the Japanese market. However, in a very short amount of time, the OVA episodes rose to prominence all around the globe.
OVAs are becoming an increasingly important component of anime series as a result of the rise in popularity of the format among viewers.
The OVAs, as opposed to the fillers series, feature actual sequences that contribute to the development of the tale.
The makers of the OVA episodes mostly distribute the episodes via digital formats such as DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHS cassettes.
In addition, much like anime, OVAs are broken up into episodes for the purpose of being shown on television. The majority of the time, a single OVA disk will only include a single episode.
The number of minutes spent on each OVA episode varies from show to show.
There are OVA episodes that just last a couple of moments, while there are others that may last for many hours.
Despite the fact there is no set duration for OVA episodes, the majority of episodes are still somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 minutes.
In addition to this, the duration of individual episodes within a single OVA may also change.
If I take the OVA “GaoGaiGar Last” as an example, the run time of each of the initial 7 episodes was approximately 40 minutes, while the duration of the eighth and final episodes was 50 minutes.
There are a total of 15 unique episodes of “Key the Metal Idol,” each of which may last anywhere from 15-20 minutes to two hours. In addition, an OVA series may consist of one episode, a few episodes of varying durations, or none of these options.
The OVA series “Legend of the Galactic Heroes” was considered one of the lengthiest running, clocking in at about 162 episodes.
110 of the 162 episodes were considered to be the main episodes, while the remaining 52 episodes were considered to be Gaiden episodes.
What Makes an OVA Different From a Special Episode?
The original video animation (OVA) and an episode of the regular anime are replaceable.
It is possible for an OVA episode to be a special episode, however in order for a special episode to qualify as an OVA, it must be made available only for home watching rather than for broadcast on television or in movie theaters.
For instance, The Promised Neverland Season 2 Episode 5.5 is a special rather than an original video animation (OVA) since it was shown with the other episodes of the season rather than being made available for home viewing initially.
Therefore, to summarize, the OVAs may be purchased as a home video that is distributed on DVS and VHS, whilst the special episode may also be aired on television.
Aside from this one difference, the duration of a regular OVA episode is often less than the duration of a special episode.
However, due to the fact that the duration of each OVA episode fluctuates, it is possible that this may not always occur.
There are a few special episodes that have nothing to do with the main storyline of the ongoing anime series.
It’s possible that the special episodes might include a few more characters or secondary plots that offer something fresh to the mix.
The vast majority of fans of anime see the special episodes as “simply for fun.” On the other hand, an Original Video Animation (OVA) is a self-contained production that often includes feature-length animation of a high standard.
Although it does happen sometimes, you could even find that whole series are released under the OVA’s tag. However, this is not something that happens very often.
What Makes an OVA Distinct From a Regular Episode of Anime, and How Does It Compare?
The fact that an OVA is never shown on television is one of the most significant distinctions between a typical anime episode and an OVA.
The OVA episodes are often sold to customers as video cassettes, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs, depending on the format they want.
In contrast, a typical episode of an anime series is often broadcast on television and shown in movie theaters.
Additionally, the OVA is connected to the conventional anime series in some fashion. It may either be a sequel or a prequel to the anime series, depending on the circumstances.
The creators of the OVA provide a storyline that is both meaningful and relates to the real anime series.
However, an OVA does not need to be based on a previously known Japanese anime and may be completely self-contained.
You could also note that the overall quality of the OVA is higher than that of the typical anime episode at times.
The reason for this is that the assets that are devoted to an OVA are often more extensive than those that are devoted to a conventional Japanese anime.
Therefore, studios are given more leeway to improve the overall value of an OVA.
The majority of original video animation series (OVA) episodes have a tale that is both more expertly presented and more gorgeously rendered than that of a typical episode.
In conclusion, the OVA episode is not shown on television and is only accessible via the purchase of the accompanying DVD or Blu-ray disc.
How Significant Are Anime OVAs?
It is dependent on the anime series in terms of whether or not the OVAs are required viewing.
For instance, several anime programs link the main anime series with the OVA; as a result, fans are required to see the OVA in order to get a deeper comprehension of the series that is now airing.
On the other hand, a few of the OVAs don’t really have anything to do with the main series, so that makes them less important.
The majority of anime fans still watch the OVAs for entertainment even if they have no connection to the series. OVAs, or original video animations, are supplementary episodes that are often less important to the story as a whole.
Its quality is likely to vary due to the fact that they are generally less linked. For instance, the Seitokai Yakuindomo series has around 15 original video animation (OVA) episodes.
You may feel each one has its own season due to the fact that the storylines and people in each one are completely unique.
In contrast, the plot of “The World God Only Knows” anime is tightly intertwined with its original video animations (OVAs), so if you watch the OVAs first, you could have a hard time understanding what’s going on in the main series.
However, to put it simply, the significance of the OVAs will vary greatly depending on the anime series that you are currently viewing.
Is an OVA Considered Canon?
There are a few canon OVAs, but most of them are not. It is thus up to the individual anime to decide whether or not an OVA should be considered canon. Several of the authors develop original video animation (OVA) storylines that are canon since they are connected to the original Japanese animation series.
You run the risk of missing out on an important piece of the narrative of the original series if you do not watch the corresponding canon Original Video Animation.
If the original Japanese animation series was based on an OVA, then you would watch that OVA to have a better understanding of the series itself.
On the other side, the OVAs which aren’t canon are often unimportant to the main anime series, which means that you are free to ignore them if you so want.
What Exactly Is the Role of OVA?
OVAs are created so that more money may be made. It gives producers the opportunity to sell VHS tapes or DVDs, which assists them in increasing their earnings.
When referred to traditional anime episodes, which typically run for roughly 30 minutes, the OVAs don’t have a set duration requirement of any kind.
Because of this, the OVA’s authors are free to express their entire creative potential in it.
Since there is no longer any airing of the series, the OVAs assist relieve the strain that the producers are under to produce high-quality content.
On the opposite, the OVAs are intended for people who are really dedicated to the series and cannot get enough of seeing their favorite characters.
Fans of anime like shelling out a little bit of additional cash to get DVDs and VHS cassettes that include supplemental content for a tale.
What would you do if you had the opportunity to see extra content related to the narrative that you adore?
The odds are high that you will purchase it, and the situation is the same with original video animations (OVAs).
If anime enthusiasts have a preference for a certain tale or character, there is no question that they will want to shell out some cash for related OVAs so that they may learn more about the plot or favorite character.
Therefore, both the people who make OVAs and the people who watch anime may benefit from them.
Lovers of Japanese anime will have the ability to view more of their lovely protagonists and more of the tale, whereas the creators will have the possibility to earn more cash.
Do You Start With Watching OVA?
It is necessary to determine if the OVA takes place before or after the events of the plot.
So unless the original anime is a precursor to the tale, then you could perhaps watch the OVA first in order to get the whole story prior to watching the original series.
However, if there is a successor, it will be beneficial to see OVA following the anime series.
Several individuals are unwilling to bother to watch OVA since they are under the impression that it has nothing to do with the main storyline.
Even if numerous OVAs are pointless, it’s possible that they’ll include some of your beloved heroes.
Watching the OVAs is the best option for you if you wish to see your beloved protagonists in a setting that is different from the original series.
Conclusion
This article will help you understand OVA and everything related to it, so if you want to learn what OVA is and completely understand it, then this article will most definitely help you.
