What is OVA and why is it created?

The question of what OVA is, is of interest to all fans who have just begun to be dedicated to the culture of Japanese animation. These short series look like an addition to the main story, but have their own purpose and value for the audience.

Explanation of terminology

For those who are interested in what OBA is, there is a decipherment of this abbreviation. In Russian it means "original animation video", which is a separate addition to the story line, told in one season of anime. The format of such serials often comes down to two or four series, although, it happens, the number goes up to six or is limited to one episode. All events take place in the same world in which the main story developed. During the viewing, the viewer can see completely new characters, but the setting never changes, because the name OVA is always the same with the original anime, sometimes there are clarifications in the name that indicates the format of the cartoon. The series have a length of 23-25 minutes, much less often - twelve.

Marketing course

On the question of what OVA is and why it is done, there is one simple explanation - increasing the popularity of the original series. The format of the cartoon was not in vain identified in only a few series, which often do not even depend on each other. When the authors are preparing a grandiose release of the adaptation of the popular manga, OVA often comes out. Viewers buy it on discs or watch online, in the hope that the situation with the future narrative will become clearer. After viewing more often, only additional questions arise, because the authors only hint about future history. A similar situation occurs when the addition is released after the release of the season of the original picture. Then it becomes clear what OVA is and why it is released for the audience. There are situations when manga is only in the process of writing, and until the next season, the anime will have to wait a long time. Then the owners of rights release this supplement, which reminds that the masterpiece is in the works and everyone should wait for it. It also does not disclose any key points, at best some moments of the past season are supplemented or a parallel line with other characters is maintained.

The plot and the history of appearance

For the first time, people realized what OVA is in the anime industry, when the addition to a science fiction story called Dallos came out. This format was immediately warmly received by the authors of the video "for adults" in the form of a cartoon. They were forbidden to show on television, and therefore they switched to disk drives, which at the time of 1984 allowed only a few episodes to be recorded. At the same time, there was no plot in such tapes, and therefore this format was ideally suited for release.

At the time of 2017, viewers have the opportunity to watch additions to almost every more or less well-known anime. Any feelings, emotions and events can underlie the OVA. Love between the characters, the hatred of the main opponents, the events that will be revealed in the second story, and many other things. The universe of any anime series allows you to find loopholes in order to interest the viewer and persuade to view additional series.

Examples of popular OBA

One of the most vivid and long-lasting additions is "Very nice, God." OVA to this series has seven series, which continue the history of Nanami - the new guardian of the Earth. She had a complicated relationship with the demon fox, who defended her master, but soon they became great friends, and that was the reason their relationship did not stop. The main character immediately realized that she loved him, but he did not reciprocate her feelings.

In this OVA their story is told after Tomoe also felt a feeling of love. Now their relationship has moved to a new level, but there are new challenges that they will have to overcome. Another vivid example is the already mentioned addition to the first season of the series "Attack of the Titans". In it, all viewers first saw the giant who spoke. No clarifications on this subject, the authors did not do, but because interest in the series only grew. Manga readers knew this secret, but viewers who only watch anime remember this detail and fantasize a lot of interesting things. OBA helped keep interest at the level of the second season.