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Original Animation Video (OAV/OVA)

Original Animation Video & Original Video Animation (OAV / OVA) are interchangeable terms used in Japan to refer to animation that is released directly to the video market without first going through a theatrical release or television broadcast. In the beginning OAV was used in Japan. However, due to confusion with Adult Video and Audio/Video electronics this acronym was gradually abandoned in favor of OVA.

Furthermore, OAVs are supposed to have original scripts, although there are exceptions. They can be based on a Manga or TV series, but the particular episode should be original. For example the Ranma ½ TV series follows Rumiko Takahashi's Manga fairly closely, however the Ranma ½ OAV series contains stories that were not in the original Manga series.

OAVs are generally higher quality than TV series because a larger budget is allocated to the production and more time is allowed for the work.

With very few exceptions, the vast majority of all pornographic Anime is released as OAVs since the material is not suitable for theatrical or television presentations.

Original Anime DVD

An Original Anime DVD (original animation DVD or OAD), is an OAV released on DVD as an extra with a volume of manga. This term entered popular usage in the summer of 2008 with Kodansha's Goku Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei, xxxHOLiC: Shunmuki, and Tsubasa: Shunraiki projects. However ANN cannot confirm an earlier use before these projects. Although Kodansha uses the OAD term, other publishers such as Shueisha and Shogakukan still use the OVA/OAV term instead for anime DVDs bundled with manga.

See Also: Original Net Animation

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