Original Video Animation

Original Video Animation (オリジナル・ビデオ・アニメーション, Orijinaru bideo animēshon), abbreviated as OVA (オーブイエー / オーヴィーエー / オヴァ ōbuiē, ōvīē or ova) media (and sometimes as OAV, original animated video, by English-speakers, though it was mistaken for "Original Adult Video"), are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation (anime). Most producers of OVAs release them direct-to-video, without prior showings on television or in theaters; however, there may be very rare occasions where, for example, the first part of an OVA series is broadcast for promotional purposes. OVA titles were originally made available on VHS, later becoming more popular on LaserDisc and eventually DVD or Blu-ray. Starting in summer 2008 the term OAD (original animation DVD) began to refer to DVD releases published bundled with their source material manga, however with the rise of Blu-ray discs this term became less meaningful.