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 theatres; 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 OVA titles were originally made available on VHS, later becoming more popular on LaserDisc and eventually DVD. Starting in summer 2008 the term OAD (original animation DVD) began to refer to DVD releases published bundled with their source material manga.
Famous quotes containing the words original and/or video:
“Such is oftenest the young man’s introduction to the forest, and the most original part of himself. He goes thither at first as a hunter and fisher, until at last, if he has the seeds of a better life in him, he distinguishes his proper objects, as a poet or naturalist it may be, and leaves the gun and fish-pole behind. The mass of men are still and always young in this respect.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“These people figured video was the Lord’s preferred means of communicating, the screen itself a kind of perpetually burning bush. “He’s in the de-tails,” Sublett had said once. “You gotta watch for Him close.””
—William Gibson (b. 1948)