What is the difference between the OVA and the Anime series itself?

Question

Does the OVA means its always the sequel to an anime or a prequel?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

OVA or OAV (it doesn't matter which way you type it because they are the same thing). they're like episodes that were released direct to video. They usually have a higher budget and better quality animation than the TV series. it can be a sequel or a prequel. in addition, it's usually radically different from the animation style in the TV series.

EX: Rurouni Kenshin

1. Series: Rurouni Kenshin http://myanimelist.net/anime/45/Rurouni_…

2. OVA prequel: Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen http://myanimelist.net/anime/44/Rurouni_…

3. OVA sequel: Rurouni Kenshin: Seisouhen http://myanimelist.net/anime/401/Rurouni…

hopefully i did not confuse you even more :)

Answer 2

OVA stands for Original Video Animation. An OVA is often a separate story from the anime, similar to a filler arc on the normal anime. OVAs usually aren't broadcasted, instead they are oftentimes released on DVDs or shown publicly at an anime convention or something.

So basically, an OVA is like filler on a DVD, but not really.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

An OVA is usually a filler episode(s) released after the series is over. There not really nnecessary to the story and some go straight to DVD.

Some times they can be a sequel though, if multiple ones are released, like Prince of Tennis

Answer 4

An OVA is just a part of the story that's too short to call a full season and usually has a different storyline from the main arc. It's just an extra tid-bit for die-hard fans of the particular anime! :-)

Answer 5

An OVA is just a sort of branching story, and can fit in anywhere in the story. It's not necessarily always a sequel or prequel.

Answer 6

it just means that it can be related or it can be just the characters in a different story just because they felt like it.