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I often see that a lot of Anime series have a few extra episodes. Some are
explicitly labeled as _Specials_ , others labeled as _OVAs_. I get _Specials_
, but I don't quite understand the term OVAs.

I googled, and found this: **[What is the difference between an OVA and an
OAV?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/3427/what-is-the-difference-
between-an-ova-and-an-oav)** , but all I understood from it is that:

> **OVA** /OAV stands for **Original Video Animation**

Now that doesn't explain much, does it? So my question is, how is it different
from other extra episodes (Specials)? Are they the same thing and the
producers use the terms interchangeably or something else?


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2014-12-14T22:26:49.350
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anime-production
What are OVAs and how are they different from Specials?


OVA stands for Original Video Animation, this means these episodes are much
like "Beta-tests." Or they can be anything that isn't related to the Anime
itself, for example; In the Anime "Clannad" there is an OVA episode where
Tomoyo /Spoilers/ and Tomoya have a romantic relationship, however in the
actual series this relationship does not exist, but it does within the OVA.
The OVA's are separate from the series, and are usually just a little bonus
from the producers, however it should be noted that they are non-canonical and
should be treated as such. I hope this can help.


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2014-12-14T22:35:29.833
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Broadly, the two terms could be interchanged, although there are a few points
of (almost) difference:

  1. OVAs are generally released for home video (be that VHS, DVD, or whatever), whereas it's possible for a Special to be released as a television broadcast that is just separate from the rest of the show.
  2. OVAs are often shorter than a normal episode of the show, while Specials are often as long or longer, although this definitely doesn't always hold.
  3. Some OVAs are not associated with a show, so they aren't a "special episode" of anything. For example, the series _Video Girl Ai_ was only ever released as a 6 episode straight-to-video OVA.


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To describe "Special" and OVA, we need to describe what's "normal" anime.  
Usually anime (TV series anime) is broad-casted weekly. It will continue 13 or
more weeks. It's usually free with Television advertisement (and has eye-catch
at center of episode). TV station have their code: no pantsu scene, no
violence scene. The DVD (or BD) will be release later.

Special (aka [TV Special](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_special)) is
not weekly. Usually yearly or one shot. It's have only one episode but it's
have longer length (ex 2 hours). It's still intended for broadcast. Need to
meet broadcast code.

OVA is created for selling (by Video or DVD). It's intended to the small
number of viewer without advertisement. It means more otaku friendly theme. No
need to follow broadcast code. It's OK to have hard violence scene.

But, in recent time, some OVA was broadcasting with censorship. On the other
hand, some TV series is on air with censorship, and selling DVD (or BD)
without censorship version. The boundary became ambiguous.

Other category is anime movie which is intended to show in theater. Anime
movie is between special and OVA.

The anime [Lupin the Third](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupin_III) has all TV
series version, OVA, Anime movie and TV Special. In this case, special version
is yearly release.


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2014-12-17T07:39:21.190
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OVAs are not special episodes, as its own name states: Original Video
Animation (OVA) they were made for video consumption and had no limitations
(censorship) with the intention to expand the market to a more mature
audience. There's also ONA (Original Net Animation) which has been conceived
to premiere in the Internet.


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2018-05-09T08:28:47.567
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OVA is a fickle idea, and changes it purpose from title to title. The one
thing that seems to hold in most all of them is that OVA is much closer to
what the original writer invisioned. Some series originally release with OVA
because the writer can produce a quality high enough for public release.
Others release OVA afterwards, when the project gets more funding, so it can
be completed as they wanted to originally, but couldn't afford. Take it as you
will.


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2018-05-11T08:20:12.220
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