Believe it or not, some of the best anime have never aired on TV. This is because many OVAs, Original Video Animations, went directly to VHS, DVD, or Blu-Ray. This happens due to a variety of reasons but mainly because an OVA would mess up the flow of an anime's story.
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Some OVAs are a must-watch due to their great animation, story, or both. A great OVA is filled with so much passion that one can feel it in every second of the program.
10 Pale Cocoon
Dystopia is a popular genre in all forms of media. It has been done to death and it falls into preachy territory far too many times. Every once and a while though, something new comes along and proves that the genre still has some freshness to it. Pale Cocoon is a one-episode OVA that did more for the dystopian genre than some entire series have.
The series follows Ura as he tries to discover why the Earth no longer has continents or oceans. In a mere twenty-three minutes, this OVA manages to be gripping, touching, and eye-opening. It contains a strong environmental message that never comes off as preachy.
9 One Piece - Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack
The first-ever One Piece animation was a short OVA that proved to the world that the series would great. Oda himself took great interest in the creation of the OVA and was amazed by what he saw. The episode feels unique and the animation is pretty good for its time.
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Luffy, Zoro, and Nami perfectly match with their future anime incarnations and there is a sense of joy that fills the entire episode. Originally airing during the 1998 Jump Super Anime Tour, this OVA grabbed the hearts of dozens of fans. While it can be hard to find, it is more than worth the search to see just how the Straw Hats began their anime journey.
8 Please Save My Earth
Based on the manga of the same name, Please Save My Earth is an intriguing OVA. Told across six episodes, viewers follow several teenagers and one child as they begin to have memories about their past lives as alien scientists that watched the Earth from the Moon.
The OVA places a deep focus on its characters and places its story second in terms of importance. This makes for a very interesting character study and a deep dive into the nature of humanity. The story may falter a bit during the end but it's the characters that make this OVA great.
7 Devilman
The legendary Go Nagai manga series Devilman has had several animated adaptations. The first was the 39 episode anime that aired during the early 1970s and garnered a decent level of acclaim. The more recent Devilman Crybaby was released in 2018 to massive amounts of praise due to its story and animation.
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This was not the first time audiences were stunned by Devilman's story and its animation though. In 1987 and 1990, two OVAs were released that took a new and more brutal look at the world of Devilman. In Devilman: The Birth and Devilman: The Demon Bird audiences finally got a faithful and wonderfully animated version of the Devilman story.
6 Attack On Titan: No Regrets
One of the best characterized and coolest people in Attack on Titan is Levi. He was tough, strong, and incredibly perseverant with him making some very pragmatic decisions at times. It makes sense that viewers would want to know more about how he became the person he was.
In the Attack on Titan: No Regrets OVA, we get to see Levi during his days as a criminal. This two-episode OVA delves deep into the circumstances that made him and why he chose to join the Survey Corps. In addition to having a great story, this OVA has some of the best animation in the entire Attack on Titan franchise.
5 Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail
Black Lagoon was an anime series that went beyond its basic blood and guns premise. Following the story of pirate mercenaries known as Lagoon Company, viewers quickly fell in love with its action-packed story and great characters. Across twenty-four episodes the members of Lagoon Company exemplified just how easy it is to love anti-heroes.
In Roberta's Blood Trail, a five part OVA, viewers get to learn more about the former terrorist turned maid Roberta and her brutal nature. This adaptation of an arc from the manga fired off on all cylinders and contained one of the best-written and animated stories in the Black Lagoon canon.
4 Gintama - The Love Potion Arc
There has never been an anime with the ability to mix humor, action, drama, and heart like Gintama. For seventy-seven volumes and over three hundred episodes, this quirky series about samurais, aliens, and all manner of creatures captivated audiences worldwide. Its creator Hideaki Sorachi managed to fill each and every arc with creative and hilarious ideas that few mangaka before him had done.
In the two-part OVA, a love potion is released in Yoshiwara and hilarity ensues. More than a handful of gut-busting moments happen and one of the funniest moments in all of Gintama occurs. For any fan or curious person, this OVA is a perfect place to get a taste of just how funny and touching Gintama can be.
3 Crying Freeman
The sad and beautiful journey of the brainwashed potter turned assassin Yo Hinomura is one that all anime fans should see. Adapted from the manga of the same name, the Crying Freeman OVA is brutal, graphic, full of heart, and emotionally rich. In just one episode viewers will connect with Yo and his cruel plight.
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The series biggest advantage is in how engaging its story and characters are. The seedy and merciless world Yo is thrown into forces viewers to think about questions of morality, love, human instinct, and forgiveness.
2 Voices Of A Distant Star
Certain sci-fi stories lean so much into their grand premises that they overlook the human element. Overlooking this element can make a sci-fi story feel sanitized and cold, leaving viewers with nothing to truly connect to other than a concept. In Voices of a Distant Star, there is a perfect blend of high concept sci-fi and human relationships. Imagine loving someone from space and it taking years for your messages to get to them.
This is the plight of Mikako and Noburo. They are trying to stay connected during an intergalactic war against a race of aliens. This minor masterpiece by Makoto Shinkai is a single-episode OVA that has great animation, dialogue, and a fantastic score.
1 Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal
One of the most beautifully animated series of all time, Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal is something to behold. Here audiences learn how Himura Kenshin became the manslayer that he was and why he decided to change. Kazuhiro Furuhashi directed this four-episode OVA and set a standard that has yet to be topped in all the Rurouni Kenshin franchise.
The story is brutal, complex, heartfelt, and thought-provoking. The animation is legendary and must be seen for one's self. The Blu-ray restoration may just make one cry from simply gazing at something so stunning.
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About The Author
Clarence Boyce
(38 Articles Published)
Clarence Boyce is a passionate creative that specializes in the world of Film/TV. He first entered this world when he remade Terminator 3 in the fourth grade. Five people claimed that it was better than the original. In addition to his passion for Film/TV he loves reading graphic novels, prose, and poetry. His dream is to one day craft a film that will enter the Criterion Collection.
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