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.
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.
Updated March 3, 2023, by Ericka Blye: OVAs are a great way to include extra details and content of an aired anime series when it can't be done in the main series. OVAs can sometimes focus on a character that doesn't always get a lot of focus or give an alternate perspective of a situation. They can even wrap things up and give a more satisfying ending to a beloved series. It's a bit easier to find OVAs of newer series that are released on Blu-ray/DVD since they can still be purchased, or they are available to watch on a streaming service. But some of the best old anime series are lost for the majority of anime fans as they were only available through dated media like VHS.
15 My Hero Academia: All Might Rising
All Might's origin and history have been something that many fans wanted to see more of since the My Hero Academia anime first aired. And fans got what they wanted with the special one-shot All Might Rising. All Might Rising shows the heroic last moments of Nana Shimura's life and how Toshinori Yagi mourns her death.
It also reveals why All Might went to America after graduating from UA and the reason for his signature smile. It was made as a prequel to the first My Hero movie, Two Heroes, and was adapted into an OVA that was bundled with the Blu-ray release of Two Heroes. It's the third OVA of the series.
14 Yu Yu Hakusho: Two Shots & All Or Nothing
Despite the anime ending years ago, Yu Yu Hakusho remains a popular and beloved series both in Japan and the West. Several OVAs have been made for the series, with the newest ones made in 2018. Based on the bonus chapter in volume seven and the last chapter of the final volume, Two Shots, and All Or Nothing were both released in the 30th anniversary Blu-ray box set of the series.
Two Shots shows how Hiei and Kurama first met when Kurama was still in middle school. And All Or Nothing shows Team Urameshi going to the Spirit World to rescue Botan, Koenma, and the other residents of Spirit World from a terrorist group.
13 The Disappearance Of Nagato Yuki-Chan: Endless Summer Vacation
The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan is a spinoff series of Haruhi Suzumiya light novels and the movie, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. It takes place in the alternate timeline that was presented in the movie where Haruhi didn't form the SOS Brigade and Yuki is a regular human girl.
The anime series is 16 episodes long with an OVA that was originally bundled with the limited edition 9th volume of the series in Japan and was included in the Blu-ray/DVD of The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan that was released in the US. Endless Summer Vacation gives fans extra content about Yuki, Kyon, and the rest of the group's summer vacation.
12 The Guyver: Bio-Booster Armor
The Bio Booster Armor Guyver franchise didn't get very popular in the West, but it did gain a strong cult following. Often put in the "ultra-violence" genre with series like Ninja Scroll and the Devilman OVAs, there was a 12-part anime OVA series called The Guyver: Bio-Booster Armor made in 1989.
It gives a condensed version of the first five volumes of Sho Fukamachi's battle against the evil Chronos Corporation and their bio-engineered monsters, Zoaniods. The OVA was distributed in the US, first by U.S. Renditions and then by Manga Entertainment on VHS.
11 Tokyo Babylon 1 & 2
Tokyo Babylon is one of the many manga series created by Clamp. The story features Subaru Semeragi, who is the high school head of a family of onmyoji, or Japanese magicians. He's asked to solve mysteries that involve the occult and is assisted by his twin sister Hokuto and a veterinarian named Seishiro Sakurazuka.
There were two OVAs created of the series featuring original stories where Subaru investigates a mysterious string of accidents that happen at a construction site and another where he meets another onmyoji who is assisting law enforcement with the capture of a serial killer. The two OVAs were released in the West on VHS by US Manga Corps in 1995.
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 in 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.
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami perfectly match 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.
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.
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 for it to take years for 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.