There is something for just about everyone when it comes to watching anime. Popular titles like Naruto, One Piece, and Fairy Tail have plenty of episodes to watch, whether it's the main story or a filler arc. Then there are also the original video animation/OVA episodes that fans might forget about.
OVAs can be used as fillers or be the whole production for anime shows. Popular titles will use to tell side stories or small fillers. Even manga series will create OVAs to show some chapters and bring them to life. They weren't shown on TV, but these OVAs are entertaining and have amazing stories that rival the big names.
10 3x3 Eyes
This is story of Pai, a 3-eyed demon, on a journey to become human with her companion, Yakumo. Pai believes she's the last of her kind and wants to forget her rough past. She also has a split personality, which is normal for her kind and develops as their way of coping with having long lives.
Her Pai personality is usually the one that seen and is overall a sweet girl. However, if Pai is in danger or emotionally distressed, her Parvati IV personality comes out. Her personalities are aware of each other and actually talk to each other. The first OVA series is four episodes long and the second OVA series has 3 episodes. While its animation style is more old school, the story will keep viewers entranced and keep them on the edge of their seats, especially when Parvati comes out.
9 Elfen Lied
Elfen Lied isn't exactly known for being light-hearted, but there's an OVA episode that fans can watch to take a break from the dark intensity. The episode takes place between episodes 10 and 11. It's about Nana adjusting to life in the Maple House with Kouta, Yuka, and Nyu/Lucy, whom Nana is wary of after their brutal fight. The episode does have some emotional moments that are quite sad and show a vulnerable side to Lucy, who is usually quite violent.
It also shows a key moment in the manga and reveals how Lucy was caught by scientists so she could be experimented on. This episode showed that she wasn't always malicious, especially when it comes to those she cares about.
8 Noragami
Fans are still hoping for a third season to be greenlit, but Noragami does have 4 OVA episodes that most don't know about. The first and second seasons each have two OVA episodes.
They don't add anything to the main stories of their respective seasons, but all four episodes are just as hilarious as other episodes of the main series with some serious moments.
7 .hack//Liminality
This OVA series was released with the .hack video games during the PlayStation 2 era. It has four episodes and it takes place in the real world concerning problems with the video game known as The World. Mai Minase is the main character and the series follows her and her allies.
The group is trying to figure out how to save players (which includes Mai's boyfriend) that went into a coma while playing The World. Unlike most of the .hack anime shows, this one focuses more on the players in the real world.
6 Final Fantasy: Legend Of The Crystals
This four episode OVA series takes place 200 years after Final Fantasy V. This OVA follows Linaly, a descendent of FF5 protagonist Bartz Klauser. A new evil has come and is threatening to take the Crystals. She travels with her grandfather and friend, Prettz, to find out what this new evil is and protect the crystals. Fans might only get a glimpse of the old heroes, but the journey to protect the crystals is familiar along with going to different worlds.
It might not be the sequel that fans envisioned for Final Fantasy V, but it is an entertaining watch. It shows what could happen long after Bartz and his friends saved the world (it is unknown if this anime is considered canonical).
5 Blue Submarine No. 6
A post-apocalyptic OVA with four episodes, this OVA takes place in a world where Earth's oceans have flooded most of the planet thanks to the efforts of a mad scientist named Zorndyke. He's not only responsible for that, but he has also created sea-creatures known as Hybrids. The remaining humans declare war on him and this OVA follows the group on the Blue Submarine No. 6. Each member of the group has their particular set of skills and has befriended a nereid (one of Zorndyke's creations) named Mutio.
The animation was considered top-notch for its time, but it is considered dated now when compared to modern anime. It is an overall entertaining watch with great character and background designs.
4 Leda: The Fantastic Adventure Of Yohko
This OVA is about a high school girl named Yoko Asagiri who composes a piano sonata for a boy she likes. She doesn't have the confidence to confess to him, but she has high hopes that her music will do the talking. While listening to her song on a walkman, Yoko suddenly finds herself in a completely different world. Her song is the key to being able to transport between worlds, and enemies of the fantasy world want that power. Yoko finds herself to be the prophesied warrior to save the worlds from Zell, an evil man that wants to rule them. She must work to not just save them, but also get back home.
It's a classic fantasy where the heroine starts off shy and quiet then turns into a powerful warrior that carries on into personal life. The art style might be outdated for some viewers, but it has a great story and character development to make up for it.
3 Attack On Titan: Lost Girls
This 3 episode OVA shows fans what happened before Annie Leonhart left to capture Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman envisioning a different life for herself. Annie helps with a missing person case and finds out there's a lot going on behind the scenes than she thought. Instead of the usual violent action with Titans, Annie's episodes come off more as a crime-mystery.
Mikasa's episode shows her imagining how her life might've gone if her parents hadn't been killed. Her vision of an alternate past shows that she still meets Eren. Unfortunately, Mikasa's vision of a different past does take a tragic turn and she's brought back to reality.
2 Yu Yu Hakusho: Two Shots And All Or Nothing
It might come as a surprise, but Yu Yu Hakusho does have two OVA episodes that were released back in 2018. It was bundled with the 25th-anniversary Blu-Ray box. The anime series ended with Yusuke and the others moving on in their lives after the Demon Kings Tournament. The first episode, Two Shots, serves as a prequel for Hiei and Kurama became allies before they met Yusuke.
The second episode, All or Nothing, happens after the anime ended. Team Urameshi is reunited because the Spirit World is in trouble. After Koenma and Botan are kidnapped, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama agree to save them. Though all four of them haven't worked together for a while, they pick up right where they left off. Hiei and Kuwabara are hilariously going at each other's throats. Kurama is the calm and collected one of the group and Yusuke is just always down for a fight. The humor and action are nostalgic for fans, but gives them something new to look at.
1 Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
As popular as Final Fantasy VII is, it's no surprise that it has an OVA episode. However, even some of the most hardcore fans might've forgotten about it. It was released in North America if fans bought the collector's set of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. This 25 minute OVA shows the Nibelheim Incident and events afterwards, but Tseng is the one who narrates what happens.
Tseng doesn't get much time in the spotlight in the games compared to other characters. This OVA helps viewers hear his thoughts on everything that's happening. It gives fans a different view to see since the Turks' leader usually appears stoic in his appearances.