Original Video Animation. Also OAV. Episodes produced for release in video (VHS, LD or DVD), instead of TV broadcasting.
"Original Video Animation". (Also sometimes OAV, "original animation video") This refers to anime produced for direct release on DVD and/or video tape. The episodes can be longer, since they don't need to allow for advertising, and sometimes it means that there is more graphic sex or violence, since they don't need to worry about broadcast standards.
An OVA is an anime that was released directly to video. OVAs are generally based on other anime series or mangas. Some good OVAs are the Rayearth OVAs (from Magic Knight Rayearth).
Original Video Animation. An OVA is an anime that was produced specifically for sale on video (as opposed to TV release). Unlike the English term "direct-to-video" it does not imply an inferior product.
OAV Original Video Animation, anime released directly to video.
Es la sigla de Original Video Anime, también lo podemos encontrar como AOV.
Stands for ‘Original Video Animation'. In Japan a lot of anime is created purely for the VHS and DVD formats and will not be broadcast on TV or in cinemas, this allows the creators to have more flexibility than television will allow but without the financial risk of a cinema feature. Many of these series or one-off specials are available here (e.g. Samurai X). Sometimes the abbreviation can appear as OAV (Original Animation Videos) but it means the same thing.
Original Video Animation: see OAV, above.
Original Video Animation. An anime direct to video release is common in Japan but a rarity in the US. Unlike the US, where direct to video movies are still often seen as a reprieve from a disastrous theatrical release, OVAs in Japan can be big events unto themselves.
see original animation video
Anime that is released directly to video tape without having been broadcast on television is referred to in Japan as an Original Video Animation or OVA. Westerners will often transpose the letters to "OAV" but the meaning remains the same.