50 best OVA's in Anime
by J_Frank_Parnell | created - 25 Dec 2022 | updated - 20 Apr 2023 | PublicThe OVA ("Original Video Animation") is a pretty uniquely Japanese phenomenon, where animators would make, sell, and completely control their own product, without the kind of compromises and censorship required for TV or theatrical release. And then sell direct to the consumer, on home-video formats.
The 80's VHS boom saw amateur or low-level animators making their own videos using whatever equipment they could scrounge together, borrow, or use at uni or after hours at work. And then selling the tapes themselves, direct to stores, via mail-order, at conventions, or direct to consumers, not unlike the "mixtape" phenomena of the 80s/90s/00s hiphop, or the "DIY" approach of punk rock in the 70s and 80s, with many of the artists creating OVAs being college students, or sometimes even high-school kids.
Some OVAs follow a 'Movie'-ish format; A single, uninterrupted story maybe 40 to 100 minutes long. Sometimes it's 4 to 12 TV-style 23min episodes of a single series. Or less often, just a collection of loosely-connected or unrelated shorts
So, while especially older OVAs are less polished than movies or TV, they're also often more innovative, unique, and raw. The low barrier to entry meant animators could just do whatever the individual, or a small team thought was cool, rather than what studio execs or TV producers thought would sell cinema tickets/ad spots. Which meant a lot of horror, bizarre, surreal imagery, and often a very personal, unique vision from the animators.
[Many OVAs are incorrectly catagorized by IMdB as "TV series/mini-series", (or even "Movies") instead of "video", because AFTER the original OVA release became popular, TV channels picked them up for broadcast (a few, like Fooly Cooly or Bubblegum Crisis, even made it onto Western broadcast TV). But (AFAIK) everything on this list was FIRST released on some home-video format; Usually VHS or DVD, but also sometimes Betamax, Laserdisc, etc]
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50 Best Anime TV Series, Pre-2001
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls566865122
Best Anime TV Series, Post-2000 list
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls566867873
Best Anime Movies list
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls566862986
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1. FLCL (2000–2001)
TV-14 | 151 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Mysterious things start happening when 12-year-old Naota meets a strange woman on a Vespa wielding a big guitar.
Stars: Jun Mizuki, Mayumi Shintani, Izumi Kasagi, Suzuki Matsuo
Votes: 19,727
I'm guessing most people with even a passing interest in anime are familiar with Fooly Cooly/FLCL. But if you HAVEN'T seen it, you've missed one of the most influential, unique, innovative, ridiculously cool pieces of independent animation ever made. Absolute 10/10 must-see.
2. Macross Plus (1994)
Not Rated | 35 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
Two old friends/rivals find themselves rival test pilots in competing projects while a mutual old flame returns to them with her own secrets.
Stars: Edward Mannix, Bryan Cranston, Michael Forest, Paris Themmen
Votes: 4,007
Probably the highest-quality, most beautiful animation in any OVA
3. Giant Robo the Animation: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1992–1998)
TV-PG | 339 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A super-hero organization battles a super-villain organization that is bent on destroying the world by using a recently discovered perfect source of energy named the Shizuma Drive, which powers the entire planet.
Stars: Kappei Yamaguchi, Michelle Newman, Eva Kaminsky, Sumi Shimamoto
Votes: 488
A retro-stylized mech series, and an incredibly-polished homage to 60's 'Super-Robot' classics like Gigator/Tetsujin 28-Gou, or Astro-Boy/Mighty Atom.
It's difficult to even summarize this unique series; A beautifully-animated, genre-defying masterpiece, and mech series, for people who aren't interested in mech series.
4. New Getter Robo (2004)
25 min | Animation, Sci-Fi
Creatures called the Oni have attacked the planet earth, so a scientist creates three mecha robots. The strongest of these robots is called Getter Robo, which three men pilot it, a martial artist, criminal leader and a monk.
Stars: Beau Billingslea, Kirk Thornton, Jamieson Price, Lex Lang
Votes: 109
Much more your typical mech series than Giant Robo, but wild, impressive animation. I won't further bore people by explaining what "Sakuga" means- If you're not familiar, google it. But this series OOZES sakuga
5. You're Under Arrest! (1994–1995)
Animation, Action, Comedy
Stars: Sakiko Tamagawa, Akiko Hiramatsu, Issei Masamune, Bin Shimada
Votes: 58
This OVA which spawned a long-running TV series, 'You're Under Arrest' is personal favourite of mine.
Most anime is full of gimmicks; Shows set in the future, in space, where everyone has magical powers, AND pilot a 400ft robot... AND is also a pop idol. And I can appreciate that stuff... But there's something really nice, about a show that's just a simple police procedural, with NO real gimmicks at all.
Just a really simple, well-executed, charming buddy-cop series.
6. Dominion Tank Police (1988–1989)
R | 70 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
In a dystopic pollution ridden future, the tank police fight for law and order and cause massive collateral destruction along the way.
Stars: Hiromi Tsuru, Masaaki Ôkura, Yûsaku Yara, Ichirô Nagai
Votes: 1,789
7. Project A-Ko (1986)
Unrated | 86 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A plucky, super-powered redhead finds herself saving her crybaby best friend from an amorous, bikini armor-clad classmate at their new school and aliens seeking to bring her home.
Directors: Katsuhiko Nishijima, Shigeru Morikawa | Stars: Miki Itô, Emi Shinohara, Michie Tomizawa, Julia Braams
Votes: 1,474
Great, under-appreciated parody of just about every scifi/anime/superhero/pop culture trope, ever.
8. Bubblegum Crisis (1987–1991)
TV-MA | 25 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
A female mercenary team, armed with unique power armor suits, battle the forces of the corrupt mega-corporation, Genom in futuristic Tokyo.
Stars: Yoshiko Sakakibara, Kinuko Ômori, Michie Tomizawa, Akiko Hiramatsu
Votes: 1,771
Very fun, cheesy, 80s cyberpunk sillyness. And that opening song is still one of the most memorable beginnings to an anime.
9. Gunbuster 2: Diebuster (2004–2006)
27 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A young girl leaves her home to be a space pilot. She meets top pilot Lal'C during a space monster attack and joins the Solar Defense Force.
Stars: Yukari Fukui, Maaya Sakamoto, Miyuki Sawashiro, Mitsuo Iwata
Votes: 658
10. Black Jack (1993–2018)
TV-PG | Animation, Drama, Mystery
The adventures of the unlicensed but genius doctor Black Jack, who encounters extraordinary people and phenomena as he attends to unusual medical cases.
Stars: Kirk Thornton, Julie Maddalena, Sherry Lynn, Akio Ôtsuka
Votes: 225
11. Detroit Metal City (2008 Video)
TV-MA | 168 min | Animation, Comedy, Music
The life of a split personality man who secretly sings for death metal.
Director: Hiroshi Nagahama | Stars: Daisuke Kishio, Ai Kobayashi, Takashi Matsuyama, Masami Nagasawa
Votes: 1,534
Hilarious, campy comedy about a Death Metal vocalist, who just wants to be Mariah Carey.
12. Cat Soup (2001)
Not Rated | 34 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A young anthropomorphic cat goes on a psychedelic journey with his sister in order to save her soul.
Directors: Tatsuo Satô, Masaaki Yuasa
Votes: 5,947
13. Area 88 (1985– )
TV-PG | 200 min | Animation, Action, Drama
A pilot must try to survive with his humanity when he is shanghaied into a mercenary jet fighter force.
Stars: Shannon Conley, Dan Olk, Randy Glass, Wendy Walker
Votes: 478
Amazing series, if you're an aviation nerd, like myself
14. 3x3 Eyes (1991–1992)
TV-MA | 110 min | Animation, Fantasy, Horror
A demon girl's quest to become human, with the help of an unwitting boy named Yakumo.
Stars: Mayumi Tanaka, Akio Ôtsuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Ai Orikasa
Votes: 814
15. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991–1992)
Not Rated | 390 min | Animation, Action, Drama
After the One Year War, Peace was signed between Zeon and the Earth Federation. Three years later, however, some remaining forces of Zeon who never gave up steal the new Federation mobile ... See full summary »
Stars: Ryô Horikawa, Akio Ôtsuka, Rei Sakuma, Dorothy Elias-Fahn
Votes: 1,215
16. Hellsing Ultimate (2006–2012)
Not Rated | 50 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
The vampire Alucard, his master Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, and his newly sired ward Seras Victoria, try to protect England from a war-crazed SS-Major who seeks to start an eternal war with his vampire army.
Stars: Katie Gray, Crispin Freeman, Victoria Harwood, Ralph Lister
Votes: 26,760
17. Mazinkaiser SKL (2010–2011)
Not Rated | 27 min | Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
The WSO has learned that the Gravity Curtain has reached an unstable status and will explode within 66 hours, destroying all of Earth and human life itself. Each of the three factions ... See full summary »
Stars: Dave Mallow, Steve Kramer, Saori Hayami, David Lodge
Votes: 129
18. Batman: Gotham Knight (2008 Video)
PG-13 | 75 min | Animation, Action, Crime
A collection of key events mark Bruce Wayne's life as he journeys from beginner to Dark Knight.
Directors: Yasuhiro Aoki, Futoshi Higashide, Toshiyuki Kubooka, Hiroshi Morioka, Jong-Sik Nam, Shôjirô Nishimi, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Yûichirô Hayashi | Stars: Kevin Conroy, Jason Marsden, Scott Menville, George Newbern
Votes: 30,225
19. Riding Bean (1989 Video)
Not Rated | 46 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A superhuman outlaw courier and his female partner/manager are framed for the kidnapping of a millionaire's daughter.
Directors: Yasuo Hasegawa, Yasunori Ide, Osamu Kamijô, Masahiro Tanaka, Shin'ya Ôhira | Stars: Hideyuki Tanaka, Naoko Matsui, Mami Koyama, Kei Tomiyama
Votes: 1,096
20. Angel's Egg (1985 Video)
Not Rated | 71 min | Animation, Drama, Fantasy
A mysterious young girl wanders a desolate, otherworldly landscape, carrying a large egg.
Director: Mamoru Oshii | Stars: Mako Hyôdô, Jinpachi Nezu, Keiichi Noda
Votes: 12,015
21. Battle Angel (1993)
Not Rated | 54 min | Animation, Action, Drama
In a distant future, a the young cyborg Gally is found on a scrapheap by the Cyberdoctor Daisuke Ido, who rebuilds her and becomes her surrogate father.
Stars: Miki Itô, Shunsuke Kariya, Kappei Yamaguchi, Edward Glen
Votes: 5,830
22. Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend (1989)
Not Rated | 108 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
The relative coexistence of the human world, demon world and beast world is soon to be disrupted by The Overfiend, an immensely powerful demon who'll be reborn after 3000 years to remake the world to his own liking.
Director: Hideki Takayama | Stars: Christopher Courage, Rebel Joy, Sonny Weil, Bick Balse
Votes: 3,666
23. Apocalypse Zero (1996– )
Not Rated | 80 min | Animation, Action, Horror
Kakugo and Harara are siblings trained to fight the monsters roaming in post-apocalyptic Tokyo. 21st century. To aid them, Kakugo and Harara were entrusted with "Fortified Armor Shells", ... See full summary »
Stars: Lex Lang, Mona Marshall, Sherry Lynn, Dave Mallow
Votes: 247
Weird as hell (literally), but deserves waaay more than 4.7/10. If you're a fan on bizarre, surreal (well-executed) animation, and/or horror, track this down.
24. The Cockpit (1993– )
72 min | Animation, Drama, War
Three aviation focused war stories of Axis participants.
Stars: Ken'yû Horiuchi, Hikaru Midorikawa, Dean Wein, Kirk Thornton
Votes: 348
Very interesting to see a ww2 story (or, a collection of 3 ww2 stories), from the Japanese side. Especially since the creator/writer of the comic this was based on, Leiji Matsumoto, was the son of an Air Force Pilot.
25. Appleseed (1988 Video)
TV-14 | 71 min | Animation, Action, Crime
In a vast futuristic city, built on the ashes of the third world war, a police officer and her cyborg partner fight terrorism.
Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama | Stars: Masako Katsuki, Yoshisada Sakaguchi, Toshiko Sawada, Toshio Furukawa
Votes: 3,045
26. Freedom (2006– )
30 min | Animation, Short, Sci-Fi
Based on characters designed by Katsuhiro Otomo, 3 bike racing teenagers born on the Moon uncover a terrible secret about the fate of their original homeworld earth and seek to uncover the ... See full summary »
Stars: Michael Sinterniklaas, Robby Sharpe, Johnny Yong Bosch, Kyle Hebert
Votes: 454
27. Doomed Megalopolis (1991– )
47 min | Animation, Fantasy, Horror
The plot concerns a spiritual battle being waged within the capital of Tokyo during the turn of the 20th century. In 1908, Japan is undergoing an enormous process of industrial renovation ... See full synopsis »
Stars: Peter Marinker, Milton James, Yôko Asagami, Clifton Wells
Votes: 369
28. Black Magic M-66 (1987 Video)
48 min | Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
A freelance reporter discovers that two killer androids are running loose and have a little girl for a kill target.
Directors: Hiroyuki Kitakubo, Shirow Masamune | Stars: Yû Mizushima, Ichirô Nagai, Shinji Ogawa, Yoshiko Sakakibara
Votes: 1,320
29. Robot Carnival (1987 Video)
Unrated | 90 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A collection of short stories, made by different animators with "robot" as the working title.
Directors: Atsuko Fukushima, Hiroyuki Kitakubo, Hiroyuki Kitazume, Kôji Morimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Yasuomi Umetsu, Manabu Ôhashi, Hidetoshi Ômori, Katsuhiro Ôtomo | Stars: Kôji Moritsugu, Yayoi Maki, Keiko Hanagata, Kumiko Takizawa
Votes: 2,954
30. Mobile Police Patlabor: The Early Days (1988)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Short, Action
The adventures of a giant robot police force unit.
Stars: Toshio Furukawa, Daisuke Gôri, Mîna Tominaga, Issei Futamata
Votes: 822
31. Sukeban Deka (1991 Video)
50 min | Animation, Action, Drama
There are some places a cop can never go, like high school. Blackmailed with the fate of her mother on death row, Saki Asamiya trades in her prison blues for a school-girl's uniform and ... See full summary »
Director: Takeshi Hirota | Stars: Naomi Uchiyama, Jan Angus, Renee Foresman, Tiffany Grant
Votes: 100
The Japanese "delinquent girl" genre is so goddam weird.
32. Violence Jack (1986–1990)
Unrated | 155 min | Animation, Action, Drama
In a hell-torn Japan, where motorcycle gangs and violence overrun the country; one man named Violence Jack stands up to it all. He fights violence with violence.
Stars: Issei Futamata, Bob Sessions, William Roberts, Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Votes: 545
33. Young GTO (1994– )
TV-14 | Animation, Action, Comedy
Eikichi Onizuka and Ryuji Danma are members of infamous biker duo, the Oni Baku. When not out riding around, they can be found at school, trying to pick up young women. This is the story of... See full summary »
Stars: Issei Futamata, Hideyuki Hori, Wakana Yamazaki, Ikuya Sawaki
Votes: 240
Predecessor to the legendary 'Great Teacher Onizuka' TV series, following Onizuka's years rise as a teenage delinquent.
34. New Dominion Tank Police (1993–1994)
30 min | Animation, Short, Action
The year is 2016. The place is New Port City. The Tank Police are still waging a desperate war on crime, and their tactics are still highly questionable. Mayor Weatherby is trying to pass a... See full summary »
Stars: Cameron Mitchell, Rei Sakuma, Toni Barry, Hiroyuki Shibamoto
Votes: 589
35. Birth (1984)
80 min | Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
Brother-and-sister heirs to a planetary kingdom face danger as they embark on a journey of self-discovery.
Director: Shin'ya Sadamitsu | Stars: Mîna Tominaga, Kazuki Yao, Ichirô Nagai, Kaneto Shiozawa
Votes: 174
36. Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor (1989–1992)
TV-MA | 53 min | Animation, Action, Horror
Sho and his friend Tetsurou stumble upon an odd alien artifact while walking through the woods. Then, the alien artifact breaks free of its metallic bonds and enters Sho's body, turning him... See full summary »
Stars: Takeshi Kusao, Yûko Mizutani, Hideyuki Tanaka, Kôzô Shioya
Votes: 1,018
37. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (1997)
90 min | Animation, Action, Drama
Grand finale to the Gundam Wing television series.
Stars: Hikaru Midorikawa, Akiko Yajima, Toshihiko Seki, Shigeru Nakahara
Votes: 1,147
39. Sweat Punch (2007)
55 min | Animation
Stars: Naoki Imamura, Shino Kakinuma, Ai Maeda, Hikaru Midorikawa
Votes: 10
40. Dirty Pair OVA (1987– )
TV-PG | 25 min | Animation, Short, Action
Join everyone's favorite space duo, Kei and Yuri in more awesome adventures in this thrilling OVA collection.
Stars: Pam Lauer, Jessica Calvello, Saeko Shimazu, Kyôko Tongû
Votes: 210
41. A Piece of Phantasmagoria (1995– )
Animation
Based on Phantasmagoria, a picture book, this is a reflective anime set in a fantasy and minimalist world. The series Consists of fifteen episodes, each five minutes in length.
Votes: 62
42. Mad Bull 34 (1990–1992)
195 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
The most dangerous area in New York City, the 34th precinct, is patrolled by the most brutal cop, Sleepy John Estes the Mad Bull.
Stars: Akio Ôtsuka, Yasunori Matsumoto, Mari Yokô, Kikuko Inoue
Votes: 461
I love the idea that this is REALLY how the Japanese see New York, and American cops.
43. Megazone 23 (1985 Video)
Not Rated | 81 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In 1980s Tokyo, a young motorcycle enthusiast discovers that the transforming bike/mecha entrusted to him by his murdered friend holds the key to the true nature of his world.
Directors: Yasuo Hasegawa, Noboru Ishiguro, Ichirô Itano | Stars: Masato Kubota, Maria Kawamura, Mîna Tominaga, Mayumi Shô
Votes: 726
44. Gunbuster (1988–1989)
PG | 30 min | Animation, Action, Drama
A young pilot, daughter of a deceased space captain, is selected to pilot a gigantic robot as a key point of Earth's defense during a space war.
Stars: Noriko Hidaka, Rei Sakuma, Norio Wakamoto, Maria Kawamura
Votes: 2,013
A lot of anime fans RAVE about Gunbuster, and I know it's history with Gainax and Anno, but... maybe I just heard TOO MUCH hype before seeing the show? But I prefer (it's sequel) Diebuster, tbh.
45. Baoh the Caller (1989 Video)
50 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Doress, a Japanese "black projects" organization, has been gathering psionics and making biological weapons to "make Japan superior". When one of the biological experiments, BAOH, escapes ... See full summary »
Director: Hiroyuki Yokoyama | Stars: Jim Clark, Sandy Clubb, Chuck Denson Jr., Mark Franklin
Votes: 826
46. AD Police Files (1990)
Not Rated | 121 min | Animation, Crime, Sci-Fi
Three different, unique stories about an elite police force called the AD Police.
Stars: Toshio Furukawa, Adam Henderson, Brad Moranz, Youko Matsuoka
Votes: 1,017
47. Bastard!! (1992–1993)
Not Rated | 180 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A dark lord is trying to destroy his foes, take over the world with his demonic armies and bed women along the way.
Stars: Kazuki Yao, Daran Norris, Wendee Lee, Yuriko Fuchizaki
Votes: 796
48. Plastic Little (1994 Video)
Not Rated | 48 min | Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Tita Mu Koshigaya is a young woman who captains a ship, the Cha-Cha Maru, whose business is capturing exotic creatures in the 'sea of clouds' of the planet Ietta, and selling them to ... See full summary »
Directors: Satoshi Urushihara, Kinji Yoshimoto | Stars: Yôsuke Akimoto, Bryan Bounds, Angel Fisher, Yuriko Fuchizaki
Votes: 590
Full of cheesy fan-service/gratuitious nudity, but also some very nice art, and i just love that 90's aesthetic.
49. Dallos (1983–1984)
83 min | Animation, Sci-Fi
In a near future, mankind has moved from a drained Earth to the Moon. Rebel acts of terrorism lead to conflicts with the Earth Federal Government. A mysterious entity called Dallos appears to restore hope.
Stars: Hideki Sasaki, Shûichi Ikeda, Rumiko Ukai, Yoshiko Sakakibara
Votes: 344
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