Difference between oav and dtv

[Master Moron]

Why is is that when things are released directly to video in the U.S. they're called dtvs, while in Japan they're called oavs?

[Undrave]

Why is is that when things are released directly to video in the U.S. they're called dtvs, while in Japan they're called oavs?

The only difference I can think of is that a DTV is mostly one movie in one big block, while an OAV is divided in episodes like a standard TV serie.

[D Dubbs]

The only difference I can think of is that a DTV is mostly one movie in one big block, while an OAV is divided in episodes like a standard TV serie.

Well, some OVAs are only one "episode," but you're right, generally they have multiple releases.

There really isn't too much of difference, although I guess an OAV would have to be animated (you know, since it stands for Original Animated Video).

[Weatherman]

Generally an OVA in Japan is considered to be a step up in quality since most are based on TV shows. A DTV title in the US, whether this is ture or not, is regarded as a step down since most are based on toys straight up or feature films.

[Mynd Hed]

Why do we generally call American animation "cartoons" and Japanese animation "anime"? There is no difference at all in the literal meanings of the words.

[Golgo13]

Why do we generally call American animation "cartoons" and Japanese animation "anime"? There is no difference at all in the literal meanings of the words.

We've been over this a million times.

[Undrave]

Why do we generally call American animation "cartoons" and Japanese animation "anime"? There is no difference at all in the literal meanings of the words.

PLEASE oh PLEASE don't bring that tired sementics argument out ><

And as its been pointed out 'DTV', Direct to Video, can include more things than OAV since it can also include live action movies.

In a way all OAVs are DTVs but not all DTVs are OAVs, the same way all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares.

[Mynd Hed]

I'm just pointing out that sometimes, for one reason or another, there are terms out there with similar meanings. I tend to use "DTV" and "OVA/OAV" interchangeably, and I think most people (or at least most people who are familiar with the term "OVA" at all) do the same. There is a slight difference because OVA specifies animation whereas DTV doesn't, but at the end of the day, they're pretty much the same thing.

Maybe a better analogy would be frogs and toads. If you're an expert on the subject, there IS a technical distinction between the two of them, but for most everyday purposes, they can be considered the same.

[Captain Highwind]

OAV sounds more Engrish, like a bunch of random English words tossed together, while DTV sounds more like a fragmented sentence, but still a little more cohesive. There's your difference.

Original!

Animated!

Video!

[Alex Toon]

Maybe a better analogy would be frogs and toads. If you're an expert on the subject, there IS a technical distinction between the two of them, but for most everyday purposes, they can be considered the same.
For comparison purposes, think of OAVs as a mini-series/ TV movie in most cases- the closest American items you could compare them to

[J'onn J'onzz]

For comparison purposes, think of OAVs as a mini-series/ TV movie in most cases- the closest American items you could compare them to
OAV is more like an episode of a mini-series except on DVD instead.

DTV is more like a direct to TV movie except it's Direct to DVD (hence the name) instead.

[Weatherman]

Maybe a better analogy would be frogs and toads. If you're an expert on the subject, there IS a technical distinction between the two of them, but for most everyday purposes, they can be considered the same.


.......only if you want to drown your toad or dehydrate your frog. Frogs are generally aquatic and at least need alot of water. Toads are land critters and don't need to be wet. Just FYI.

[Undrave]

.......only if you want to drown your toad or dehydrate your frog. Frogs are generally aquatic and at least need alot of water. Toads are land critters and don't need to be wet. Just FYI.

Yeah I think my rectangle-square analogy works better.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Why yes it does as all OVA's are direct to video entertainment but not all DTV's are animated and thus could not be OVA's which are original video animations.

DTV's don't have to be movies either BTW. You can have a DTV series as well just like an OVA could be episodes or a movie. The series that will become the Spectacular Spider-Man was originally a DTV series concept IIRC.

As for the topic question. As it was already pointed out we call Japanese cartoons anime (at least for short) and just as we have a different name for Japanese cartoons we also have a different name for Japanese animated DTVs. But the term OVA originated in Japan and otaku around here simply adapted to using it instead of saying DTV. But technically any animated DTV is an OVA.

[Simpler Simon]

Personally, I never understood why geekdom allowed for two different terms - OVA vs OAV. You don't see a lot of examples where the letters are switched around interchangeably - Nintendo Gamecube for example, is officially GCN and never NGC.

[Captain Highwind]

- Nintendo Gamecube for example, is officially GCN and never NGC.

GCN always makes me think "Game Cube Network."

I wish people just called it GC.

[Master Moron]

Personally, I never understood why geekdom allowed for two different terms - OVA vs OAV. You don't see a lot of examples where the letters are switched around interchangeably - Nintendo Gamecube for example, is officially GCN and never NGC.

Those are both horrible. Why is there even an N there? No one calls it the Nintendo GameCube, they just call it the Gamecube. I think the worst abbreviation I've seen is the one for the original Playstation. PSX? Where the hell did the X come from?

[Captain Highwind]

Maybe "PS1" sounds like code for gotta tinkle when said out loud.

[Undrave]

Those are both horrible. Why is there even an N there? No one calls it the Nintendo GameCube, they just call it the Gamecube. I think the worst abbreviation I've seen is the one for the original Playstation. PSX? Where the hell did the X come from?

I believe PSX refers to the slimer version of the PSOne that was released later in its run.

[Tash]

I believe PSX refers to the slimer version of the PSOne that was released later in its run.
Which is annoying, because both PS1 and PSX were used to refer to the Playstation before those came out. Now, you just have to call is the PS or PS1 and hope that they know what you're talking about.

[Mynd Hed]

I believe PSX refers to the slimer version of the PSOne that was released later in its run.

If you want to get as technical (and anal retentive) as humanly possible, PS1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation) refers to the original version of the PlayStation, PSOne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation#PS_one) refers to the slimmer redesign, and PSX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSX_&#37;28DVR%29) refers to a combination PS2 and DVR device that was released in Japan in 2003 but never made it to North America or any other territory.

In practice, most people use all three abbreviations interchangeably to refer to any or all versions of Sony's original PlayStation.

[Swordfish_II]

And the fact that they released an actual PSX, which was a PS2 with a bunch of DVR features.

[Captain Highwind]

What is the abbreviation for Famicom?

[RAINMAN]

My guess would be FES?

[Mynd Hed]

What is the abbreviation for Famicom?

Famicom is already an abbreviation (for Family Computer). I've never seen it further abbreviated beyond that.

[Weatherman]

What is the abbreviation for Famicom?

Out here, NES. Nintendo Entertainment System. So, touche.

[Tash]

What is the abbreviation for Famicom?
"FC". The system was long gone before 3/4 letter abbreviations became standard, so it was never given one.

[Undrave]

Beside japanese don't naturally abreviate in the same manner due to the nature of their written language.

[bigdeath]

Why is OVA call original? Is there a such thing as an Unoriginal animated video? :shrug: :p

[Weatherman]

Why is OVA call original? Is there a such thing as an Unoriginal animated video? :shrug: :p

It means that what is on the video premiered on video, not on TV or a theater screen.

[Master Moron]

Why is OVA call original? Is there a such thing as an Unoriginal animated video? :shrug: :p

Ummm...yeah. TV shows and movies.

[Captain Highwind]

Ummm...yeah. TV shows and movies.

Lifetime in particular.