Meaning of the abbreviations OVA, OAD, OST, PV, etc.

Introduction:

It's common to find many acronyms after anime titles. Among them are the popular OVAs, and we also have the abbreviation TV. The latter is easy to guess, but there are some lesser-known ones, such as ONA and OAD. Few people know what they mean, or even have a rough idea of ​​what they are.

In any case, in this article we'll provide an explanation and some additional information about these abbreviations that accompany the life of an otaku, or at least those who are more interested in these details.

But before we begin, everyone should know that these abbreviations are not common, and knowing their meaning doesn't change anything. We provide this information solely as a source of information and curiosity about this fascinating animation industry.

01-When the abbreviation "tv" is next to the anime title.

While this is obvious, we'll explain it further. After all, there's no one currently who doesn't know the meaning of the acronym TV—that's right, TELEVISION. It's common to find this acronym in anime shown on television. This really explains why this acronym is found.

When an anime is shown on television, it gets this acronym. An interesting example is the TV-only anime Black Clover. If you watch anime on streaming or fan sites, you won't notice any difference between this and any other anime. This is because they got this acronym in Japan, where broadcasters buy the rights to these anime so they can boast about showing them.

This scheme is similar to movies found on most apps or websites. In short, broadcasters buy the rights to a movie in order to show it on their apps or websites. This guarantees the right to show such a movie, and as compensation, they earn an audience, which may or may not be paid for by subscriptions.

02- What does the abbreviation "PV" mean when it appears next to a video clip?

An abbreviation for "Promotional Video." It refers to short videos containing some animated elements (characters, scenarios, or other similar elements), often accompanied by background narration for promotional purposes.

Videos under this abbreviation are generally published in the media to promote an anime, movie, OVA, ONA, or other series. These videos are usually released to promote the premiere of anime and anime films, but they may also be shown during or at the end of a series to encourage the purchase of related products.

We often don't refer to them by their proper names, as PVs are often confused with PVs. In case you're wondering, "Does it matter?" we'll explain what a trailer is. A trailer is a short video containing parts of a movie, series, or novel intended to advertise a work before its release. In other words, it's a video advertisement, while PVs are promotional videos. Whether you agree or disagree is up to you.

03- Meaning of the abbreviation OVA - Original Video Animation

OVA is an abbreviation for "Original Video Animation" (OAV), which is also used as an acronym in some countries. This abbreviation refers to anime episodes or anime movies that are exclusive to video media such as Blu-ray and DVD.

It is released suddenly, without any warning, as is usually the case with animated films and anime. There are exceptions, but these are rare, and most only know when it has actually been released. Despite being released without prior notice, OVAs have more time to develop, which often exceeds the quality of the main production. Despite these characteristics, OVAs are simply stories that complement a story or follow a different path from the original work, which is the main anime. This means that this abbreviation usually accompanies an anime episode that is mostly unrelated to the anime.

Anime, in this brevity, lacks any kind of storytelling or censorship, an implicit rule of great importance to the industry. Anime and manga episodes produced in OVA format are available on one DVD or other media volume for each episode produced. This is one way anime generates income.

04- Meaning of the abbreviation (OAD - (ORIGINAL ANIMATION DVD

To explain this acronym, I must say that it's of no use to otaku who only watch anime. But if you're an otaku who loves buying manga and anime on Blu-ray and DVD, you'll recognize it. The term is taken from the English expression "Original Animation DVD," which means "Original Animation DVD."

For general clarity, this acronym refers to OVAs on DVD, with a few more details than the aforementioned OVAs. The difference between OVAs and OVAs is that when you buy these, you also receive the original product of the work, i.e., the manga. It's essentially irrelevant, and if we think about it, it doesn't affect those who only watch anime.

05- OST - Original Audio Track

An abbreviation for "Original Sound Track," this refers to the songs included in an anime, whether they be opening, ending, background, or other themes. Essentially, it's all the songs in an anime.

This is another popular way for the industry to generate revenue. OSTs are often sold as separate parts of an anime. This is not just for anime, but for virtually all other media of this type, such as movies, TV series, and more.

 

06- Abbreviation - MC

MC stands for "Main Character." This is what we know as the protagonist, the character who plays the main role in an anime. They are always surrounded by looks and formalities. The cliché "The protagonist never dies" is a maxim that few cartoonists have broken. There's always a miracle that saves the MC when they need it most.

I personally just watched one of the animes that broke this maxim, Akame Ga Kill (of course I don't recommend it for anyone to watch 😂😭), and its popularity was shaped by both praise and criticism. Even today, this anime is a topic of discussion, and it's always mentioned when it comes to breaking a common maxim or canon.

07- Abbreviation - OP

It has two meanings. The first is "Overpower," which refers to an anime character who is extremely powerful in many ways, such as being extremely intelligent, strong, skilled, etc.

In short, some ability is capable of dominating others in terms of power. It's not a rule that a protagonist is OP; this term can be used for any character in the anime who fits the criteria.

The other term is "Opening," which refers to the opening of an anime. An opening typically contains a series of images that may or may not feature the main characters, spoilers, plot hints, etc. It is always accompanied by a theme song, which may or may not be sung.

What is my personal opinion on abbreviations? Well, I don't think the misinformation behind these acronyms will affect much of the otaku community's life. But as is always the case with the curious spirit of our community, the otaku spirit's cure is always to learn more about the world of anime. Speaking on a personal level, it's always good to accumulate information and knowledge.