OVAs differ from the rest of anime series because they tend to be shorter, as long as they make the point. Like any anime series, they come in different genres, including action. These anime have significantly been applauded and has a long-lasting effect on the anime industry.

10 Hellsing Ultimate

Occasionally, an OVA that surpasses its corresponding TV series can be produced. An example of this is Hellsing Ultimate, where the original Hellsing is considered an advancement in terms of animation quality and art. This OVA is a series made up of 10 episodes.

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It follows an eternal vampire by the name of Alucard. His intention of joining Hell’s organization forces him to terminate his own kind. Being a bloodthirsty individual, he has to look for any chance to take away the lives. Hellsing Ultimate is a highly intense OVA and is not suitable for the faint-hearted. It serves best the fans of horrific series.

9 Rurouni Kenshin: Reminiscence

Rurouni Kenshin is an OVA series with four episodes that aired in February 1999 and lasted five months. It was based on the Rurouni Kenshin manga series by Watsuki. Some themes associated with this series are revenge, tragedy, samurai, and swordplay.

The plot is set during the Meiji period in Japan. Protagonist Kenshin Himura is an assassin who wanders in order to guard the Japanese. He meets several characters, such as Kaoru, and the two unite to fight their adversaries. Lately, this anime has gained a massive following all over the world and has become one of the most popular manga series.

8 Attack on Titan: No Regrets

Attack on Titan is a Japanese manga series that has several OVAs episodes. One of the most famous of these is “No Regrets: The Captain Levi Story.” The OVA focuses on Levi, a popular young character. It starts by showing him struggling to live in the Underground, a horrible slum, with no hope of escaping.

Levi and his colleagues commit crimes for money since they have no options. They later resolve to undertake the assassination of Smith in order to be granted citizenship above the ground. However, the more they spend time above the world, the more they realize killing Smith may not be a good idea. This is because Levi finds that Smith is the person he loves more than anyone he has ever met.

7 Hunter X Hunter

Since Hunter X Hunter is one of the longest stories with in-depth background, it is vital to have several OVAs to provide additional content. These OVAs, though self-contained, are enjoyable, just like the rest of the series. Some of the well-known examples are G.I. Final, Phantom Rouge, and Greed Island.

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In Greed Island, Killua and Gon are looking for Ging, Gon’s father, following the defeat of Spiders. Their only hope now lies in the game called Greed Island, a place where a player’s wish is granted. The game has possible dire consequences for the losers.

6 Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal

Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal is the Rurouni Kenshin manga series prequel. The OVA series is divided into four sections and centers on a legendary assassin named Kenshin Himura, who butchered so many people because of his political ambitions. At last, he discovers that he doesn’t need violence to pursue his wishes. Nonetheless, he also has to fight to guard others against destruction.

Samurai X tries to give an explanation of how a ruthless mercenary eventually turned to be a gentle individual. This dates back to Himura’s childhood and portrays his environs’ fierceness and the hardest decision he was coerced to make for his survival.

5 FLCL

FLCL, pronounced as Fooly Cooly Series, was produced by Tsurumaki. Though most Americans saw this series on TV, most aren’t aware that it first debuted as an OVA in Japan. It is a 6-episode series aired between 2001 and 2002. FLCL is a fantastic anime and one of the best OVAs to be created.

The story features Naota, a young boy who believes that the greatest problem he faces is missing Haruko, his older brother who went to America for a baseball competition. FCLC is famous because of its use of surreal imagery and striking animation.

4 Noragami Arogoto

Occasionally, after watching a beloved cast of characters undergo an agonizing experience, one would wish to see them embark on an enjoyable adventure without devastating consequences. This is what’s special about Noragami Arogoto OVA. The main characters go to an amusement park called Capyper Land.

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The OVA is filled with funny jokes with a nice action scene that maintains the original series’ tone without getting overly grim. This OVA series is best for those who haven’t watched the original Noragami.

3 Devilman

The Devilman OVA was adapted in 1987 from the original manga series by Go Nagai. Its two parts are The Demon Bird and The Birth and Devilman. The Demon Bird was released in 1990 after the first one. The initial episodes focus on the start of the series till the transformation of Akira. Thereafter, the second one picks up from the fight with Jinmen to the battle with Sirene.

Most fans find this OVA quite amazing because of its great-quality animation, humour, and faithfulness. The series was created by Toei Animation.

2 Space Battleship Yamato 2199

The Space Battleship Yamato 2199 OVA series has 26 episodes and is found on Blu-Ray and DVD. It aired from May 2012 to the end of 2013. The story’s setting is 2199, and the world has become entirely uninhabitable because of frequent attacks by Gamilas, an alien race.

When there seems to be no hope, a powerful device is discovered on a strange planet called Iscandar. The device has the ability to bring back Earth’s original glory. Unfortunately, it lies 148,000 years away. A chosen group of individuals are sent to retrieve it, and must fly via the Space Battleship Yamato.

1 Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu

This is also called Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It was published by Japanese Yoshiki Tanaka in 1988. Since then, it has been the longest series, with over 100 episodes. The genre is staged in the distant future, where human beings have conquered and subdivided the galaxy.

The war between the two superpowers, the Free Planets Alliance and Galactic Empire, comes to an end following the emergence of a new crop of leaders, such as Yang Wenli and military mastermind Reinhard von Lohengramm. This was after 150 years of stalemate.

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