What does OAD mean?
OAD stands for Original Animation DVD. It is a subtype or a more modern term for the concept of OVA (Original Video Animation). The term emerged when physical media started becoming more difficult to commercialize, and it was used to give these versions additional value. OADs were created and can be fragments or even extra episodes that can only be found in the physical versions of certain anime.
This is extra or promotional content that some might consider superfluous, but for the majority of fans, these are unique gems. This has helped keep the versions with promotional material in physical format alive.
OAD vs. OVA: Key Differences
The difference is subtle because both are basically exclusive, non-televised content. The distinction lies in how they are distributed: while OADs are more focused on being bundled with DVD or Blu-Ray versions, OVAs were different in their time. OVAs were releases that were never going to be televised, which meant they had less censorship and could even be mini-series. In what sense? OADs are characterized as short segments or single chapters, while OVAs could even consist of multiple episodes.
Essentially, every OAD is an OVA, but not every OVA is an OAD. While an OVA can be a mini-series, a short film, or a special episode sold separately as an independent product, an OAD is almost always an episode or a set of short episodes that is included in the same sales package as the source material (manga or light novel). However, the term has become so widespread that many studios today use the terms interchangeably.
The Value of OADs
Creatively speaking, OADs represent a space of narrative freedom for creators. By not being bound by the strict schedules and censorship regulations of television (as is the case with anime), studios can experiment with more mature content, focus on fan service, or delve deeper into side stories and character origins that complement the main plot, as seen in many specials considered canon.
This is why, in many anime with an ecchi category, the fan service in their OADs often reaches levels that border on hentai. This is something fans absolutely love and is why the physical versions have a huge following among them.
Series with Successful OADs
- Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)
- It has a very important OAD called "A Choice with No Regrets," which narrates part of the backstory of one of the most crucial characters to the plot, expanding the history between Levi Ackerman and Erwin Smith.
- Highschool of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead
- This anime had one of the most ecchi OADs of its time, being an anime that subtly focused on a zombie apocalypse. The special episode featured an island with its protagonists in swimsuits, which greatly attracted the attention of the anime's dedicated fans.
