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What are some underrated OVA series worth watching?
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OVAs often get overlooked because they're not full series, but some of the best anime storytelling happens in these shorter formats. I recently watched "Robot Carnival" and was blown away by the creativity and animation quality, yet it's rarely discussed.
What underrated OVA series would you recommend that showcase unique animation, experimental storytelling, or just deserve more attention?
Robot Carnival" is an underrated OVA series that's absolutely worth watching. It's an anthology of short films by different directors, each with their own animation style and story. The quality is incredible - some segments are pure visual poetry, others are funny or melancholic. It's a celebration of animation as an art form.
Another underrated OVA series is "Memories". It's three scifi stories by Katsuhiro Otomo (creator of Akira), and each one is a masterpiece of animation and storytelling. "Magnetic Rose" in particular is one of the best scifi horror stories I've ever seen in any medium.
The Animatrix" is technically an OVA series and definitely underrated. It's a collection of short films set in the Matrix universe, and each one explores different aspects of the world. The animation styles vary wildly - some are photorealistic CGI, others are traditional 2D, others are experimental. "Beyond" and "World Record" are particular standouts.
Another underrated OVA series is "FLCL". While it has a cult following, it's still underrated in terms of mainstream recognition. The animation is incredibly inventive, the soundtrack is amazing, and it captures the confusion and intensity of adolescence perfectly. It's only 6 episodes but packed with creativity.
Gunbuster" is an underrated OVA series that's a classic but doesn't get mentioned enough today. It's a mecha series by Gainax that starts as a parody of sports anime and becomes this epic space opera about time dilation and sacrifice. The animation was groundbreaking for its time and the storytelling is surprisingly emotional.
Another one is "Riding Bean". It's an action OVA about a getaway driver, and the animation is incredibly smooth and detailed. The character designs are great and the car chases are some of the best in anime. It's pure 80s action animation at its finest.
Macross Plus" is an underrated OVA series that's one of the best things in the Macross franchise. It's a scifi drama about test pilots, AI, and music, with incredible animation by Studio Nue. The dogfight scenes are beautifully animated and the story has real emotional weight. The soundtrack by Yoko Kanno is also fantastic.
Another underrated OVA series is "The Cockpit". It's three war stories set in WWII, each with a different director and animation style. The stories are grim and realistic, focusing on the human cost of war rather than glorifying it. The animation is moviequality.
Golden Boy" is an underrated OVA series that's hilarious. It's about a wandering student who takes odd jobs and learns life lessons, usually involving beautiful women. The comedy is overthetop but clever, and the main character is surprisingly endearing. The animation is great too - very expressive and fluid.
Another one is "Read or Die". It's about a librarian who can manipulate paper as a weapon, and it's just pure fun. The action scenes are creative and well animated, and the premise is so unique. It's a great example of an OVA doing something that wouldn't work as well in a full series format.
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