This page will be continuously updated as I watch more! OVAs are listed in alphabetical order by title.
If I could only watch one kind of media for the rest of my life, it would be retro anime. For brevity (and personal opinion) purposes, I’m defining retro anime as “anime that debuted at least 20 years ago.” While my preference currently leans towards anime from the 1970s and 1980s, there are many OVAs from the 1990s and 2000s (which was 20 years ago, whether you’d like to admit it or not!) that I’d like to include on this list.
Do you have suggestions for OVAs to add to this list? Please comment! I’m only including ones that I’ve watched, but I want to watch many more due to my interest in the format.
If you’re wondering, “What is an OVA?”:
Wikipedia defines it as: “Original video animation , abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the first part of an OVA series may be broadcast for promotional purposes.”
OVAs can run as short as one episode or as long as, like record-holder Legend of the Galactic Heroes, 110+ episodes long! Most OVAs aren’t nearly that long, though. This post is an ever-updating listing of retro OVAs that I’ve watched, paired with a mini ramble that could kinda be defined as a review.
Some of these may be debated to be movies or series rather than OVAs. I don’t care – I think they should still be shared! Also, please note that the availability info I am sharing is for viewers in the United States and that some links may be dead. I will do my best to keep them updated.
Aim for the Top! Gunbuster
Year: 1988-89
Studio: Gainax
Availability: Not Streaming, Blu-Ray coming via Discotek!
My Thoughts: Heartfelt, heart-wrenching, and beautifully animated. The directorial debut of Hideaki Anno doesn’t disappoint. Hell, I love it so much that I got Gunbuster tattooed on my arm!
Alien Nine
Year: 2001-02
Studio: J.C. Staff
Availability: Streaming on Tubi
My Thoughts: Magical Girl Horror done years before Madoka. It has left a lasting impression on me, but feels like its missing something that a couple more episodes could’ve helped.
Area 88
Armor Hunter Mellowlink
Year: 1988-89
Studio: Sunrise
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on Internet Archive
My Thoughts: One of the few VOTOMs properties I’ve watched, I recommend Mellowlink for anyone interested in the concept of “man with big weapon and a reasonable desire for revenge versus literal mecha.”
Baby Love
Year: 1997
Studio: Studio Comet
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: Not worth watching and left me with a lot of (not good) questions.
Bubblegum Crisis
Year: 1987-91
Studio: AIC, Artmic, Darts
Availability: Available on Tubi and Retrocrush
My Thoughts: TBA
Call Me Tonight
Year: 1986
Studio: AIC
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on Internet Archive
My Thoughts: Silly, fanservice-heavy, and containing some problematic scenes, this comedy about a phone sex operator helping a man who turns into a literal monster when horny a mostly fun romp.
Cat Soup (Nekojiru-sou)
Year: 2001
Studio: J.C. Staff
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: Do not recommend watching this while in a dark mindset. That said, I love this and find it to be the best possible anime adaptation of the Cat Soup comics. RIP Nekojiru.
Cipher the Video
Year: 1989
Studio: Magic Bus
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: A glorified series of music videos followed by live action footage of NYC, Cipher is very 80s and very fun! It helps to go into it with context about the manga, though.
Curse of Kazuo Umezu, The
Year: 1990
Production: Takahashi Studio
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: I’m a Kazuo Umezu stan, so this OVA didn’t disappoint me! It features two gory standalone tales and captures Umezu’s art style beautifully. I feel like the low-quality video rips only make make it more appealing to analog horror lovers.
Dirty Pair
Year: 1987-88
Studio: Sunrise, Kino Production
Availability: Available on RetroCrush
My Thoughts: TBA
Dragon Half
Year: 1993
Studio: Production I.G
Availability: Available on Retrocrush
My Thoughts: I started this OVA not knowing what to expect. I got something very cute, silly, and chibi-filled and was not disappointed.
Dream Dimension Hunter Fandora
Year: 1985-86
Studio: Kaname Productions
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: A lesser-known Go Nagai project. I’ve only watched the first of 3 episodes. I enjoyed the characters and Fandora’s design, but otherwise it wasn’t very memorable. It apparently has a hilariously bad English dub done by American tourists in Tokyo that I’d love to hear.
FLCL
Year: 2000-01
Studio: Gainax, Production I.G
Availability: Available on Hulu, Adult Swim, and elsewhere
My Thoughts: I’m aging myself here, but this weird little show has entranced me since its original run on Adult Swim. I have a dear memory of a friend buying me the soundtrack (vol. 3) at Suncoast while she was on leave from the Navy and I was a poor high school student. Yes, I still love The Pillows.
Girl Detective Club
Year: 1986
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: Don’t waste your time.
Golden Boy
Year: 1995-96
Studio: APPP
Availability: Available on Crunchyroll
My Thoughts: “Silly” and “feel-good” are the main words that come to mind. And goddamn, those iconic female character designs though.
Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita)
Year: 1993
Studio: Madhouse
Availability: Unsure about the licensing for the OVA itself; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: Bleak as hell and beautiful as hell.
Gunsmith Cats
Hi-Speed Jecy
Year: 1989-90
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on Internet Archive
My Thoughts: The first five minutes of Episode 1 were cool as hell. The rest absolutely bored me, so I have yet to watch more.
Iron Virgin Jun
Year: 1992
Studio: Dynamic Planning
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: Another OVA I watched without knowing what to expect. Go Nagai didn’t work on the OVA but he did write the manga, which is fittingly described as “bawdy.” Overall, I really enjoyed it! It’s an interesting and short look at a mother vs. maturing daughter dynamic.
Key the Metal Idol
Macross Plus
Year: 1994-95
Studio: Triangle Staff
Availability: Available on Amazon Prime; home video master transfer of the dub is available on Internet Archive
My Thoughts: An excellent entry in the Macross franchise and one that I would recommend to anyone interested in Macross but afraid of the commitment of a full series. This is my second favorite entry, right behind the original series. Also, I will never not point out that the protagonist is voiced in the English dub by Bryan Cranston.
Minky Momo in Tabidachi no Eki
Year: 1994
Studio: Unknown
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: I do not recommend this as your first foray into the Minky Momo universe. I was very confused! But I enjoy time travel and magical girls with guns, so it was fine.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
Year: 1989
Studio: Sunrise
Availability: Available on Blu-Ray through RightStuf; not sure if it is streaming in the US right now and the version on YouTube is such poor quality that I’m not sharing it.
My Thoughts: Why make the same tired joke about Die Hard being your favorite Christmas movie when you can choose this instead? Invite your whole family to sit around the TV, sip hot chocolate, and weep never-ending tears about the futility of war while watching this holiday classic.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
Year: 1996-99
Studio: Sunrise
Availability: Available on Hulu
My Thoughts: Much like Macross Plus being a nice, short introduction to Macross, I consider 08th MS Team a good entry point for anyone interested in Gundam. While the plot, characters, and designs are wonderful, this show also has one of the best Gundam fights ever animated, and is honestly worth watching just for that.
Otaku No Video
Year: 1991
Studio: Gainax
Availability: Available on Retrocrush
My Thoughts: This is a very cool time capsule of old school otaku, and the addition of the live action interviews was both interesting and provided a bit of secondhand embarrassment. I shudder at the thought of being interviewed during the height of my anime obsession, probably dressed as Rukia Kuchiki and raving about my Prince of Tennis fanfics that totally don’t exist anywhere, I swear.
Project A-Ko
Year: 1986
Studio: APPP
Availability: Available on Retrocrush
My Thoughts: I’m not a huge fan of A-Ko! I think I just don’t have the context for some of the plot and humor. That said, it maintains a fun, wacky energy throughout.
Riding Bean
Year: 1989
Studio: AIC, Artmic
Availability: Available on Retrocrush
My Thoughts: An action-filled one-shot that feels like it was meant to be part of a longer project. Very 80s. Still a quick and enjoyable watch.
Robot Carnival
Space Family Carlvinson
Year: 1988
Studio: Doga Kobo
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: This is the cutest shit you will ever watch. Yes, it is about aliens raising a human orphan after they (unintentionally) kill her parents. Yes, one of the aliens is unsettlingly just a brain and a spine. It’s adorable. Trust me.
Twinkle Nora Rock Me!
Year: 1985
Studio: Filmlink International
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: Unlike Girl Detective Club, I think this one is so bad that it is worth watching just for the animation. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I mean that in a bad way.
Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer
Year: 1984
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Availability: Available on Retrocrush
My Thoughts: I’ve never finished the Urusei Yatsura TV series. I’ve watched this Mamoru Oishii film several times. It’s equal parts delightful and surreal.
Vampire Princess Miyu
Year: 1988-89
Studio: AIC
Availability: Available on Retrocrush
My Thoughts: I love a good horror! Vampire Princess Miyu isn’t gory but it sure is creepy. An OVA that you can very easily consume in one night, Miyu does well telling a story within few, largely episodic, parts.
Video Girl Ai
Year: 1992
Studio: Production I.G.
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube and Internet Archive
My Thoughts: I’ve only watched one episode, but have read several volumes of the manga. Overall, I like Video Girl Ai, but have nothing special to say about it.
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
Year: 1998
Studio: Ajia-do
Availability: AFAIK it is not licensed; available on YouTube
My Thoughts: Peaceful as hell, considering it’s set during the final lingering days of humanity. It’s such a unique slice-of-slice series: Does anything happen? No, not really. Did I end up feeling a lot of things? Yes, absolutely.
drinking coffee, writing books, & saving the galaxy 