Today, Japanese cartoons - anime - have gained immense popularity among young people. Passion for this art is so widespread that it literally turned into a subculture with its own specific lexical units, understandable to not everyone.
What is "special" in anime?
One of these interesting words is "Special." Who is familiar with the English language in the course that this concept came from the word special, which means "additional" or "special". What is "special" in anime? This term means a special series released on certain video media, most often it is DVD. Such series are not broadcast on television and are not shown in movie theaters. In abbreviated form, “special” may be called OVA - an abbreviation for Original Video Animation. Special series can be produced both individually and in whole cycles. Specials are also known for 1:30 minutes, for example, a series of several OVAs for the anime "Blue Exorcist".
What are OVAs for?
Manufacturers release OVA in order to warm the viewer's interest before the new season of anime or to remind the viewer again about a particular project in order to raise its rating. This is a purely commercial move, based on the love of animeshnikov to collect everything that is connected with your favorite characters. For this, a whole annual exhibition is organized in Japan, which lasts several days. During this exhibition, collectors (aka otaku) buy a lot of CDs, figures, posters, video games and other good things associated with their favorite anime and manga.
Special anime "High School Demons"
A classic example of a series of the "Special" class is the OVA for the High School DxD 2012-2013 anime. The first series lasts 24 minutes, like the usual anime series, however, it is not connected with the main plot, being rather an offshoot. The main characters are, of course, Issei and his company of busty demon schoolgirls. In general, the topic of sexuality is extremely popular in Japan and is somehow present in any anime. In some series, it is present in a dosed and quite digestible manner, however, some projects draw attention to this too much, indulging lovers of the so-called fan-service. Such an example is this special. The second series also lasts 24 minutes and is full of pretty vulgar jokes and a demonstration of female charms. Hentai such an anime, of course, can not be called, but the age limit is still specified 16+.
Special anime "The Last Seraph"
This example is completely opposite to the previous one. What is rush in anime if it has no jokes? So this OVA just abounds with them. In total, 9 short episodes of 30 seconds were released by season 1. Special pieces of 4 pieces were issued to stretch the pleasure of the audience and maintain interest in the project until season 2. OVA for season 2 has already been released for 23 minutes, like a regular series, and has a normal plot. This is a separate story in which our favorite characters appear in a new light.
What is “special” in the anime, it’s easy to find out, you can just watch these same episodes. All specials are completely different both in time and form of release, and in content. Someone focuses on humorous dialogues and funny situations, someone shows episodes from the past of the heroes, and some focus on the sexual component. Be that as it may, it’s the haste that fuels the audience’s interest between the full-fledged season of the series.