Ask John: Which is more Authoritative? OAV or TV?

Question:
What is the difference between an OAV and television series? Specifically which one is the “genuine” series and which is the spin-off? Like with Tenchi Muyo, you have two series, OAV & television. Which one was the original? Which’s information is more reliable? I can’t quite put my question into words, but do you kind of get at what I’m trying to say?

Answer:
The list of anime titles that have both a TV series and an OAV series or movie or any combination thereof is staggering. Generally, in the instances you’re thinking of, I’d say that fans don’t really consider one continuity or series more authoritative or definitive than any other. Different series and continuities are merely different series and continuities. What largely determines which continuity is considered the “main” continuity is the order series were released in, and the establishment of particular continuities. Allow me to provide some examples. With shows such as Sorcerer Hunters, Saber Marionette J, Gundam Wing and Nadia, shows that began as TV series then got OAVs, the OAVs are continuations of the TV storylines. These shows, then, have only one linear continuity. OAV series like Maze, Shadow Skill, Yamamoto Yohko, Master Mosquiton and El Hazard began as OAV then got TV series. In these cases, the TV series started out as entirely new stories, yet neither series is considered more definitive than the other. In these cases, the OAV series and TV series are simply considered separate but equal stories. In some rare cases, including You’re Under Arrest and Maho Tsukai Tai, the TV series are direct continuations of the OAV series. This usually isn’t done in order not to alienate TV viewers that haven’t seen the OAVs. In the case of You’re Under Arrest, the four OAVs were also broadcast as the first four TV episodes.

In the case of Tenchi Muyo, the OAV continuity is considered the “main” Tenchi story because it came first and created an indelible, impact on the psyche of anime fandom. Tenchi Muyo established itself firmly before introducing other continuities. Therefore, the OAV story simply became accepted by fans as the “main, true” Tenchi story-line. As another example, look to Gundam, which spans multiple TV and OAV series and theatrical features. The UC continuity storyline is considered the “main” Gundam storyline, and series like Gundam Wing, Gundam X and Turn A Gundam are non-continuity, alternate universe series. The UC continuity that spans Mobile Suit Gundam up to V Gundam achieved its prominence through establishment. Gundam existed for over a decade before any non-UC continuity anime series appeared. That seniority is what established the UC continuity as “Gundam proper,” if you will.

When it comes to odd cases, though, like Nuku-Nuku and Cutey Honey, which came first, alone, isn’t enough to establish a reliable accepted continuity. Nuku-Nuku began as an OAV series, then got a totally new continuity TV series, then got another totally new continuity OAV series. None of these three series is considered any more “valid” than any other because none of the three ever lasted long enough, nor had quite enough impact in the fandom community to establish themselves as the definitive Nuku-Nuku. In the case of Cutey Honey, the two OAV series (released in the US as a single OAV series) are a loose continuation of the original TV series while the following Cutey Honey F TV series is a new continuity. Yet, Cutey Honey F is not really considered a genuine non-continuity story that branches off from the main Cutey Honey story-line because the original Cutey Honey story is so old and sporadic that it’s never firmly established itself in the consciousness of anime fandom as the “original” Cutey Honey story-line.