V-Cinema

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Japanese V-Cinema is the direct-to-video industry that appeared in Japan in the 1980s. The term is a trademark of Toei Company but is widely used in the West to describe any Japanese direct-to-video release. Unlike its Western counterpart, this industry has a considerably better reputation, with directors sometimes making V-Cinema movies by choice, due to the creative freedom afforded by the less stringent censorship of the format, and the riskier content the producers will allow.

Notable examples are director Takashi Miike, who has released several direct-to-video films after his theatrical debut, and Takashi Shimizu, whose Ju-on series of films started out as V-Cinema, becoming surprise hits as the result of favorable word of mouth.

Incidentally, former television performer Masashi Tashiro has directed V-Cinema since his dismissal from the entertainment world, as well.

Azumi Muto, a Japanese murder victim, appeared on V-Cinema before her death.

The more common term OVA (Original Video Animation) is applied when the film in question is anime.