V-Cinema

Japanese V-Cinema (Vシネマ) 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. In Japan the term used is Original Video (オリジナルビデオ). 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. The more common term OVA (Original Video Animation) is applied when the film in question is anime.

V-Cinema releases began appearing during the Heisei era of the franchise. Previously depicting independent Riders and storylines, current releases have been shorts that serve as a series recap relating to Rider abilities and the rider showing off a exclusive power within the special. Since 2002's Ryuki release, they have come to be commonly known by fans as "Hyper Battle Videos".

V-Cinema releases

 * Heisei era
 * 1992: Shin: Kamen Rider Prologue
 * 1993: Kamen Rider SD - only anime adaptation
 * 2011: Kamen Rider W Returns
 * Kamen Rider Accel Chapter
 * Kamen Rider Eternal Chapter


 * Hyper Battle Videos
 * 2000: Kamen Rider Kuuga: vs. the Strong Monster Go-Jiino-Da
 * 2001: Kamen Rider Agito: Three rider TV-kun Special
 * 2002: Kamen Rider Ryuki Hyper Battle: Kamen Rider Ryuki vs. Kamen Rider Agito
 * 2003: Kamen Rider 555: The Musical
 * 2004: Kamen Rider Blade: Blade vs Blade
 * 2005: Kamen Rider Hibiki: Asumu Henshin: You can be an Oni too
 * 2006: Kamen Rider Kabuto: Birth! Gatack Hyper Form!
 * 2007: Kamen Rider Den-O: Singing, Dancing, Great Time!!
 * 2008: Kamen Rider Kiva: You Can Also be Kiva
 * 2009: Kamen Rider Decade: Protect! 
 * 2010: Kamen Rider W: Donburi's α/Farewell Recipe of Love
 * 2011: Kamen Rider OOO: Quiz, Dance, and Takagarooba!?