History Main / DirectToVideo

* Three of the ''Series/AllegrasWindow'' VHS releases (''Storytime Sing-Along'', ''Play Along with Allegra and Friends'', and ''Sing Along with Allegra and Lindi'' were direct-to-video episodes featuring songs from different episodes with new linking material, with the latter two videos being released after production on the show itself ended.

** In 1990, Random House released ''[[Series/SesameStreetSongsHomeVideo Sesame Songs Home Video]]'', which were similar in format to the former series, only focusing on songs from the series. The releases came with a song lyrics poster.

* The ''Kids For Character'' series, which teaches the six pillars of characters through clips of popular children's shows from that time period (some of which were exclusive to the videos themselves), was released this way.

* Any [[EdutainmentShow edutainment special]] about potty-training will be released straight to video. Some examples include the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Once Upon A Potty'', ''It's Potty Time!'' [[note]]A video about a little boy learning how to use the bathroom potty at his friend's birthday party[[/note]], "I Gotta Go!" [[note]] A series of music videos about potty training.[[/note]] ''Potty Power''[[note]] A ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues''-esque video about toilet training[[/note]], ''No More Diapers'' [[note]] A video about a bear who learns to give up diapers done in a similar style to the ''WesternAnimation/KatieAndOrbie'' series[[/note]] and ''[[Series/SesameStreet Elmo's Potty Time]]''.

->'' "Land Before Time VI Released Straight To Landfill"''

* The first film version of ''Film/ThePunisher1989'' was planned for a US theatrical release by its makers New World Pictures, but the new owners decided to focus more on television and elected to sit on this, ''Film/{{Warlock}}'' and ''Meet The Applegates'' (although all three did open as planned outside the US through other distributors). The other two did get American theatrical release eventually, but ''The Punisher'' spent two years on the shelf before going to video.

* ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'', being 110 episodes long (i.e. longer than most TV series) was -- to many viewers' surprise -- an OVA released straight-to-Laserdisc. The result is a tight script with virtually no PlotHole nor {{Filler}}. Limited animation budget somehow effectively avoided StockFootage usage throughout long-winded space battles... almost (StockFootage was used occasionally, but the interval between each usage can easily be wide up to tens of episodes that you won't notice it once it's in effect).

* ''WesternAnimation/JayJayTheJetPlane'' began life as a series using models similar to ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine''. The videos containing these stories [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=TuZ6OQ8GWo0 were sold via a special hotline]] that was advertised on television.

Internationally, many films that had a theatrical release may be released direct-to-video in other countries [[note]]''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie'' for example, after its flop in the U.S., was converted to direct to video for the European market (although it did get a British cinema release).[[/note]]. This may be due to several factors: it might be a sign that the film was a complete failure in its home country, or it might be because [[AudienceAlienatingPremise the subject matter]] [[WidgetSeries or style]] limit its appeal in a particular foreign market. It's also common for films made and released direct-to-video in their home country to be released theatrically in other countries -- for instance, ''WesternAnimation/BambiII'' and ''Honey 2'' were both released straight to video in the US and Canada, but given theatrical runs in Europe.

* ''WesternAnimation/WereBackADinosaursStory'' was released that way in the United Kingdom, with the film having the (dis)honor of being the only movie in recent memory with Spielberg's name on the credits to do so.

* ''Film/{{Miracle}}'' understandably met this fate in many countries outside the US, it being about a American sporting truimph with no real resonance overseas.

Internationally, many films that had a theatrical release may be released direct-to-video in other countries [[note]]''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' movie for example, after its flop in the U.S., was converted to direct to video for the European market (although it did get a British cinema release).[[/note]]. This may be due to several factors: it might be a sign that the film was a complete failure in its home country, or it might be because [[AudienceAlienatingPremise the subject matter]] [[WidgetSeries or style]] limit its appeal in a particular foreign market. It's also common for films made and released direct-to-video in their home country to be released theatrically in other countries -- for instance, ''WesternAnimation/BambiII'' and ''Honey 2'' were both released straight to video in the US and Canada, but given theatrical runs in Europe.

It's the [[SpiritualSuccessor modern equivalent]] of the BMovie; in fact, many of these would be B movies if double features were still a regular thing. Some direct-to-video flicks will [[PolishTheTurd try to make lemonade of their lemons]] by claiming that their movie is "too intense", "too scary", "too well-written", "too sexy", or "too lavishly budgeted" for theaters; usually the viewers don't fall for it. It may be a sign that a series or franchise the movie is associated with has long since [[JumpTheShark jumped the shark]], or is about to ''very'' soon. Alternately, the movie could be [[{{Mockbuster}} a shameless ripoff of an existing, highly profitable franchise]].

* Almost every single ''Franchise/{{Bratz}}'' movie was straight to DVD, the sole exception being the controversial LiveActionAdaptation.

* Films by Creator/BlueSkyStudios get this treatment in Japan (with [[WesternAnimation/IceAge two]] [[WesternAnimation/ThePeanutsMovie exceptions]]).

In the United States, while there have been plenty of direct-to-video films and such since the advent of home video, they were usually things that were considered financially unsound to release in theaters, like instructional videos, specialized documentaries, foreign films, films with controversial or niche subject matter, Z-grade low budget horror films, cartoon compilations, concert films, longform music videos, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and pornography]]. The practice of creating and releasing regular fiction specifically for video didn't really take off until 1994 with Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'' and Creator/{{Universal}}'s ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime II'', neither of which was intended to hit theaters at any point in its production.[[note]]The financial failure of ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder'' was what caused Disney to decide to do this with their sequels. Repeated itself when in the mid 2000s they tried again with sequels for ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967''. Once again, the failure of those films resumed their straight to DVD methods.[[/note]] Other studios started following suit, hardly limited to child-oriented animation. In particular, independent studios and filmmakers quickly picked up on this distribution model, due to its lower distribution costs and reduced censorship (video stores will often stock {{unrated|Edition}} films that theaters won't touch).

Internationally, many films that had a theatrical release may be released direct-to-video in other countries [[note]]''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' movie for example, after its flop in the U.S., was converted to direct to video for the European market (although it did get a British cinema release).[[/note]]. This may be due to several factors: it might be a sign that the film was a complete failure in its home country, or it might be because [[AudienceAlienatingPremise the subject matter]] [[WidgetSeries or style]] limit its appeal in a particular foreign market. It's also common for films made and released direct-to-video in their home country to be released theatrically in other countries -- for instance, ''WesternAnimation/BambiII'' and ''Honey 2'' were both released straight to video in the US, but given theatrical runs in Europe.

** After ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' flopped because it was released on the same weekend as the Tohoku disaster in 2011, Creator/{{Dreamworks}} decided to release their films in Japan in this matter. The only recent [=DreamWorks=] films to not be released this way were ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'' and ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour''. In the case of the latter, it will also be released on VOD in the United States due to the UsefulNotes/CoronavirusPandemic closing down most, if not all, movie theaters, save for drive-ins.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/RatchetAndClank2016 Ratchet & Clank's]]'' extremely underwhelming performance in the US meant that it was pulled in most other countries to be released on DVD later.[[note]]with New Zealand not even getting it on Blu-Ray![[/note]] Notably, in Japan it was bundled with the game based on it as a [[LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition Limited Collectors Edition]].

Internationally, many films that had a theatrical release may be released direct-to-video in other countries [[note]]''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' movie for example, after its flop in the U.S., was converted to direct to video for the European market (although it did get a British cinema release).[[/note]]. This may be due to several factors: it might be a sign that the film was a complete failure in its home country, or it might be because [[AudienceAlienatingPremise the subject matter]] [[WidgetSeries or style]] limit its appeal in a particular foreign market. It's also common for films made and released direct-to-video in their home country to be released theatrically in other countries -- for example, ''WesternAnimation/Bambi2'' and ''Honey 2'' were both released straight to video in the US, but given theatrical runs in Europe.

In Japan, where the business model is referred to in ''[[GratuitousEnglish wasei-eigo]]'' as ''Video-through'' (ビデオスルー), {{OVA}}s follow the same model of distribution, but have the opposite expectations in terms of their quality. In short, while "direct-to-video" means "too bad for theaters" in the West, OVA means "too good for television" in the East. With larger budgets and without ExecutiveMeddling or the strict requirements of the {{Media Watchdog}}s, [=OVAs=] are expected to be significantly better than television-based anime. Live-action direct-to-video, known as "V-cinema" overseas (although this is [[BrandNameTakeover technically a trademark of Toei Company]]), also has a much better reputation in Japan. This is due mainly to the number of established filmmakers who use it for their more "experimental" or unusual work, enjoying the [[ProtectionFromEditors greater creative freedom and lack of censorship]]. In addition, some Japanese dubbed versions of foreign films or TV series also go direct to home video without getting a theatrical or TV release first - for example, the Japanese release of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.

Internationally, many films that had a theatrical release may be released Direct-to-Video in other countries [[note]]''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' movie for example, after its flop in the U.S., was converted to direct to video for the European market (although it did get a British cinema release).[[/note]]. This may be due to several factors: it might be a sign that the film was a complete failure in its home country, or it might be because [[AudienceAlienatingPremise the subject matter]] [[WidgetSeries or style]] limit its appeal in a particular foreign market. Other times, the opposite may happen with a project being released Direct-to-Video in its home market while given a theatrical release in foreign markets because international audiences are more readily accepting of films with minimal plot but plenty of action/sex/horror/etc.

There is a distinct business model that drives the direct-to-video industry, particularly when it involves lower-quality films. One might think that churning out mediocre-to-bad movies on purpose would be a dumb idea, until one looks at the sales and rental figures. A cheap 70- to 90-minute film can be produced for as little as a few thousand dollars if you hire obscure actors, crew and writers (often non-UsefulNotes/{{union|s in Hollywood}}, and barely getting minimum wage), [[CaliforniaDoubling everything gets shot around the studio]], and nothing is required that can't be obtained from the studio's stock wardrobe and props. Or, as has been trending since the mid-2000s, animation will now be done as [[SpecialEffectsFailure pretty cheap]] CGI movies. The studio then usually makes about $3-5 million off this, most of it from sales to rental chains. It floods the market with tripe into which nobody put any true effort, but it still makes money in the long run. It's the [[SpiritualSuccessor modern equivalent]] of the BMovie; in fact, many of these would be B movies if double features were still a regular thing. Some direct-to-video flicks will [[PolishTheTurd try to make lemonade of their lemons]] by claiming that their movie is "too intense", "too scary", "too well-written", "too sexy", or "too lavishly budgeted" for theaters; usually the viewers don't fall for it. It may be a sign that a series or franchise the movie is associated with has long since [[JumpTheShark jumped the shark]], or is about to ''very'' soon. Alternately, the movie could be [[{{Mockbuster}} a shameless ripoff of an existing, highly profitable franchise]].

Sometimes, things that were originally intended to be Direct to Video end up getting retrofitted to show on television or in theaters. Usually, only some minimal editing is done to make it fit for theaters, but there have been cases where the project was intervened midway and beefed up to make it quite a bit better. An example of the former is ''WesternAnimation/Dougs1stMovie'', which was put into theaters after the success of ''WesternAnimation/TheRugratsMovie''. A famous example of the latter is ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'', on which Creator/{{Pixar}} expanded tremendously for its theatrical release, along with another Disney film, ''WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut''. More recently, ''Honey 2'' - intended as a Direct To Video movie (which is still the case in North America) got a European theatrical release first.

In Japan, where the business model is referred to in GratuitousEnglish as ''Video-through'' (ビデオスルー), {{OVA}}s follow the same model of distribution, but have the opposite expectations in terms of their quality. With larger budgets and without ExecutiveMeddling or the strict requirements of the {{Media Watchdog}}s, [=OVAs=] are expected to be significantly better than television-based anime. Live-action direct-to-video, known as "V-cinema" overseas (although this is [[BrandNameTakeover technically a trademark of Toei Company]]), also has a much better reputation in Japan. This is due mainly to the number of established filmmakers who use it for their more "experimental" or unusual work, enjoying the [[ProtectionFromEditors greater creative freedom and lack of censorship]]. In addition, some Japanese dubbed versions of foreign films or TV series also go direct to home video without getting a theatrical or TV release first - for example, the Japanese release of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.

In short, while "direct-to-video" means "too bad for theaters" in the West, OVA means "too good for television" in the East. However, this may be changing with the rise of original programming for streaming services like Creator/{{Netflix}} and Creator/{{Hulu}} during the 2010s, with shows like ''Series/StrangerThings'' boasting production values and A-list talent on par with cable offerings.

With digital video discs [[TechnologyMarchesOn being slowly replaced]] by WebVideo and digital download, along with theatrical quality films seeing public releases through streaming services, direct-to-video has become more loosely defined as any film that skips theaters for a release through streaming or the general web[[note]] Although streaming titles may be re-labeled as TV movies in the future given that streaming is currently beating out cable TV; [[TemptingFate but time will only tell]][[/note]]. This can also apply to any non "free-to-watch on the web" series that skips a cable or streaming run for a strict release through digital download; which is usually secondary for TV shows after completing a run (although this method is incredibly rare).

In a further expansion of the phenomenon, it has become increasingly common for {{Missing Episode}}s of shows that were [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled early]] to first see the light of day on the home video release.

* In an effort to accommodate those who are unable or uncomfortable with venturing out, many studios have taken a modified approach to this in the wake of theaters reopening after the pandemic-forced shutdown, releasing movies in cinemas and on-demand either simultaneously, or very soon afterwards rather than several months later as was done before. For example, Film/NoTimeToDie was released on-demand within a month after it finally opened in the US, and became available on DVD by December 21.

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Barbie}}'' films. However, quite a few of them were shown as part of Kidtoons.