History Main / DirectToVideo

* ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney and the Backyard Gang]]'', the series that was the basis for ''Barney and Friends'', was released this way. Several episodes of the show also aired as specials on Disney Channel.

With home video [[TechnologyMarchesOn being slowly replaced]] by 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. Because of the rise of original programming for 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, the line has become blurrier between "theatrical" and "direct-to-video" content. This became especially true in the wake of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, where it became common for films originally intended for theaters to be released directly to streaming instead.

* As if being shelved by Creator/DreamWorksSKG[=/=]Creator/{{Paramount}} for years before its 2012 theatrical release wasn't enough, Paramount cancelled the British release of ''Film/AThousandWords'' following its terrible American reception - and thus it went straight to DVD.

* Indeed, films centreing on sports events of primarily North American interest are almost guaranteed to meet this fate in certain markets - ''Film/{{Miracle}}'', ''Film/WeAreMarshall'', ''Invincible'', ''The Greatest Game Ever Played''...

* ''Film/TheCircle2017'' demonstrated that Creator/TomHanks isn't immune this, with this movie bypassing UK cinemas despite also having Creator/EmmaWatson and Creator/KarenGillan (this was ''before'' Creator/JohnBoyega was famous, if you're wondering) - and going straight to Creator/{{Netflix}} instead.

** After season 3 wrapped up, the series proper went on hiatus for two years in order to produce [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie the movie]]. This was also the same time the show started being released on home video. Nickelodeon bought time by reshuffling and spreading out the remaining episodes - some of which ended up first being released on DVD months before official airtime. Notable examples include "Graveyard Shift" and "Club [=SpongeBob=]" on ''Nautical Nonsense and Sponge Buddies'', "I Had an Accident" and "Born Again Krabs" on ''Tales from the Deep'', and the final pre-movie episodes, "[=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler" and "Pranks a Lot", on ''The Seascape Capers''.

* While ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' never aired on TV in Japan, it did however get 5 episodes [[note]] "Knock, Knock", "Sea Fright", "Night Game", "Ghost Busted" and "Don't Forget the Motor City", all from the first two seasons [[/note]] dubbed and released on VHS.

* The American releases of the ''Film/{{Pokemon}}'' movies, beginning with the sixth one; the closest they get to a theatrical release now is a premiere on Creator/CartoonNetwork or Creator/DisneyXD.

A film that had a theatrical release in its home country might be released direct-to-video internationally [[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 a film made and released direct-to-video in its 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 and Argentina.

* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' feature ''Recap/StewieGriffinTheUntoldStory'' and the four ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' direct-to-DVD movies were made with intent of ultimately cutting the episodes up for airing on TV as three-parters and four-parters respectively. Though in the case of ''Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story'', the movie is considered the definitive cut and as such, the TV edit "episodes" are omitted from DVD releases. The DVD also has about 20 minutes of bonus footage (involving the "premiere" of the movie in theaters and a [[NoFourthWall fourth-wall breaking]] after party where the characters discuss the real-life cancellation of the series) that was not shown on TV. The four ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' movies sold so well and got such a positive reaction from fans that they continued the series.

* Episodes of ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' were originally released straight to VHS tapes and [=DVDs=] before it got [[WesternAnimation/JonahAVeggieTalesMovie a movie in theaters]] and TV airings courtesy of Creator/{{qubo}} and Creator/{{TBN}}. However, Creator/PBSKids aired "The Star Of Christmas" before it was released to DVD and video as a special event, and Creator/{{PAX}} ran a Christmas special based on the series before its' VHS release.

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 [[JumpingTheShark jumped the shark]], or is about to ''very'' soon. Alternately, the movie could be [[{{Mockbuster}} a shameless ripoff of an existing, highly profitable franchise]].

** Disney has released direct-to-video sequels to a significant portion of its animated canon, animated by the company's various television animation units. At first they were follow-ups to UsefulNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation titles, but they gradually shifted back to films from the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden]] and [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation Dark]] ages. There are also a few titles based on WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts characters and ''Franchise/WinnieThePooh''. Three movies (''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeastBellesMagicalWorld'', ''WesternAnimation/CinderellaIIDreamsComeTrue'' and ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisMilosReturn'') were {{Compilation Movie}}s consisting of completed episodes of an aborted [=TV=] spinoff. A fourth, ''WesternAnimation/TarzanAndJane'', did get picked up for a full series. John Lasseter's first order after taking over Disney was canning all the direct-to-video sequels, although he did allow a few already in production to become completed. In TheNewTens, Disney's only efforts in this vein were the ''[[Franchise/DisneyFairies Tinkerbell]]'' CGI films.

** ''It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown'' (1996, [[TheShelfOfMovieLanguisment made in 1992 for TV but unaired until after the video release]])

** ''It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown'' (1996, made in 1992 for TV but unaired until after the video release)

* The CGI compilation series ''Animation/TheMindsEye'' was released this way, on several formats no less.[[labelnote:which formats?]][[UsefulNotes/{{VCR}} VHS]], UsefulNotes/LaserDisc, UsefulNotes/{{DVD}}, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_mm_video_format#Video8 Video8]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MovieCD MovieCD]].[[/labelnote]]

** Originally, two sequels were in production that were intende to go straight to DVD, but for some reason, they just decided to splice the two films together so it could get a limited theatrical release, resulting in ''Norm of the North: Keys to the Kingdom''.

* The pioneer of this for spin-offs of TV series was probably the ''Series/BabylonFive'' spin-off ''[[Recap/BabylonFiveTheLostTales01 The Lost Tales]]'', which was intended to be the first of a series of [=DVDs=] until Creator/JMichaelStraczynski decided that he couldn't tolerate the artistic limitations created by the low budget (which many cynical people translated as "not even enough [[CrackIsCheaper completist fans]] bought it for it to make any money").

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]] Creator/ToeiCompany]]), 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 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''.

A film that had a theatrical release in its home country might be released direct-to-video internationally [[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 a film made and released direct-to-video in its 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.

** In-universe, the episodes "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS6E4And5StewieKillsLoisAndLoisKillsStewie Lois Kills Stewie]]" and "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS9E17ForeignAffairs Foreign Affairs]]" parody Disney's infamous direct-to-video sequels with cutaway skits that poke fun at just how pointless the sequels stories are. In the former, Stewie invokes his presidential power to ban Disney from producing further sequels, including films like ''JustForFun/AladdinIVJafarMayNeedGlasses'' ([[CutawayGag we then see]] [[OverlyLongGag a 38 second clip of Jafar getting an eye exam]]). In the latter, Peter and co. are watching ''Aladdin V: Jafar Answers the Census'' on the Creator/DisneyChannel.

** In-universe, the episodes "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS6E4And5StewieKillsLoisAndLoisKillsStewie Lois Kills Stewie]]" and "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS9E17ForeignAffairs Foreign Affairs]]" parody Disney's infamous direct-to-video sequels with cutaway skits that poke fun at just how pointless the sequels stories are. In the former, Stewie invokes his presidential power to ban Disney from producing further sequels, including films like ''JustForFun/AladdinIVJafarMayNeedGlasses'' ([[OverlyLongGag which is just a 38 second clip of Jafar getting an eye exam]]). In the latter, Peter and co. are watching ''Aladdin V: Jafar Answers the Census'' on the Creator/DisneyChannel.

->''"[[WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime Land Before Time]] [[TakeThat VI Released Straight To Landfill]]"''

* Creator/{{Dreamworks}}:
** 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 was also released on VOD in the United States and Canada due to the UsefulNotes/CoronavirusPandemic closing down most, if not all, movie theaters, save for drive-ins.

* As if being shelved by Creator/DreamWorks[=/=]Creator/{{Paramount}} for years before its 2012 theatrical release wasn't enough, Paramount cancelled the British release of ''Film/AThousandWords'' following its terrible American reception - and thus it went straight to DVD.

* ''WesternAnimation/HoodwinkedTooHoodVersusEvil'' didn't get a UK theatrical release in 2011; eventually getting a UK DVD and VOD release in 2022.

* The first season of ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'' was released that way in the US as a DirectToVideo movie called ''Journey Home: The Animals of Farthing Wood'', which had some redubbing to have Creator/RalphMacchio replace Rupert Farley as Fox and also have Creator/FionaReid voicing Adder and Weasel instead of Stacey Jefferson and Sally Grace respectively. It was also edited to have songs and many of the death scenes (save for three of them) cut out in order to make it child-friendly.

* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' has a [[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooDirectToVideoFilmSeries long-running series]] of DTV features. It's the longest running part of the franchise, as far as time goes. At least one film has been made every year since 1998, seeing many changes to the character designs, animation style, story tone, and voice actors. The series currently has 34 entries and counting. Some of which have surprising quality (''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooCampScare'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooLegendOfThePhantosaur''), others are just okay (''WesternAnimation/AlohaScoobyDoo'', ''WesternAnimation/ChillOutScoobyDoo''...). The very first entry, ''Zombie Island'' is considered a classic in its own right, and one of the most well-received entries in the entire ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise.

* Due to the UsefulNotes/CoronavirusPandemic shutting down theaters, ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour'' went straight to video on demand, skipping theaters (bar a few drive-ins). ''WesternAnimation/{{SCOOB}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOnTheRun'' [[note]] which was released theatrically in Canada and South Korea[[/note]], ''WesternAnimation/{{Soul}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Luca}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' followed suit.

* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' has a [[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooDirectToVideoFilmSeries long-running series]] of Direct-to-Video features. It's the longest running part of the franchise, as far as time goes. At least one film has been made every year since 1998, seeing many changes to the character designs, animation style, story tone, and voice actors. The series currently has 34 entries and counting. Some of which have surprising quality (''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooCampScare'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooLegendOfThePhantosaur''), others are just okay (''WesternAnimation/AlohaScoobyDoo'', ''WesternAnimation/ChillOutScoobyDoo''...). The very first entry, ''Zombie Island'' is considered a classic in its own right, and one of the most well-received entries in the entire ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise.

* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' has a [[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooDirectToVideoFilmSeries long-running series]] of Direct-to-Video features. It's the longest running part of the franchise, as far as time goes. At least one film has been made every year since 1998, seeing many changes to the character designs, animation style, story tone, and voice actors. The series currently has 24 entries and counting. Some of which have surprising quality (''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooCampScare'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooLegendOfThePhantosaur''), others are just okay (''WesternAnimation/AlohaScoobyDoo'', ''WesternAnimation/ChillOutScoobyDoo''...). The very first entry, ''Zombie Island'' is considered a classic in its own right, and one of the most well-received entries in the entire ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise.

** In-universe, the episodes ''[[Recap/FamilyGuyS6E4And5StewieKillsLoisAndLoisKillsStewie Lois Kills Stewie]]'' and ''Foreign Affairs'' parody Disney's infamous direct-to-video sequels with cutaway skits that poke fun at just how pointless the sequels stories are. In the former, Stewie invokes his presidential power to ban Disney from producing further sequels, including films like ''JustForFun/AladdinIVJafarMayNeedGlasses'' ([[OverlyLongGag which is just a 38 second clip of Jafar getting an eye exam]]). In the latter, Peter and co. are watching ''Aladdin V: Jafar Answers the Census'' on the Creator/DisneyChannel.

* The ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAPotty'' potty training video was based on [[Literature/OnceUponAPotty the book by the same name]].

* ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAPotty'' potty training video was based on [[Literature/OnceUponAPotty the book by the same name]].