Omake (お負け but often written オマケ) means extra or bonus in Japanese. Among other things, the term is used to describe what in English are called 'Special Features' on DVD releases: deleted scenes, interviews with the actors, "the making of" documentary clips, outtakes, amusing bloopers, and so forth. However, this use of the term actually predates the DVD medium by several years. For at least the past 50 years in Japan, omake of small character figurines and toys have been giveaways that come with soft drinks and candy and often the omake is more desired than the product being sold.

In English, the term is often used with this meaning, although it generally only applies to features included with anime (and occasionally manga), and is thus limited to use amongst anime enthusiasts (q.v. otaku); like many borrowings from Japanese, omake is both the singular and plural form.

The omake included with anime often include comedy sketches where the characters behave out of character, breaking the fourth wall, or subtly addressing opinions of the fandom known to the writers. Sometimes scenes from the TV show or OVA are humorously re-dubbed. One example, included on the Video Girl Ai DVD, replays scenes from the OVA series with new voice-acting in a rural accent. Other times, the same actors voice a new script that is more sexually suggestive, often ludicrously so.

Traditionally these are animated in super deformed (a.k.a. Chibi) style, in the same way manga omake often is. For example, Gunbuster features super-deformed characters trying to explain what the writers know to be sheer pseudo-science, or talk about their relationships with each other in a way they do not in the series itself.

See also

• Lagniappe

Anime and manga terminology

Omake | Omake | おまけ