Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms

Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms (サクラ大戦 ～桜華絢爛～) is a 1997 Japanese original video animation (OVA) produced by Animate Film, Bandai Visual, and Sega and animated by Radix. It ran for four episodes and is the first OVA based on the Sakura Wars video games. The episodes were released in VHS and LaserDisc formats.

The OVA was announced as the first joint product to result from the proposed merger between Sega (owner of the Sakura Wars franchise) and Bandai (Bandai Visual's parent company). Though the merger was called off shortly afterwards, the OVA project proceeded as planned. ADV Films announced they had licensed the OVA series in North America in May 1998 at Project A-Kon 9; it was the first piece of Sakura Wars media made officially available in the region.

It depicts the formation of the Imperial Assault Troupe's Flower Division leading up to the beginning of the original game where the player character takes command of the unit.

Theme songs

 * Openings
 * 1) "Attack! Imperial Floral Assault Team" (檄！帝国華撃団)
 * 2) *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Takayuki Negishi / Singers: Chisa Yokoyama (Sakura Shinguji) & The Imperial Floral Assault Team


 * Endings
 * 1) "My Blue Sky" (わたしの青空)
 * 2) *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Takayuki Negishi / Singers: Ai Orikasa (Ayame Fujieda)
 * 3) *Episodes: 1-3
 * 4) "The Maiden's Flowers Bloom" (花咲く乙女)
 * 5) *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Akifumi Tada / Singers: The Imperial Floral Assault Team
 * 6) *Episodes: 4


 * Insert Songs
 * 1) "A Dizzy Deck" (甲板フラフラ)
 * 2) *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Akifumi Tada / Singers: Akio Suyama (Ichirō Ōgami)
 * 3) *Episodes: 1-2
 * 4) "Cherry Blossom" (さくら)
 * 5) *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Masami Kishimura / Singers: Akio Suyama (Ichirō Ōgami)
 * 6) *Episodes: 2
 * 7) "Dance Festival" (お祭りダンス)
 * 8) *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Masami Kishimura / Singers: Akio Suyama (Ichirō Ōgami)
 * 9) *Episodes: 3