How to Watch Attack on Titan in Order

Attack on Titan is known as a great entry point for those looking to get into anime, with only four seasons covering the main story. First released in 2013, the series received widespread acclaim, but went on a hiatus for four long years until its second season finally saw the light of day. Production delays became a recurring trademark of the anime, which explains why such a fairly short anime only came to an end 10 years after it began.

Attack on Titan became an instant classic for its compelling array of characters and political subtext. Set in a distant future where the world is infested with bloodthirsty titans, leaving what’s left of humanity to take shelter behind three walls, the anime is centered around Eren Jaeger, a young boy who witnesses the death of his mother at the hands of a titan and swears to destroy each and every one of them.

For newcomers, watching Attack on Titan can be tricky, with so many OVAs and seasons getting split into different parts. That said, we’ve got you covered with recommendations for different viewing orders.

Season 1: Episodes 1-25

With 25 episodes, Attack on Titan‘s first season starts in fast-paced motion, with plenty of explosive action and emotionally charged sacrifices. It kicks off with the “Fall of Shiganshima” arc, in which titans breach the walls after 100 years of peace, and viewers get to see the tragic past of Eren and his two loyal friends, Mikasa and Armin.

A big time jump takes the viewers to when Eren is training to join the Survey Corps before jumping into action-packed arcs such as “The Struggle for Trost,” “Eve of the Counterattack,” “The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission,” and “Assault on Stohess”. The first season is mostly invested in introducing the characters, including the anime’s first major villain, the Female Titan.

Season 2: Episodes 26-37

Attack on Titan Season 2, though brief, is all about exploring Eren Yeager’s powers and uncovering who the real enemies are. Totaling only 12 episodes, it covers only the “Clash of Titans” arc, where it comes to light that there are three other titans hidden among the Survey Corps. The season follows Eren taking the first steps to control the power of his titan, including an epic battle against the Armored Titan and the first showcase of his ability to control other titans.

Season 3, Part 1: Episodes 38-49

This is the season where all answers lie. For those who love the characters and the action scenes in Attack on Titan, but get increasingly frustrated with the lack of answers in the anime, the third season takes both the characters and the viewers back in time to uncover the past of Grisha Jaeger, Eren’s father, and the origins of Paradis Island.

However, with the anime’s animation company falling behind in their projects, they had no other option but to split the season in two. Part 1 of Season 3 covers the “Uprising” arc, where Erwin and Dot Pixis unite forces to perform a coup d’etat on the royal government, and the “Return to Shiganshima” arc, although the first part ends just before the second arc begins, in episode 49, “Night of the Battle to Retake the Wall.”

Season 3, Part 2: Episodes 50-59

Some of Attack on Titan‘s most memorable episodes were saved for the second part of the third season, in which the “Return to Shiganshima” arc takes place. It’s here that an epic battle to retrieve the secrets of Grisha’s basement ensues, where everyone’s wit is put into practice as the Survey Corpos engage in direct confrontation with the Armored Titan, the Colossus Titan, and a horde of titans controlled by the Beast Titan. These episodes are marked by shocking deaths, explosive action, secrets unburied, and the anime’s biggest dilemma: in a fateful moment, the characters must choose between Erwin and Armin to inject a life-saving titan injection.

The Final Season, Part 1: Episodes 60-75

What was supposed to be Attack on Titan‘s final season seemed to drag on forever with one hiatus after the other. With MAPPA taking the reins of the anime, there was a big boost in the animation, but not without the cost of having the season split into different parts once again. This time, there weren’t just two parts, but rather three, which, in turn, ended up being split into two further segments.

Up until this point, Attack on Titan revolved entirely around the inhabitants of Paradis, but with the truth about Eldia and Marley uncovered, a new nation joins the big picture and the preparations for the anime’s biggest battle yet commence. The first part covers the majority of the fourth season, ending in episode 75, “Above and Below.”

The Final Season, Part 2: Episodes 76-87

Attack on Titan Season 4’s second part has 12 episodes in total, running from episode 76, “Judgment,” to episode 87, “The Dawn of Humanity.” It covers the majority of the “War for Paradis” arc, the story’s final arc, following the Survey Corps’ return to Paradis in contrast with Marleyan forces preparing to unleash their final blow against the Eldians. In this context, Eren stands out as the battle’s decisive pawn; in his hands, lies the chance to either save humanity or cause its ruin once and for all.

The Final Chapters (Part 1): Episode 88

The announcement of the third and final part of Attack on Titan‘s fourth season was both a gift and a curse for the fans: for one thing, it would finally wrap up the anime for good. On the other hand, the final chapter was split into two parts — once again — with an eight-month gap between them. At least fans were able to savor an episode that lasted over an hour, with the promise of an even more epic conclusion taking place in the second and final chapter. The Final Chapters (Part 1) is marked with tear-jerking farewells and the final calm before the storm.

The Final Chapters (Part 2): Episode 88

The second and final chapter of Attack on Titan‘s fourth season brings the anime to an end. With a running time of 85 minutes (that still flies by), the episode follows Eren unleashing the peak of the Attack Titan’s fury as he approaches Fort Salta, where the fate of humanity lies.

For an anime whose perception of good or bad has never been clear — having always treated heroes and villains with an empathetic touch that every human being deserves — Attack on Titan ended on a divisive note, as expected. In addition, there are some significant changes from the manga to the anime, in an attempt by Hajime Isayama to adjust things that he thought didn’t feel right in the final pages he wrote.

Related: Attack on Titan Ending, Explained

Every good anime has its share of exciting movies, canon or not, known as OVAs. Attack on Titan is no different, though the credibility of their OVAs is still debated among fans. Most of them cover events addressed in the main story, such as No Regrets, a prequel centered around Levi in his early years, and Ilse’s Notebook, about the capture of a titan by Hange and Levi. While that doesn’t necessarily make them canon, given that not watching them doesn’t really interfere with how the main story unfolds, they are a good expansion to the world in and around the walls.

Here’s how to watch Attack on Titan‘s main seasons and OVAs in order

• Attack on Titan Season 1 (Episodes 1-25)
• Attack on Titan Ilse’s Notebook (OVA)
• Attack on Titan: The Sudden Visitor (OVA)
• Attack on Titan: Distress (OVA)
• Attack on Titan: No Regrets (OVA)
• Attack on Titan Season 2 (Episodes 26-37)
• Attack on Titan: Lost Girls: Wall Sina, Goodbye (OVA)
• Attack on Titan Season 3, Part 1 (Episodes 38-49)
• Attack on Titan: Lost Girls: Lost in the Cruel World (OVA)
• Attack on Titan Season 3 – Part 2: (Episodes 50-59)
• Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Part 1: (Episodes 60-75)
• Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Part 2: (Episodes 76-87)
• Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters, Part 1 (Episode 88)
• Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters, Part 2 (Episode 89)

Related: Would Attack on Titan Work as a Live-Action Netflix Series?

Attack on Titan is the kind of anime that doesn’t give out answers so easily, offering bombastic revelations as each season progresses. For this reason, watching the whole bundle of episodes and OVAs in chronological order will likely spoil the magic of the anime’s biggest secrets for newcomers, who would be better off with the release order instead. Watching Attack on Titan in chronological order makes for a great rewatch, though, and the perfect opportunity for catching details that are easy to miss.

Here’s the chronological order of Attack on Titan‘s main seasons and OVAs:

• Attack on Titan: No Regrets Parts 1-2 (OVA)
• Attack on Titan Season 1: Episodes 1-3
• Attack on Titan: Distress (OVA)
• Attack on Titan: The Sudden Visitor (OVA)
• Attack on Titan Ilse’s Notebook (OVA)
• Attack on Titan season 1, Episodes 4-16
• Attack on Titan: Lost Girls: Wall Sina, Goodbye (OVA)
• Attack on Titan Season 1, Episodes 17-25
• Attack on Titan Season 2, Episodes 26-37
• Attack on Titan Season 3 – Part 1, Episodes 38-49
• Attack on Titan: Lost Girls: Lost in the Cruel World (OVA)
• Attack on Titan season 3 – Part 2, Episodes 50-59
• Attack on Titan: The Final Season – Part 1, Episodes 60-75
• Attack on Titan: The Final Season – Part 2, Episodes 76-87
• Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters (Part 1), Episode 88
• Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters (Part 2), Episode 89

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