How To Watch Re: Zero Anime? Complete Watch Order Guide

Who would’ve thought that a typical isekai like Re: Zero would get this successful? You have a hero who can go back in time each time he dies and a run-of-the-mill harem, yet it has reached great heights.

How so? Firstly, every character, be it major or minor, gets their attention in Re: Zero. Honestly, Rem’s importance could never have been anticipated. The dark undertone and Subaru’s feats mixed with his relatable character make the series what it is.

Re: Zero has received two anime seasons so far that consist of 50 episodes in total. The franchise also includes two OVA movies, two short anime series (ONA) and one special Director’s Cut of season 1.

Being a famous series, it is obvious that Re: Zero is fated to receive many anime installments. While some of the OVA and ONA might be confusing, I am here to solve every dilemma you have regarding its watch order.

From the easy release order to the in-demand chronological order for hardcore fans, this article has them all.

 1. Release Order

• Re: Zero Season 1 (2016)
• ONA: Re:Zero ~Starting Break Time From Zero~
• Re:PETIT ~Starting Life in Another World from PETIT~
• Memory Snow (OVA Movie)
• The Frozen Bond (OVA Movie)
• Director’s Cut Season 1
• Re: Zero Season 2
  • Part 1
  • Part 2

2. Chronological Order

• The Frozen Bond (OVA Movie)
• Re: Zero Season 1 (1-11) or Director’s Cut (1-5)
• Memory Snow (OVA Movie)
• Re: Zero Season 1 (12-25) or Director’s Cut (6-13)
• Re: Zero Season 2
  • Part 1
  • Part 2

3. Where to watch Re: Zero with English subtitles and dub?

You can watch all the Re: Zero seasons, OVAs and ONAs on Crunchyroll. The streaming site has licensed the anime to stream outside Asia. Netflix streams the seasons in Japan. Crunchyroll also offers English subtitles and dub for Re: Zero.

4. Can you download and watch Re: Zero offline?

Crunchyroll provides the download option with its subscription plans. More details on the various plans are available below:

5. What to do if Re: Zero is unavailable in your region?

A lot of anime are geo-blocked for several countries. If the anime isn’t available on any streaming website in your area, then you can use a VPN to bypass the geo-block.

There are many paid VPN services available, but you also have free options at hand. You can also use free browser extensions VPNs that you will find in the extension store.

If you are accessing streaming websites from your phone, you will find several VPNs from the app store. The important thing is that Re: Zero is present in Netflix and Crunchyroll’s catalogs, so set your VPN to a suitable location to access the anime from anywhere.

6. How much time will it take to watch Re: Zero?

It will take 37 hours and 51 minutes to watch the entire Re: Zero franchise including the Director’s Cut. It will take 24 hours and 51 minutes if you skip the Director’s Cut.

7. Watch Order Explained:

• Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World Season 1

Season 1 consists of 25 episodes and the first episode is 50 minutes long. It adapted the majority of the first three arcs (webnovel volumes 1-9) of the story.

• ONA: Re:Zero ~Starting Break Time From Zero~

It is a series of anime shorts featuring chibi versions of the characters. It is a set of 11 episodes with 2 minute duration each.

• Re:PETIT ~Starting Life in Another World from PETIT~

This is a second anime shorts series that ran for 14 episodes with the same chibi characters.

• Memory Snow (OVA Movie)

It is the first OVA of the seres and it adapts a chapter from the peaceful time between the second and third arcs.

• The Frozen Bond (OVA Movie)

This is the second OVA which is a direct adaptation of the prequel novel Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Zenjitsu-tan: Hyōketsu no Kizuna. It is focused on the meeting between Emilia and Puck.

• Director’s Cut Season 1

It is an edited version of first season and it contains some extended cuts. It is a set of 13 episodes, each one-hour long. It has very little original content, but many say that it is more well-made than the original season 1.

• Re: Zero -Starting Life in Another World Season 2

It can be divided between two cours of 12 and 13 episodes. It adapted the fourth arc: The Everlasting Contract.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

I. Original season 1 of Re: Zero Vs. Director’s Cut, what to watch?

The original series has 25+ episodes, each episode 25 minutes long. The Director’s cut, however, has 13 episodes, each being an hour long. The overall plot for both is the same with some extra scenes and tiny changes in the director’s cut.

While the plot is the same, the director’s cut is of the superior quality, having better animation than the original. For first time viewers, it is recommended that you watch the director’s cut and skip the original unless you want a re-watch of the exact same story.

If you have already watched the original, it is totally up to your preference. If you haven’t watched the anime in a long time and wish to prepare yourself for season 2, the director’s cut is the way to go. Otherwise, you can watch the director’s cut after episode 6 because that is when more noticeable changes take place. 

II. Has Re: Zero anime ended?

There are still plenty of arcs yet to be adapted and sinceRe: Zero is in demand, I doubt that the franchise will come to an end so abruptly. There is a high chance that season 3 of the anime will premiere in a short while, and it will adapt the fifth arc of the original novel.

III. Is Isekai Quartet a part of Re: Zero?

Isekai Quartet is a crossover comedy series that includes chibi characters from various anime like Re: Zero, KonoSuba, Overlord, and The Saga of Tanya the Evil. Its plot isn’t related to the original Re: Zero franchise and can be watched whenever you want as an extra.

9. Conclusion

You can watch the two seasons of Re: Zero first before moving onto the OVAs and ONAs of Re: Zero. The release order is the recommended watch order for this franchise. The two mini anime shorts have no relevance to the actual plot and can be skipped.

So, if you are an isekai enthusiast who wants to watch a series that goes deeper than a simple harem, then Re: Zero is the way to go. With its gorgeous character buildup and a down to earth hero, I’m sure you will have a good time watching it.

10. About Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World is a Japanese light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka.

The plot is based on Subaru Natsuki, the protagonist who gets sucked into a fantasy world on his way home from the convenience store. He gets attacked by a group of thugs and is beaten to a pulp immediately, but this girl from the fantasy world named Satella saves him.

Sometimes we include links to online retail stores and/or online campaigns. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. For more information, go here.