Anime Watch Order Guide: The Right Order for Complex Franchises
Monogatari, Fate, and Precure break newcomers who press 'play' on episode one. Here's the correct watch order for the franchises where sequence — not filler — is the real trap.
Anime Watch Order Guide: Don't Press Play on Episode One
Filler is one trap. Watch order is the other. Some franchises are aired out of story order on purpose, and pressing "play" on the first title alphabetically ruins them. The r/anime watch_order wiki exists because this confuses everyone. Here are the ones that actually matter.
Monogatari — broadcast order is correct
Monogatari is the classic trap. The "first" light novel isn't the first anime. Watch in broadcast order: Bakemonogatari → Nisemonogatari → Nekomonogatari (Black) → the rest as aired. The studio intentionally front-loads a later-story arc for tone. Release order = intended order here.
Fate — start with Ufotable's run
The Fate franchise is a maze of routes and spin-offs. The sane 2026 entry:
- Fate/Zero (prequel, self-contained)
- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
- Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel films
- Fate/Grand Order arcs as you like
Skip the 2006 Fate/stay night TV series — it's dated and contradicts the better adaptations.
Precure — mostly standalone
Despite 20+ seasons, Precure is built for kids and resets each year. Watch any season alone. Only the movies and crossover specials require prior context, and even those are gentle. Don't binge the whole franchise in order — pick the season with the art style you like.
Other common ones
| Franchise | Watch order |
|---|---|
| Dragon Ball | DB → Z (or Kai) → Super → films |
| Gundam | Per-arc standalone; start with Iron-Blooded Orphans or The Witch from Mercury |
| JoJo | Strictly release order, part 1 → 6 |
| Puella Magi Madoka | Series → Films (films replace the ending) |
Tools that settle the debate
- r/anime watch_order wiki — community-maintained, per-franchise
- watchorder.one — combines watch order and filler in one view
- AniList — many entries list a "recommended order" in the relations tab
The bottom line
When a franchise feels impossible, check the order before you start — usually release/broadcast order is right, with Fate as the famous exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the right watch order for Monogatari?
Broadcast order: Bakemonogatari → Nisemonogatari → Nekomonogatari (Black), then the rest as aired. The studio intentionally front-loads a later-story arc for tone, so the "first" novel isn't the first anime. Release order is the intended order here.
Where should I start with the Fate franchise?
Start with Fate/Zero (a self-contained prequel), then Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, then the Heaven's Feel films. Skip the dated 2006 Fate/stay night TV series — the later Ufotable adaptations are better and contradict it.
Is Precure one continuous story?
No. Despite 20+ seasons, Precure resets each year and is built for kids. Watch any single season alone. Only the movies and crossover specials assume prior context, and even those are gentle.
Do I have to watch Dragon Ball in order?
For the main saga, yes-ish: Dragon Ball → Z (or Kai) → Super, then the films. But each arc is fairly self-contained, so many fans jump into Z/Kai and fill in the original later. Super expects you to know the cast from Z.
Where can I check watch order for any franchise?
The r/anime watch_order wiki is community-maintained per franchise, and watchorder.one combines watch order with filler in one view. AniList also lists a "recommended order" in many titles' relations tab.