In what order should you watch Tokyo Ghoul? Tokyo Ghoul is one of those animes that need no introduction. Initially written by Sui Ishida, the anime has been adapted from the “Tokyo Ghoul” manga and is produced by the Pierrot Company. It is a supernatural, fantasy horror that has got more to serve than what it looks like. If you are going to watch Tokyo Ghoul, then brace yourself for a dark, gory ride. As entertaining and attention-grabbing the series superficially is, it is as philosophical and deep if you think about it.
The show revolves around a student who, in the wake of his newfound life, is trying to find a midway for the co-existence of his two identities. It is set in a parallel universe where entities called “ghouls” live in the human world. Those creatures survive on human flesh. Also, they camouflage among humans as they can make themselves look like one of them. There’s a constant threat to the lives of humans as it is almost impossible to distinguish them apart. Additionally, they have about 4 to 7 times more strength than normal humans. And yes, they have regenerative abilities too, but they aren’t immortal. The ghouls hunt down humans through different means, mostly luring them and taking them to quiet places to prevent getting caught.
Now, as tempting as it sounds, it is equally unpredictable and gruesome. The show is filled with ghouls mercilessly devouring humans with lots of emotional twists too. Here is the order in which you should watch Tokyo Ghoul.
Also Read: 20 Facts About Tokyo Ghoul You Should Know
Tokyo Ghoul watch order
The following list will be in the recommended order of watching while also mentioning the release order rank and the chronological order rank of the series.
Tokyo Ghoul (Season 1)
Starting date: July 4, 2014
Ending date: September 19, 2014
Release order: 1
Chronological order: 3
Total Episodes: 12
Tokyo Ghoul √A (Season 2)
Starting date: January 9, 2015
Ending date: March 27, 2015
Release order: 2
Chronological order: 4
Total Episodes: 12
Tokyo Ghoul: “JACK” (OVA)
Release date: September 30, 2015
Release order: 3
Chronological order: 1
Running Time: 30 minutes
Tokyo Ghoul: “PINTO” (OVA)
Release date: December 25, 2015
Release order: 4
Chronological order: 2
Running Time: 25 minutes
Tokyo Ghoul: Re (Season 3)
PART 1
Starting date: April 3, 2018
Ending date: June 19, 2018
PART 2
Starting date: September 29, 2018
Ending date: December 25, 2018
Release order: 5-6
Chronological order: 5-6
Total Episodes: 24
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Synopsis
Kaneki Ken is a student living in the city of Tokyo. He goes to meet his friend Nagachika Hideyachi at a cafe when his friend suggests he go on a date with Kamishiro Rize. Rize shares the same interest in books as Kaneki. Hence, Hideyachi thinks that they’d be a good match. Later, when Ken goes out on dinner with Rize, he finds out that she is a ghoul. She takes him to a quiet construction site and tries attacking him. By chance, a bunch of pipes falls on Rize, and Ken manages to stay alive but with mortal injuries. After some time, when Kaneki opens his eyes, he finds himself in a hospital. The doctor explains to him that he has transplanted organs in his body and that he will be alright.
After getting discharged from the hospital, Kaneki goes to his house but finds himself unable to eat normal food. As soon as he takes a bite, he pukes it out because of the way the food tasted. Later, on a radio broadcast, he finds out that it is the characteristic of the ghouls to be unable to eat normal food and survive purely on human flesh. Kaneki is left in denial. He tries stuffing food in his mouth but ends up throwing up each time. That is when he finds out that the doctor had transplanted Rize’s organs in him, leaving him half-human, half-ghoul.
Later, in the streets, he meets Kirishima Touka, the waitress at the coffee shop “Anteiku”. Anteiku is a cafe run by ghouls, which he finds out about after he meets Kirishima. She takes him in and starts to teach him to deal with the life of a ghoul.
The anime traces the journey of Kaneki Ken as he learns to survive in the society of both humans and ghouls. Even though Kaneki is the main character of Tokyo Ghoul, the series does not revolve entirely around him and enjoys the importance of other characters as well.
