Why the Watch Order Matters

The Made in Abyss anime is not a series you can shuffle or skip around. The story builds its dense mythology through a literal descent into a supernatural chasm, and each chapter adds irreversible weight to the journey. Watching out of order undercuts the carefully calibrated sense of dread, discovery, and heartbreak that makes this story so powerful. The anime adaptation follows the manga faithfully, but the narrative's emotional architecture depends entirely on the sequence of key events: Riko and Reg's first encounter, the revelation of the Curse, the introduction of Nanachi, the horrors of Bondrewd's experiments, and the unraveling of the Sixth Layer's society. This guide lays out the only sequence that preserves that architecture, including the essential movie, while also mapping optional content for completists.

The World and the Curse

Before diving into episodes, it helps to grasp the geography and rules of the Abyss. The Abyss is a colossal vertical chasm on the island of Orth, divided into distinct layers, each with unique ecosystems, ancient relics, and escalating danger. Explorers called Cave Raiders are ranked by whistle color – from Bell to Black, with only legendary White Whistles permitted to explore the deepest known strata. The Abyss exerts a "Curse" on anyone ascending. The deeper you go, the more severe the physical and psychological strain becomes. Layer 1 brings mild dizziness; by Layer 6, ascending results in loss of humanity or death. This mechanic isn't just worldbuilding trivia – it's the engine of the show's tension and defines the impossible choices characters face. Knowing these fundamentals makes the watch order feel less like a checklist and more like a descent you participate in.

The Core Canon Watch Order: Three Steps

The main story unfolds across one TV season, one feature film, and a second TV season. Watching them in any other sequence will either spoil critical events or leave you confused. Here's the definitive path:

  1. Made in Abyss (Season 1) – 13 episodes
  2. Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul (Movie 3, 2020)
  3. Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun (Season 2, 2022)

Do not skip the movie. Dawn of the Deep Soul adapts the manga's "Ido Front" arc and directly leads into Season 2. Without it, the backstories, new characters, and emotional foundation of the second season will feel disjointed. The film is a standalone theatrical release, not a recap. Treat it as Season 1.5. The movie is available for digital purchase or rental on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and HIDIVE depending on your region.

The Recap Movies: What You Should Know

The first two films, Made in Abyss: Journey's Dawn and Made in Abyss: Wandering Twilight, compress Season 1 with a handful of new or extended scenes. They're viable if you need a refresher, but they trim character moments and minor subplots. For a first-time watch, the full 13-episode season provides the richer, intended experience. The recap movies also omit some of the more subtle foreshadowing that pays off later, such as the significance of the "Umbra Hands" and the early hints about the Abyss's true nature.

Season 1: The Descent Begins

The inaugural season covers the manga's first four volumes. It introduces Riko, an orphan living at the Belchero Orphanage, who dreams of following her mother Lyza the Annihilator, a White Whistle who vanished into the Abyss years earlier. When a mysterious robot boy named Reg arrives and a message from Lyza surfaces, the two embark on a forbidden journey into the depths. The season's strength lies in how it weaponizes its adorable art style. Kinema Citrus, with direction by Masayuki Kojima, renders lush, Ghibli-esque environments and character designs that make the accumulating danger feel like a betrayal of innocence. Episodes 10 through 13 mark a tonal pivot that the series never reverses. This is where viewers learn that the Abyss doesn't just test bodies – it corrodes souls. The introduction of Nanachi and the true nature of the Curse in the Fifth Layer sets the stage for everything that follows.

Streaming: Season 1 is available on HIDIVE (worldwide) and Amazon Prime Video (select regions). A Blu-ray release from Sentai Filmworks exists for collectors, including the uncensored version with the complete "Marulk's Everyday" shorts.

Dawn of the Deep Soul: The Movie That Changes Everything

This 2020 film adapts approximately 15 manga chapters and should not be mistaken for a side story. It picks up immediately after Season 1, with Riko, Reg, and their newly befriended hollow Nanachi arriving at the Fifth Layer's Ido Front base. There, they meet the White Whistle Bondrewd, whose deceptively warm demeanor masks one of the most chilling antagonists in anime. The movie's 105-minute runtime allowed the team to maintain the manga's unflinching horror while elevating the action sequences with theatrical-grade animation. Kevin Penkin's score, returning from the series, reaches operatic heights – the track "The Cartridge" will haunt you. The film is rated R-15 in Japan and carries content warnings for a reason. Scenes of body horror and experimentation are graphic, but they never feel gratuitous because they serve the narrative's thematic obsession with sacrifice and scientific atrocity.

Once you've seen Dawn of the Deep Soul, you'll understand why it's mandatory viewing. It introduces Prushka, reveals the mechanics of the Curse in terrifying new detail, and profoundly changes Nanachi. Without this chapter, the emotional beats of Season 2 lose their anchor. The movie also contains a crucial post-credits scene that directly bridges into The Golden City of the Scorching Sun. Make sure you watch until the very end.

The Golden City of the Scorching Sun: Season 2

The 12-episode second season, premiering Summer 2022, dives into the Iruburu arc of the manga. It plunges the trio into the Sixth Layer, the Capital of the Unreturned, a sprawling hollow domain where value becomes currency and a bizarre society of Narehate – former humans twisted by the Abyss – lives under its own rules. The season explores the origin of the village, the trauma of a character named Vueko, and the haunting mythology of the "Golden City." Narratively, Season 2 is the most ambitious, weaving multiple timelines and unreliable perspectives. New protagonist Faputa, a creature of pure vengeance, steals every scene she's in, and the climax delivers some of the most cathartic and horrific moments of the entire franchise. The season's pacing can feel dense, but that density rewards rewatches. It shows how deeply the story has matured from a simple cave-exploration fantasy into a meditation on community, memory, and self-destruction.

Season 2 is streaming on HIDIVE. The first episode is double-length, serving as an in-media-res hook that the subsequent episodes unravel. Some viewers find the nonlinear storytelling challenging, but it pays off spectacularly.

Where the Manga Fits In

For readers who want to go further, the manga by Akihito Tsukushi, serialized in Web Comic Gamma, is the source material. The anime stays remarkably faithful, though the manga includes additional worldbuilding art and some nuance that the anime compresses. The chronological reading order mirrors the anime, but after Season 2, the manga continues with the current arc from Volume 10 onward. Because the manga releases chapters irregularly, many fans alternate between the two mediums. Tsukushi's art style, often described as soft and rounded, makes the horror much more jarring – a quality the anime faithfully translates. As of early 2025, the manga is in the midst of the "Seventh Layer" arc, which has not yet been adapted. If you want to stay ahead of the story, start reading from Volume 10 after finishing Season 2.

Content Advisory: A Seinen Series

Made in Abyss is not a children's show despite its first-glance aesthetic. The anime includes intense sequences of violence, body mutilation, psychological torment, and existential dread. Several episodes and the movie carry strong viewer discretion warnings. If you're sensitive to depictions of suffering in young characters, this series will test your limits. However, its mature approach to consequences – no plot armor for emotional comfort – is what makes it an exceptional piece of science-fantasy. Go in prepared, and you'll come out moved. The series is firmly seinen, aimed at adult audiences, and the horror is always purposeful, never gratuitous.

Optional Content: OVAs, Shorts, and the Game

While not essential to the main story, these side materials add texture for the devoted:

  • Marulk's Everyday – A collection of four short episodes included with the Season 1 Blu-ray that show life at the Seeker Camp in the Fourth Layer. Lighthearted but canonical, they provide a welcome breather and deepen characters like Marulk and Ozen.
  • The Time of the Essence – A 20-minute OVA that originally released with the Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness video game. It follows a new Cave Raider and fits around the Season 1 timeline. It's a side story that adds to the world without being essential.
  • Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul – Special Episode – A brief after-credits scene that bridges emotional continuity into Season 2. Already mentioned, but don't miss it.
  • Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness – The video game retells the Season 1 story while offering an original player-created character exploration mode. It's a companion piece, not a narrative necessity, but fans of the world may enjoy the interactive experience.

None of these are required to understand the core plot, but they enrich the world and reward fans who crave more time with the characters.

How the Manga Arc Count Relates to Anime Watch Order

Understanding the manga's arc structure can help you anticipate the anime's progression. The major arcs in order are:

  • Chapter 1–4 (Volume 1–2): Introductions and descent to the Second Layer.
  • Chapter 5–8 (Volumes 2–3): The Seeker Camp and Ozen's trial.
  • Chapter 9–12 (Volumes 3–4): The journey through the Third and Fourth Layers, introduction of Nanachi.
  • Chapter 13–16 (Volumes 4–5): The Ido Front arc – this is what Dawn of the Deep Soul covers.
  • Chapter 17–20 (Volumes 5–6): The descent to the Sixth Layer and start of the Iruburu arc.
  • Chapter 21–26 (Volumes 6–9): The full Iruburu arc – Season 2.
  • Chapter 27–present (Volumes 10–): The Seventh Layer arc, not yet animated.

This breakdown makes clear why the movie is essential: without it, you jump from Volume 4 to Volume 5 and miss an entire pivotal story beat.

Common Watch Order Questions

Can I watch only the recap movies and then Dawn of the Deep Soul?

You can, but you'll miss small character nuances and a couple of important side scenes that the TV season includes. The recap movies are best used as a memory refresher, not as a replacement for a first viewing. The full season remains the definitive version.

Is there a Season 3?

As of early 2025, no third season has been officially announced. The manga is currently in the middle of the Seventh Layer arc, but given the pace of the source material and the production time required for high-quality animation, a sequel could be several years away. Keep an eye on the official Made in Abyss anime website for updates. A third movie adapting the Seventh Layer arc is also a possibility, as the series has a pattern of using theatrical releases for key arcs.

Do I need to play the game to understand anything?

No. Binary Star Falling into Darkness (2022) retells the Season 1 story while offering an original player-created character exploration mode. It's a companion piece, not a narrative necessity. The OVA included with it is optional but fun for fans.

What's the best region for physical media?

Sentai Filmworks handles North American distribution. UK fans can import the Blu-ray from MVM Entertainment. Both releases include English dubs and subtitle options. The Japanese Blu-rays contain exclusive bonus features like special edition art books and commentary tracks, but they are region-locked.

Should I watch the dub or sub?

Both are high quality. The English dub from Sentai Filmworks is well-cast, with particular praise for Brittney Karbowski's performance as Riko and David Wald's Bondrewd. The Japanese cast features talents like Miyu Tomita and Mariya Ise. There is no wrong choice, but the original Japanese audio delivers the emotional intensity of the manga's tone more directly.

Final Descent

The Made in Abyss watch order is straightforward once you commit to the movie as an integral bridge. The real challenge lies in surviving the plummet – emotionally and viscerally. Start with the 13 episodes, brace yourself for Dawn of the Deep Soul, and then let The Golden City of the Scorching Sun reshape how you think about found family and monstrous legacies. The Abyss is patient, and so should you be. Watch in order, without guides that spoil the discoveries, and you'll earn every haunting note of Kevin Penkin's score that stays with you long after the credits roll. For the complete journey, consider exploring the manga beyond the anime's reach – the story is far from over, and the depths are deeper than you imagine.