The Seven Deadly Sins (Nanatsu no Taizai) has cemented itself as one of the most recognizable fantasy anime of the past decade, yet its viewing order—stretched across four television seasons, a handful of OVAs, and two feature films—can trip up even attentive fans. This guide breaks down every part of the main saga, explains when and where to watch each entry, and clarifies which pieces are essential to the core storyline. By the end, you will have a clear, spoiler-free roadmap through the Liones kingdom and beyond.

Why the Watch Order Matters

When Nakaba Suzuki’s manga began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 2012, few could have predicted how sprawling the anime adaptation would become. What started as a single 24-episode season from A-1 Pictures grew into a multi-studio project that shifted visual style and pacing between arcs. Along the way, original video animations and theatrical releases wedged themselves into the timeline, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not. Watching in the wrong order won’t ruin the story, but it can dilute emotional payoffs, confuse character relationships, and spoil late-game revelations. The sequence recommended here follows the source material’s narrative flow while respecting how the animated productions were actually released—an approach that preserves both spoiler integrity and intended dramatic build-up.

Complete Series Breakdown by Season

The Seven Deadly Sins (Season 1, 2014)

Episodes: 24
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Chronology: Covers manga volumes 1 through roughly the beginning of volume 13.

The series introduces Elizabeth Liones, the third princess of a kingdom overthrown by Holy Knights, as she searches for the legendary order of warriors called the Seven Deadly Sins. Each member carries the name of a sin and was once the realm’s strongest protector, now scattered and disgraced. One by one, she locates Meliodas (the Dragon’s Sin of Wrath), Ban, King, Diane, Gowther, Merlin, and Escanor. Season one establishes the core conflict against the Holy Knights, weaves in extensive flashbacks that define the Sins’ past, and culminates in the battle to reclaim the capital. This season is the indispensable foundation; skip it and almost nothing that follows will carry weight.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of Holy War (OVA, 2016)

Episodes: 4
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Chronology: Takes place immediately after Season 1, before the Kingdom Infiltration arc.

Originally released as a four-episode OVA series, Signs of Holy War adapts side chapters from the manga that bridge the first and second seasons. The story explores the immediate aftermath of the Liones restoration, spotlighting smaller character moments: Ban’s attempts to help a young girl, Diane’s size-related insecurities, and a comedic body-swap scenario. While the OVA does not introduce any earth-shattering plot points, it reinforces the emotional bonds between the Sins and offers context for relationships that come under strain in the next season. Many streaming services treat these episodes as a separate season or as specials; watch them after Season 1 to stay in step with the manga’s intent.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments (Season 2, 2018)

Episodes: 24
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Chronology: Covers the Kingdom Infiltration arc and the beginning of the Great Fight Festival arc (manga volumes 13–24).

After a four-year gap in television production, the series returned with a significantly darker tone. The Ten Commandments, an elite corps of demons sealed away over 3,000 years ago, awaken and immediately threaten the peace Meliodas and his comrades fought to secure. Revival of The Commandments raises the stakes by crippling the Sins both physically and emotionally; key members endure devastating defeats, and long-buried truths about Meliodas’s heritage surge to the surface. The season also introduces Zeldris, Estarossa, and other demons whose motivations reshape the world’s mythology. Because the OVA bridges the earlier lighthearted tone into this more serious arc, skipping Signs of Holy War can make the shift feel abrupt—watch the OVA to ease the transition.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath of the Gods (Season 3, 2020)

Episodes: 24
Studio: Studio Deen
Chronology: Adapts the Great Fight Festival arc and the Prelude to the New Holy War arc (manga volumes 24–34).

This is where the production underwent its most notable change. Studio Deen took over animation duties, leading to a visible shift in art style, character models, and, controversially, the quality of certain action sequences. The narrative, however, remains faithful to the manga and is packed with pivotal events. The Sins confront the Commandments in a tournament-style deadlock, Merlin’s ancient schemes come into focus, and a character ascends to a power level that literally shifts the balance of the world. Wrath of the Gods also introduces the Goddess Clan’s history, giving long-awaited answers about Elizabeth’s curse and Meliodas’s 3,000-year emotional journey. Despite the production discourse, the season’s story beats are essential, especially the final episodes that set the stage for the series’ climax.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon’s Judgement (Season 4, 2021)

Episodes: 24
Studio: Studio Deen
Chronology: Adapts the New Holy War arc and the final chapters (manga volumes 34–41).

Billed as the final season of the main television series, Dragon’s Judgement wastes no time plunging into an all-out war between the Seven Deadly Sins, the Demon Clan, the Goddess Clan, and the forces of Chaos. Long-simmering rivalries—Meliodas versus Zeldris, Ban versus his own humanity, King and Diane versus the very concept of alienation—are resolved in an operatic, high-fantasy confrontation. The season concludes the central narrative of the manga, complete with an epilogue that reveals the future of Liones and its champions. Watching Dragon’s Judgement immediately after Wrath of the Gods is the only way to experience the story’s intended momentum, as the two seasons essentially form one continuous arc.

The Movie Slate Explained

The Seven Deadly Sins spawned two theatrical features, and they occupy very different slots in the viewing order. One is a side adventure that can be slotted in early, and the other is a direct epilogue that should be saved for the very end.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners of the Sky (2018)

Runtime: 99 minutes
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Canon status: Original story supervised by Nakaba Suzuki but not directly adapted from the manga.

Prisoners of the Sky introduces a floating island nation called the Sky Palace, along with a race of winged warriors and a demonic seal that threatens both the heavens and the earth below. The film’s timeline slots comfortably after Season 2 (Revival of The Commandments), because it features characters at their Season 2 power level and references events from that season. While the movie does not alter the main storyline, it gives each Sin a moment to shine and offers some of the most consistently polished animation in the entire franchise. For maximum enjoyment without spoiling any main-arc reveals, watch Prisoners of the Sky after finishing Revival of The Commandments and before starting Wrath of the Gods.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Cursed by Light (2021)

Runtime: 79 minutes
Studio: Studio Deen
Canon status: Direct sequel written by Nakaba Suzuki; takes place immediately after the final chapter of the manga.

Cursed by Light is not a stand-alone adventure but the proper conclusion to the story threads left dangling after Dragon’s Judgement. It focuses on the aftermath of the Holy War, specifically the fate of the Fairy and Giant clans and the lingering menace of a powerful demon who refuses to accept the new peace. Key relationships—Meliodas and Zeldris, King and Diane, and the fragmented remnants of the Demon Realm—receive definitive closure. The movie also provides a glimpse of the world’s political restructuring, effectively serving as the epilogue the manga delivered in its final pages, fully animated. Watching Cursed by Light before finishing Dragon’s Judgement will ruin the final season’s climax, so place it absolutely last.

For those who want a quick checklist that preserves all narrative arcs, character developments, and emotional beats without accidental spoilers:

  1. The Seven Deadly Sins (Season 1, episodes 1–24)
  2. The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of Holy War (OVA, episodes 1–4)
  3. The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments (Season 2, episodes 1–24)
  4. The Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners of the Sky (Movie, watch after Season 2)
  5. The Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath of the Gods (Season 3, episodes 1–24)
  6. The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon’s Judgement (Season 4, episodes 1–24)
  7. The Seven Deadly Sins: Cursed by Light (Movie, watch after Season 4)

If you prefer to skip non-canon material on your first run, you can temporarily set aside Prisoners of the Sky. However, do not skip Signs of Holy War; though its tone is lighter, it adapts canon chapters that the anime production simply chose to release as an OVA instead of a full television season.

Why Some Platforms Label Seasons Differently

One common source of confusion is the inconsistent episode numbering across streaming services. When Netflix originally acquired the series, it listed Signs of Holy War as “Season 2” and Revival of The Commandments as “Season 3.” This carried forward, so what the fandom calls Season 3 (Wrath of the Gods) appears as “Season 4” on Netflix, and Dragon’s Judgement appears as “Season 5.” This guide uses the production and fandom conventions, counting only the four main television seasons as numbered seasons and treating the OVA as a separate bridge chapter. Always verify by looking at the episode count and descriptions: a “season” with only 4 episodes is almost certainly Signs of Holy War.

Where to Stream the Full Saga

Availability shifts by region, but as of 2025, the most comprehensive home for The Seven Deadly Sins is Netflix, which carries all four main seasons, the Signs of Holy War OVA, and both films. For viewers who want to watch alongside a larger anime catalogue, Crunchyroll streams the television series (though movie availability varies by country). Individual seasons and movies can also be purchased digitally on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, which is useful if a particular entry leaves a subscription catalogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip the OVA and still understand the main story?

Technically, yes. The main plot points from Signs of Holy War are minor and are recapped in early dialogue during Season 2. However, the OVA adds vital texture to Diane and King’s relationship, explains how Ban obtained a specific item referenced later, and softens the tonal whiplash between the hopeful ending of Season 1 and the brutal opening of Revival of The Commandments. Given that it is only four episodes, the time investment is small for the character depth gained.

Does Prisoners of the Sky contain spoilers for later seasons?

No. Because the movie was produced after Season 2 but before Season 3, it treats the Season 2 power scale and character knowledge as the baseline. It introduces an original antagonist and setting without touching the major revelations about Meliodas, Elizabeth, or the Demon Clan that unfold in Wrath of the Gods. Watching it after Season 2 is not only safe but recommended to match the intended dramatic stakes.

Why does the animation look different after Season 2?

When the production moved from A-1 Pictures to Studio Deen for Wrath of the Gods, the schedule and team changed radically. This led to a softer color palette, altered character designs, and, in some episodes, reduced frame counts that drew heavy criticism online. The studio acknowledged the feedback and made corrective efforts for Dragon’s Judgement, resulting in a more consistent visual experience. The story’s strength during these arcs, however, is widely regarded as the series’ peak, so the trade-off is worth enduring.

Is there a sequel series?

Yes. The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse, based on Nakaba Suzuki’s direct sequel manga, began airing in 2023. It follows a new generation of characters, including the son of Meliodas and Elizabeth, and takes place years after the events of Cursed by Light. Watching the entire original series and both movies before starting Four Knights is essential, as the sequel assumes full knowledge of the previous ending and character fates. Detailed viewing order guides for the sequel can be found on sites like Anime News Network.

Putting It All Together

The Seven Deadly Sins rewards viewers who follow its internal chronology. The journey from a tavern meeting in Season 1 to the sweeping epic of Dragon’s Judgement is built on small character moments—many of them tucked into the OVA and the first movie—that accumulate into resonant payoffs. By treating the series as one long narrative and watching in the order above, you will experience the full emotional range the creators intended: from playful banter to genuine heartbreak, from hopeless defeat to hard-won peace. Whether you stream on Netflix, Crunchyroll, or another platform, a little attention to the sequence will spare you the confusion that so many first-time viewers have reported, and will let the story of Meliodas, Elizabeth, and the Sins land with its maximum impact.