Tokyo Ghoul Watch Order June 2026
Tokyo Ghoul's order is infamously confusing because Season 2 (√A / Root A) is an anime-original story personally outlined by author Sui Ishida that diverges hard from the manga, while Tokyo Ghoul:re jumps two years ahead and adapts the manga sequel — assuming you already know the manga's true events, not Root A's. This mismatch is why many fans recommend reading the manga from where √A splits off instead of watching it. Below is the full recommended Tokyo Ghoul watch order for June 2026, cross-checked against multiple community guides — plus alternative orders and what you can safely skip. Last verified June 16, 2026.
✅ Recommended watch order (with the manga caveat for √A)
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1
Tokyo Ghoul (Season 1)
Faithful adaptation of the original manga's first arc (Anteiku / Aogiri raid), covering roughly manga vol. 1-8. The strongest, most-praised part of the anime — watch this first regardless of which path you pick.
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2
Tokyo Ghoul √A (Root A)
Anime-ORIGINAL second season, not a straight manga adaptation. Sui Ishida supplied an alternate storyline, so it diverges into a different continuity from roughly Season 2 Episode 1: Kaneki joins Aogiri Tree, fights Amon differently, and the Anteiku raid plays out with major changes including Hide's fate. Watchable but divergent and weaker — this is the entry the manga-purist path replaces.
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3
Tokyo Ghoul:re Season 1
Set ~2 years after √A; adapts the manga's :re sequel (Haise Sasaki / Quinx squad). Crucially it follows MANGA canon, not Root A's outcomes, so some events feel disconnected if you only watched √A. Pacing is fast and skips material.
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4
Tokyo Ghoul:re Season 2
Final cour, also 2018 (Oct-Dec). Adapts the back half of the :re manga to the series' conclusion. Heavily rushed — widely criticized for compressing many chapters, which is the main reason the manga is recommended for the ending.
🔀 Alternative orders
Anime-only path
Watch everything in release order and accept √A as an alternate-continuity branch. Simplest, no reading, but you'll find :re harder to follow because it assumes manga events rather than Root A's.
Tokyo Ghoul S1 → Tokyo Ghoul √A → Tokyo Ghoul:re S1 → Tokyo Ghoul:re S2
Manga-purist (hybrid) path
Watch the excellent Season 1, then SKIP √A and READ the manga from where the anime diverges (around the end of vol. 8, ~chapter 64-66) through the end of the original manga, then read the :re manga. This gives the canonical events and full character development, so the story is coherent. The most-recommended route; reading the diverging volumes takes roughly 6-8 hours.
Watch Tokyo Ghoul S1 → READ the manga from the √A divergence point to the end → READ Tokyo Ghoul:re manga (optionally watch :re anime as a recap)
⏭️ What can you skip?
Jack & Pinto OVAs (2015) are optional prequels/side stories — Jack covers Arima & Furuta's past, Pinto adapts the 'Tokyo Ghoul: JOKER' light novel; neither is required for the main plot. The Japanese live-action films (2017, 2019) are non-canon and skippable.
📺 Where to stream
- Crunchyroll
- Hulu
❓ FAQ
Is √A (Root A) canon?
Not in the manga sense. It's an anime-original alternate continuity that Sui Ishida outlined for the studio. The manga is the canonical source; Root A is an authorized but divergent branch with a different version of events (Kaneki joining Aogiri, a changed Anteiku raid, Hide's altered fate).
Should I read the manga instead of √A?
Many fans say yes. After Season 1, read the original manga from the divergence point (around vol. 8 / ~ch. 64) onward. You get the canonical events, full character development, and you'll understand :re properly — at the cost of ~6-8 hours of reading.
What is Tokyo Ghoul:re?
The sequel series, set ~2 years later, following amnesiac investigator Haise Sasaki and the Quinx squad. The :re anime (two 12-episode seasons in 2018) adapts the :re manga and builds on MANGA canon rather than Root A — which is why √A-only viewers can feel lost.
Do I need the Jack and Pinto OVAs?
No. They're optional side stories — Jack is an Arima/Furuta prequel, Pinto adapts a light novel. They add background but aren't required; insert them after S1 if you want extra context.
Where can I stream it?
Tokyo Ghoul (incl. √A and :re) has historically streamed on Crunchyroll and Hulu in the US (originally via Funimation, since merged into Crunchyroll). Availability varies by region — check Crunchyroll first, then Hulu.
Is the anime complete?
Yes — the TV anime concluded with Tokyo Ghoul:re 2nd Season in December 2018. However, the final season is heavily rushed compared to the manga, so for the full, properly-paced ending most fans recommend finishing via the manga.
📚 Sources
Cross-checked against: Tokyo Ghoul Wiki (Fandom) · JPBound — Tokyo Ghoul Watch Order & Filler Guide. Last verified June 16, 2026.