It’s about time we call sports anime the most perfected genre in anime. Some of its greatest titles show just how well this formula works — and honestly, if you manage to make a good, semi-engaging sports anime these days, you’re pretty much set for life. Everybody loves it.
Just look at some of its big titles: Haikyuu!, Free!, Slam Dunk, Hajime no Ippo, and of course, Kuroko no Basket. Each one is a fan favorite in its own way, but they all have one thing in common: they’re all about the thrill of competition. If you’re one of those people who haven’t dived into any of these sports series yet, we have some good news for you — there’s no better time than now.
Since its debut in 2016, Kuroko no Basket has given us 75 episodes, comprised in three seasons, four movies, and loads of other bingeable content, including OVAs and special episodes. So, where do you start? Well, worry not, because as always, we’ve got you covered so here’s the best way to watch Kuroko no Basket and get the most out of it.
Kuroko no Basket watch order, explained
The best way to watch Kuroko no Basket is chronologically — it keeps things simple. While some anime, like Hellsing, require watching a couple of movies just to understand half the plot, Kuroko no Basket is thankfully much easier to follow. This way, you will be able to watch the story in order of events rather than shifting forwards and backward in time.
That said, here’s a quick disclaimer: you could just stick to the basics by watching all three seasons, then the movies, and finally the OVAs in any order you want. However, we find that the chronological order gives you a clearer view of the story, with everything unfolding naturally — no need to keep track of the events constantly going back and forth. So, with that said, here’s the complete watch order, including all OVAs, special episodes, and movies.
- Kuroko no Basket: Episodes 1-13
- Kuroko no Basket: Baka ja Katenai no yo! (OVA)
- Kuroko no Basket: Episodes 14 – 22
- Kuroko no Basket: Tip Off (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket: Episodes 23 – 25
- Kuroko no Basket: Oshaberi Shiyokka (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket: NG-Shuu (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket Movie 1: Winter Cup – Kage to Hikari (Movie)
- Kuroko no Basket 2nd Season: Episodes 1 – 16
- Kuroko no Basket: Mou Ikkai Yarimasen ka (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket 2nd Season: Episode 17 – 25
- Kuroko no Basket: Oshaberi Demo Shimasen ka (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket 2nd Season: NG-Shuu (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket Movie 2: Winter Cup – Namida no Saki e
- Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season: Episodes 1 – END
- Kuroko no Basket: Saikou no Present Desu (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket: Oshaberi Shiyou Ka (Special)
- Kuroko no Basket Movie 3: Winter Cup – Tobira no Mukou (Movie)
- Kuroko no Basket Movie 4: Last Game (Movie)
- Kuroko no Basket: Last Game NG-Shuu (Special)
- Hiyoko no Basket Movie: Last Game 0401 (OVA)
Generally speaking though, you could just watch the three seasons and call it a day — but I do have to say, the movies, especially Last Game, are pretty essential to the story, and most of it is canon — which is a rarity, these days. Yes, I’m looking at you, One Piece filler movies (on top of already way too many filler episodes!)
While the quality of the other films is up for debate, Last Game picks up right where the series leaves off, making it the final piece of the puzzle for die-hard Kuroko no Basket fans. So dive in, and enjoy your new basketball obsession.
Published: Nov 12, 2024 10:56 am