Girls und Panzer watch order
In a world where tank combat, or sensha-do, is a traditional martial art for girls, Miho Nishizumi transfers to Ooarai Girls High to get away from it, only to be pushed into reviving the school's tank team. Actas' original anime runs from a 12-episode TV series through a film, a theatrical OVA and the six-part film series das Finale, still in progress.
First time? Watch the TV series (episodes 1–7), the Anzio Battle OVA, episodes 8–12, then der Film and das Finale Parts 1–5 in order. The short Blu-ray OVAs and Motto Love Love are optional comedy.
Story order
The recommended order. The only real change from release order is the Anzio Battle OVA, which shows the match the TV series jumps over between episodes 7 and 8. The comedy OVAs sit after the entry whose Blu-ray they came on.
- Girls und Panzer (episodes 1–7)
Miho joins Ooarai's new tank team, the girls fix up a handful of old tanks and enter the national tournament, play a practice match against St. Gloriana and face Saunders in the first round. Episode 5.5 is a recap that aired in the middle; skip it. Start here.
- Girls und Panzer: This Is the Real Anzio Battle!
A 38-minute OVA, shown in Japanese cinemas, of the second-round match against Anzio, which the TV series skips over. It came out after the TV series but fits exactly between episodes 7 and 8. It's the only on-screen version of the match, so don't skip it.
- Girls und Panzer (episodes 8–12)
The rest of the tournament: Pravda in the snow and the final against Kuromorimine, the school of Miho's sister Maho, with the real reason Ooarai's team matters coming out along the way. Episode 10.5 is a recap that filled a gap when episodes 11 and 12 were delayed three months to March 2013; skip it.
- Girls und Panzer OVA Series (optional)
Six short comedy OVAs from the TV series' Blu-ray and DVD volumes (Water War!, Survival War!, School Ship War!, Anglerfish War!, Snow War! and Banquet War!), mostly downtime between matches. Optional; watch them after the series.
- Girls und Panzer der Film
The direct sequel to the TV series: after the tournament, Ooarai faces closure again, and the team has to win one more, much bigger match to save it, with help from the rivals from the series. Two hours long and the high point of the franchise for many fans.
- Girls und Panzer der Film: Alice War! (optional)
A 16-minute comedy short from der Film's Blu-ray, set after the film and focused on Alice Shimada. Optional.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 1
The start of das Finale, a six-part film series that tells one continuous story: Ooarai enters a new tournament, the Winter Continuous Track Cup. Each part is about 50 minutes and picks up where the last one stopped.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 2
Continues the Winter Continuous Track Cup straight from Part 1.
- Girls und Panzer: Taiyaki War! (optional)
An 11-minute comedy OVA from the das Finale Part 2 Blu-ray. Optional; watch it any time after Part 2.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 3
Continues the tournament from Part 2.
- Girls und Panzer: Daikon War! (optional)
An 11-minute comedy OVA from the das Finale Part 3 Blu-ray. Optional.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 4
Continues the tournament from Part 3.
- Girls und Panzer: Taichou War! (optional)
A 10-minute comedy OVA from the das Finale Part 4 Blu-ray. Optional.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 5
The newest part, released in Japanese cinemas in October 2026. One more part, the last, is still to come.
- Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen desu! (optional)
A comedy spin-off adapting the four-panel gag manga, with the cast's everyday school life rather than matches. It opened in Japanese cinemas as four 'acts' from December 2025 to April 2026 and began airing on TV in October 2026. Not part of the story; watch it any time after the TV series.
- Girls und Panzer: Ribbon no Musha (pilot) (optional)
A five-minute pilot for the Ribbon no Musha spin-off manga, shown in cinemas with Motto Love Love's last act. Optional.
Release order
The order everything came out in Japan. Watching Anzio after the whole TV series works fine too; you just see that match out of sequence.
- Girls und Panzer (episodes 1–7)
Miho joins Ooarai's new tank team, the girls fix up a handful of old tanks and enter the national tournament, play a practice match against St. Gloriana and face Saunders in the first round. Episode 5.5 is a recap that aired in the middle; skip it. Start here.
- Girls und Panzer (episodes 8–12)
The rest of the tournament: Pravda in the snow and the final against Kuromorimine, the school of Miho's sister Maho, with the real reason Ooarai's team matters coming out along the way. Episode 10.5 is a recap that filled a gap when episodes 11 and 12 were delayed three months to March 2013; skip it.
- Girls und Panzer OVA Series (optional)
Six short comedy OVAs from the TV series' Blu-ray and DVD volumes (Water War!, Survival War!, School Ship War!, Anglerfish War!, Snow War! and Banquet War!), mostly downtime between matches. Optional; watch them after the series.
- Girls und Panzer: This Is the Real Anzio Battle!
A 38-minute OVA, shown in Japanese cinemas, of the second-round match against Anzio, which the TV series skips over. It came out after the TV series but fits exactly between episodes 7 and 8. It's the only on-screen version of the match, so don't skip it.
- Girls und Panzer der Film
The direct sequel to the TV series: after the tournament, Ooarai faces closure again, and the team has to win one more, much bigger match to save it, with help from the rivals from the series. Two hours long and the high point of the franchise for many fans.
- Girls und Panzer der Film: Alice War! (optional)
A 16-minute comedy short from der Film's Blu-ray, set after the film and focused on Alice Shimada. Optional.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 1
The start of das Finale, a six-part film series that tells one continuous story: Ooarai enters a new tournament, the Winter Continuous Track Cup. Each part is about 50 minutes and picks up where the last one stopped.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 2
Continues the Winter Continuous Track Cup straight from Part 1.
- Girls und Panzer: Taiyaki War! (optional)
An 11-minute comedy OVA from the das Finale Part 2 Blu-ray. Optional; watch it any time after Part 2.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 3
Continues the tournament from Part 2.
- Girls und Panzer: Daikon War! (optional)
An 11-minute comedy OVA from the das Finale Part 3 Blu-ray. Optional.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 4
Continues the tournament from Part 3.
- Girls und Panzer: Taichou War! (optional)
A 10-minute comedy OVA from the das Finale Part 4 Blu-ray. Optional.
- Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen desu! (optional)
A comedy spin-off adapting the four-panel gag manga, with the cast's everyday school life rather than matches. It opened in Japanese cinemas as four 'acts' from December 2025 to April 2026 and began airing on TV in October 2026. Not part of the story; watch it any time after the TV series.
- Girls und Panzer: Ribbon no Musha (pilot) (optional)
A five-minute pilot for the Ribbon no Musha spin-off manga, shown in cinemas with Motto Love Love's last act. Optional.
- Girls und Panzer das Finale: Part 5
The newest part, released in Japanese cinemas in October 2026. One more part, the last, is still to come.
Explained
Where does the Anzio OVA go?
Between episodes 7 and 8. The TV series jumps from episode 7 to the third round, leaving out the second-round match against Anzio, and This Is the Real Anzio Battle! (2014) is the full match. It's a proper 38-minute story OVA, not one of the short Blu-ray extras, and the rest of the franchise treats it as part of the story.
Which OVAs and extras can I skip?
All the short ones. The six TV-era OVAs and Alice War!, Taiyaki War!, Daikon War! and Taichou War! are 10-to-16-minute comedy extras from the Blu-rays. Episodes 5.5 and 10.5 of the TV run are recaps. There are also short recap films (such as the three-minute primer shown before der Film) and tank explainer segments you can ignore.
Why did the last two TV episodes air months later?
Production fell behind, so after episode 10 aired in December 2012, episodes 11 and 12 were pushed back to March 2013, with recap episode 10.5 filling the gap. On streaming and home video the series is simply 12 episodes.
Is das Finale finished?
Not yet. It's planned as six films telling one story, released about every two years: Part 1 in 2017, Part 2 in 2019, Part 3 in 2021, Part 4 in 2023 and Part 5 in October 2026. The sixth and final part has no date yet. Parts end on cliffhangers, so some fans wait and watch them together.
What is Motto Love Love Sakusen desu!?
A gag spin-off based on the four-panel comedy manga of the same name. It isn't a sequel and doesn't continue das Finale. It's fine to skip, or to watch any time once you know the characters.