Hakuoki watch order
In 1860s Kyoto, Chizuru Yukimura comes looking for her missing father and is taken in by the Shinsengumi, the shogunate's sword-wielding police, after she witnesses their secret, the bloodthirsty Rasetsu. Based on Idea Factory's otome game, it follows the real Shinsengumi's rise and fall through the end of the shogunate.
First time? Watch Hakuoki (season 1), then Record of the Jade Blood (season 2), then the prequel Dawn of the Shinsengumi. Slot in the A Memory of Snow Flowers OVA between season 1 episodes 8 and 9 if you want more.
First-timer order
The two TV seasons first, then the prequel, which works best once you know who these men become. The side-story OVAs come next, then the films as an alternate retelling. Recaps, bonus discs and chibi shorts are at the end for completists.
- Hakuoki (episodes 1–8)
Chizuru arrives in Kyoto and is held by the Shinsengumi, who are secretly testing the Water of Life that turns men into Rasetsu. Covers the Ikedaya and Kinmon incidents and Itō joining the corps, up to news of the shogun's death.
- Hakuoki (episodes 9–12)
The shogunate collapses: Itō is assassinated, Kondō is shot in an ambush and the Boshin War breaks out at Toba–Fushimi, after which the Shinsengumi sail for Edo.
- Hakuoki: Record of the Jade Blood
Season 2 (Hekketsuroku) follows the Shinsengumi's retreat through 1868–69: Kōfu, Kondō's execution, Aizu, Sendai and finally Hijikata's last stand in Hakodate. The end of the main story.
- Hakuoki: Dawn of the Shinsengumi
The prequel (Reimeiroku), set in 1863 when the Rōshigumi arrive in Kyoto. It follows newcomer Ryūnosuke Ibuki under the brutal Kamo Serizawa as the group earns the Shinsengumi name, and ends just as Chizuru sets off for Kyoto. Made after the first two seasons and written to be watched after them.
- Hakuoki: A Memory of Snow Flowers (optional)
A side story (Sekkaroku) set between season 1 episodes 8 and 9: Chizuru goes undercover as a geiko in Shimabara to stop a plot to burn the Shinsengumi headquarters. Each episode is told from a different character's point of view. Fun for fans; optional.
- Hakuoki OVA (2021)
An original three-part story set in the summer of 1865, inside season 1's timeline: fake Shinsengumi bandits, a plot against the shogun, and a new character, the corps' accountant Sakai Hyōgo. It leans on season 1's reveals, so watch it after at least the first half of season 1.
- Hakuoki: Wild Dance of Kyoto (optional)
The first film retells season 1 from scratch, centred on Hijikata and Chizuru. It's an alternate version with new animation, not a sequel; watch it after the TV series if you want the Hijikata-focused take. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky (optional)
The second film continues the first, retelling season 2's story through Hijikata and Chizuru up to Hakodate. Also an alternate version, not new story. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Otogisoushi (optional)
Three-minute chibi comedy shorts imagining the ordinary days the cast might have had. Not canon. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Kyoto Kaisouroku (recap) (optional)
A recap of season 1 that aired the week before season 2. Nothing new. Optional.
- Hakuoki OVA (2011) (optional)
Two six-minute bonus shorts from season 1's Japanese DVD release. Extras only. Optional.
- Dawn of the Shinsengumi bonus episodes (optional)
Two 11-minute bonus episodes for buyers of all six Dawn of the Shinsengumi disc volumes. Extras only. Optional.
- Hakuoki Shinkai: Kaze no Shou (optional)
An 11-minute bonus that came with the limited edition of the remake game Hakuoki Shinkai, built from the game's opening scenes. Promo extra. Optional.
Story order
Dawn of the Shinsengumi is set in 1863, just before season 1. The 2021 OVA happens in the summer of 1865, during season 1's first half, and A Memory of Snow Flowers between episodes 8 and 9. The two films retell the TV story rather than continue it, so they're listed after it.
- Hakuoki: Dawn of the Shinsengumi
The prequel (Reimeiroku), set in 1863 when the Rōshigumi arrive in Kyoto. It follows newcomer Ryūnosuke Ibuki under the brutal Kamo Serizawa as the group earns the Shinsengumi name, and ends just as Chizuru sets off for Kyoto. Made after the first two seasons and written to be watched after them.
- Dawn of the Shinsengumi bonus episodes (optional)
Two 11-minute bonus episodes for buyers of all six Dawn of the Shinsengumi disc volumes. Extras only. Optional.
- Hakuoki (episodes 1–8)
Chizuru arrives in Kyoto and is held by the Shinsengumi, who are secretly testing the Water of Life that turns men into Rasetsu. Covers the Ikedaya and Kinmon incidents and Itō joining the corps, up to news of the shogun's death.
- Hakuoki OVA (2021)
An original three-part story set in the summer of 1865, inside season 1's timeline: fake Shinsengumi bandits, a plot against the shogun, and a new character, the corps' accountant Sakai Hyōgo. It leans on season 1's reveals, so watch it after at least the first half of season 1.
- Hakuoki: A Memory of Snow Flowers (optional)
A side story (Sekkaroku) set between season 1 episodes 8 and 9: Chizuru goes undercover as a geiko in Shimabara to stop a plot to burn the Shinsengumi headquarters. Each episode is told from a different character's point of view. Fun for fans; optional.
- Hakuoki (episodes 9–12)
The shogunate collapses: Itō is assassinated, Kondō is shot in an ambush and the Boshin War breaks out at Toba–Fushimi, after which the Shinsengumi sail for Edo.
- Hakuoki: Kyoto Kaisouroku (recap) (optional)
A recap of season 1 that aired the week before season 2. Nothing new. Optional.
- Hakuoki OVA (2011) (optional)
Two six-minute bonus shorts from season 1's Japanese DVD release. Extras only. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Record of the Jade Blood
Season 2 (Hekketsuroku) follows the Shinsengumi's retreat through 1868–69: Kōfu, Kondō's execution, Aizu, Sendai and finally Hijikata's last stand in Hakodate. The end of the main story.
- Hakuoki: Wild Dance of Kyoto (optional)
The first film retells season 1 from scratch, centred on Hijikata and Chizuru. It's an alternate version with new animation, not a sequel; watch it after the TV series if you want the Hijikata-focused take. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky (optional)
The second film continues the first, retelling season 2's story through Hijikata and Chizuru up to Hakodate. Also an alternate version, not new story. Optional.
- Hakuoki Shinkai: Kaze no Shou (optional)
An 11-minute bonus that came with the limited edition of the remake game Hakuoki Shinkai, built from the game's opening scenes. Promo extra. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Otogisoushi (optional)
Three-minute chibi comedy shorts imagining the ordinary days the cast might have had. Not canon. Optional.
Release order
Both TV seasons aired in 2010. The prequel followed in 2012, the films in 2013–14 and the 2021 OVA premiered on U-NEXT in Japan.
- Hakuoki (episodes 1–8)
Chizuru arrives in Kyoto and is held by the Shinsengumi, who are secretly testing the Water of Life that turns men into Rasetsu. Covers the Ikedaya and Kinmon incidents and Itō joining the corps, up to news of the shogun's death.
- Hakuoki (episodes 9–12)
The shogunate collapses: Itō is assassinated, Kondō is shot in an ambush and the Boshin War breaks out at Toba–Fushimi, after which the Shinsengumi sail for Edo.
- Hakuoki: Kyoto Kaisouroku (recap) (optional)
A recap of season 1 that aired the week before season 2. Nothing new. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Record of the Jade Blood
Season 2 (Hekketsuroku) follows the Shinsengumi's retreat through 1868–69: Kōfu, Kondō's execution, Aizu, Sendai and finally Hijikata's last stand in Hakodate. The end of the main story.
- Hakuoki OVA (2011) (optional)
Two six-minute bonus shorts from season 1's Japanese DVD release. Extras only. Optional.
- Hakuoki: A Memory of Snow Flowers (optional)
A side story (Sekkaroku) set between season 1 episodes 8 and 9: Chizuru goes undercover as a geiko in Shimabara to stop a plot to burn the Shinsengumi headquarters. Each episode is told from a different character's point of view. Fun for fans; optional.
- Hakuoki: Dawn of the Shinsengumi
The prequel (Reimeiroku), set in 1863 when the Rōshigumi arrive in Kyoto. It follows newcomer Ryūnosuke Ibuki under the brutal Kamo Serizawa as the group earns the Shinsengumi name, and ends just as Chizuru sets off for Kyoto. Made after the first two seasons and written to be watched after them.
- Dawn of the Shinsengumi bonus episodes (optional)
Two 11-minute bonus episodes for buyers of all six Dawn of the Shinsengumi disc volumes. Extras only. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Wild Dance of Kyoto (optional)
The first film retells season 1 from scratch, centred on Hijikata and Chizuru. It's an alternate version with new animation, not a sequel; watch it after the TV series if you want the Hijikata-focused take. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky (optional)
The second film continues the first, retelling season 2's story through Hijikata and Chizuru up to Hakodate. Also an alternate version, not new story. Optional.
- Hakuoki Shinkai: Kaze no Shou (optional)
An 11-minute bonus that came with the limited edition of the remake game Hakuoki Shinkai, built from the game's opening scenes. Promo extra. Optional.
- Hakuoki: Otogisoushi (optional)
Three-minute chibi comedy shorts imagining the ordinary days the cast might have had. Not canon. Optional.
- Hakuoki OVA (2021)
An original three-part story set in the summer of 1865, inside season 1's timeline: fake Shinsengumi bandits, a plot against the shogun, and a new character, the corps' accountant Sakai Hyōgo. It leans on season 1's reveals, so watch it after at least the first half of season 1.
Explained
Should I watch the prequel first?
Dawn of the Shinsengumi is set first, but it was made as a look back for people who already know the cast; its ending leads into Chizuru's arrival in Kyoto. Most viewers watch it after the two TV seasons. Watching it first works too, but you'd lose some of the weight of who these men become.
Are the movies sequels?
No. Wild Dance of Kyoto and Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky retell seasons 1 and 2 as two films focused on Hijikata and Chizuru. They have new animation but no new story, so treat them as an alternate version after the TV series.
Which entries can I skip?
A Memory of Snow Flowers and the 2021 OVA are side stories, worth it if you like the cast. The Kyoto Kaisouroku recap, the DVD bonus shorts, the Shinkai game bonus and the Otogisoushi chibi shorts can all be skipped.
How much of it is real history?
The Shinsengumi, their leaders and the big events (the Ikedaya incident, Toba–Fushimi, Kondō's execution, the fall of Hakodate) are real, and the show follows that timeline closely. Chizuru, the Rasetsu and the demon clans are fiction from the game.
Is there an English dub?
Yes. Sentai Filmworks released the TV seasons, Dawn of the Shinsengumi, A Memory of Snow Flowers and the films in North America, with English dubs for the series. The 2021 OVA streams subtitled on Crunchyroll. No new anime had been announced as of October 2026.