The Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyoukai) watch order
Shiki Ryougi can see the 'lines of death' in anything and cut them with a knife. A series of films from ufotable, based on Kinoko Nasu's novel, about the supernatural cases she takes on with her friend Mikiya in late-1990s Japan.
First time? Watch the seven films in release order, starting with Overlooking View, then the short Final Chapter, then Future Gospel and its Extra Chorus.
Story order
For a rewatch. Future Gospel goes where most of it happens (summer 1998), but its final section takes place ten years after the Final Chapter. Extra Chorus placement varies between guides; it fits anywhere during the main story. The Remix recap is left out.
- Chapter 2: Murder Speculation (Part A)
Goes back to 1995, when Mikiya first meets Shiki at high school while a serial killer is loose in town. The earliest point in the story.
- Chapter 4: The Hollow Shrine
Shiki wakes in 1998 after two years in a coma and gains the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. It explains how she ended up where Chapter 1 found her.
- Chapter 3: Remaining Sense of Pain
July 1998. Shiki hunts Fujino Asagami, a girl who can twist things with her mind. The most violent chapter, with a scene of sexual assault early on.
- Future Gospel: recalled out summer
A side story made after the main films. Most of it is set in summer 1998, between Chapters 3 and 1, with two people who can see the future; the last part jumps ten years ahead, after everything else.
- Chapter 1: Overlooking View
Shiki and Mikiya investigate a string of girls jumping from an abandoned building. It's set in September 1998, in the middle of the story, so it opens with a lot left unexplained on purpose.
- Chapter 5: Paradox Paradigm
Late 1998. A runaway boy, a strange apartment block and the magus behind it. At almost two hours it's the longest film and the turning point of the series.
- Future Gospel: Extra Chorus (optional)
Three short side stories (about 30 minutes together) released with Future Gospel, set during the main films. Nice extras, not essential.
- Chapter 6: Oblivion Recording
January 1999. Mikiya's sister Azaka goes undercover at her girls' school to look into a case involving fairies and stolen memories. Lighter in tone than the chapters around it.
- Chapter 7: Murder Speculation (Part B)
February 1999. The killings from Chapter 2 start again, and Shiki and Mikiya's story comes to its climax. The last of the seven main films.
- Final Chapter
A 30-minute epilogue. On a snowy night that echoes their first meeting, Mikiya talks with a third presence inside Shiki. Watch it right after Chapter 7.
Release order
The intended way in. The films jump around in time on purpose, and several twists land better when you don't know the order of events yet.
- Chapter 1: Overlooking View
Shiki and Mikiya investigate a string of girls jumping from an abandoned building. It's set in September 1998, in the middle of the story, so it opens with a lot left unexplained on purpose.
- Chapter 2: Murder Speculation (Part A)
Goes back to 1995, when Mikiya first meets Shiki at high school while a serial killer is loose in town. The earliest point in the story.
- Chapter 3: Remaining Sense of Pain
July 1998. Shiki hunts Fujino Asagami, a girl who can twist things with her mind. The most violent chapter, with a scene of sexual assault early on.
- Chapter 4: The Hollow Shrine
Shiki wakes in 1998 after two years in a coma and gains the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. It explains how she ended up where Chapter 1 found her.
- Chapter 5: Paradox Paradigm
Late 1998. A runaway boy, a strange apartment block and the magus behind it. At almost two hours it's the longest film and the turning point of the series.
- Chapter 6: Oblivion Recording
January 1999. Mikiya's sister Azaka goes undercover at her girls' school to look into a case involving fairies and stolen memories. Lighter in tone than the chapters around it.
- Remix: Gate of Seventh Heaven (optional)
A recap of Chapters 1–6 cut into story order, with a few extra scenes and a music video at the end. Skip it.
- Chapter 7: Murder Speculation (Part B)
February 1999. The killings from Chapter 2 start again, and Shiki and Mikiya's story comes to its climax. The last of the seven main films.
- Final Chapter
A 30-minute epilogue. On a snowy night that echoes their first meeting, Mikiya talks with a third presence inside Shiki. Watch it right after Chapter 7.
- Future Gospel: recalled out summer
A side story made after the main films. Most of it is set in summer 1998, between Chapters 3 and 1, with two people who can see the future; the last part jumps ten years ahead, after everything else.
- Future Gospel: Extra Chorus (optional)
Three short side stories (about 30 minutes together) released with Future Gospel, set during the main films. Nice extras, not essential.
Explained
Why are the films out of order?
The original novel tells its chapters out of sequence, and the films keep that structure. Chapter 1 starts in the middle of 1998, Chapter 2 jumps back to 1995, and the pieces come together over the seven films. Fan wikis and watch guides strongly recommend release order for a first watch and keep story order for rewatches.
Is the Final Chapter worth it?
Yes. It's only about half an hour and works as the epilogue to Chapter 7. Watch it right after.
Where does Future Gospel go?
It came out in 2013, four years after Chapter 7, and works best after the main films. Most of it is set in summer 1998, but its last part is a short look at the characters ten years later, so it doubles as a final send-off.
What can I skip?
Remix: Gate of Seventh Heaven is a recap of Chapters 1–6 with a music video, so you can skip it. Extra Chorus is three short side stories and is optional.
Is it connected to Fate and Tsukihime?
Loosely. It's by Kinoko Nasu of TYPE-MOON and shares its world of magi; Shiki's employer Touko Aozaki is the older sister of Aoko, the heroine of Witch on the Holy Night (Mahoutsukai no Yoru). You don't need anything else to follow it. ufotable's Witch on the Holy Night film opens in Japan on November 20, 2026.