‹ Home

Kingdom watch order

China's Warring States period: the war orphan Shin sets out to become the greatest general under heaven, and finds his chance serving the young king Ei Sei of Qin, who means to unify China. Yasuhisa Hara's manga as one long TV series: six seasons and 155 episodes so far, with more on the way.

First time? Start at Season 1 episode 1 and keep going in order. If Season 1's 3D battle scenes put you off, push on: the animation improves from Season 2 and especially Season 3.

Release order

One continuous series, numbered 1–155 across six seasons. Release order is story order, and there are no recaps, filler episodes or OVAs to fit in.

  1. Kingdom TV, 2012–13, 38 episodes

    Episodes 1–38. Shin helps Ei Sei win back his throne from his half-brother's rebellion, fights his first battle against Wei as a foot soldier, and sees the great general Ou Ki at the Battle of Bayou. Known for its stiff 3D CG battle scenes.

  2. Kingdom Season 2 TV, 2013–14, 39 episodes

    Episodes 39–77. Shin leads a 300-man unit, the Hi Shin Unit; the season includes the Sanyou campaign against Wei and ends as the coalition of five states marches on Qin. Most of the 3D CG is gone.

  3. Kingdom Season 3 TV, 2020–21, 26 episodes

    Episodes 78–103. The coalition war: Kankoku Pass, Li Boku, and the last stand at the city of Sai, followed by Kyou Kai's revenge. Paused after episode 4 in April 2020 for COVID-19 and resumed in April 2021.

  4. Kingdom Season 4 TV, 2022, 26 episodes

    Episodes 104–129. Shin fights at Tonryuu, then the story moves to the capital for Ei Sei's coming-of-age ceremony and the final struggle with Ryo Fui and the Rou Ai rebellion.

  5. Kingdom Season 5 TV, 2024, 13 episodes

    Episodes 130–142. The Battle of Kokuyou Hill under the general Kan Ki, plus Sai Taku's diplomacy with Qi; it ends with "Cai Ze's Honor", around manga chapter 489.

  6. Kingdom Season 6 TV, 2025, 13 episodes

    Episodes 143–155. Qin launches its great invasion of Zhao aimed at the city of Gyou, with Li Boku waiting for them. Ends partway through the campaign, around manga chapter 537.

Explained

Should I skip Season 1 because of the 3D animation?

Don't skip it: Season 1 covers the story's foundations, from Ei Sei's fight for his throne to Ou Ki at Bayou, and later seasons assume you've seen it. Its 3D CG battle scenes are widely disliked, but they get much rarer in Season 2, and from Season 3, when Studio Signpost joined Pierrot, the series is mostly hand-drawn. If you can't stand it, the other common advice is to read the manga from chapter 1, which also includes material the anime trimmed.

Why was there a six-year gap after Season 2?

Season 2 ended in 2014 and Season 3 didn't start until April 2020. Season 3 then stopped after four episodes because of COVID-19 and resumed in April 2021, so it's 26 episodes spread over two years. Since then a new season has arrived every year or two.

Where does the anime leave off in the manga?

Season 6 ends around chapter 537, early in volume 50. Start reading at chapter 538.

What's next?

A continuation of Season 6 was announced right after its finale in December 2025, continuing the Gyou campaign. No air date had been announced as of October 2026.

Is there an English dub, and what about the live-action films?

Funimation dubbed Seasons 1 and 2; the later seasons stream subtitled on Crunchyroll. Separately, there are five live-action films (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2026) starring Kento Yamazaki as Shin. So far they retell the story from the start up to the coalition war, and they're an alternative, not part of the anime's order.