Kino's Journey watch order
Kino and Hermes, a talking motorcycle, travel from country to country and never stay more than three days. Each stop is a self-contained parable about a strange society. Based on Keiichi Sigsawa's light novels, adapted twice: in 2003 and again in 2017.
First time? Watch the 2003 series, then the films Life Goes On and Country of Illness with the Tower Country short, then the 2017 series. The 2017 series also works fine on its own.
Story order
Kino's Journey has no running plot, so this is a viewing order rather than a timeline: the 2003 series and the extras made in its style first, then the 2017 retelling. Life Goes On is a prequel, but it leans on episode 4 of the 2003 series, so it's listed after it.
- Kino's Journey (2003)
The first adaptation: one or two countries per episode, quiet and melancholy. Episode 4, Land of Adults, is Kino's origin story, and Coliseum is a two-parter (episodes 6–7).
- Kino's Journey: Life Goes On
A 30-minute prequel: young Kino trains with her Master, learns to ride Hermes and shoot, and decides what to do with the coat of the traveller who died for her. Best watched after the 2003 series, since it builds on episode 4.
- Kino's Journey: Tower Country –Free Lance–
A short (about 12 minutes) bonus episode, sometimes called episode 0, released with the Life Goes On DVD. Kino visits a country whose people keep building a giant tower without knowing why. A standalone stop.
- Kino's Journey: Country of Illness –For You–
A 30-minute film by the 2003 series' director. Kino visits a sealed, high-tech country and tells a hospitalised girl about her travels. Standalone, in the same style as the 2003 series.
- Kino's Journey: the Beautiful World – the Animated Series (2017)
A fresh adaptation by Lerche, not a sequel. It re-tells three stories the 2003 series did (Colosseum, Kind Country and Country of Adults) and adds many new ones, including episodes about Kino's Master and the swordsman Shizu.
- Kino's Journey: Country of Ruins –On Your Way– (optional)
A voice-and-picture drama in short parts, made to promote the 2017 series: Niconico viewers voted live on which way the story went. All routes were later put on a Blu-ray bonus disc. Not a regular episode; optional.
Release order
The 2003 series, its two films and the bonus short came out between 2003 and 2007. The 2017 series was preceded by the Country of Ruins web drama in 2016.
- Kino's Journey (2003)
The first adaptation: one or two countries per episode, quiet and melancholy. Episode 4, Land of Adults, is Kino's origin story, and Coliseum is a two-parter (episodes 6–7).
- Kino's Journey: Life Goes On
A 30-minute prequel: young Kino trains with her Master, learns to ride Hermes and shoot, and decides what to do with the coat of the traveller who died for her. Best watched after the 2003 series, since it builds on episode 4.
- Kino's Journey: Tower Country –Free Lance–
A short (about 12 minutes) bonus episode, sometimes called episode 0, released with the Life Goes On DVD. Kino visits a country whose people keep building a giant tower without knowing why. A standalone stop.
- Kino's Journey: Country of Illness –For You–
A 30-minute film by the 2003 series' director. Kino visits a sealed, high-tech country and tells a hospitalised girl about her travels. Standalone, in the same style as the 2003 series.
- Kino's Journey: Country of Ruins –On Your Way– (optional)
A voice-and-picture drama in short parts, made to promote the 2017 series: Niconico viewers voted live on which way the story went. All routes were later put on a Blu-ray bonus disc. Not a regular episode; optional.
- Kino's Journey: the Beautiful World – the Animated Series (2017)
A fresh adaptation by Lerche, not a sequel. It re-tells three stories the 2003 series did (Colosseum, Kind Country and Country of Adults) and adds many new ones, including episodes about Kino's Master and the swordsman Shizu.
Explained
Should I start with 2003 or 2017?
Either works, because every episode is self-contained. Most fans recommend 2003 first for its slower, moodier tone; the 2017 series is brighter and sticks closer to the novels, and covers more stories. If you plan to watch both, 2003 first means the three shared stories hit harder the first time.
Is the 2017 series a sequel?
No. It's a separate adaptation of the same novels with a new studio and cast, and the author said to treat it as unconnected to the 2003 anime. It re-tells Colosseum, Kind Country and Country of Adults, so you'll see those three twice if you watch both.
Are the episodes in chronological order?
Not strictly. Both series put Kino's origin, Country of Adults, part-way through (episode 4 in 2003, episode 11 in 2017) and otherwise order the stops for mood rather than timeline. Since the stops don't connect, watching in broadcast order is the way to go.
Where do the films fit?
Life Goes On is a prequel about Kino's training with her Master, made to be seen after the 2003 series. Country of Illness and the Tower Country short are standalone stops during her travels. None of them is needed for the 2017 series.
Is there more coming?
No new anime has been announced. The light novels are still going (a new volume came out in 2025), so there are plenty of unadapted stories. Both TV series have English dubs: 2003 by ADV Films, 2017 by Funimation.