Legend of the Galactic Heroes watch order
Space opera about the long war between the autocratic Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance, seen through two brilliant commanders: the ambitious Reinhard von Lohengramm and the reluctant historian-turned-admiral Yang Wen-li. Based on Yoshiki Tanaka's novels, as a 110-episode OVA series with films and prequels, and the newer Die Neue These remake.
First time? Watch the film My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars, then Overture to a New War, then the OVA series from episode 3 to 110. The prequel Gaiden episodes come after, and Die Neue These is a separate, unfinished remake.
First-timer order
The order the r/logh community recommends: the two films, the main series from episode 3, then the Gaiden prequels in timeline order. The prequels assume you know who everyone becomes, so they work best afterwards. Die Neue These is a remake of the start of the story; watch it afterwards if you want a second take.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars
The first film, set just before the main series. It introduces Reinhard and Yang and leads straight into their first clash. The usual starting point.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War
A remake of OVA episodes 1–2, the Battle of Astarte seen from both sides, with extra material from the novels and scenes that tie back to My Conquest. Watch this or episodes 1–2, not both; fans usually prefer the film.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 3–26)
The rest of the first season, covering the first two novels: the Alliance's disastrous invasion of the Empire at Amritsar, then civil wars on both sides at once, the Lippstadt War in the Empire and a military coup in the Alliance.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 27–54)
Season 2 opens with the third novel: a fortress-against-fortress battle at Iserlohn, then the trading state Phezzan's scheming draws both sides toward a new kind of war.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 55–86)
Season 3: the war's decisive campaigns.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 87–110)
The final season, which ends the war and the story. Together with seasons 1–3 this is the only anime that adapts all ten novels.
- Gaiden: Spiral Labyrinth (episodes 1–14)
The earliest story in the timeline: a young Yang, fresh from his escape from El Facil, investigates the death of the Alliance war hero Bruce Ashbey. From the second Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: The Silver-White Valley (episodes 1–4)
Reinhard and Kircheis's first posting after leaving the academy. From the first Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: The Mutineer (episodes 15–18)
Reinhard and Kircheis serve aboard the destroyer Hameln II.
- Gaiden: The Duelist (episodes 19–22)
Reinhard volunteers to fight a duel on behalf of a noblewoman, Dorothea von Schafhausen.
- Gaiden: The Retriever (episodes 23–26)
Reinhard and Kircheis are sent on a secret mission into Alliance space.
- Gaiden: Dreams of the Morning, Songs of the Night (episodes 5–8)
Reinhard and Kircheis investigate a murder at their old military school.
- Gaiden: A Hundred Billion Stars, A Hundred Billion Lights (episodes 13–24)
The longest Gaiden arc, adapted from the side novel of the same name, which gave the first Gaiden series its name.
- Gaiden: The Third Battle of Tiamat (episodes 27–28)
A two-episode fleet battle that closes the second Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: Dishonour (episodes 9–12)
The last prequel arc in the timeline, set just before the Battle of Astarte and the start of the main story.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings (optional)
An hour-long retelling of Reinhard and Kircheis's early years, from the day Reinhard's sister Annerose is taken to the court. Based on the manga's art style, so the designs look nothing like the OVA. Usually skipped. Optional.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 1–2) (optional)
The original version of the Battle of Astarte, retold in more depth by Overture to a New War. Skip these if you watched the film. Optional.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These
Production I.G's remake of the story from the start, with modern designs and CG fleets. Season 1 (Kaikou) covers most of the first novel. A retelling, not a sequel.
- Die Neue These: Stellar War
Season 2 (Seiran) finishes the first novel and adapts the second. It premiered in Japanese cinemas as three four-episode films before it aired on TV.
- Die Neue These: Collision
Season 3 (Gekitotsu) adapts most of the third novel. Like Season 2, it came out as three films in Japan first.
- Die Neue These: Intrigue
Season 4 (Sakubou) finishes the third novel and adapts the fourth, up to the occupation of Phezzan. That's where the remake currently stops.
Story order
Strict in-universe order: the Gaiden arcs from both prequel series interleaved, then the films and the main series. Golden Wings retells the same early years as the Gaiden and is placed among them. Die Neue These retells the main story from the beginning, so it's listed last.
- Gaiden: Spiral Labyrinth (episodes 1–14)
The earliest story in the timeline: a young Yang, fresh from his escape from El Facil, investigates the death of the Alliance war hero Bruce Ashbey. From the second Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: The Silver-White Valley (episodes 1–4)
Reinhard and Kircheis's first posting after leaving the academy. From the first Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: The Mutineer (episodes 15–18)
Reinhard and Kircheis serve aboard the destroyer Hameln II.
- Gaiden: The Duelist (episodes 19–22)
Reinhard volunteers to fight a duel on behalf of a noblewoman, Dorothea von Schafhausen.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings (optional)
An hour-long retelling of Reinhard and Kircheis's early years, from the day Reinhard's sister Annerose is taken to the court. Based on the manga's art style, so the designs look nothing like the OVA. Usually skipped. Optional.
- Gaiden: The Retriever (episodes 23–26)
Reinhard and Kircheis are sent on a secret mission into Alliance space.
- Gaiden: Dreams of the Morning, Songs of the Night (episodes 5–8)
Reinhard and Kircheis investigate a murder at their old military school.
- Gaiden: A Hundred Billion Stars, A Hundred Billion Lights (episodes 13–24)
The longest Gaiden arc, adapted from the side novel of the same name, which gave the first Gaiden series its name.
- Gaiden: The Third Battle of Tiamat (episodes 27–28)
A two-episode fleet battle that closes the second Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: Dishonour (episodes 9–12)
The last prequel arc in the timeline, set just before the Battle of Astarte and the start of the main story.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars
The first film, set just before the main series. It introduces Reinhard and Yang and leads straight into their first clash. The usual starting point.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War
A remake of OVA episodes 1–2, the Battle of Astarte seen from both sides, with extra material from the novels and scenes that tie back to My Conquest. Watch this or episodes 1–2, not both; fans usually prefer the film.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 1–2) (optional)
The original version of the Battle of Astarte, retold in more depth by Overture to a New War. Skip these if you watched the film. Optional.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 3–26)
The rest of the first season, covering the first two novels: the Alliance's disastrous invasion of the Empire at Amritsar, then civil wars on both sides at once, the Lippstadt War in the Empire and a military coup in the Alliance.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 27–54)
Season 2 opens with the third novel: a fortress-against-fortress battle at Iserlohn, then the trading state Phezzan's scheming draws both sides toward a new kind of war.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 55–86)
Season 3: the war's decisive campaigns.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 87–110)
The final season, which ends the war and the story. Together with seasons 1–3 this is the only anime that adapts all ten novels.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These
Production I.G's remake of the story from the start, with modern designs and CG fleets. Season 1 (Kaikou) covers most of the first novel. A retelling, not a sequel.
- Die Neue These: Stellar War
Season 2 (Seiran) finishes the first novel and adapts the second. It premiered in Japanese cinemas as three four-episode films before it aired on TV.
- Die Neue These: Collision
Season 3 (Gekitotsu) adapts most of the third novel. Like Season 2, it came out as three films in Japan first.
- Die Neue These: Intrigue
Season 4 (Sakubou) finishes the third novel and adapts the fourth, up to the occupation of Phezzan. That's where the remake currently stops.
Release order
The OVA came out in four seasons between 1988 and 1997, with Golden Wings and Overture released between seasons 2 and 3. The two Gaiden series followed in 1998–2001, each listed here in its own episode order. Die Neue These started in 2018.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars
The first film, set just before the main series. It introduces Reinhard and Yang and leads straight into their first clash. The usual starting point.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 1–2) (optional)
The original version of the Battle of Astarte, retold in more depth by Overture to a New War. Skip these if you watched the film. Optional.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 3–26)
The rest of the first season, covering the first two novels: the Alliance's disastrous invasion of the Empire at Amritsar, then civil wars on both sides at once, the Lippstadt War in the Empire and a military coup in the Alliance.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 27–54)
Season 2 opens with the third novel: a fortress-against-fortress battle at Iserlohn, then the trading state Phezzan's scheming draws both sides toward a new kind of war.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Golden Wings (optional)
An hour-long retelling of Reinhard and Kircheis's early years, from the day Reinhard's sister Annerose is taken to the court. Based on the manga's art style, so the designs look nothing like the OVA. Usually skipped. Optional.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War
A remake of OVA episodes 1–2, the Battle of Astarte seen from both sides, with extra material from the novels and scenes that tie back to My Conquest. Watch this or episodes 1–2, not both; fans usually prefer the film.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 55–86)
Season 3: the war's decisive campaigns.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (episodes 87–110)
The final season, which ends the war and the story. Together with seasons 1–3 this is the only anime that adapts all ten novels.
- Gaiden: The Silver-White Valley (episodes 1–4)
Reinhard and Kircheis's first posting after leaving the academy. From the first Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: Dreams of the Morning, Songs of the Night (episodes 5–8)
Reinhard and Kircheis investigate a murder at their old military school.
- Gaiden: Dishonour (episodes 9–12)
The last prequel arc in the timeline, set just before the Battle of Astarte and the start of the main story.
- Gaiden: A Hundred Billion Stars, A Hundred Billion Lights (episodes 13–24)
The longest Gaiden arc, adapted from the side novel of the same name, which gave the first Gaiden series its name.
- Gaiden: Spiral Labyrinth (episodes 1–14)
The earliest story in the timeline: a young Yang, fresh from his escape from El Facil, investigates the death of the Alliance war hero Bruce Ashbey. From the second Gaiden series.
- Gaiden: The Mutineer (episodes 15–18)
Reinhard and Kircheis serve aboard the destroyer Hameln II.
- Gaiden: The Duelist (episodes 19–22)
Reinhard volunteers to fight a duel on behalf of a noblewoman, Dorothea von Schafhausen.
- Gaiden: The Retriever (episodes 23–26)
Reinhard and Kircheis are sent on a secret mission into Alliance space.
- Gaiden: The Third Battle of Tiamat (episodes 27–28)
A two-episode fleet battle that closes the second Gaiden series.
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These
Production I.G's remake of the story from the start, with modern designs and CG fleets. Season 1 (Kaikou) covers most of the first novel. A retelling, not a sequel.
- Die Neue These: Stellar War
Season 2 (Seiran) finishes the first novel and adapts the second. It premiered in Japanese cinemas as three four-episode films before it aired on TV.
- Die Neue These: Collision
Season 3 (Gekitotsu) adapts most of the third novel. Like Season 2, it came out as three films in Japan first.
- Die Neue These: Intrigue
Season 4 (Sakubou) finishes the third novel and adapts the fourth, up to the occupation of Phezzan. That's where the remake currently stops.
Explained
Do I watch Overture to a New War or episodes 1–2?
One or the other. Overture is a 1993 remake of the first two episodes that tells the Battle of Astarte in more detail and links up with My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars. Most fans recommend the two films first, then starting the OVA at episode 3.
What are the Gaiden, and when do I watch them?
Two prequel OVA series (52 episodes in all) made after the main series, each named after its biggest arc. Their arcs are self-contained stories about Reinhard and Kircheis's early career and Yang's youth, and the two series interleave in the timeline. They're best watched after episode 110, in the timeline order shown in story order. Some lists count them as "seasons 5 and 6", which is why you may see 162 episodes quoted.
Should I start with Die Neue These instead?
Die Neue These is a good-looking modern remake, but it's unfinished: its 48 episodes cover only the first four of ten novels, and it doesn't adapt the side stories. The OVA is the only complete adaptation. A sequel to Die Neue These was announced in November 2023, but no date had been given as of October 2026.
Is Golden Wings important?
No. It's a one-hour retelling of Reinhard and Kircheis's childhood drawn in the style of the manga, with very different designs from the OVA. The Gaiden cover the same years in more depth. Watch it as a curiosity if you like.
Is there an English dub?
The original OVA, films and Gaiden have never had a full English dub; they're subtitled (Sentai Filmworks holds the licence). Die Neue These was dubbed in English, first by Funimation and later by Crunchyroll.