Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle watch order
When Princess Sakura's memories scatter across other worlds as feathers, the young archaeologist Syaoran pays the Dimensional Witch his most precious thing to chase them, travelling with the ninja Kurogane and the magician Fai. CLAMP's multiverse adventure, full of characters from their other series and tied closely to xxxHolic.
First time? Watch season 1, the movie, season 2 up to episode 42, then the OVAs Tokyo Revelations and Spring Thunder Chronicles. Episodes 43–52 are anime-original and the OVAs ignore them. The anime never reaches the ending, so finish with the manga.
First-timer order
Skips the anime-original end of season 2 (episodes 43–52), since Tokyo Revelations continues from episode 42 and ignores it. After Spring Thunder Chronicles, read the manga's last arcs for the ending.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (Season 1)
Clow Country, then world-hopping through Hanshin Republic, Koryo, Jade Country and the long Outo Country arc (episodes 17–23). Episode 16 (Storm Country) is anime-original, and one filler list also marks episode 26.
- Tsubasa the Movie: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom (optional)
A 35-minute standalone adventure in which the group hunts a feather in a kingdom of birds, released as a double feature with the xxxHolic movie. Anime-original, best watched between the two seasons; optional.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Season 2, episodes 27–42
Season 2 episodes 1–16: Piffle World, the Shara and Shura arc and the Lecourt Country arc, which ends at episode 42 differently from the manga. The anime swaps the manga's order of Shara/Shura and Piffle. Some lists mark the one-world episodes 30–32 and 37–39 as filler.
- Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations
Three OVAs adapting the manga's Tokyo arc, set in a ruined, rain-soaked Tokyo, where the story's biggest twist about Syaoran is revealed. Much darker than the TV series; it follows on from episode 42, not 52.
- xxxHolic Shunmuki (crossover) (optional)
Two xxxHolic OVAs in which Watanuki is drawn into a dream world. They run parallel to Spring Thunder Chronicles, which re-uses some of their scenes. Optional here, but they fill in Watanuki's side.
- Tsubasa: Spring Thunder Chronicles (Shunraiki)
Jumps ahead in the manga, skipping most of the Infinity and Celes arcs, and adapts the Nihon Country arc, where Kurogane returns home to Princess Tomoyo. The last animated Tsubasa; it ends with the group setting off for Clow Country.
Story order
The movie is a self-contained side adventure between the seasons. Episodes 43–52 are anime-only and sit outside the continuity the OVAs follow; they're listed where they aired.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (Season 1)
Clow Country, then world-hopping through Hanshin Republic, Koryo, Jade Country and the long Outo Country arc (episodes 17–23). Episode 16 (Storm Country) is anime-original, and one filler list also marks episode 26.
- Tsubasa the Movie: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom (optional)
A 35-minute standalone adventure in which the group hunts a feather in a kingdom of birds, released as a double feature with the xxxHolic movie. Anime-original, best watched between the two seasons; optional.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Season 2, episodes 27–42
Season 2 episodes 1–16: Piffle World, the Shara and Shura arc and the Lecourt Country arc, which ends at episode 42 differently from the manga. The anime swaps the manga's order of Shara/Shura and Piffle. Some lists mark the one-world episodes 30–32 and 37–39 as filler.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Season 2, episodes 43–52 (optional)
The last ten episodes (season 2 episodes 17–26) are anime-original worlds, ending with the Country of Tao arc (48–52). None of this happens in the manga and the OVAs pick up as if it never happened. Optional.
- Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations
Three OVAs adapting the manga's Tokyo arc, set in a ruined, rain-soaked Tokyo, where the story's biggest twist about Syaoran is revealed. Much darker than the TV series; it follows on from episode 42, not 52.
- xxxHolic Shunmuki (crossover) (optional)
Two xxxHolic OVAs in which Watanuki is drawn into a dream world. They run parallel to Spring Thunder Chronicles, which re-uses some of their scenes. Optional here, but they fill in Watanuki's side.
- Tsubasa: Spring Thunder Chronicles (Shunraiki)
Jumps ahead in the manga, skipping most of the Infinity and Celes arcs, and adapts the Nihon Country arc, where Kurogane returns home to Princess Tomoyo. The last animated Tsubasa; it ends with the group setting off for Clow Country.
Release order
The movie came out in summer 2005 between the two TV seasons. The xxxHolic Shunmuki OVAs came out a month before Spring Thunder Chronicles in 2009.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (Season 1)
Clow Country, then world-hopping through Hanshin Republic, Koryo, Jade Country and the long Outo Country arc (episodes 17–23). Episode 16 (Storm Country) is anime-original, and one filler list also marks episode 26.
- Tsubasa the Movie: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom (optional)
A 35-minute standalone adventure in which the group hunts a feather in a kingdom of birds, released as a double feature with the xxxHolic movie. Anime-original, best watched between the two seasons; optional.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Season 2, episodes 27–42
Season 2 episodes 1–16: Piffle World, the Shara and Shura arc and the Lecourt Country arc, which ends at episode 42 differently from the manga. The anime swaps the manga's order of Shara/Shura and Piffle. Some lists mark the one-world episodes 30–32 and 37–39 as filler.
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Season 2, episodes 43–52 (optional)
The last ten episodes (season 2 episodes 17–26) are anime-original worlds, ending with the Country of Tao arc (48–52). None of this happens in the manga and the OVAs pick up as if it never happened. Optional.
- Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations
Three OVAs adapting the manga's Tokyo arc, set in a ruined, rain-soaked Tokyo, where the story's biggest twist about Syaoran is revealed. Much darker than the TV series; it follows on from episode 42, not 52.
- xxxHolic Shunmuki (crossover) (optional)
Two xxxHolic OVAs in which Watanuki is drawn into a dream world. They run parallel to Spring Thunder Chronicles, which re-uses some of their scenes. Optional here, but they fill in Watanuki's side.
- Tsubasa: Spring Thunder Chronicles (Shunraiki)
Jumps ahead in the manga, skipping most of the Infinity and Celes arcs, and adapts the Nihon Country arc, where Kurogane returns home to Princess Tomoyo. The last animated Tsubasa; it ends with the group setting off for Clow Country.
Explained
Why does the story jump between the TV series and the OVAs?
The TV series ended in 2006 with ten anime-original episodes. Tokyo Revelations went back to the manga and continues from where episode 42 leaves off, then Spring Thunder Chronicles skipped most of two more arcs (Infinity and Celes) to adapt the Nihon arc. So expect gaps, and read the manga for what's missing.
Does the anime have an ending?
No. The manga's final arcs, through the Dream World back to Clow Country, were never animated. The last anime, Spring Thunder Chronicles, stops partway. The manga (28 volumes) is the only way to finish the story.
Do I need to watch xxxHolic?
It helps but isn't required. The two stories are connected: the witch Yuko who sends Syaoran's group between worlds runs the shop in xxxHolic, and later events link Syaoran and Watanuki closely. The 2005 movies were a double feature, and the xxxHolic Shunmuki OVAs run alongside Spring Thunder Chronicles. Watching both makes the late-story twists land better.
Why do I recognise so many characters?
Tsubasa is built from CLAMP's back catalogue: Sakura and Syaoran come from Cardcaptor Sakura, and versions of characters from X, Chobits, Magic Knight Rayearth and others turn up in different worlds. They're alternate versions, so you don't need to know the original series.
Is it dubbed?
Yes. Funimation dubbed both TV seasons, the movie and the OVAs.