The Anime Order 
Watch order
Akira Watch Order
The Akira franchise runs to two entries — one TV series and one film — released in 1988, 1 episodes in all. The list below follows release order: start with Akira (1988) and work down.
- Entries2
- TV series1
- Films1
For most franchises release order is also the best viewing order. The common exception is a prequel — released late, but set first — so check the years in the table if a title looks out of place.
The order
| # | Title | Type | Year | Episodes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Akira AKIRA Watch on Hulu Netflix +3 | MOVIE | 1988 | 1 |
| 2 |  | AKIRA (Shin Anime) | TV | — | — |
Where to watch Akira
No single service carries all of it — the most any one has is 1 of the 2 entries. Each link goes to the earliest entry that service carries, so you start at the beginning rather than wherever its search drops you.
These links open in a new tab.
Streaming destinations as listed by AniList, checked September 26, 2026. Catalogues differ by country and change often — check the service for your own region.
Where to start
Akira (1988) is the earliest entry. It's the year 2019, thirty-one years have passed since the start of World War III. A top-secret child with amazing powers of the mind breaks free from custody and accidentally gets a motorcycle gang involved in the project. This incident triggers psychic powers within one of the gang members, Tetsuo, and he is taken by…
What to watch after Akira
428 people who watched Akira recommend Neon Genesis Evangelion as the next thing — more than any other title. These are votes cast by viewers on AniList, not genre matches:
More like this
Akira is filed under 6 genres on this site. Each one lists every other franchise that shares it, with its watch order and filler figures.
Franchises sharing the most genres with Akira — a rough match by subject, not the vote-ranked suggestions above.
Frequently asked
How many Akira entries are there?
2 in total: 1 TV series, 1 film, and 0 OVAs and specials.
What order should I watch Akira in?
Release order works for Akira — start with Akira (1988) and follow the table on this page.
Do I need to watch the Akira films and OVAs?
Most films and OVAs in a long-running franchise are side stories that sit outside the main continuity. They can be watched at any point, or skipped entirely, without losing the thread of the main series.
Last refreshed August 13, 2026