Legend of the Galactic Heroes Watch Order: The Original OVA, Gaiden and Die Neue These, in order
“The original OVA, the films, the Gaiden OVAs and the Die Neue These remake in order.”
Legend of the Galactic Heroes has a reputation: brilliant, enormous and a little intimidating. Let's fix the intimidating part. There are 13 titles on Lifehaki, but the real choice is between two versions of the same story.
Option one is the original 1988 OVA: 110 episodes, finished in 1997, and still the only complete version. Option two is Die Neue These, Production I.G's modern remake with updated animation, which started in 2018 and isn't finished yet (a continuation has been announced). So which should you pick? Answer: the original if you want the whole story, Die Neue These if you want a modern look and don't mind that it's unfinished. Pick one first. You can always watch the other later. (Think of it like reading a classic novel in two translations.)
The films and the Gaiden OVAs are optional extras. My Conquest is the Sea of Stars, Golden Wings and Overture to a New War are movies from 1988 to 1993, and the two Gaiden OVAs from 1998 to 2000 cover side stories. Most viewers save all of them until after the main story.
At the end: the original OVA, or Die Neue These in order (Kaikou, the three Stellar War parts, Collision and Intrigue). Then the extras. Long live the Empire. Or the Alliance. Choose wisely.
The original series and films (1988-1993)
Start here for the full story. The war between the Empire and the Free Planets Alliance, told through Reinhard and Yang. 110 episodes, 1988 to 1997.
At 110 episodes this is the full story, and it's still the only complete version, so it's the safe place to start.
A 59-minute film from 1988 about an early engagement in the war.
A 1 hour 29 minute film from 1993 that revisits the war's early battles.
The Gaiden OVAs (1998-2000)
A 24-episode side-story OVA from 1998.
The Gaiden OVAs adapt side stories from the novels. Most viewers save them until after the main story.
A 28-episode side-story OVA that ran from 1999 to 2000.
Die Neue These (2018 onward)
The remake begins. Production I.G retells the story from the start. 12 episodes, 2018.
Die Neue These is a modern remake of the same story, so it replaces the start of the original rather than following it. It isn't finished yet, so the original is still the only way to see the whole story.
The first part of the Stellar War arc, released in 2019.
The second part of the Stellar War arc.
The third and last part of the Stellar War arc.
The next arc of the remake. 12 episodes, 2022.
The latest released arc of the remake. 12 episodes, 2022.
The announced continuation of the remake. Not released yet.
That's the whole route, captain.
13 stops left on this route — 0% logged so far.
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