If you're after a gory, exciting anime to get stuck into, Tokyo Ghoul is the perfect choice. An adaptation of Sui Ishida's serialized manga, Tokyo Ghoul follows student Ken Kaneki as he deals with his transformation after he's attacked by a Ghoul (flesh-eating monsters that inhabit Earth in secrecy).
However, with a number of prequels and live-action spins offs, it can be tricky to work out how to watch Tokyo Ghoul in order – be that chronologically from a story standpoint, by release date, or the order which is most entertaining.
Plus, in some countries Tokyo Ghoul is available on Netflix, while in others (notably the US) it's carried by other streaming services. But, even if you've only got Netflix, there's an easy way to watch Tokyo Ghoul in order wherever you are that we'll explain below.
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How to watch Tokyo Ghoul anywhere
ExpressVPN is our #1 recommendation for watching Tokyo Ghoul on Netflix. With excellent speeds, unrivalled location spoofing power and easy-to-use apps, it's the perfect choice for watching Tokyo Ghoul in order anywhere. Plus, Tom's Guide readers can now claim three months free on any 12-month plan.
In the US, Canada, and some other countries, Tokyo Ghoul isn't available on Netflix and is carried by other streaming services like Hulu. So, if you've only got Netflix you won't be able to watch.
However, there is a workaround.
By using the best VPN, you can change your location and watch Tokyo Ghoul on Netflix while you're in the US. Our top choice is ExpressVPN, but our Netflix VPN guide offers some good alternatives, too.
If you want to watch the first three seasons of Tokyo Ghoul, as well as the Jack and Pinto OVAs, we recommend using a UK VPN. These instalments are available on UK Netflix, and in our testing ExpressVPN has no trouble unblocking content when using UK servers.
To watch the live-action Tokyo Ghoul movies, your best bet is to use a Japan VPN. Netflix Japan is one of the only regions that carries the movie, and ExpressVPN works effectively for accessing that, too. Do note, however, that you may not have access to English subs or dubs on Netflix Japan. For those in Latin America, both movies are also available in Brazil and Mexico, with the sequel Tokyo Ghoul S also available in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and more.
Tokyo Ghoul in release order
If you want to watch Tokyo Ghoul in the exact order it was released, this is how to do it:
1. Tokyo Ghoul season 1
2. Tokyo Ghoul: Root A (season 2)
3. Tokyo Ghoul: Jack & Pinto OVAs
Watch Jack on Netflix UK / Watch Pinto on Netflix UK
4. Tokyo Ghoul (live-action movie)
Watch on Netflix Japan or Mexico
5. Tokyo Ghoul: re (season 3)
6. Tokyo Ghoul S (live-action movie)
Watch on Netflix Japan or Mexico
Tokyo Ghoul in chronological order
You may prefer to watch Tokyo Ghoul in true chronological order. This means watching the prequels first. We would probably only recommend this to people who are rewatching Tokyo Ghoul. Note that Tokyo Ghoul S more closely follows the manga, which sets it in a somewhat alternate timeline to Root A and re:
1. Tokyo Ghoul: Jack & Pinto OVAs
Watch Jack on Netflix UK / Watch Pinto on Netflix UK
2. Tokyo Ghoul season 1
3. Tokyo Ghoul live-action movie
Watch on Netflix Japan or Mexico
4. Tokyo Ghoul: Root A (season 2)
5. Tokyo Ghoul: re (season 3)
6. Tokyo Ghoul S (live-action movie)
Watch on Netflix Japan or Mexico
How we recommend watching Tokyo Ghoul
In our opinion, this is how to watch Tokyo Ghoul in order. Opening with the first season gets things off to a great start. Jack and Pinto slot in nicely after the second season, and the third season rounds it off well. Completing your viewing experience with both the live-action movies is well worth it, as the first is a different take on the first season's story, while the second takes off in a new direction:
1. Tokyo Ghoul season 1
2. Tokyo Ghoul: Root A (season 2)
3. Tokyo Ghoul: Jack & Pinto OVAs
Watch Jack on Netflix UK / Watch Pinto on Netflix UK
4. Tokyo Ghoul: re (season 3)
5. Tokyo Ghoul live-action movie
Watch on Netflix Japan or Mexico
6. Tokyo Ghoul S (live-action movie)
Watch on Netflix Japan or Mexico
Watch Tokyo Ghoul: the background
Tokyo Ghoul starts out with Ken Kaneki as a regular student, excited and nervous for a date with a girl. However, when she turns out to be a Ghoul and attacks him, things change irreversibly for Ken.
From then on, the anime documents Ken coming to terms with his new life, from befriending Ghouls to hiding his true nature from his human friends – and, of course, plenty more guts and gore.
Released in 2015 after the first two seasons of Tokyo Ghoul were the Original Video Animations Tokyo Ghoul: Jack and Tokyo Ghoul: Pinto. These are prequels to the original seasons, and diverge from the manga's storyline.
Then the live-action Tokyo Ghoul movie was released in 2017, and in 2018 the final season of the anime was released.
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