While not the first or even the last mecha anime where teenagers must pilot mechs in order to defend their homeland from an alien invader, Fafner in the Azure still found its legs in the middle of the pack as being a perfectly serviceable anime that gave mecha fans more of what they enjoy.
However, much like many of its mecha brethren, Fafner in the Azure doesn’t know how to concisely end things—or rather, doesn’t know how to keep itself confined to one easily found anime series.
While some may have enjoyed watching the original Fafner in the Azure when it came out, the series has just… kept on going, and now has become one worthy of needing a watch order guide.
Fafner in the Azure Watch Order
The most difficult part of watching Fafner in the Azure is, in all honesty, finding all the series just to watch them.
If you are looking to get into the Fafner in the Azure series as new watcher, it goes as follows:
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor (2004)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Arcadian Memory (OVA) (Recap OVA, Optional, Not Recommended)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Right of Left (OVA)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Heaven and Earth (Movie)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Exodus
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Exodus Part 2 (Season 2)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – The Beyond
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Behind the Line (Movie)
Fafner Chronological Watch Order
This is not recommended for first time viewers, but knowing at least the chronology before watching the series can help you put some things into place mentally.
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Right of Left
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor (2004)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Heaven and Earth (Movie)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Behind the Line (Movie)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Exodus
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – Exodus Part 2 (Season 2)
- Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor – The Beyond
Why is Fafner – The Beyond Sometimes Called Movies?
When you get to Fafner the Beyond, you may see them labeled as four, or twelve, movies, but while they were screened in four “movies” in Japanese theaters upon release, it was really just 12 episodes of anime cut up into theater-length movies.
You can find The Beyond series available in a normal anime series format on the internet and/or streaming sites.
Are Right of Left and Behind The Line Optional Viewing?
While the Arcadian Memory OVA is optional viewing because it is just a recap of the first series, both the Right of Left TV special and Behind The Line are not strictly optional viewing.
Right of Left in particular fills in some details that will help flesh out the events of Exodus while Behind the Line remains a little bit more optional at this point, though does flesh out the characters a bit more.
