Its been over a decade since K-On! aired, a show filled with music, shenanigans, and a very wholesome story. For those who have yet to see this anime, it’s about the Light Music Club in Sakuragaoka High School, filled with members with different music backgrounds and backstories. Despite all their differences, they’re all able to perform together while also maintaining a strong friendship.
The series is also notable as the directorial debut of Naoko Yamada, who would go on to direct A Silent Voice, Liz and the Bluebird, and The Heike Story with K-On! screenwriter Reiko Yoshida.
As a slice-of-life anime, it’s hard to say what K-On! is about exactly. Playing music with friends, yes, but also growing up. It closely follows the lives of Yui, Mio, Ritsuko, Tsumugi, and Azusa throughout high school, and shows each girl growing and changing into someone more sure of herself and her future than where she began.
With over 40 episodes across two seasons, a feature film, and bonus content, what’s the best way to watch K-On?
The best K-On! watch order
The first season of K-On! aired in 2009 with 12 main episodes and a 13th extra chapter that doesn’t really end the show with the same weight as the finale. In this season, we are introduced to all five members of the light music club, and what makes them unique and passionate about music.
Aside from the main players, some of the side characters also get the spotlight, most specifically, Sawako Yamanaka, the Light Music Club’s advisor and former club member. Using her music knowledge and past experiences, she’s able to aid this young club, while also enabling their lax tendencies.
As the series progresses through its OVA’s, Ura-On! and second season, we see this group of girls grow and develop, especially when the older members prepare for graduation and prepare their plans for high school and making sure that the Light music club stays alive once they’re gone.
So if you want to watch this anime series chronologically, here is our recommended watch order list:
- K-On! season 1
- K-On! – “Live House!” (OVA)
- Ura-On! Season 1
- K-On! season 2 (until episode 5)
- Ura-On! season 2 (episodes 1 – 2)
- K-On! season 2 (epside 6 – 13)
- K-On! – “Plan” (OVA)
- K-On! season 2 (episodes 14 – 19)
- Ura-On! season 2 (episodes 3 – 8)
- K-On! season 2 (episodes 20 – 21)
- K-On season 2 (episode 25)
- K-On season 2 (epsidoe 22)
- K-On season 2 (episode 26)
- K-On! episode 23
- K-On! the Movie
- K-On! seaosn 2 (episode 24)
- Ura-On! season 2 (episodes 9)
If you’re a first-time viewer, it’s highly recommended that you watch the show through its release order due to the amount of jumping of episodes, and only follow the chronological order once you finished the series. While KyoAni’s anime adaptation ends with the girls’ graduation, Kakifly’s original manga continues into the girls’ college years, while the ongoing spinoff manga K-On! Shuffle follows the light music club of a different high school.