That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime watch order: How best to dive into the beloved isekai anime

There is a lot of jumping around for Rimuru and their friends.

Image credit: Eight Bit

How to by Trent Cannon Contributor

Published on April 16, 2024

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We’re once more heading into the kingdom of Tempest as That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime – often shortened to Tensura – returns for its third season. In the increasingly crowded field of isekai shows, this one is considered one of the best. With its colorful characters, unique protagonist, and gradually increasing stakes, there are plenty of reasons why everyone is excited for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime to continue.

However, the show’s heavy use of non-linear storytelling and its collection of shorts, spin-offs, and a film make it tough to know where to start with Rimuru’s adventures. If you’re struggling to find the best way to watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime in either chronological or release order, here is our recommendation.

How to watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime in chronological order

The biggest confusion around how to watch Tensura involves where each of the shorts and spin-offs takes place. There are five Original Animation DVDs (OADs) that were released along with certain volumes of the manga to fit in, plus the film, Scarlet Bond, and the spin-off series, Slime Diaries. As though that weren’t enough, three web-only episodes originally aired online titled Visions of Coleus.

Altogether, there is a lot of slime to get through, but here is how we would suggest watching That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime in chronological order:

How to Watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime in release order

The Crusaders in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime — Image credit: Eight Bit

There is a lot of jumping around and checking out different series in the chronological order for Tensura. The release order is not only much simpler to follow, but it also maintains some of the important plot twists and dramatic tension for fans. It is worth noting, however, that there is some discrepancy between the release date for the OADs. The first one was delayed by several months, by which time the second one had already been released.

The release order for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is:

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 1 Episodes 1-24.5
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime OAD 2: The Tragedy of M?
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime OAD 1: Hey! Butts!
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime OAD 3: Rimuru’s Glamorous Life as a Teach Part 1
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime OAD 4: Rimuru’s Glamorous Life as a Teach Part 2
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime OAD 4: Rimuru’s Glamorous Life as a Teach Part 3
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Episode 0
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Episodes 1-12
Slime Diaries Episodes 1-12
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Episode 12.5
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Episodes 13-24
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Movie: Scarlet Bond
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Visions of Coleus Episodes 1-3

Should I read the manga or light novels of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime?

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Scarlet Bond screenshot — Image credit: Eight Bit

If you’d rather read about the adventures of Rimuru and their budding monster kingdom, then you have two options. The first is the original light novels of That Time I Got Reincarnated, which were written by Fuse. They originally ran from 2013-2016 on a self-publication website in Japan before they got serialized starting May 2014. There are a total of 21 volumes available as of 2024.

While this is the original version of Rimuru’s story, fans of the anime would probably be better off checking out the manga adaptation. This is because the anime is technically based on the manga rather than the original light novels. Some characters and events are changed between the two formats, so the light novels might feel less familiar than you’d like.

Is Rimuru a man or a woman?

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Rimuru — Image credit: Eight Bit

When they lived in our world as Satoru Mikami, they were a 37-year-old male employee at a massive corporation. However, when he was reincarnated as a slime, his human form had a decidedly more androgynous appearance. This has led to many fans wondering if Rimuru, Satoru’s name in the magical world, is male or female.

The answer is neither. Though they have a more feminine form after they are reborn as a slime, they don’t actually have a gender. As a result, they are considered non-binary by most fans.

Where can I watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime?

That time I got reincarnated as a slime season three promotional image — Image credit: Eight Bit

If you’re wanting to binge the entire series of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, you’re in luck. Every episode, OAD, and the movie is currently on Crunchyroll. Even the Slime Diaries spin-off is available for you to stream on the service.

What’s next for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime?

Currently, the third season of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is airing on Crunchyroll, so now is a good time to get back into the show if you haven’t seen it in a while. This season is expected to run across two cours – or seasons – taking the total number of episodes in season three of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime to 24.

After that, there isn’t much lined up for the anime. However, we’d be surprised if more seasons don’t get announced shortly after the third season finishes later in 2024.

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