What Are the ‘Attack on Titan’ OAD Episodes? (& Are They Worth Watching?)

Years after its debut, ‘Attack on Titan’ ended a few days ago, and its conclusion was met with mixed reactions. Considering that the franchise dragged on, fans might be interested in rewatching the anime from the beginning and rediscovering some new content and scenes. One uncommon thing that you might run into are ‘Attack on Titan’ OAD episodes. Today we’re going to tell you what they are and how to watch them.

Editor’s Note: This OAD order was updated in November 2023 with the release of ‘Attack on Titan’ finale.

What are the ‘Attack on Titan’ OAD episodes?

The ‘Attack on Titan’ original video animation (OVA) episodes are special episodes that were not aired during the original season but were released alongside select manga volumes. They were released as part of several bonus DVDs, so they are also called OADs (Original Animation DVDs).

As for their content, episodes 1-3 feature Hange Zoe trying to capture their first live Titan, along with a look back at the 104^th Cadet Corps’ initial training. Episodes 4 and 5 are based on the ‘Attack on Titan: No Regrets spin-off manga,’ which was written by Yasuko Kobayashi; the manga focuses on the pasts of Captain Levi and Commander Erwin Smith.

Finally, episodes 6-8 are based on the ‘Attack on Titan: Lost Girls’ spin-off light novel series written by the ‘Attack on Titan’ anime’s screenwriter Hiroshi Seko; they focus on separate stories featuring Annie Leonhart and Mikasa Ackermann.

The episodes are as follows:

1. Episode 3.5: “Ilse’s Notebook: Notes from a Scout Regiment Member” (December 9, 2013)
2. Episode 3.25: “A Sudden Visitor: The Torturous Curse of Adolescence” (April 9, 2014)
3. Episode 3.75: “Distress” (August 8, 2014)
4. Episode 0.5A: “A Choice with No Regrets: Part One” (December 9, 2014)
5. Episode 0.5B: “A Choice with No Regrets: Part Two” (April 9, 2015)
6. Episode 16.5A: “Wall Sina, Goodbye: Part One” (December 8, 2017)
7. Episode 16.5B: “Wall Sina, Goodbye: Part Two” (April 9, 2018)
8. Episode ???: “Lost in the cruel world” (August 9, 2018)

Episode 3.5: “Ilse’s Notebook: Notes from a Scout Regiment Member” (December 9, 2013)

The Survey Corps heads outside the walls to trap a Titan and investigate it. Hange Zoe is obsessed with Titans and desperately wants to catch one, despite Commander Erwin canceling the mission because he could potentially be sacrificing many lives. Hange decides to go alone after a Titan, being followed by Levi and four other companions.

Episode 3.25: “A Sudden Visitor: The Torturous Curse of Adolescence” (April 9, 2014)

It is shown in a flashback that Jean used to live with his mother, but not since she did not respect his privacy, so he decided to become a recruit and join the Military Police. He leaves for training for a while and returns to the Trost district. Outmatched, Jean argues with Sasha and is overheard by Commander Pixis, who is making a culinary challenge.

Episode 3.75: “Distress” (August 8, 2014)

In year 848, the 104th Cadet Corps gathered its recruits for training, which consisted of looking for an object and returning. For training, the corps must be divided into two groups; one will go to the left and the other to the right on a 40-kilometer route. Eren’s group arrives at an area where they spend the night.

Episode 0.5A: “A Choice with No Regrets: Part One” (December 9, 2014)

Levi, Isabel Magnolia, and Furlan Church, equipped with special equipment, have fun tormenting the merchants of The Underground City, in all likelihood, to share some of their goods with the poor people. Hardly standing idly by, the merchants call the guards who chase our three protagonists. Just after the end of this hunt, Levi remembers their meeting with Isabelle for him and Furlan.

Episode 0.5B: “A Choice with No Regrets: Part Two” (April 9, 2015)

This episode deals with the integration of Levi, Furlan, and Isabel into the Survey Corps, even if some squad leaders are reluctant. Erwin Smith maintains that they could be extremely useful to them, so that’s how they join the Corps, that it is hardly thrilled to have them; very quickly, even Levi shows almost zero appreciation of his superior and his condescension towards them.

Episode 16.5A: “Wall Sina, Goodbye: Part One” (December 8, 2017)

Annie Leonhart wakes up after a nightmare in which she saw the death of Marco Bott. She rinses her face and tries to convince herself that she is only accomplishing her mission despite the deaths and that she will catch Eren Yeager the next day. After getting dressed, she reads a letter from a friend. When Hitch Doris arrives, she tells him to be more social. She then makes a deal with Hitch: she’ll cover for her if she finds Carly Stratmann in exchange for her cover so she can go on a date.

Episode 16.5B: “Wall Sina, Goodbye: Part Two” (April 9, 2018)

During her investigation, Annie is disturbed by an angry neighbor. She promises to kill him if he enters despite the door being blocked. Once gone, she examines Wayne’s body and finds that it is still warm, a sign of a recent death. She discovers his papers on him. She wonders what she should do with the body, fearing she won’t be able to accomplish her mission the next day.

Episode ???: “Lost in the cruel world” (August 9, 2018)

On the Wall, Mikasa Ackerman looks at Eren Jäger, telling herself that she could not prevent him from leaving them behind. She sees a blue butterfly and recalls a memory. She remembers her childhood, more precisely when she did embroidery with her mother and when she asked her how babies are made.

How do you watch all 8 ‘Attack on Titan’ OAD episodes in order?

Considering that the ‘Attack on Titan’ OAD episodes weren’t exactly released in their proper chronological order, we have you covered. Just follow this list, OAD episodes are bolded:

1. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 1 Episode 1-13
2. ‘Since That Day’ Episode 13.5 – Recap -can be skipped
3. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 1 Episode 14-25
4. ‘Wings of Freedom’ Recap -can be skipped
5. ‘Distress’ OAD
6. ‘The Sudden Visitor: The Torturous Curse of Youth‘ OAD
7. ‘Ilse’s Notebook: Memoirs of a Recon Corps Member’ OAD
8. ‘Attack on Titan: No Regrets Pt 1’ OAD
9. ‘Attack on Titan: No Regrets Pt 2’OAD
10. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 2 Episode 1-12
11. ‘The Roar of Awakening’ Recap -can be skipped
12. ‘Attack on Titan: Lost Girls’ Part 1 OAD
13. ‘Attack on Titan: Lost Girls’ Part 2 OAD
14. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 3 Episode 1 -3
15. ‘Attack on Titan: Lost Girls’ Part 3 OAD
16. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 3 Episode 4-12
17. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 3 Episode 13-22
18. ‘Awakening’ Recap -can be skipped
19. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 4 Episode 1-16
20. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 4 Episode 17-28
21. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 4 SP 1
22. ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 4 SP 2

Are the ‘Attack on Titan’ OAD episodes worth watching?

Well, if you’re a true fan of the franchise, the OAD episodes are something you’ll watch. Yours truly, for example, watched every episode of ‘Bleach,’ including all the fillers, the four non-canon movies, and even the non-canon OVA episode (the second one, not the extended anime episode one), as he loves the show. So, if you’re a true ‘Attack on Titan’ fan, these OVA episodes will be something you’ll want to watch.

As for the others, more casual viewers, the OAD episodes don’t really add much to the plot, especially if you’ve seen every episode so far. They’re just episodes from the “history” of the anime that expand on some of the characters and their adventures, but they’re not essential to comprehending the plot or knowing what happens. So, if you’re a casual viewer, you might skip them ultimately, but be aware that they are worth watching!

Where can you watch the Attack on Titan OAD episodes?

As we have said, all of the OAD episodes were originally released on special bonus DVDs alongside certain manga volumes. They were never broadcast on TV, and as far as we know, they’re not available for streaming in Japan; they could be found on the DVDs, but you’d have to buy those to view them.

Some of the episodes had been released in the West, but it wasn’t until December 2021 that all of the eight OAD episodes were available for streaming, exclusively on Crunchyroll. The streaming platform released these eight episodes as a warm-up for the second part of Season 4.

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