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Last updated: 1 November 2026

Quick Answer

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World is a dark fantasy isekai anime by White Fox, adapted from Tappei Nagatsuki's light novels. It follows Subaru Natsuki, who loops through time whenever he dies. Four seasons (85 episodes, 2016–2026) and two OVA films have been released.

About Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World

Subaru Natsuki is suddenly sent to a fantasy world, where he discovers he returns to a fixed point in time whenever he dies. He uses this painful power again and again to protect Emilia and his new friends. It is a gripping isekai story about courage, love and never giving up. Subaru has no strength, no magic talent and no special weapon, only the memories of timelines nobody else remembers, bought with deaths nobody else sees. That makes Re:Zero one of the darkest and most emotional isekai series: every victory is earned through failed loops, and Subaru's mind bends under the weight of them. Around him, the royal selection for Lugunica's throne, the Witch Cult and the sins they serve keep raising the stakes. Animated by White Fox, the anime now spans four seasons (85 episodes) and two OVA films, with Season 4 finishing in September 2026.

Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World is a TV anime from 2016, first released in Spring 2016. It belongs to the Drama and Fantasy genres. The summary above is written by the AnimeYug team in our own words.

Official Trailer

Story & Plot

On his way home from a convenience store, shut-in teenager Subaru Natsuki blinks and finds himself in a fantasy capital. He falls in with Emilia, a kind half-elf royal candidate whose insignia has been stolen, and is murdered within hours. Then he wakes up that same morning. Subaru's hidden power, Return by Death, rewinds time to a fixed point whenever he dies, and he alone keeps the memories of every failed attempt.

Working as a butler in the Roswaal mansion, Subaru loops through curses, witchbeasts and assassins to save the people who took him in, then throws himself into the royal selection and the Witch Cult's attacks. Each arc asks more of him: outwit a cult that worships the Witch of Envy, free the Sanctuary, defend the city of Priestella, and march into the Pleiades Watchtower to win back what Gluttony stole, names, memories and the sleeping Rem. Every loop costs him something no one else can see.

Story Arcs & Episode Guide

The Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World anime is split into story sagas. Here is every saga in order, with its episodes and years.

ArcEpisodesYearsAbout
Arc 1: A Day in the Capital1–32016Subaru arrives in Lugunica, meets Emilia and discovers Return by Death
Arc 2: One Week at the Mansion4–112016As a butler at Roswaal's mansion, Subaru loops against a curse killing the household
Arc 3: Truth of Zero12–252016The royal selection begins; Subaru faces the White Whale and the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth
Arc 4: The Sanctuary and the Witch of Greed26–502020–2021Season 2: a sealed village, Echidna's trials and Subaru learning to rely on others
Arc 5: Stars that Engrave History51–662024–2025Season 3: the Witch Cult attacks the city of Priestella on every front at once
Arc 6: The Hall of Memories67–852026Season 4: the expedition to the Pleiades Watchtower to reclaim stolen names and memories

Why Watch Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World

  • Time loops with a price: only Subaru remembers each failed timeline, and it scars him.
  • A powerless hero who wins with information, alliances and sheer refusal to give up.
  • Arcs play out like mysteries. Every loop reveals one more rule of the trap.
  • A huge, memorable cast across five royal camps, a witch cult and a sealed sanctuary.
  • Four full seasons adapted from a still-running, carefully planned light novel series.

Who Is It For?

Re:Zero is rated TV-14 in the US, and it earns it: expect frequent, sometimes graphic deaths, psychological horror, torture themes and intense emotional breakdowns, alongside the humour and romance. Best for older teens and adults.

Main Characters

View all characters →

Voice Actors

The Japanese voices behind the main characters of Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World.

  • Subaru NatsukiOrdinary teenager cursed to relive his deaths
    Japanese voiceYūsuke Kobayashi
  • EmiliaSilver-haired half-elf candidate for Lugunica's throne
    Japanese voiceRie Takahashi
  • Rem (Re:Zero)Blue-haired demon maid who devotes herself to Subaru
    Japanese voiceInori Minase
  • RamRem's sharp-tongued pink-haired twin sister
    Japanese voiceRie Murakawa
  • BeatriceLibrarian spirit of the mansion's forbidden library
    Japanese voiceSatomi Arai
  • Roswaal L MathersEccentric margrave who employs Subaru and the twins
    Japanese voiceTakehito Koyasu
  • PuckEmilia's cat-like spirit partner
    Japanese voiceYumi Uchiyama
  • FeltThief girl from the slums with an unexpected royal claim
    Japanese voiceChinatsu Akasaki
  • Reinhard van AstreaThe Sword Saint, the strongest knight in Lugunica
    Japanese voiceYūichi Nakamura
  • Crusch KarstenDuchess and royal candidate with a wind-reading gift
    Japanese voiceYuka Iguchi
  • Felix ArgyleCat-eared healer knight serving Crusch
    Japanese voiceYui Horie
  • Wilhelm van AstreaReinhard's grandfather, a swordsman devoted to one hunt
    Japanese voiceKenyū Horiuchi
  • Anastasia HoshinMerchant royal candidate from Kararagi
    Japanese voiceKana Ueda
  • Julius JuukuliusFinest of knights, Anastasia's loyal sword
    Japanese voiceTakuya Eguchi
  • Garfiel TinselFierce guardian beast-man of the Sanctuary
    Japanese voiceNobuhiko Okamoto
  • Otto SuwenTravelling merchant who becomes Subaru's right hand
    Japanese voiceKentarō Tone

Staff & Production

Original Creator
Tappei Nagatsuki
Animation Studio
White Fox
Series Director
Masaharu Watanabe (Seasons 1–2); Masahiro Shinohara (Seasons 3–4)
Series Composition
Masahiro Yokotani
Music
Kenichirō Suehiro

Manga & Source Material

Re:Zero is a light novel series by Tappei Nagatsuki with illustrations by Shinichirou Otsuka. It began as a web novel in 2012 and is still running, with the story organised into long arcs that the anime seasons follow.

  • Written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka
  • Web novel serialised on Shōsetsuka ni Narō from 20 April 2012, and still ongoing
  • Light novels published by Media Factory (MF Bunko J) from 24 January 2014
  • 46 light novel volumes had been published as of September 2026, plus side-story and short-story books
  • The web novel had 782 chapters as of May 2026, with nine arcs complete and the tenth in progress
  • The novels and manga passed 13 million copies in circulation by March 2023

Music

Konomi Suzuki has performed an opening for every season, and MYTH & ROID anchor the darker side of the soundtrack; Season 4 pairs Suzuki with Ashnikko on the opening and MYTH & ROID with TK on the ending.

Opening Themes

  • “Redo”by Konomi SuzukiSeason 1, first opening (2016)
  • “Paradisus-Paradoxum”by MYTH & ROIDSeason 1, second opening (2016)
  • “Realize”by Konomi SuzukiSeason 2, part 1 opening (2020)
  • “Long Shot”by Mayu MaeshimaSeason 2, part 2 opening (2021)
  • “Reweave”by Konomi SuzukiSeason 3 opening (2024)
  • “Recollect”by Konomi Suzuki feat. AshnikkoCurrentSeason 4 opening (2026)

Ending Themes

  • “STYX HELIX”by MYTH & ROIDSeason 1, first ending (2016)
  • “Stay Alive”by Rie TakahashiSeason 1, second ending (2016)
  • “Memento”by nonocSeason 2, part 1 ending (2020)
  • “Believe in You”by nonocSeason 2, part 2 ending (2021)
  • “NOX LUX”by MYTH & ROIDSeason 3 ending (2024)
  • “Ender Ember”by MYTH & ROID feat. TK (Ling Tosite Sigure)CurrentSeason 4 ending (2026)

Series Timeline

  1. 2012

    Tappei Nagatsuki begins the web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō on 20 April.

  2. 2014

    MF Bunko J publishes the first light novel volume on 24 January.

  3. 2016

    White Fox's anime premieres in April with an hour-long first episode; Season 1 runs 25 episodes.

  4. 2018

    The Memory Snow OVA reaches cinemas in October.

  5. 2019

    The Frozen Bond OVA, Emilia and Puck's prequel story, opens in November.

  6. 2020

    A re-edited Director's Cut of Season 1 airs, followed by Season 2's first cour in July.

  7. 2021

    Season 2's second cour completes the Sanctuary arc in March.

  8. 2024

    Season 3 begins in October with a 90-minute premiere episode.

  9. 2025

    Season 3's Counterattack Arc finishes the battle for Priestella in March.

  10. 2026

    Season 4 airs from April to September in two parts, the Loss Arc and the Recapture Arc.

Quick Answers

Is Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World finished?

Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World has not been announced as finished, so more of the story may still come in the future.

What genre is Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World?

Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World is a Drama and Fantasy anime. You can browse more titles like it on our Drama anime page.

When did Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World release?

Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World first released in Spring 2016. It is a TV series.

How many episodes does Re:Zero have?

The TV anime has 85 episodes: 25 in Season 1 (2016), 25 in Season 2 (2020–2021), 16 in Season 3 (2024–2025) and 19 in Season 4 (2026). There are also two OVA films, Memory Snow and The Frozen Bond.

Will there be a Re:Zero Season 5?

No fifth season has been announced as of November 2026. The light novels are still ongoing, the web novel's tenth arc is in progress and 46 volumes were published by September 2026, so there is much more story available to adapt.

What is the Director's Cut of Re:Zero Season 1?

The Director's Cut (2020) re-edits Season 1 into 13 double-length episodes with some retouched scenes and a small amount of new footage. It tells the same story; new viewers can watch either version, while returning fans may enjoy spotting the changes before Season 2.

Is Re:Zero very dark?

Yes, by isekai standards. Subaru dies often and sometimes brutally, and the series takes his trauma seriously. It balances that darkness with warm friendships, humour and hard-won hope, but it is best suited to older teens and adults.

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