So, you’ve heard the rumors about the "cute" show with the traumatizing depths. Honestly, if you're looking for a Made in the Abyss watch guide, you're probably already aware that this isn't your average whimsical adventure. It’s a descent. A brutal, beautiful, and emotionally taxing crawl into the earth. But here is the thing: the release schedule for this series is a total mess for newcomers. If you just click "play" on whatever a streaming service suggests, you are almost guaranteed to skip about two hours of vital, soul-crushing canon content.
Don't do that.
Most people see a list of movies and seasons and assume the movies are just "recap" films. In many anime, that’s true. You can skip the Death Note movies or the Attack on Titan compilations and lose nothing. But with Akihito Tsukushi’s masterpiece, one of those movies is actually "Season 2" in disguise. It’s not optional. It’s the bridge. Without it, the actual second season will make zero sense.
The Non-Negotiable Order of the Descent
Let's get the "how-to" out of the way first. You start with Made in the Abyss Season 1. This is thirteen episodes of world-building that starts off looking like a Ghibli film and ends like a survival horror. It introduces Riko, the energetic orphan, and Reg, the robot boy with the Incinerator arm. They leave the city of Orth and head into the hole. Simple enough.
Then, things get tricky.
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If you go straight to the season labeled "The Golden City of the Scorching Sun," you’ve messed up. You skipped Made in the Abyss Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul. This movie covers the entire Ido Front arc. It introduces Bondrewd—the Lord of Dawn—who is widely considered one of the most chillingly logical villains in modern fiction. This isn't a side story. It is the direct continuation of the first season’s finale. If you don't watch it, you'll start the next season wondering why the characters are suddenly in a different layer of the Abyss with new trauma and a new companion.
- Season 1 (13 Episodes)
- Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul (The "Hidden" Season)
- Season 2: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun (12 Episodes)
Wait, what about Movie 1 and 2? Forget them. Journey's Dawn and Wandering Twilight are just recaps of the first season. They have maybe three minutes of new footage combined. Unless you are a completionist with way too much free time, they are a skip.
Why "Dawn of the Deep Soul" is the Real Filter
The Abyss doesn't care about your feelings. Neither does the production committee at Kinema Citrus. Putting a core piece of the narrative into a feature film was a bold move, but artistically, it worked. The "Bondrewd Arc" is heavy. It deals with the ethics of discovery and the literal cost of humanity.
Kevin Penkin’s score in this movie is something else. He uses these industrial, echoing synths that make you feel the pressure of the deep sea even though they're in a cavern. When you watch Made in the Abyss, you aren't just looking at the art; you're listening to the environment. The music tells you when the "Curse of the Abyss" is closing in before the characters even realize it.
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Dealing with the Tonal Shift
The biggest hurdle for anyone starting their Made in the Abyss watch journey is the art style. It’s "moe." The characters have big, round eyes and soft features. It looks like a show for kids. It is very much not a show for kids.
This juxtaposition is intentional. The creator uses the "cuteness" of Riko and Reg to emphasize the grotesque nature of the monsters and the physical toll the environment takes on their bodies. In the second season, this goes even further. We get the backstory of the Ganja squad—voyagers from centuries ago. Their story is a harrowing look at what happens when survival replaces morality.
Honestly, the second season is even more dense than the first. It focuses on the "Village of the Hollows," Ilblu. The logic of this place is weird. It’s based on "Value." If you want something, you have to give up something of equal value to you. It turns the entire concept of a social economy into something visceral and, frankly, terrifying.
The Manga vs. Anime Divide
Currently, the anime has covered up through Chapter 60 of the manga. The problem? Tsukushi is a slow writer. He prioritizes quality and incredibly detailed, cross-hatched backgrounds over speed. This means that after you finish your Made in the Abyss watch, you’re going to be waiting. A long time.
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The anime is a very faithful adaptation, but the manga has a certain "grime" to it that the vibrant colors of the show sometimes mask. If you finish the second season and feel that itch for more, you can jump into the manga around Volume 11. Just be prepared: the art becomes even more abstract and experimental the deeper they go into the Sixth and Seventh layers.
Key Details Most People Miss
- The Map: The map of the Abyss shown in the eyecatches is actually somewhat accurate to the vertical scale of the world.
- The Language: The "Abyssal" text seen on signs and relics isn't just gibberish. It’s a cipher you can actually decode if you’re nerdy enough.
- The Curse: Remember that the Curse of the Abyss is a one-way physical reaction. Going down is easy. Going up is what kills you. This "verticality" is the core of the show’s tension.
Practical Steps for Your Viewing
If you're ready to start, check the licensing. In the US, the series has hopped between platforms. Currently, HIDIVE is the primary home for the uncut versions of the seasons and the third movie. Some regions have it on Netflix or Crunchyroll, but the third movie is often missing from those bundles. Double-check that you have access to Dawn of the Deep Soul before you start Season 1, or you'll be scrambling for a link right when the cliffhanger hits.
Once you finish the first season, take a break. Seriously. The ending of episode 13 (the double-length finale) is an emotional gauntlet. Pushing straight into the movie might give you "tragedy fatigue." Give the story of Mitty and Nanachi room to breathe in your head before you dive into the Ido Front.
The Abyss is a one-way trip. Once you start, the only way out is down.
Actionable Summary for New Viewers
- Verify your source: Ensure your streaming service includes Movie 3: Dawn of the Deep Soul. Without it, the story is incomplete.
- Skip the first two movies: Journey's Dawn and Wandering Twilight are redundant recaps.
- Watch in 1080p if possible: The background art is the star of the show; don't settle for low-bitrate streams that turn the lush Sixth Layer into a blurry mess.
- Prepare for "Season 2": Be aware that the second season is titled The Golden City of the Scorching Sun. It is a direct sequel to the third movie.
- Track the Manga: If you finish the anime and need more, start the manga from Chapter 61 to continue the journey into the Seventh Layer.