The new Magic Knight Rayearth premieres Wednesday, October 7, and TMS is airing it for two straight cours. In an interview with Anime News Network published September 30, Rie Takahashi (Fū) and Saori Hayami (Princess Emeraude) both said they built their performances on CLAMP's original manga first. That's the clearest hint yet that the 2026 version is a faithful re-adaptation and not a sequel. If you're deciding whether to watch the 90s anime first, this is the full watch order, where each part streams, and how it all ranks.
Quick answer
According to SenpaiRanks, the Magic Knight Rayearth watch order is: Magic Knight Rayearth (1994, 20 episodes) → Magic Knight Rayearth II (1995, 29 episodes), with the Rayearth OVA (1997, 3 episodes) as an optional alternate retelling. The 2026 series from E&H Production (under TMS) is a fresh start that re-adapts the manga from the beginning, so you can watch it with no prior viewing. The 90s TV series streams on Crunchyroll, RetroCrush, Tubi and Prime Video depending on region, and the 2026 version is listed for Crunchyroll. SenpaiRanks tracks the original at 7.21 and Rayearth II at 7.29 consensus.
The order, step by step
1. Magic Knight Rayearth (1994) — 7.21
Tokyo Movie Shinsha · 20 episodes. Hikaru, Umi and Fū are pulled out of a Tokyo Tower field trip into Cefiro and told to rescue Princess Emeraude from the high priest Zagato. This covers CLAMP's first manga arc and ends on one of the best-known twists in 90s anime. Don't look it up.
2. Magic Knight Rayearth II (1995) — 7.29
TMS Entertainment · 29 episodes. The direct sequel. The girls go back to a Cefiro without a Pillar, and three rival nations move in to take it. It departs from the manga more than season one does, with extra characters and a longer middle stretch, but it scores slightly higher on our board because the ending pays off.
3. Rayearth OVA (1997) — optional, 6.80
TMS · 3 episodes. A darker alternate-universe retelling with redesigned characters and a different Cefiro. It isn't canon to either TV series, so watch it after them as a curiosity, not as homework.
4. Magic Knight Rayearth (2026)
E&H Production · premieres October 7 on TV Asahi's IMAnimation W block, two consecutive cours. It's a new adaptation of the manga, with Ayane Sakura, Rumi Okubo and Rie Takahashi as the three knights, and Yuki Kajiura co-writing the score. Our cast and premiere breakdown lists the full staff.
Key visual for Magic Knight Rayearth (2026). ©CLAMP, ST/KODANSHA, TMS, TV-Asahi
Do you need the 90s anime first?
No. Per the ANN interview, the cast and staff are working from the completed manga, and Hayami used the 90s anime only as a secondary reference. A newcomer can start on October 7 without missing anything. The case for watching the 1994 series anyway is the twist: once the 2026 version reaches it, every spoiler-free discussion online goes away. If you like a classic before its remake, 20 episodes is about a weekend.
Is Magic Knight Rayearth good?
Yes, and it holds up better than most 90s magical girl shows. The 7.21 / 7.29 pair puts it in the same range as the 90s classics on our 80s–90s anime ranking. It's also one of the most important CLAMP works and a foundation of the shōjo boom we cover in the new best shōjo anime ranking. Fans of other long 90s franchises will find the same mix of mecha and destiny in Saint Seiya. The 2026 board opens once episodes air, and SenpaiRanks will post a real score after viewers vote rather than guessing early.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the Magic Knight Rayearth watch order?
A: Magic Knight Rayearth (1994) → Magic Knight Rayearth II (1995). The 1997 Rayearth OVA is an optional alternate version. The 2026 series is a separate reboot and can be watched on its own.
Q: When does Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 come out?
A: October 7, 2026, on TV Asahi's IMAnimation W block, running two consecutive cours.
Q: Where can I watch Magic Knight Rayearth?
A: The 1994–95 series is listed on Crunchyroll, RetroCrush, Tubi and Prime Video, depending on region. The 2026 series is listed on Crunchyroll.
Q: Is Rayearth 2026 a remake or a sequel?
A: A remake. It re-adapts CLAMP's manga from the beginning with a new cast.
Q: How many episodes is Magic Knight Rayearth?
A: 49 across the original TV run (20 + 29), plus the 3-episode OVA. The 2026 series is planned for two cours.
Q: How does Magic Knight Rayearth rank?
A: SenpaiRanks tracks the 1994 series at 7.21 and Rayearth II at 7.29 consensus. The 2026 entry's board opens after it airs.