They can be a significant time commitment, but some of the best anime series currently have over 100 episodes. They tell complex stories and can create a large variety of characters and complex worlds. Fans of short anime often crave more when the story ends, and long anime might just be what they’re looking for.
Considering that the average animated episode lasts about 22 minutes, and as long as viewers don’t skip the beginning and end, these shows require a marathon of at least 36 hours. It’s a considerable time commitment that can frustrate potential viewers, but, as this list will demonstrate, these series are well worth the effort.
10 Yu Yu Hakusho (112 episodes)
Yusuke Urameshi, a local thug, impulsively jumps in front of a car to save a child’s life and is killed. The bad news? If it wasn’t for the fate to die, the child would be fine and Yusuke died in vain. Good news? Nor was it destined to die afterwards, Yusuke’s selfless act gave him a second chance at life and the position of Spirit Detective.
Yusuke’s job is to hunt down the demons lurking on Earth that are threatening human life. Throughout the film, however, he not only awakens his own buried powers, but also learns that demons aren’t completely evil than humans are all good. Along with his best friend Kuwabara, Yusuke also teamed up with the demon fox Kurama and half-demon Hiei.
9 Hunter X Hunter (148 episodes)
Following Yoshihiro Togashi’s Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter takes the main quartet on adventures around the world. The amazingly strong Gon Freecss begins his journey to become a Hunter just like his absent father Ging. He’s determined to find out what’s great about being a Hunter and, having developed the skills to get there, he’ll hunt down and meet Ging on his own.
As Gon and his friends follow their path as Hunters, they not only become stronger warriors, but also learn more about themselves. Killua discovers who he is beyond his family’s expectations, Gon must face the consequences of what he’s done with his growing powers, and Kurapika repeatedly crosses the line between his natural and peaceful personality. nature and desire to take revenge on those who murdered her family. Leorio often struggles to get screen time, but much more importantly in Hunter x Hunter’s current manga, which has yet to be adapted.
8 Dragon Ball (153 episodes)
As a child, Son Goku came to Earth with the ability to destroy all of humanity. However, a bump to the head and loving upbringing of his grandfather Gohan set him on the path to becoming the planet’s greatest protector. Already one of the strongest kids in the anime at the age of eleven, boy Goku leaves his mountain home and begins to come into contact with his true powers as a Saiyan.
The original Dragon Ball changed shounen anime forever with its 153 episodes, and its sequel, Dragon Ball Z, was even more influential, with the introduction of iconic characters like son of Goku and Vegeta. Although, as the name suggests, Z intended to end the series, it continued with GT and Super, bringing the series’ total episodes to 804, not counting its 19 films.
7 Yu-Gi-Oh! (224 episodes)
When Yugi Muto solved the pyramid puzzle his grandfather gave him from Egypt, it changed his life forever. He released the 3,000-year-old soul of a Pharaoh sealed inside the puzzle, a dueling champion that would possess his body whenever he played the game. With her new gaming partner, Yugi is thrust into the role of saving her loved ones (and later the world) through what has become one of the most successful Card Games ever. All Time.
The ongoing franchise generally spans several series, totaling 852 episodes. However, the first series, Duel Monsters, boasts an impressive number of episodes. While that number is boosted by a sub-season or two, those storylines are just as interesting as those adapted from Kazuki Takahashi’s original 1996 manga.
6 Bleach (366 episodes)
Ichigo Kurosaki once lived a relatively normal life, despite having the ability to see ghosts. But a chance meeting with Shinigami Rukia Kuchiki pulls him into a world he never imagined. Now, he will have to master all sorts of otherworldly powers to protect the living souls from the monstrous Hollows.
The first season of Bleach spanned 366 episodes, but the long-awaited adaptation of its final season, The Thousand Years of Blood, is currently in the final stages of completion. With over 50 episodes slated to air through 2023 and by 2024, this will not only push Bleach past the 400-episode mark but also fully adapt the original manga to an anime.
5 Gintama (367 episodes)
Freelancing is hard work and doesn’t pay much. But that’s what holds Yorozuya Gin together and exists in an absurdly alternate 17th-century Tokyo. As it happens, a time-worn samurai, his eager apprentice, a super-strong humanoid alien, and their giant dog can get into quite a bit of trouble at work.
As more of Gintoki’s past is revealed and the main villain finally emerges, the film will take on a much darker, Cowboy Bebop-style tone. However, much of the show’s time is spent on pointless gags as Yorozuya Gin does their odd jobs. From Gintoki’s constant screams to carousel woes to one of the best beach anime episodes, there’s never been a dull moment.
4 Naruto (720 episodes)
Naruto Uzumaki was always rejected by Konoha because the Nine-Tailed Demon Kurama was sealed within him. However, Naruto is determined to become the leader of the village and the greatest shinobi. Along with his mentors and friends, he goes from overlooked failure to Konoha’s greatest hero.
Naruto spanned 220 episodes, of which 90 were purely spin-offs. Like many anime with substantial original content, this is intended to avoid pausing the entire show while the manga continues and building up enough material that can be adapted after the skip period. While Naruto Shippuden was well worth the wait, 203 of its 500 episodes were also subs.
3 One Piece (1,071 episodes)
Every pirate from the East Blue Sea to the West is searching for the lost treasure of Gol D. Roger, the world’s greatest pirate. Fighting to rise above all and become the next Pirate King is Monkey D. Luffy. With his rubber superpowers and his loyal comrades, Luffy overcame pirates as well as the Marines to claim his treasure and his rightful title.
The series is popular with anime fans for its unique character design, dynamic animation style, and high adventure. With the intricate plot and various characters to explore in Eiichirou Oda’s original manga, there’s enough adaptable material that even now, it still has a precious little extra. One Piece may have a reputation for being long, but there are a few shows that can beat it in this regard.
2 Case Closed (1,094 episodes)
Genius detective Shinichi Kudou survives a plot to poison him, but the poison turns him back into a child. Now, he has to hide his identity, find out who did this to him, and get back to normal while solving his usual cases, which turns out to be… a lot.
Exactly one thousand one hundred of them. The show is almost entirely episodic, focusing on a different crime being solved each week, usually theft or murder. While Shinichi’s body restoration efforts are technically an ongoing storyline, they’ll never be a permanent success as long as one of the longest running anime of all time continues.
1 Pokémon (1,233 episodes)
Pokémon was hugely successful when the anime based on the video game started in 1998, and it continues to thrive to this day. Not only does it have hundreds upon hundreds of episodes, but it also has an incredible number of spinoffs of any anime. For most of its run, the show has followed the journey of aspiring Pokémon Champion Ash Ketchum, but it’s now continuing with new heroes following Ash’s recent departure.
With new regions popping up with each new game, the show is always inspiring to go on. From the forests and grasslands of Kanto to the sunny beaches of Alola, Ash has met other Trainers, Coordinators, researchers for over twenty years and many others who have also given their lives. I give Pokémon. And of course, every region offers hundreds of other Pokémon to befriend: catching them all is a lot harder than before!
Preparing for an anime that is over 100 episodes long means preparing for a long journey with a variety of characters. Series anime can tell a complex story or multiple stories over several seasons, with time spent on some of the medium’s best character development.