Works like One Piece and Detective Conan have passed the thousand episode mark, but are still loved by the audience and receive a lot of attention. While many anime appear and disappear quickly, long-running anime like these demonstrate a timeless popularity, cementing themselves as true pillars in Japanese animation history.
Here are the 10 longest running anime:
10 – One Piece: (from 1999 – Present)
One Piece is an anime adapted from the manga by Eiichiro Oda. The story begins with the event of Gol D. Roger, the most notorious pirate, revealing the existence of the massive treasure One Piece. Since then, the race to become the next Pirate King has not stopped.
What is curious is that the manga is still ongoing and the anime that started in 1999 has more than 1,090 episodes. One Piece is one of those animes where you start and don’t know when it will end, and many people don’t even want it to end even though it’s been running for 24 years.
9 – Ojarumaru: (from 1998 – Present)
Imagine what it would be like for a 5-year-old prince from ancient Japan to come to modern-day Japan? Ojarumaru is an animated film for children, but has a charming sense of humor. The plot revolves around the adventures of the prince, who is constantly chased by a trio of oni (demon) brothers, all because of a powerful scepter he “borrowed”.
Since its debut in 1998, Ojarumaru has had an impressive 2,037 episodes. It seems that, even though 25 years have passed, the little prince still has a lot to explore in modern Japan.
8 – Doremon: (from 1979 – 2005)
Doremon is a true classic, having appeared on television for 26 years with more than 1,700 episodes. Although it is not the anime with the highest number of episodes, the total number of episodes of all Doremon episodes exceeds 3,000. The work has a lot of time travel and interesting inventions.
7 – Pokémon: (from 1997 – Present)
As long as the game continues, the Pokémon anime will not stop. Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu travel around the world, catching new Pokémon and fighting to become Pokémon Masters. This anime has been successful globally and Pikachu is loved in many places.
After 25 years and 1,232 episodes, Ash’s journey has come to an end, but Pokémon Horizons is now here to continue the story. Since 1997, there have been 1,269 glowing episodes and this number will continue to increase.
6 – Famous Detective Conan (from 1996 – Present)
Shinichi Kudo is a young detective who turned into a child after being poisoned by criminals. The entire anime series shows Shinichi solving mysteries while finding a way to return to normal. With over 1,100 episodes since 1996, the series is a compelling mix of stand-alone episodes and a larger storyline.
5 – Chibi Maruko-Chan: Maruko’s Daily Life (1995 – Present)
Chibi Maruko-Chan is an anime about the daily life of Momoko “Maruko” Sakura. With over 1,400 episodes since 1995, this series is perfect for both those looking for nostalgia and those who want something light and fun. The anime is based on one of the most famous shoujo manga series, showing that simple stories can have a big impact on audiences.
4 – Nintama Rantarō
Nintama Rantarō is not just an anime, it is also a true lesson in Japanese culture in entertainment form. The story revolves around Rantarō, a first-year student at a ninja school, and his friends Kirimaru and Shinbee. Since 1993, the show has kept kids and adults glued to their screens with more than 2,321 10-minute segments. It’s a combination of comedy and adventurous adventures that never gets old.
3 – Crayon Shin-chan: (since 1992 – Present)
Crayon Shin-chan is the kind of anime you either love or hate, with five-year-old Shinnosuke Nohara at the center of it all. Since 1992, with more than 1,200 episodes released, Shin and his friends have caused all kinds of destruction and brought laughter to the audience. The English dub took some creative liberties, adding even more humor to this already fun show.
2 – Soreike! Anpanman: (from 1988 – Present)
Soreike! Anpanman is not only an anime series but also a cultural icon in Japan. Anpanman, the bean-haired superhero, fights the villain Baikinman and other evildoers. Since 1988, with 1,572 episodes, Anpanman has been one of the most beloved characters by Japanese children and has a special place in the country’s popular culture.
1 – Sazae-San: (from 1969 – Present)
Sazae-San is not only an anime but also a legend, with a 53-year broadcast journey. With more than 2,640 episodes since 1969, it is the longest-running animated TV show of all time, breaking a world record. The film follows the daily life of Sazae Fuguta, a housewife, and her family. Sazae-San is so important in Japan that it even gives a name to a cultural phenomenon: “Sazae-san syndrome”, the Sunday night blues before the start of a new week.
