Summary

• Some of the longest animated series ever are anime, many of which contain thousands of episodes.
• Several of the longest-running anime shows, including Pokemon and One Piece, have been on the air for decades.

It’s hard enough watching a long anime series, but try sitting through one with thousands of episodes. The longevity of anime is🐼 astounding, since some have been airing for decades and are among the longest-running TV shows of all time. Not every anime has such a lengthy life, but those that do have more episodes than any other a🐻nimated series.

While many of the longest-ru🌺nning anime series are worldwide legends, others are more obscure in the West, given that they have never left Japan. Nonetheless, they are all cultural icons that any fan of Japanese animation should experience at least once.

Updated on August 12, 2024, by PJ Molloy: There's certainly no shortage of anime shows that have aired for decades. We've added a few more series to the list for you to check out.

The fol♎lowing anime series are ranked based on how long they have been airing.

15 Naruto

Aired For 15 Years

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Action anime doesn't get more iconic than Naruto. Between 2002 and 2017, the show and its sequel series, Naruto: Shippuden, released a combined total of 720 episodes, 11 ౠmovies, and 12 OVAs. Thanks to its mix of comedy, fight scenes, and emotional character arcs, the anime quickly blossomed into a worldwide hit.

The first iteration depicts a young Naruto and the childish trouble he causes while studying to be a ninja𒁃. Shippuden is set two and a half years later and follows a wiser and more mature Naruto, a🦄lbeit still possessing the same quirkiness and charm as his younger self.

14 🧔 O꧅yako Club

Aired For 19 Years

The Hanasaki family had a pretty normal life until they took in a father and son from Outer Space. Oyako Club follows the shenanigans of aliens Rompa and Lun, whose cur༺iosity about Earth leads to lighthearted trouble and valuable life lessons. Specifically, the two aliens often learn about food during live-action segments showcasing how certain mea🀅ls are made.

In addition to its educationa𒁏l side, the show provides plenty of goofy visual gags, often involving the aliens being 🌞able to pull whatever outfit or item they need out of thin air. The series ran from 1994 to 2013, spanning 1,818 five-minute episodes.

13 One Piece

Airing For 25 Years

Since 1999, One Piece has 🌳dazzled anime fans with the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates with the power to stretch his rubber-like limbs. With his quirky crew by his side, he scours the globe for a legendary treasure that will grant him the title of Pirate King.

The series has been on the air for 25 years an🐻d shows no signs of slowing down in Japan or the West. The show spans 15 movies, 13 TV specials, seven OVAs, 21 seasons, and over 1,100 ep꧟isodes.

12 Ojarumaru

Airing For 26 Years

Ojarumaru follows the adventures of a five-year-old Heian-era prince who wanders into the spirit world to escape his boring life. After stealing the Great King Enma's scepter, the young prince falls into a time vortex and wakes up in the 20th century. Now, he must grow accustomed to the modern world while avoiding the Great King's army of Yokaဣi.

The show's mix of fantasy and slice-of-life comedy has been delighting anime fans since 1998 a൲nd still airs daily on Kids Station in Japan. The series has over 2,000 episodes, seven specials, and one movie.

11 Doraemon

Aired For 26 Years

Often considered one of the most widely recognized anime characters in Japan, Doraemon has starred in three series over the ye🍸ars, the longest of which ran from 1979 until 2005 and consisted of 1,787 episodes and 30 specials.

The titular Doraemon is a mechanical cat sent from the future to l♋ook after his creator’s ancesꦰtor, a child named Nobita Nobi, who struggles in almost every aspect of school. Together, the two go on many adventures, aided by Doraemon’s ability to pull futuristic gadgets out of his kangaroo-like pouch.

10 Pokemon

Airing For 27 Years

Pokemon needs no introduction. Since the series debuted in 1997, Ash Ketchum and Pikachu have starred in over 1,200 episodes spread across 25 seasons, making it the most successful vide🌸o game adaptation ever. And that's notꦬ even counting the 23 animated films.

Even after Ash hung up his hat in Ultimate Journeys, the anime is still going strong with Pokemon Horizons. The series follows two n൲ew trainers, Liko and Roy, on their adventure tꦆhrough the Paldea region.

9 Case Closed (Detect🌠ive Conan)

Airing For 28 Years

Also known as Detective Conan, Case Closed is arguably the most 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:well-known mystery anime, spanning over 1,100 episodes and 27 movies since it aired in 1996. The plot follows Jimmy Kudo, a teenage detec𒅌tive trapped in the body of a child after being f⛄ed poison by a group called the Black Organization.

Under the alias Conan Edogawa, he assists the police in solving crimes while searching for a way to return to his normal body. The show is based on the third best-sellܫing manga series of all timꩲe and continues to produce new episodes. You can watch select seasons of the English sub on Crunchyroll.

8 ಞ Chibi Marukꦉo-Chan

Airing For 29 Years

Based on the semi-autobiographical manga series by Momoko Sakura, Chibi Maruko🅷-Chan is a lighthearted slice-of-life anime with more than 1,400 episodes. Debuting in 1995, the series explores the perspective of an endlessly curious, albeit trouble-making, nine-year-old girl named Maruko.

Each episode shows Maruko and her family's daily suburban life, especially the 💝wholesome relationship she has with her grandfather. Thanks to its adorable animation style and heartwarming tone, the series is widely considered a must♛-watch anime for children.

7 ও🧸 Shima Shima Tora No Shimajiro

Airing For 31 Years

Shima Shima Tora no Shimajiro is the most famous children's educational anime. Set on the fictional Challenge Island, the show follows the daily life of a young soccer-playing tiger and his family. Since ꦿ1993, Shimajiro has been teaching kids about making friends, shꦚaring, potty training, and much more.

The series consists of four iterations, the last of which, Shimajiro no Wao, began in 2012 and is still airing today in both Japan and the West. Throughout its 31-year run, theܫ show has amassed 11 films and over 1,500 episodes.

6 🏅 Nintama Rantaro (Ninjaboy 💮Rantaro)

Airing For 31 Years

Set in Sengoku-era Japan, 𒅌Nintama Rantaro (known as Ninjaboy Rantaro in certain regions) centers around the titular Rantaro and his friends Kirimaru and Shibei, ꩲwho attend a ninja school called Ninjutsu Academy. There's only one problem — they're terrible students.

The series puts a comedic spin on the ninja anime genre, with plenty of quirky students and ꧃strict teachers to provide endless cartoonish shenanigans. The show began in 1993 and is still airing in Japan, with over 2,300 episodes. Unfortunately, the series is a bit hard to find in the West.