Anime enthusiasts are well aware that some series can run for a long time.
And this is exactly why many of us hesitate to start One Piece.
That is, until our friends relentlessly encourage us, even jokingly threatening to end friendships over it.
Imagine our surprise when we learned that there are even older and longer-running anime series out there.
Some of which you might not be familiar with.
To clarify, many of these are beloved children’s anime that we grew up watching.
If you missed them, you might have skipped out on a significant part of childhood entertainment.
So today we are counting down our picks for the longest running anime series of all time.
The 10 longest running anime series of all time
One Piece (1999 – present)
- Release Date: October 20, 1999
- Studio: Toei Animation
- Based On: Manga
- Creator: Eiichiro Oda
In 2021, One Piece marked a massive milestone with its 1000th episode.
This is a testament to the incredible dominance the shonen anime has held for over two decades.
The journey began in 1999, just a few years after the manga debuted, when Luffy first set sail in the anime.
His goal? To gather a crew, explore the vast seas, and claim the title of Pirate King.
Over the next 20 years, fans watched as the Straw Hat crew grew in size.
This includes taking down tyrants, battling self-proclaimed gods, and challenging the powerful world government.
While fight shonen series typically run for several hundred episodes (as Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball, and Hitman Reborn! have all done), One Piece is more than just these series.
Despite the anime’s inadequacy compared to the manga, the animated series has managed to maintain its excellent quality, which is truly remarkable.
One Piece is a popular longest running anime series.
Detective Conan (Case Closed)
- Release Date: January 8, 1996
- Studio: TMS Entertainment
- Based On: Manga
- Creator: Gosho Aoyama
Case Closed, also known as Detective Conan, is another anime many of us grew up watching.
It follows the story of Shinichi Kudo, a brilliant detective who continues solving crimes even after his body is transformed into that of a young child.
Over the years, Case Closed has become famous not just for its wide appeal to younger audiences but also for its remarkable longevity.
The series first aired in 1994, adapted from Gosho Aoyama’s manga, and it’s still going strong today with over 1,000 episodes.
Case Closed is a mystery anime with the most episodes.
Pokémon
- Release Date: April 1, 1997
- Studio: OLM Team Ota
- Based On: Manga
- Creator: Satoshi Tajiri
Pokémon is a singular anime icon that has been around for decades despite spanning generations.
This franchise, which debuted 28 years ago, has grown to become a cultural phenomenon with the constant release of new video games, films, and episodes.
For admirers of all ages, its timeless appeal has made it a cherished aspect of life, changing with every new generation while maintaining its nostalgic charm.
Now that Ash’s quest is ended, the series will introduce new characters from a different area. But this only suggests that the monster-collecting journey will go on for years to come.
This iconic show is the longest running anime.
Shin Chan (Crayon Shin-chan)
- Release Date: April 13, 1992
- Studio: Shin-Ei Animation
- Based On: Manga
- Creator: Yoshito Usui
Yet another long-running anime that viewers may recognize because of its widespread appeal is Crayon Shin-chan.
Shin-chan, the show’s title character, travels with his family and friends on a daily basis.
One of the more unique characters in anime is Shin, a mischievous youngster with an odd speech pattern.
The popularity of the series has spawned video games, movies, and other spin-offs.
It’s unfortunate that Crayon Shin-chan isn’t currently accessible on a Western streaming service.
Previously available on Disney+, it is no longer available.
Sore Ike! Anpanman
- Release Date: October 3, 1988
- Studio: TMS Entertainment
- Based On: Manga
- Creator: Takashi Yanase
A lot of people might not want to see a sweet roll with Jam combating crime in a superhero origin story.
Nevertheless, audiences of all ages in Japan adore this animation, which is based on a popular children’s book series by Takashi Yanase.
Since it debuted in 1988, the animated series has spawned innumerable spinoffs, side tales, and movie adaptations.
Another popular anime that many fans still love is One-Punch Man, which was greatly influenced by Anpanman.
Doraemon
- Release Date: April 2, 1979
- Studio: Shin-Ei Animation
- Based On: Manga
- Creator: Fujiko F. Fujio
As with the last entry, Doraemon has evolved into a marketing powerhouse.
Although its main character, a robotic cat, is among the most well-known cartoon figures ever, Doraemon’s appeal has expanded globally, in contrast to Anpanman.
Three different anime series have been made based on the story, and Disney even bought the most current one from 2005 for an American audience.
The main protagonist appears around the nation in a variety of ways, and the series is excellent animated content for younger viewers.
A whole generation of creators has been influenced by the series, which has even been mentioned in a number of anime.
Doraemon is truly a classic longest anime series.
Chibi Maruko-Chan
- Release Date: December 15, 1990
- Studio: Nippon Animation
- Based On: Manga
- Creator: Momoko Sakura
With the publication of 17 tankobon volumes, the Chibi Maruko-Chan manga continued for more than 30 years.
The original anime ran for a respectable 142 episodes when it debuted in 1990.
After being brought back for another season in 1995, the series ran for more than 1300 episodes, making it one of the longest anime series ever.
The franchise toasted achieving the milestone of 1500 episodes in March 2022.
The show chronicles the everyday exploits of Momoko Sakura, a mischievous young girl.
Momoko frequently finds herself in awkward circumstances, occasionally involving her friends as well.
Several movies have been based on Momoko’s experiences; the most recent one came out in 2015.
Ninja Boy Rantaro
Ninja Boy Rantaro was the first Ninja series that aired on television, years prior to Naruto or Boruto.
It started broadcasting in 1993 and centers on Rantarou, Shinbei, and Kirimaru, three ninja apprentices who are trying to master everything they can about being ninjas.
With only ten minutes per episode, Ninja Boy Rantaro is far more humorous and geared toward children.
Since the show is still showing today, the number of episodes will undoubtedly keep growing over time.
Ninja Boy Rantaro’s 31st season began airing in April 2023, and the anime isn’t slowing down at all.
Additionally, an animated movie is also scheduled for release in the near future.
Prince Mackaroo (Ojarumaru)
Ojarumaru made its debut in 1998 and continues to this day.
The anime series starts with Ojarumaru, a teenage prince from the Heian Period, robbing the Great King Enma.
The prince slips through a hole into contemporary Japan while being chased by the king’s three Oni sons, where he makes friends with the Tamura family.
While Ojarumaru avoids his assailants and discovers the glories of the modern world, the plot follows a fairly standard slice-of-life structure.
The past 25 years have seen the introduction and development of new characters, as well as frequent explorations of the story’s more magical aspects.
Sazae-San
At the top of the list with an incredible number of episodes is Sazae-San.
A show that’s in a league of its own.
No other series comes close to its record, with Sazae-San having aired thousands more episodes than any other animated show.
This is thanks to the fact that it has been running since 1969, and with new episodes still coming out, it’s getting close to 8,000!
The show is all about the everyday life of Sazae, the main character, and her family.
While the episodes follow a simple, slice-of-life style, Sazae-San was groundbreaking when it first aired, especially when it came to themes like women’s rights and the roles of partners in families.
These topics were pretty advanced for its time, especially since the show is based on a manga that started back in 1946!
Even though the show touches on these progressive ideas, it’s still very nostalgic, showing a picture of Japan’s traditional way of life.
Sazae-San is so popular and important that it holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running anime series.
However, it’s not available on streaming services, so it’s a bit tricky to find unless you watch it on TV in Japan.
