There are many animes that have been on the air for several decades. These now include some shows such as Jojo’s Bizzarre Adventure, One Piece, Naruto, Pokemon, and many others.

Some of these shows have more than 1000 episodes, some more than 2000, and one even more than 7000! This means that there are animes that some adult viewers have been following since childhood. But which of these animes are the longest running anime series? Here are the top 10 of the longest running animes.

2,500+ Episodes | © Fuji TV

Sazae-san is a yonkoma manga created by the mangaka Hasegawa Machiko. It was first published from 1946 to 1974. The manga was realized as an anime, live-action television series, and in the form of several movies.

The series has been running since 1969 with over 2500 episodes and is, therefore, the anime with the most episodes.

The plot revolves around the 27-year-old Japanese Sazae Isono. She lives with her father, Namihei Isono, her mother Fune Isono, and her siblings Katsuo Isono and Wakame Isono in a family household in post-war Japan.

First, they live in Kyushu, later in Tokyo. After Sazae got married and gave birth to her son Tarao, she has to fill the different roles in the household, as daughter, wife, and mother. Sazae also has to help her family through the post-war period and hunger. She also stands up for women’s rights and emancipation without disregarding their tradition

2189 Episodes | © Ajia-do Animation Works Inc.

Nintama Rantaro is a Japanese anime series adaptation of the manga series Rakudai Ninja Rantaro, written and illustrated by Sobe Amako. It’s broadcast on NHK since April 10, 1993, and is still running.

Rantarou, Shinbei, and Kirimaru are ninja apprentices at a ninja school where the first-graders are called “Nintamas” (Ninja+Tamago, which means ninja chicks). At this school, they have to learn everything there is to learn for a ninja. However, for our heroes, other things are more important. Money, food, and playing a lot are their biggest interests.

This series, which is aimed at children, covers pretty much what you would call the daily adventures of the little ones.

1787 Episodes. | © Nippon TV

Doraemon is a manga series by the drawing duo Fujiko Fujio, which was published in Japan from 1969 to 1996. In Asia, Doraemon is as well known as Mickey Mouse in the western world. The numerous episodes of the animated series often have an educational purpose. They have been translated into a number of languages. In the West, it has been most successful in Italy and Spanish-speaking countries.

The robot Doraemon is sent from the 22nd century to the present. The great-great-grandson of Nobita tries to achieve by this that the clumsy Nobita is saved from his biggest mistakes, leads a carefree life, and does not get into trouble, which affects his life in the future. In particular, Doraemon shall ensure that Nobita does not get into unnecessary trouble.

1491 Episodes and still running | © TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd.

Anpanman is a Japanese comic and cartoon character by Takashi Yanase, who first appeared in picture books published by Froebel-kan. Later on, mangas and the anime TV series Soreike! Anpanman. The target group is mainly small children up to primary school age.

Anpanman is the most valuable brand figure in Japan in terms of merchandising and other income, even before Pokemon, Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty.

1203 Episodes | © Fuji TV

Chibi Maruko Chan is a popular manga series by Momoko Sakura, which was released in Japan from 1986 to 1996. The author tells cheerful experiences and everyday stories of the little girl Maruko. Momoko Sakura (born 1965) included mainly her own childhood memories in the story, which takes place in the early 70s.

The successful manga series was later followed by an anime series, anime films and also a live-action film series. Although initially created as Shoujo manga for young girls, both manga and anime found many fans among adults, especially women, who appreciated Chibi Maruko Chan for its nostalgic aspect. In Japan, Chibi Maruko Chan has cult status.

1007 Episodes | © Shin-Ei Animation Co., Ltd.

Crayon Shin-Chan is a manga series by the mangaka Yoshito Usui, which ran from 1990 to February 2010 and was also produced as an anime TV series with over 1000 episodes, several spin-off series, over 80 specials and over two dozen feature films. After Usui’s death in September 2009, it has been continued as Shin Crayon Shin-Chan since August 2010.

From 1990 to 2003, the manga was published in the magazine Manga Action by Futabasha. However, due to a temporary suspension of the magazine, Shin-Chan changed to the magazine Manga Town of the same publisher. After the death of Yoshito Usui in September 2009, the manga was continued with already completed chapters until December. A further three chapters were published in the following three editions until February 5, 2010. The chapters drawn by Usui

were combined into a total of 50 manga volumes.
The manga was continued as Shin Crayon Shin-Chan in a new form with members of Usui’s team, which is now called UY Studio.

978 Episodes and still running | © TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd.

Detective Conan is an internationally successful manga series by the mangaka Gosho Aoyama, which has been running since 1994.

It has been published in Japan since the beginning of 1994 in single weekly chapters in the manga magazine Shōnen Sunday of the Shōgakukan publishing house. Up to now, 1055 single chapters (as of July 1, 2020) have been published. These are regularly published in 98 anthologies so far.

Also, there are 43 volumes in Japan with Detective Conan Short Stories, which are drawn by Aoyama’s assistants according to his specifications. In these, each case is presented very briefly, so that more different and completed cases can be found in one paperback book.

1061 Episodes and still running | © Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

One Piece is an internationally successful manga series of the Japanese mangaka Eiichirō Oda, which has been running since 1997 and which is also produced as anime for television and cinema. Since 1997 it has been published weekly in the Shūkan Shōnen Jump.

The individual chapters are also published in collective editions bundled together by Shūeisha, which has broken several records for publication, including the highest initial circulation of a book in Japan and the first book to sell over three million copies. With more than 460 million copies shipped worldwide as of December 2019, including approximately 390 million in Japan alone, it is the best-selling manga series in history.

575 Episodes (DB, DBZ, and Super) | © Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

Dragon Ball is a manga series by the mangaka Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball was originally published from 1984 to 1995 in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump and was later published in 42 volumes. The total of 519 chapters contains over 8,000 pages. In addition, it was first adapted for the anime TV series Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z.

Due to the great success, the franchise now consists of a total of four TV series, 18 feature films, three TV movies and three OVAs, as well as a variety of video games. In 1989 and 2008, two live-action film adaptations of the manga followed. With approximately 156 million copies sold in Japan and 230 million copies sold worldwide, Dragon Ball is the second best-selling manga of all time after One Piece.

382 Episodes | © Fuji TV

Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari-kōen Mae Hashutsujo, also abbreviated as Kochi Kame or Kochikame, was a manga published in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1976 to 2016, by the mangaka Osamu Akimoto.

With over 30,000 pages in 1960 chapters, the series was considered the longest permanently running manga series – Golgo 13 and Doraemon appeared earlier, but with longer interruptions. The Guinness Book of Records awarded the series as the manga series with the most anthologies (Tankōbon) – of which 200 were published.

The first 164 Tankōbon were sold a total of more than 150 million times; Volume number 153 according to figures in May 2007 a total of about 360,000 times.