Best anime with more than 500 episodes

Key takeaways

• Long-running anime series like Dragon Ball and Naruto offer fans a wealth of content, keeping them interested with compelling stories and likable characters.

• Shows like One Piece and Detective Conan have amassed over 1,000 episodes, giving viewers satisfying viewing experiences but presenting a barrier for newcomers.

• Doraemon and Sazae-San show how longevity in anime can make for fun and interesting storytelling, giving viewers a variety of episodes to enjoy.

These days, it seems that rising production costs and lofty ambitions have led to unbearable wait times between anime seasons. Yes, higher quality shows are great, but sometimes, viewers just want to know what the next episode has in store for their favorite characters, which can lead them to read the manga and abandon the anime altogether.

Of course, some anime have never kept fans waiting. These shows provide viewers with mountains of content that would, in turn, allow them to become some of the oldest in the medium. These are some of the best anime series that have exceeded 500 episodes.

8

dragon ball

Number of episodes: 800+

As an anime with an incredible international reach, it’s completely understandable why dragon ball has lasted as long as it has. The show has managed to maintain a solid output of compelling stories, led by a series of characters who are ridiculously powerful and likable at the same time.

dragon ball It’s probably the anime on this list that has had the most downtime. However, he has managed to accumulate enormous production. Yes, there is a whole series of episodes (Dragon Ball GT) that is considered a failure, but it is only 64 episodes within this exceptional series.

7

naruto

Number of episodes: 1000+

naruto has been pumped non-stop since the early 2000s as one of the last vestiges of the shonen era of yesteryear. In fact, the decade in which it premiered is often remembered as a time when shonen anime were filled with tons of unnecessary filler and exposition-laden episodes.

But it was those fillers that gave the creators time to make sure the translations of the best parts of the manga worked exceptionally well in the animation. The latest episodes of Naruto: Shippuden in particular, it provided fans with some of the most heartwarming fight scenes in anime. This was something that carried over into its sequel series, Boruto.

6

gundam

Number of episodes: 1000+

There has been a metric ton of gundam anime iterations over the years. These entries in the series vary greatly in length and maturity, attracting fans of all ages to the high-octane action the stories provide.

Fans can watch child soldiers fight bloody battles for their liberation in Iron-Blooded Orphansor they can take things slower, with the metaseries for children that is Gundam build fighters. Since there are so many different versions of the popular mecha anime, taking the franchise past the 1000 episode milestone, there really is something available in gundam for everyone to enjoy.

5

one piece

Number of episodes: 1100+

Luffy and the gang simply exude likability, so it’s incredibly easy to see why fans have stuck around since the start of the series. Of course, that’s not to mention the exceptional storytelling, character development, and improved animation quality of later episodes.

Of the big 3, (naruto, Bleachand one piece) the fillers in this anime are simply more entertaining. Unfortunately, this lends credence to the argument that 1000+ episodes is too high a barrier for newcomers to overcome, as very little of the series can be skipped. Regardless, if time permits, overcome one piece provides one of the most satisfying visual experiences a person can have.

4

Case closed (Detective Conan)

Number of episodes: 1100+

Interest in true crime seems to have skyrocketed lately. However, morbid curiosities in media have been around for a while, with animes like detective conan being a long-running serialized test. After 31 seasons, it’s truly a wonder how writer Gosho Aoyma can find so many fun and interesting ways to portray crime on screen.

Of course, there’s an overarching plot where Conan clashes with the seedy Black Orginization, which makes for an incredibly interesting glue that holds the show together. However, the show shines in its “murder of the week” style episodes that keep viewers guessing throughout.

3

Pokémon

Number of episodes: 1200+

Pokémon is one of those shows that today’s adults are proud to show their children, delighted at the prospect of them being absorbed by something that ruled their lives when they were younger. It’s a simple joy that’s also not uncommon, as the show’s lovable pocket monsters have been going crazy for several generations at this point.

Each new region explored in the anime correlates with each new game released on Nintendo consoles. There are also tons of incredibly high quality. Pokémon movies and merchandise available, helping fans stay interested in the world.

2

Doraemon

Number of episodes: 2500+

Automation in the modern world is intended to make the lives of ordinary people easier. DoraemonOn the other hand, it focuses on how life can be more fun with a robot while teaching kids a lesson or two in the process.

Of course, some episodes forgo the life lessons and just fool around with Doraemon’s wealth of futuristic technology. For example, in one episode he is seen giving one of the other characters a liquid to rub on his hand and turn it into a powerful BB gun. Jokes like these are so random that it’s truly a wonder how the creators can keep the ideas coming, episode after episode.

1

Sazae-San

Number of episodes: 8500+

The longest-running anime turns out to be one of the easiest to get into, as it follows the day-to-day exploits of the Fuguta family. What’s more, it hasn’t really changed much over time.

It’s a true-life anime through and through, following characters simply living their lives, and viewers agree. As such, there are tons of interesting characters here, all with their own problems. Of course, while it may not all be interesting to the modern viewer, with almost 9,000 episodes, there are sure to be a number of stories here for many to enjoy.