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What anime has the most episodes ever?
It’s a question that often gets asked, and it’s not an easy one to answer. There are a lot of variables to consider, such as whether or not you’re counting filler episodes, movies, OVAs, etc. For the sake of this article, we’ll be sticking to TV series only.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the longest-running anime ever!
One Piece is currently the anime with the most episodes, sitting at a whopping 780+ (and counting). It’s been running since 1999 and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Naruto is a close second, with 720+ episodes. It started in 2002 and ended in 2017, making it one of the longest-running anime ever.
Bleach is another long-running anime, with 366 episodes. It started in 2004 and ended in 2012.
Gintama is a bit of an outlier, as it’s still ongoing with over 300 episodes. It started in 2006 and is still going strong!
The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. There are a few shows that have over 1000 episodes, but they are not necessarily the longest running anime ever. The record for the longest running anime goes to Sazae-san, which has been airing since 1969! However, it should be noted that Sazae-san airs in a seven-minute time slot, so it has not technically been on for as long as some of the other shows on this list.

Here are a few of the longest running anime ever:
- Sazae-san – 11,344 episodes (as of October 2019)
- Detective Conan – 978 episodes (as of October 2019)
- One Piece – 1,000 episodes (as of October 2022)
- Crayon Shin-chan – 920 episodes (as of October 2019)
- Doraemon – 900 episodes (as of April 2019)
- Pokemon – 850 episodes (as of September 2019)
As you can see, there are a few shows that have over 1000 episodes, but they are not necessarily the longest running anime ever. The record for the longest running anime goes to Sazae-san, which has been airing since 1969! However, it should be noted that Sazae-san airs in a seven-minute time slot, so it has not technically been on for as long as some of the other shows on this list.
In conclusion, the answer to this question is a bit complicated. It really depends on how you define “longest running.” If you’re just looking at the sheer number of episodes, then there are a few shows that have over 1000 episodes. However, if you take into account other factors such as time slot and overall length of each episode, then the record for longest running anime goes to Sazae-san.
What do you think? What show do you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments!
If you’re a fan of long-running anime, then check out our list of the top ten longest running anime ever!