Top 10 Longest Running Shonen Anime Series Ft. One Piece

The Shonen category in anime is the most popular genre in the anime industry. Since the anime industry’s early days, countless storylines have been introduced, but only a select few have withstood the test of time and earned worldwide recognition. To achieve such a lasting impact, the creators ensured their works were rich in detail and engaging.

Anime like One Piece and Case Closed are still running to this day, which showcases how detailed and popular they are. Here is a list of the longest-running Shonen anime series that people are still talking about.

1. Case Closed (Detective Conan)

• Creator: Gosho Aoyama
• First Episode: January 8, 1996
• Last Episode: NA
• Number of Episodes: 1159 (Ongoing)
• Animation Studio: TMS Entertainment

Gosho Aoyama’s Case Closed is currently one of the longest-running Shonen anime. It belongs to the mystery and thriller genre, following the life of Shinichi Kudo, who was turned into a kid through an experimental drug. Shinichi became a high school detective and joined Detective Kogoi Mori, the father of his girlfriend, Ran Mori, under the alias of Conan Edogawa to solve crimes. All the stories are unique and will leave the viewers thinking how magnificent it was.

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2. One Piece

• Creator: Eiichiro Oda
• First Episode: October 20, 1999
• Last Episode: NA
• Number of Episodes: 1125 (Ongoing)
• Animation Studio: Toei Animation

One Piece is one of the greatest pieces of fiction ever written and has been dominating the anime industry in almost every aspect. Considered to be one of the Big Three of anime, One Piece follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy, who wants to become the King of the Pirates. However, the journey ahead is not so easy, but he has his friends to accompany him. With more than 1100 episodes, Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus is one of the longest-running Shonen anime ever, with worldwide popularity. Currently, it is in its Final Saga, with Egghead being the first arc of the endgame.

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3. Naruto

• Creator: Masashi Kishimoto
• First Episode: October 3, 2002
• Last Episode: March 23, 2017
• Number of Episodes: 720
• Animation Studio: Studio Pierrot

The story of the Orange Hokage of the Leaf is not just any tale. It is an inspiring journey that shows it is possible to fulfill every dream if people have the determination for it. Naruto’s influence on the anime and manga industry becoming mainstream is immense, and even though the anime ended almost 8 years ago, its popularity has been growing constantly. The world of shinobi had everyone mesmerized for the last two decades. Being one of the Big Three of anime, it was considered to be One Piece’s rival.

After Naruto’s story wrapped up, the franchise extended itself with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

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4. Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise

• Creator: Kazuki Takahashi
• First Episode: April 4, 1998
• Last Episode: March 30, 2011
• Number of Episodes: 585

Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the most popular Shonen anime from the early 2000s. The main focus of the anime is a card game where each card represents a certain monsters, who come forth upon playing that card. Yugi Mutou is a timid high-schooler, but when he is possessed by a mysterious spirit, his personality changed. Whenever his friends were threatened, he challenged the antagonist to a card duel, with the loser in for a penalty. The anime was divided in four series with the first one being Yu-Gi-Oh! and the last one being Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX coming in the middle.

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5. Dragon Ball

• Creator: Akira Toriyama
• First Episode: February 26, 1986
• Last Episode: January 31, 1996
• Number of Episodes: 444
• Animation Studio: Toei Animation

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball inspired a generation of manga and anime creators. It is considered to be the Godfather of Shonen anime and even though it is more than four decades old, its popularity has been constantly going upwards. The anime follows Son Goku, who belongs to the Saiyan race. Goku turning Super Saiyan for the first time or showcasing all the Saiyan transformations against Majin Buu all these scenes will forever be iconic in the anime industry.

After Dragon Ball Z, the franchise has released several series, like Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, and Dragon Ball DAIMA.

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Also Read: The Best Romance Anime That Aren’t Just High School Love Stories

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6. Bleach

• Creator: Tite Kubo
• First Episode: October 5, 2004
• Last Episode: NA
• Number of Episodes: 406 (Ongoing)
• Animation Studio: Studio Pierrot

Bleach follows a supernatural plot with the protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki, becoming a substitute Shinigami and stepping into the Soul Society. From being a teenager going to school to dealing with supernatural beings, Ichigo conquered it all. Even though Bleach is one of the Big Three, it often gets overshadowed by its counterparts. However, with the anime returning after a decade with Thousand Year Blood War, it has regained its former glory.

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7. Gintama

• Creator: Hideaki Sorachi
• First Episode: April 4, 2006
• Last Episode: October 8, 2018
• Number of Episodes: 367 (Ongoing)
• Animation Studio: Sunrise

Gintama is one of the funniest anime ever created. It revolves around Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, and Kagura, who form a samurai team to fend off aliens from feudal Japan. It brings uncontrollable laughter with every scene following the antics of the trio. On top of everything, they always make parodies of other popular anime like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, etc., which makes it even more entertaining. It is like a breath of fresh air amongst all the Shonen fighting plots.

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8. Fairy Tail

• Creator: Hiro Mashima
• First Episode: October 12, 2009
• Last Episode: NA
• Number of Episodes: 353 (Ongoing)
• Animation Studio: A-1 Pictures

Fairy Tail is one of the most popular Shonen anime of the last decade. It takes place in a magical world with the Fairy Tail guild at the center of it. The main protagonist is Natsu Dragneel, but Hiro Mashima’s writing gives a spotlight to all the characters present in the anime. There are some great fights in the anime, and every arc has some unique flavors to it, making it one of the longest-running Shonen anime.

Currently, Fairy Tail: 100 Year Quest is ongoing, which is an extension of the main story.

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9. Inuyasha

• Creator: Rumiko Takahashi
• First Episode: October 16, 2000
• Last Episode: March 30, 2010
• Number of Episodes: 193
• Animation Studio: Sunrise

Inuyasha has a great plot involving time travel, demons, and humans. Rumiko Takahashi’s masterpiece focuses on Inuyasha, who is manipulated to betray the priestess named Kikyo and kill her. However, as fate had it, they reunited years later when he met Kagome Higurashi, Kikyo’s reincarnation. From there on, the duo, along with their friends, tried to find the demon who was behind all the sorrow they had to go through.

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10. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

• Creator: Hirohiko Araki
• First Episode: October 6, 2012
• Last Episode: NA
• Number of Episodes: 190 (Ongoing)
• Animation Studio: David Production

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure follows the mysterious experiences of the Joestar family across time periods. The anime has given rise to several iconic scenes, some of which have also been adapted into popular internet memes. Recently, the sixth season of anime was announced, which will be focusing on Steel Ball Run.

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