Anime had to jump through a few hoops before it made an impact on the North American and European markets. One feature that set anime apart from western cartoons was the serialized format. The long stories had detailed world-building and interesting character arcs, which resonated with an audience that was used to self-contained narratives populated by shallow archetypes. Some of the earliest breakthrough anime gained a dedicated following because their stories would last for hundreds of chapters.
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There are some anime popular in Japan that have been running since the 1960s and have thousands of episodes, but those aren't very well known in the western world. All of the following titles, however, have been known in international media circles for some time. Most exist in both dubbed and subbed form these days, and it's easy to find any missed episodes out there somewhere.
10 Hunter x Hunter (148 Episodes)
Shonen anime has a reputation for being lengthy, and Hunter x Hunter is one of the more popular examples. It was adapted from a manga that was drawn and written by Yoshihiro Togashi in 1998 and was made into a TV show a year later.
The story revolves around Gon Freecss. He spends most of his young life thinking he's just another kid until he finds out his father was a Hunter — a person who tracks down and finds magical artifacts, dangerous and fantastic monsters, and unexplored locations. The viewer follows Gon's education and adventures as he learns how to be a Hunter himself.
9 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (152 Episodes)
The show isn't really as bizarre as one might think given the title, especially for those familiar with anime. The series is adapted from the original manga, which contains a similar line of eight continuous story arcs that follow different protagonists with the same nickname, "Jojo."
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The art style is cheerful, exaggerated, and often comical, contrasting the dark and serious plot. Jojo and his ancestors their superhuman Stand powers to fight various members of the occult, most notably vampires. The primary villain is an immortal bloodsucker known as Dio Brando.
8 Astro Boy (193 episodes)
Many fans of anime will credit Astro Boy with introducing him to the genre. As a show that was intended for younger audiences in the first place, it was easier to find a market for it than anime that was intended for adults. This was one of the reasons it made its way to an international audience.
The series broke new ground in other ways as well. Astro Boy was one of the first anime characters to embrace the concept of merchandising, and he appeared on kids' clothes, accessories, and video game consoles. Japanese fans often refer to the hero by his original name, "Atom Boy," and he remains a favorite anime icon.
7 Sailor Moon (200 episodes)
There have been other versions of Sailor Moon, most notably the more recent remake that follows the manga more closely. However, this entry refers to the original series from the 1990s. There was an invasion of female-driven stories in the this decade across all types of media, including cartoons. While Lara Croft dominated video games and Sarah Connor ruled the silver screen, Sailor Moon led the charge via anime.
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Unlike other stars of the magical girl genre, Usagi Tsukino is just an ordinary girl. Her marks in school aren't very good, she's generally lazy and easily distracted. However, there's one thing that keeps her from being like everyone else: her sense of love and justice.
6 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (224 Episodes)
Initially, a lot of people wrote this series off as a Pokemon clone; however, it's actually about a card game as opposed to finding and trapping actual monsters. It features an interesting angle on ancient Egyptian iconography and mythology that also makes it unique.
This is the second adaptation of the manga based on the series written by Kazuki Takahashi. Although the previous show was popular, it only consisted of 27 episodes. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters starts adapting the manga at the beginning of Chapter 7, and covers the last few segments of the story.
5 Pokemon (276 episodes)
The Pokemon franchise consists of so much merch, from plush toys to video games, that it's easy to forget this all started with a cartoon more than 20 years ago. The Young Adult market is always a lucrative one, and this one was not only aimed at that group but it also had a lot of other endearing features. Its lovable protagonist, his extremely kawaii sidekick, and an overall cheerful and optimistic tone made it a fan favorite.
The non-ironically named Ash Ketchum is the story's protagonist, and he's been traveling throughout the world collecting Pokemon since 1999. The Pokemon anime series has lasted for 24 seasons so far, with future shows currently in the works.
4 Dragon Ball Z (291 episodes)
Dragonball Z is the sequel to a previous series simply titled Dragonball. The latter was a surreal comedy that never got past a niche following, but was also long, consisting of more than 140 episodes. It served as an adaptation of the first half of the original manga, while Dragonball Z covers the second half.
This series tapped into the fantasy-fighting genre, along with officially joining the big shonen anime family. Although some of the characters from the previous series make appearances, this is primarily the story of Goku and his group of allies as they fight against some impressive intergalactic threats.
3 Bleach (336 episodes)
Occult anime already had a following with shows like Death Note. Bleach, though, made the genre accessible to younger audiences without sacrificing the complex characters or chilling storyline.
Ichigo Kurosaki, also known as Bleach because of his unusual hair color, seems like just another surly teenager when he discovers he has the powers of a Soul Reaper. He's a supernatural being similar to a Death God, but Bleach is not only tasked with harvesting souls and guiding them through the afterlife. He must also protect humanity from evil spirits, demons, and other malevolent forces from the great beyond.
2 Naruto Shippuden (500 Episodes)
The story of Naruto is extensive. The original series alone lasted for 200 episodes and was aimed at an audience slightly older than Pokemon's, but there was still a lot of overlap between the two fanbases. Naruto Shippuden takes place a little over two years after the first series ended.
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The mythology of Part I continues with the Tailed Beast, and there's the usual intrigue and drama between the characters. The secretive nature of this show's plot, with the warring factions and family backstabbing, is one of the things that keeps this serialized anime series going. It is about ninjas, after all.
1 One Piece (893 Episodes)
One Piece is one of the most popular and longest-running anime in the history of the world. This classic series was adapted from the manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, first published in July 1997 and continuing into the present day. It only makes sense that the anime would be just as long.
The story follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, the leader of the Straw Hat Pirates, and his quest to become the Pirate King. Full of action, adventure, and humor, it no signs of slowing down.
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