Few shows can claim to match One Piece for longevity, with its episode count climbing well beyond 1,000 and counting. Yet it may surprise some fans to know it's not even the longest-running shonen anime series. Though it's been on the air for an impressive 26 years, it's far from the only shonen anime to run for multiple decades.
Other massive series such as Naruto Shippuden, Gintama and even the ongoing JoJo's Bizarre Adventure can claim to have surpassed that landmark. Whether classics that have run their course or shows that continue to rack up more episodes, these are the longest-running series as they stand now.
10 Sgt. Frog/Keroro Gunsou - 358 Episodes, 7 Years Airing
First airing in 2004 as an adaptation of the already successful manga of the same name, Sgt. Frog managed to catch on thanks to its whacky premise and fast-paced jokes that were perfect for its slightly younger target audience. The story follows a group of frog-like alien invaders abandoned on earth and forced to do tedious house chores by a human family.
They continue to dream of world domination, but their plans are inevitably thwarted in hilarious ways every time. Though it came to an end in 2011 after seven seasons and more than 300 episodes, that wasn't the end of the show's legacy thanks to a new Flash anime series that brought even more of the manga characters to life in 2014.
9 Bleach - 366 Episodes, 7 years Airing
Few shonen series are more synonymous with the category than Bleach, the story of determined high-schooler Ichigo Kurosaki and the unseen world of corrupted spirits and Soul Reapers into which he is thrust. Along with his friends, Ichigo is forced to become stronger as a substitute Soul Reaper and take on the evil Hollows.
Bleach contains some stand-out story arcs that help break up its 366 episodes. Though the franchise continues on into 2022 in the form of the sequel Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, its initial 16-season run from 2004 to 2012 secures it a place as one of the longest-running anime series.
8 Naruto Shippuden - 500 Episodes, 9 Years Airing
Whilst Naruto was already a highly successful series, Naruto Shippuden's more mature, complex, and character-focused approach paid off as it went on to receive better reviews and run for far longer than its predecessor. Despite its more serious approach, its title character is as energetic and the action is as over-the-top as ever.
Because it ran almost non-stop for the best part of a decade, the show naturally has peaks and drops in quality, from the much-criticized filler episodes to a memorable romance arc for a usually action-focused show. Despite coming to an end in 2017, the show remains one of the most talked-about in shonen anime.
7 Inuyasha - 193 Episodes, 10 Years Airing
Adapted from the manga of the same name, Inuyasha is one of the quintessential anime series of the early 2000s. Following a teenage girl who becomes the target of terrifying demons for the powerful Shikon Jewel she possesses and the titular half-demon who agrees to help her, Inuyasha perfectly blends action, romance, comedy, and historical fantasy into one extremely well-liked show.
After initially running for 6=sux seasons between 2000 and 2004, the show returned for a triumphant final bow in 2009. Although this means Inuyasha has a lot fewer episodes than similarly long-running anime series at less than 200, it's densely packed with character arcs and plot twists.
6 Fairy Tail - 328 Episodes, 10 years Airing
Sticking to a simple battle shonen premise worked perfectly for Fairy Tail and, though it's often rated below other series like Naruto and Bleach, its longevity speaks for itself. Set in the fantasy kingdom of Fiore, the show follows the distinctive cast of misfit wizards in the Fairy Tail guild who deal with odd jobs and world-ending threats with the same enthusiastic spirit.
This loose premise and its energetic characters are what allowed the show to run for over 300 episodes without ever looking like running out of steam. Season 9 finally brought the show to an end in 2019, nearly 10 years after it first aired, wrapping up most of the show's numerous plot and character threads.
5 D-Gray Man - 116 Episodes, 10 years Airing
Despite a slow start, D-Gray Man quickly gained steam in the late 2000s as fans found its surprisingly dark narrative for a shonen series incredibly compelling. Set in an alternative 19th century where a mysterious man known as the Millenium Earl is amassing a demonic army capable of destroying humanity, it follows the young exorcist Allen Walker and his efforts to stop him before it's too late.
Its low episode count in comparison to other decade-long shows is the result of a six-year gap following the end of season 4 in 2008. Many assumed that was the end for the beloved series, but a surprise follow-up subtitled Hallow added 13 more episodes for hungry fans in 2016.
4 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - 176 Episodes, 10 years Airing
Considering the original manga series ran from 1987 to 2004, it shouldn't be surprising that the screen adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is already looking to be one of the longest shonen series ever. A stylish and wildly unpredictable action-adventure series that follows different protagonists each series, all bearing the "JoJo" nickname, there's nothing else quite like it.
Whilst it's not actually the first attempt to adapt the manga, the David Production series that aired its first season in 2012 has finally given it the big-budget adaptation the unashamedly over-the-top franchise deserves. Since then, it has only continued faithfully bringing the manga to life and is set to continue Part 6 in December 2022.
3 Gintama - 367 Episodes, 12 years Airing
Set in an alternative version of feudal Japan where aliens have taken over and prohibited humans from carrying swords in public, Gintama follows the eccentric former swordsman Gintoki Sakata and his band of oddball followers navigating this strange world and trying to help others. It's no surprise humor is one of the strong suits of the samurai series.
Luckily, Gintama's jokes and absurd scenarios seemed to land for its many fans as the series became a massive force in the world of shonen anime. Its unpredictable nature and likable characters mean the franchise has continued to be ever-present in the anime sphere long after the conclusion of its original run.
2 One Piece - 1038 Episodes, 23 years Airing
It might not actually be the longest-running anime series ever, but there's good reason for One Piece's reputation for longevity. The series has been loyally adapting the manga about the adventures of iconic straw-hatted pirate Monkey D. Luffy since 1999 and has shown no signs of slowing down as it continues its 20th season in 2022.
Not only has the hunt for the mysterious pirate treasure, the titular One Piece, been a sizable endeavor, but it's also kept fans engrossed throughout, many of whom consider it one of the greatest shonen series ever. It's certainly one of the most lucrative anime franchises and that's due in no small part to just how long it's been going.
1 Case Closed/Detective Conan - 1056 Episodes, 26 years Airing
Also standing as the fourth-longest-running anime series ever, Detective Conan, or Case Closed as it's often titled outside of Japan, began in 1996 and is amazingly still on-air today. The show is centered on the ace detective Shinichi Kudou who is given an experimental drug that gives him the body of a seven-year-old.
Forced to take on the persona of Conan Edogawa, Shinichi attempts to overcome his new form and continue to solve cases for the police whilst hoping to discover a cure for his condition. Thanks to a simple mystery formula, the show has been able to continue over the years without ever losing the appeal that makes it such a hit with young audiences, particularly in Japan.