Every Anime Franchise With More Episodes Than One Piece (& If They’re Worth Watching)Every Anime Franchise With More Episodes Than One Piece (& If They’re Worth Watching)

by

Reaching over a thousand episodes is a major accomplishment for any anime, but surprisingly, One Piece isn’t even among the top ten longest-running series. It’s remarkable to think so few anime reach this milestone, yet One Piece still has even more episodes than most!

Even though it seems unbelievable, a few anime series have actually become even longer than One Piece, exceeding its episode count by up to a thousand episodes. But while these longer shows exist, not all of them are as consistently captivating as One Piece remains.

With over 2,800 episodes and still running, the anime Sazae-san first aired in 1969 – a full 30 years before One Piece premiered in 1999. Unlike One Piece, which tells a single, ongoing story, Sazae-san features self-contained episodes, making it easy for viewers to start watching at any point.

Sazae-san is a beloved, long-running anime that offers heartwarming and relaxing stories perfect for a cozy viewing experience. Unlike action-packed shows like One Piece with their intense battles and unexpected twists, Sazae-san focuses on the simple, everyday life of its characters.

This anime has a lot of episodes! It’s a funny series about three young ninja who are still learning the ropes and often mess things up. Similar to Sazae-san, it’s designed to entertain kids with lighthearted, silly humor and doesn’t have a complicated storyline.

Nintama Rintaro is a fun anime, especially for kids or anyone wanting something lighthearted and witty. While it’s enjoyable, it doesn’t have the grand story arcs of shows like One Piece, nor does it build a particularly detailed or intricate world. It’s simply not as narratively complex as One Piece.

Coming in 2026, Ojarumaru is a show with short, engaging episodes perfect for kids. It tells the story of a five-year-old prince from Japan’s Heian period who unexpectedly appears in today’s world.

I’ve been thinking about Ojarumaru lately, and while One Piece characters are constantly growing and changing, the folks in Ojarumaru just feel… settled, and honestly, it’s kind of cozy! It’s got this really gentle, playful vibe that’s perfect for who it’s made for. But if you’re a One Piece fanatic like me, you might not get as much out of it. It’s deliberately simple, which is fine, but it doesn’t really go anywhere, so it’s easy to just move on to something else.

After 1818 episodes, Oyako Club is a surprisingly long-running anime created to educate young children. Each episode is only about 5 minutes long and tells the story of two aliens who become lost in space and are taken in by a Japanese family.

Oyako Club is a sweet and funny anime that follows the everyday interactions between aliens and humans. It’s different from shows like One Piece because it’s made up of short, comedic scenes without a larger story arc. This can make it feel a bit repetitive and it’s probably best suited for younger viewers.

Doraemon is a beloved anime that many people around the world watched as children. The show originally ran for 1787 episodes and concluded in 2005. Even though it’s been off the air for twenty years, Doraemon remains popular with animation fans globally.

While the storylines in Doraemon are simple, they’re never dull. Each adventure of Nobita and Doraemon teaches a valuable lesson, making every episode satisfying. It might not be as epic as Monkey D. Luffy’s journey through the Grand Line, but it’s still enjoyable.

Anpanman is a long-running anime series with over 1700 episodes and counting. The show centers around Anpanman, a superhero whose head is actually a delicious anpan – a Japanese red bean pancake! It’s a beloved classic known for its heartwarming themes of kindness, fairness, and helping others.

Both Anpanman and One Piece teach similar lessons about good versus evil. One Piece explores these themes through stories of political corruption and dangerous pirates, while Anpanman presents them in a more gentle way, with heroes overcoming straightforward villains. However, watching either show in large amounts might become repetitive.

This popular series, with over 1500 episodes and still running, follows the everyday life of Maruko, a playful and somewhat lazy nine-year-old girl. Set in suburban Japan in 1974, the show’s humor comes from Maruko’s interactions with her family, friends, and the people around her.

The show Maruko-chan keeps a lighthearted and familiar feel by focusing on childhood experiences. Unlike One Piece, which builds a vast world and complex characters, Maruko-chan maintains its simple charm with a funny, curious, and laid-back main character. It’s a comforting and enjoyable anime for anyone looking for a heartwarming watch.

Running for six years from 1976 to 1982, Hoka Hoka Kazoku consisted of 1428 episodes. Unlike a typical story-driven anime, it was designed to be educational for children, centering on the everyday life and warm interactions of the Yamano family. The show finds charm in the small, happy moments of daily life.

Compared to One Piece, Hoka Hoka Kazoku is a series of short, self-contained episodes, each lasting only five minutes. It’s much less intense and doesn’t have as much action as One Piece, and many adults might not find it engaging enough to watch for very long.

Even after 34 years, the Crayon Shin-chan anime is still incredibly popular with kids, and its playful, mischievous, and funny main character, Shin Nohara, continues to be a fan favorite.

If you enjoy the funny moments in One Piece, you’ll probably love Shin-chan! This little kid is just as mischievous and a bit clueless as Luffy, and he often gets into similar silly situations, making the anime a great choice if you’re looking for something light and funny.

Fans continue to be captivated by the ongoing mysteries in Case Closed. Premiering just three years before One Piece, the series has already reached 1200 episodes and is still going strong. It’s currently the closest competitor to One Piece among all long-running anime series.

While Case Closed often features self-contained mysteries, it also develops its characters and overarching storylines. Detective Conan has consistently been a great series for many years, and it deserves to be even more popular than it currently is.

Read More

2026-02-07 01:39