Anime series come in various run times, from self-contained shorts to massive long-running franchises. And while fans of shorter shows often complain about not getting enough of their favorite series, those who follow seemingly endless, gigantic franchises frequently feel the same.
You can never get enough of a good story, even if its episode count goes into triple digits. However, many viewers still daunt taking up the challenge of watching longer anime, fearing that devoting so much time to a single franchise cannot be justified. Finishing a long-running anime series can turn into a daunting commitment. Yet, when the audience gets invested in the story that builds up for decades, they never want it to end. These anime series might seem absurdly lengthy, but time flies by when you watch them.
10 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Breaks The Monotony By Introducing An Entirely New Plotline Every Season
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure captures the hearts of millions of anime fans worldwide, first as a cult-classic manga and then as a massively successful anime series. With Part Six being halfway out, the JJBA anime still has plenty to catch up to, yet its episode count is already impressive.
164 episodes is a significant time commitment, but it doesn't seem excruciatingly daunting when the show is broken down into six distinctive parts, each featuring a different protagonist and setting. The division into parts helps Jojo's Bizarre Adventure stay engaging all the way through and makes the watch time fly by.
9 Monogatari Divides Its Massive Plot Into Short, Self-Contained Stories
Adapted from a massive light novel series, the Monogatari anime franchise totals at a hundred episodes over its various seasons, OVAs, and spinoffs. It might seem like a lot, yet every arc in Monogatari focuses on a unique case, building towards a loose but exciting overarching plot.
While the character cast stays the same, the unconventional situations they end up in help them to grow and develop over time. No part of the Monogatari series feels quite the same, making it an exhilarating watch all the way through.
8
Natsume's Book Of Friends Doesn't Need Spectacular Battles To Keep The Audience Entertained
When it comes to slice of life series, most anime fans struggle to sit through even a 12-episode show without feeling bored out of their minds. Natsume's Book of Friends proves that slice of life can be as exciting and engaging as some of the most thrilling adventure series.
All 74 episodes of the show focus on Natsume, a boy who can interact with ghosts from Japanese folklore, learning to coexist with the diverse spirits. The sense of mystery and wonder makes Natsume's Book of Friends feel consistently captivating, almost like traveling to a completely different mystical world.
7 Durarara's Plot Always Keeps Moving
With a series like Durarara, the episode count of 65 is surprisingly low, considering how much content the show manages to squeeze into such a tight runtime. The show's plot might become confusing at times, with multiple complex factions and organizations constantly fighting to achieve similar goals.
Yet, the exhilarating lives of Ikebukuro's bizarre residents hook every viewer from episode one, wrapping them into the complicated plotline. Both seasons of Durarara fly by at the speed of light and manage to complete the light novel's entire story without leaving any questions unanswered.
6 Haikyuu!! Takes Its Time To Make The Viewers Fall In Love With Its Characters
Watching a sports anime with over 70 episodes about a high school volleyball team might seem dauntingly repetitive and dull. Yet, Haikyuu!! earned millions of fans worldwide by making this obscure sport exciting and weirdly emotive.
In a lot of ways, Haikyuu!! isn't a series about sport. It's a show about the characters and their strife to overcome impossible obstacles on their way to success. And watching them slowly grow and progress, both as a team and as individuals, makes the time commitment worth it.
5 Hunter X Hunter Keeps The Story's Pace Consistently Dynamic
Hunter x Hunter's 2011 adaptation does a great job covering most of the currently released manga arcs in just under 150 episodes. Yet, unlike most long-running shonen series from the same period, Hunter x Hunter does so without relying on filler arcs or stretching out the contents to absurdity.
Every episode of this shonen classic feels energetic and lively, progressing through story points at an incredibly dynamic speed. So, to no one's surprise, when the show was over, most of the fans were earning for a continuation immediately.
4 Attack On Titan Is Definitely Worth The Time Commitment
With Attack on Titan's ending finally in sight, every fan is thrilled to see the anime's grandiose finale. Close to 90 episodes in, the legendary series had the perfect set-up to end on a high note.
Most fans aren't discouraged by Attack on Titan's impressive episode count, considering the show's mind-blowing popularity. Many have been following its story ever since the anime premiered in 2013. Full of unexpected twists, thrilling action, and incredible characters, Attack on Titan rightfully sits at the top of the anime world.
3 Monster Had The Perfect Runtime To Complete Its Story
The crime mystery anime Monster takes 74 episodes to complete its story, which is quite a lot for a single self-contained case. Unlike most anime shows, Monster doesn't break its plot into arcs or try to prolong its runtime for longer than needed.
Experiencing Monster feels like watching a film, with the narrative unfolding at the perfect pace to keep the viewers glued to the screen for every second of its run. The conclusion of Tenma and Johan's intense, long-running confrontation is worth watching the series till the very end.
2 One Piece Only Gets Better Over Time
Every anime fan knows about One Piece's notorious glory even without watching a single episode of the show. One Piece fans can be quite vocal about the series' notability and for a good reason. Despite being one of the longest-running anime franchises of all time, One Piece's creator managed to only improve on the story's quality as time went on.
With over a thousand episodes out, catching up on this Goliath of the anime world now seems terrifying for anyone curious about the show's popularity. Yet no one who'd overcome the initial comprehension regretted giving One Piece a try.
1 Gintama Is The Ultimate Comedy Series That Never Feels Repetitive
To the confusion of the people unfamiliar with the franchise, Gintama effortlessly dominates every anime ranking site and fan tier list. What about an episodic gag comedy series with over 350 episodes appeals to so many diehard fans, inspiring such a dedicated following? The answer is surprisingly simple, as Gintama manages to execute every possible narrative scenario and genre with outstanding quality.
The series' notorious humor brings together its magnificent character writing, exciting action plots, and poignant drama, making every second of this long-running shonen classic endlessly entertaining.