3 Long-running Anime Franchises That Continue to Captivate Fans
Anime has been around for a long time, and certain series continue to catch the eye even across eras. It’s not easy to stay relevant over such a long period of time, but these titles have managed to do just that. Their success has led to an influence spanning multiple generations, and they continue to garner new fans even now.
Their legacies are often extended through sequels, remakes, or spin-offs that are either closely spaced or spread out over multiple years. They could also be standard long-running shows that are either episodic or feature overarching narratives. These anime have grown into huge, profitable franchises that only stand to gain from expanding, and most don’t plan to stop anytime soon.
He goes on to adopt the titular pseudonym Conan Edogawa and solves multiple independent cases while also looking into the Black Organization whenever he can. He moves in with his friend Ran Mouri and her detective father Kogoro Mouri, frequently impersonating the latter so as to keep his real identity hidden.
He is armed with an arsenal of useful gadgets made by the ingenious Professor Agasa and encounters many notable side characters on his adventures. The anime premiered in 1996 and is ongoing to date, featuring a largely episodic format with over 1,200 episodes and 29 feature films that consistently perform well at the Japanese box office.
The original anime ran for 276 episodes and ended in 2002. Since then, it has received multiple sequels in quick succession with changing side characters and Ash’s journey at the center. It has also received several movies over the years, such as Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back, as well as many others which have enjoyed great success.
By the end of Pokémon Journeys, Ash achieved his lifelong dream of becoming the strongest Pokémon Master after winning the Masters Eight Tournament. This concluded his historical run and paved the way for a new generation of Pokémon trainers to take center stage in the entirely new Pokémon Horizons series.
This saga began in the spring of 2023 and centers on two protagonists: a reserved girl named Liko and a high-energy boy named Roy. The story is structured more like a grand fantasy adventure as they travel aboard a massive airship with trusted crewmates, facing a new set of antagonists called The Explorers.
The story follows the young Ichigo Kurosaki, a hot-headed high schooler who has always been able to see ghosts. His life takes an even crazier turn when he encounters Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper responsible for dispatching monstrous spirits called Hollows. She enlists his help, but he inadvertently absorbs all of her Soul Reaper powers in the process.
Ichigo subsequently dons the Soul Reaper uniform and manifests his signature Zanpakuto, a sentient spirit weapon unique to each Soul Reaper. It can be employed in different states, most notable of which is the iconic Bankai, or Full Release. In this form, the blade is at its strongest, cutting down his most powerful foes on many occasions.
As of 2026, the Thousand-Year Blood War arc is nearing its conclusion. It was split into four parts, detailing the assault on the Soul Society by the formidable Quincy race. The final part is set to air in the summer of 2026, and with it, Bleach’s storied run is seemingly coming to an end.
Their legacies are often extended through sequels, remakes, or spin-offs that are either closely spaced or spread out over multiple years. They could also be standard long-running shows that are either episodic or feature overarching narratives. These anime have grown into huge, profitable franchises that only stand to gain from expanding, and most don’t plan to stop anytime soon.
Detective Conan
Detective Conan follows the brilliant high school detective Shinichi Kudo. One fateful night, he is ambushed by members of a criminal organization after witnessing a shady transaction. He is subsequently force-fed an experimental drug that regresses his body into that of a seven-year-old boy, though he luckily retains his superior intellect.He goes on to adopt the titular pseudonym Conan Edogawa and solves multiple independent cases while also looking into the Black Organization whenever he can. He moves in with his friend Ran Mouri and her detective father Kogoro Mouri, frequently impersonating the latter so as to keep his real identity hidden.
He is armed with an arsenal of useful gadgets made by the ingenious Professor Agasa and encounters many notable side characters on his adventures. The anime premiered in 1996 and is ongoing to date, featuring a largely episodic format with over 1,200 episodes and 29 feature films that consistently perform well at the Japanese box office.
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Pokémon
Pokémon, short for Pocket Monsters, is the highest-grossing multimedia franchise that premiered its first anime in 1997. It followed the adventures of Ash Ketchum and his iconic Pokémon partner, Pikachu, as he pursued his goal of becoming a Pokémon Master. He was joined by his friends Brock and Misty while being frequently impeded by the unrelenting Team Rocket.The original anime ran for 276 episodes and ended in 2002. Since then, it has received multiple sequels in quick succession with changing side characters and Ash’s journey at the center. It has also received several movies over the years, such as Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back, as well as many others which have enjoyed great success.
By the end of Pokémon Journeys, Ash achieved his lifelong dream of becoming the strongest Pokémon Master after winning the Masters Eight Tournament. This concluded his historical run and paved the way for a new generation of Pokémon trainers to take center stage in the entirely new Pokémon Horizons series.
This saga began in the spring of 2023 and centers on two protagonists: a reserved girl named Liko and a high-energy boy named Roy. The story is structured more like a grand fantasy adventure as they travel aboard a massive airship with trusted crewmates, facing a new set of antagonists called The Explorers.
Bleach
Bleach is one of the most prominent shonen anime titles ever released, often cited as part of the Big Three alongside Naruto and One Piece. The anime premiered in 2004 and ran until 2012, totaling 366 episodes. It entered a long hiatus before finally resuming in 2022 with the highly anticipated Thousand-Year Blood War arc.The story follows the young Ichigo Kurosaki, a hot-headed high schooler who has always been able to see ghosts. His life takes an even crazier turn when he encounters Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper responsible for dispatching monstrous spirits called Hollows. She enlists his help, but he inadvertently absorbs all of her Soul Reaper powers in the process.
Ichigo subsequently dons the Soul Reaper uniform and manifests his signature Zanpakuto, a sentient spirit weapon unique to each Soul Reaper. It can be employed in different states, most notable of which is the iconic Bankai, or Full Release. In this form, the blade is at its strongest, cutting down his most powerful foes on many occasions.
As of 2026, the Thousand-Year Blood War arc is nearing its conclusion. It was split into four parts, detailing the assault on the Soul Society by the formidable Quincy race. The final part is set to air in the summer of 2026, and with it, Bleach’s storied run is seemingly coming to an end.
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