10 Longest-Running Anime Still Airing in 2026
Sazae-san is the longest-running anime still airing today. It began in 1969 and remains on Fuji TV's Sunday schedule. The rest of this list uses the same rule: rank active Japanese television anime by the start of their current continuous run, or by the start of an explicitly continuing TV franchise when its title and cast have evolved.
That distinction matters. This is not a ranking by episode count, international streaming availability, or the age of the source manga. A weekly show may include reruns or planned breaks, and franchises such as Pokémon and Shimajiro have changed series titles. Broadcast status and chronology were checked against official program pages on September 21, 2026.
Overview of Anime—and What “Longest-Running” Means Here
Anime is the Japanese term for animation. Outside Japan, it usually refers to animation produced in Japan, but that category contains children's comedy, mysteries, adventure serials, family sitcoms, fantasy, science fiction, and far more. Calling anime one genre would be like calling live-action television one genre.
For this ranking, an entry must have a current official Japanese broadcast listing and a run that reaches back to 1999 or earlier. A renamed series can qualify when the broadcaster treats it as one continuing television franchise. Chibi Maruko-chan is ranked from its uninterrupted second series in 1995, not from its original 1990–1992 run. Doraemon is an obvious historic giant, but its current adaptation began in 2005, so it falls outside this top ten under the stated rule.
The 10 Longest-Running Anime Still Airing in 2026
| Rank | Series or TV franchise | Active run began | Continuity note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sazae-san | 1969 | Same weekly family series |
| 2 | Soreike! Anpanman | 1988 | Same children's series |
| 3 | Crayon Shin-chan | 1992 | Same comedy series |
| 4 | Nintama Rantarō | 1993 | Same school comedy |
| 5 | Shimajiro | 1993 | Continuing franchise; current title began in 2012 |
| 6 | Chibi Maruko-chan | 1995 | Second series; the first ran 1990–1992 |
| 7 | Detective Conan | 1996 | Same mystery series |
| 8 | Pokémon | 1997 | Continuing TV franchise with changing subtitles and leads |
| 9 | Ojarumaru | 1998 | Same short-form comedy |
| 10 | One Piece | 1999 | Same adventure serial |
1. Sazae-san (1969)
Why it ranks first: Guinness World Records identifies Sazae-san as the longest-running animated television series, with its first broadcast on October 5, 1969. Fuji TV still lists it in the Sunday 6:30 p.m. slot. Its domestic family stories are largely self-contained, so viewers can enter the Isono household without catching up on decades of plot.
2. Soreike! Anpanman (1988)
Why it lasts: the official Anpanman history dates the television premiere to 1988 and says the program remains on air; the current broadcast page lists weekly stations across Japan. Its reusable rescue structure, large supporting cast, and preschool audience let new children meet the same hero without inheriting a complicated continuity.
3. Crayon Shin-chan (1992)
Why it lasts: TV Asahi records the terrestrial run as April 13, 1992 to the present. The domestic setup is stable, while short stories can respond to changing habits and everyday technology. The result is continuity of family and neighborhood rather than one plot stretched across 34 years.
4. Nintama Rantarō (1993)
Why it lasts: NHK's ninja-school comedy entered its 34th broadcast year in 2026. The academy supplies a durable universe of classes, teachers, rivals, and missions, while brief episodes keep the barrier to entry low. It is a long-running school sitcom before it is a serialized quest.
5. Shimajiro (1993)
Why it qualifies: Benesse's company timeline says Shimajiro's television anime started in 1993. The present program, Shimajiro no Wow!, airs weekly and began under that title in 2012. This is therefore a franchise-continuity entry, not a claim that one unchanged title has run since 1993. Its mix of animation, songs, and learning segments can evolve with each new preschool cohort.
6. Chibi Maruko-chan (1995)
Why the date needs a footnote: the first adaptation ran from 1990 to 1992. The current second series began in January 1995, which is the date used here. Fuji TV's official listing shows new episodes continuing in September 2026. Maruko's school, family, and neighborhood create a familiar realm for small comic conflicts without requiring the characters to age in real time.
7. Detective Conan (1996)
Why it lasts: Yomiuri TV's 30th-anniversary project confirms a January 8, 1996 premiere, and its current program page lists a weekly Saturday broadcast. The central Black Organization storyline gives committed fans a larger mystery, while individual cases give occasional viewers a complete puzzle. That dual structure is a powerful engine for longevity.
8. Pokémon (1997)
Why it qualifies as a franchise: TV Tokyo says the television anime began in April 1997 and has changed titles with new game generations. The 2023 series shifted the focus from Ash and Pikachu to Liko and Roy, and the official broadcast page remained active in September 2026. Its universe can refresh locations, creatures, goals, and lead characters without abandoning the core idea of discovery.
9. Ojarumaru (1998)
Why it lasts: an official NHK Group anniversary announcement dates the first broadcast to October 5, 1998 and lists the current weekday E-Tele schedule. Ten-minute episodes, a compact neighborhood, and a playful clash between a Heian-era prince and modern life give the writers a repeatable comic premise without demanding a single continuous storyline.
10. One Piece (1999)
Why it makes the cut: the official One Piece overview says the TV anime began in 1999 and entered the Elbaf arc in April 2026; the first episode page gives the precise premiere date of October 20. Unlike most entries above, it is a large serialized adventure. Long-term mysteries, a growing crew, and sharply defined islands let the series renew its scenery while continuing one voyage.
What Keeps These Anime Going?
There is no single formula. Several of the oldest shows are episodic family or school comedies; Detective Conan combines cases with a larger mystery; One Piece depends on serialization. The shared ability is structural: each program gives a first-time viewer something legible while rewarding fans who recognize the characters, routines, and history.
Broadcasters also schedule these shows for different audiences. Preschool programs can welcome a new cohort every few years. Family comedies can become weekly rituals. Adventure franchises can change regions or story arcs. Longevity is therefore a relationship among format, audience, production, and broadcast support—not proof that one kind of plot is superior.
Consistent Storyline—or a Consistent World?
The old article treated a cohesive, ongoing storyline as essential. The list disproves that claim. Sazae-san, Anpanman, and Crayon Shin-chan endure because their worlds reset cleanly. Their consistency comes from recognizable relationships and rules. One Piece, by contrast, uses accumulated history as part of the appeal.
The useful distinction is between plot continuity and world continuity. A series can rely on one, the other, or both. Long-running productions also need room to change performers, staff, time slots, and visual tools without losing the premise that fans recognize.
Memorable Characters Can Survive a Changing Cast
Characters give viewers an immediate way back into a series. A familiar goal, comic habit, relationship, or silhouette can do more work than a recap. That does not mean a production is frozen. Voice actors and creative staff can change, and Pokémon demonstrated that an established universe can even hand the lead role to a new generation.
Memorability is not the same as complexity. Anpanman's clear rescue role suits young viewers; Conan's hidden identity powers both weekly cases and a larger plot; Luffy's declared goal keeps a huge adventure pointed in one direction. Each character performs a different structural job.
Unique Animation Styles Evolve With Production
A long-running anime cannot look literally identical for decades. Aspect ratios change, workflows become digital, character sheets are revised, and new directors emphasize different kinds of movement. The more useful question is whether the audience can still recognize the visual language: proportions, color relationships, comic timing, layouts, and recurring settings.
That continuity does not make one style objectively better. One Piece can expand its action vocabulary from arc to arc, while a family comedy may value readable acting and stable designs. For another look at how perception changes what we see, read our guide to interesting facts about optical illusions. If your interest is more nostalgic, our fact-checked ranking of 1990s candy covers another part of the era in which many of these programs began.
FAQs About Long-Running Anime
What is the longest-running anime still on television?
Sazae-san. Guinness records its first broadcast on October 5, 1969, and Fuji TV still schedules the series weekly.
Why isn't Doraemon in this top ten?
This ranking uses the start of the active continuous run. The current Doraemon television adaptation began in 2005. Ranking by franchise origin would produce a different list and would require treating multiple adaptations and gaps consistently.
Are Pokémon and Shimajiro one continuous series?
They are continuing television franchises with title or format changes, not one unchanged production title. The table labels that distinction instead of hiding it.
Does “longest-running” mean “most episodes”?
Not here. Episode numbering varies because specials, multi-segment broadcasts, reruns, and franchise resets are counted differently. This list ranks by the start year of the active run under the stated continuity rule.
Are all of these easy to watch in the United States?
No. Current Japanese broadcast status does not guarantee a complete, licensed U.S. streaming catalog. Availability changes by territory and service, so check the official distributor in your region rather than assuming every episode is accessible.
Sources and Verification Notes
Broadcast status and dates were checked September 21, 2026. Primary references include Guinness and Fuji TV for Sazae-san; the official Anpanman portal; TV Asahi for Crayon Shin-chan; NHK Group materials for Nintama Rantarō and Ojarumaru; Benesse and TV Tokyo for Shimajiro; the official Chibi Maruko-chan and Fuji TV pages; Yomiuri TV for Detective Conan; TV Tokyo for Pokémon; and ONE PIECE.com, Fuji TV, and Toei Animation for One Piece. Broadcast schedules can change, which is why the article states its rule and check date rather than presenting a permanent episode-count record.
