The Era of Long-Running Anime Series Is Over

Anime has steadily become one of the most successful industries in the modern world. Though this success has undeniably brought positive changes to the medium with large-scale productions that once seemed impossible, it’s clear that the industry is approaching a turning point when it comes to long-running anime.

For those who have been anime fans for more than a decade or so, it’s easy to believe that long-running series are the norm for successful franchises. Dragon Ball, Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece are some of the most important shōnen anime in history, and all have had hundreds of episodes.

Unfortunately, it’s now clearer than ever that the era of long anime is on its way out.

Why Long-Running Anime Are Dying Out

In recent years, it’s apparent that animation studios have lost interest in creating series that run uninterrupted for years and have shifted to releasing seasonal anime. Moreover, one of the longest-running and most influential anime of all time, One Piece, has already entered its final saga and is preparing to conclude its story after over 1,100 episodes.

After One Piece ends, there may be no more weekly anime outside of shows aimed at very young children, like the longest-running anime, Sazae-san. This may be due to recent hits such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen, which have found global success despite releasing their seasons years apart. The reason taking extended breaks is beneficial for animation studios is to ensure the quality of the anime.

Releasing episodes every week without interruption is a grueling process for animation studios. This is especially true when adapting action-packed manga, as certain arcs feature exciting climaxes that are difficult to translate to animation and require greater attention to detail to meet fan expectations.

Anime Is Changing Forever

Not only have controversies over allegedly unfair working conditions for animators influenced changes in anime production methods, but so has the rise of streaming services. Unlike television, platforms like Crunchyroll, Disney+, and Netflix don’t require uninterrupted weekly broadcasts.

Both manga and anime have been changing to appeal to new generations, who seem to prefer more concise stories rather than venturing into longer ones. With a few exceptions, popular manga with more than 400 chapters are becoming fewer, one of the most recent being My Hero Academia.

However, after nine years, My Hero Academia has just begun its final season, with the anime set to end after less than 170 episodes. My Hero Academia proves that studios can successfully adapt long manga over multiple seasons, and it’s possible to do so in less than 200 episodes. Likewise, in today’s fast-paced society, short anime are easier to watch.

There Won’t Be Another Anime Like Boruto: Naruto’s Next Generation

Furthermore, the divisive reception towards Boruto: Naruto’s Next Generation’s original content showcased that anime that extend with filler seasons are a thing of the past. This is one of the reasons why Pierrot, the studio behind long-running titles like Naruto, Bleach, and Black Clover, has decided to switch to seasonal anime in order to ensure quality animation.

The decision to adapt Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War into separate seasons brought great success to Pierrot Studio, having received widespread praise for its impressive animation. This contrasts with the criticism the studio received from fans during Boruto: Naruto’s Next Generation‘s airing, as the anime experienced a decline in animation quality due to time constraints.

Currently, fans value animation to determine the quality of an anime, as demonstrated by successful series like Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling. Therefore, titles like Black Clover and Boruto will now be adapted into multiple seasons in the future, while anime like Demon Slayer prefer to go all out and cover their final arc in a film trilogy.

Some Long-Running Anime Will Survive

Even after One Piece ends, Japan has other long-running anime that don’t show signs of stopping. Although it has not achieved such success among Western viewers, Detective Conan has already surpassed One Piece in episode count and Sazae-san, which has been airing since 1969 and is currently the longest Japanese animation series in history.

However, other long-running anime have evolved, as is the case with Pokémon. Although Pokémon has more than 1,300 episodes, it has taken breaks between series, and the newest entry in the franchise, Pokémon Horizons, has been split into several parts. Pokémon is also not a strict adaptation of a specific story, meaning the series has breathing room to tell its story.

Anime Will Be Better Than Ever

Other examples of how the animation industry is evolving include the fact that even Donghua prefers seasonal releases, as Lord of Mysteries revealed the timeline for its planned six seasons. As the anime industry grows, more changes are expected, but adopting a production method that is healthy for animation studios and animators in general is something that should be celebrated by fans.

Ensuring the quality of anime should be the priority for animation studios, even if fans have to wait a few years to see the finale of their favorite series. Nonetheless, the prospect of improved animation and adaptations that stay true to the original story without drawing out the plot is something fans should look forward to in the coming years.