The nature of animation allows many to become the longest-running animated shows of all time. The characters never have to age (unless the narrative demands), and voice actors can do much of the heavy lifting, even if they are replaced. While the quality depends on how aligned the producers and team are, many have sustained for decades.
This ranking weighs three factors together: total years on air, total episode count, and number of seasons. Each entry is a single ongoing show, not a sprawling multi-series franchise. Both Japanese anime and American animated sitcoms are included. Here are the ten longest-running animated shows of all time, ranked.
10. Arthur (1996–2022)
Based on creator Marc Brown’s own children’s novels, Arthur ran for 26 years, dealing with important topics for children. For a kids’ show, Arthur dealt with many topical themes, like understanding illness, grief, growing up, and more, making it so relevant even after two decades on the air.
Its 25th and last season aired in 2022, leaving behind an Emmy and BAFTA-filled legacy. While it ran longer than the next entry on the list, the fact that it ended is why it ranks so low. The show also had 253 episodes throughout its 26-year run.
Where to Watch (USA) – PBS Kids
9. Bob’s Burgers (2011-present)
Bob’s Burgers is the relatively youngest of the lot, having started only in 2011. It has been 15 years since we were introduced to the Belcher family and their restaurant. Each episode explores the family’s interaction with their customers and the various adventures they go through. It is one of the most critically acclaimed animated shows of all time.
16 seasons of Bob’s Burgers have been aired so far, and in 2025, Disney Television announced that the show was picked up for four more seasons, taking it through the 2028-29 year (via Deadline). While it is still less than Arthur, there is potential for more seasons to come after its 20th season, and hence, it ranks at 9th.
Where to Watch (USA) – Hulu
8. American Dad! (2005–present)
Seth MacFarlane’s second Fox animated sitcom, American Dad!, follows Stan Smith, a right-wing CIA agent, and his household: wife Francine, kids Steve and Hayley, an alien named Roger, and a German-accented talking goldfish named Klaus.
Now approaching 400 episodes across 22 seasons and roughly two decades on air, it moved from Fox to TBS in 2014 for a decade before returning home to Fox in 2026. It ranks eighth because its network hopping caused real gaps and shrinking episode orders, and it trails its network-mate Family Guy in both total seasons and episodes.
Where to Watch (USA) – Hulu
7. Family Guy (1999–present)
Seth McFarlane’s first Fox animated show is as iconic as it gets. Following Peter Griffin and his family, as well as other characters in Quahog, Family Guy pokes fun at everything under the sun and is known for its weird cutaway jokes and wild premises. We have a talking dog, a British-talking baby, Adam West as mayor, and more.
It has aired 24 seasons and crossed the 450-episode mark by 2026, despite a two-year cancellation between 2002 and 2005 that makes it, unusually, a revived show rather than an unbroken run. It ranks 7th because that cancellation costs it against uninterrupted long-runners.
Where to Watch (USA) – Hulu
6. Pokémon (1997–present)
Everyone’s childhood was shaped by Pokémon. While many have played the games, it is the anime series that became a global phenomenon and introduced us to the incredible world. While there have been main character changes (Ash is no longer the main trainer), the show persists and is going through its 28th season.
In Japan, the franchise has run continuously since April 1997 across eight series; internationally, it spans over 1,200 episodes. It ranks sixth because, despite its huge episode count, its 29-year run is shorter than the shows above it, and its formula resets with each new region rather than building one continuous narrative.
Where to Watch (USA) – Tubi
5. SpongeBob SquarePants (1997-present)
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea for almost 30 years? SpongeBob SquarePants. You can practically hear the theme song. SpongeBob SquarePants saw the titular character go through his life at the Krusty Krab and hang out with his friend, Patrick, and frenemy, Squidward, for almost 3 decades.
Now in its 17th season with well over 300 episodes since its 1999 Nickelodeon debut, it’s the most-watched animated series in Nickelodeon’s history and continues production even after creator Stephen Hillenburg died in 2018. It ranks fifth because 26-plus unbroken years and a substantial episode tally put it ahead of the shows below it.
Where to Watch (USA) – Paramount+
4. South Park (1997-present)
Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s crude, fast-turnaround satire of a Colorado mountain town has run since 1997, reaching 28 seasons by 2025 and locking in new episodes through at least 2030 under a 2025 deal with Paramount.
Its production model, where the writing and animating of most episodes takes place in the week before broadcast, lets it comment on real news almost in real time, though it has also meant shrinking, irregularly scheduled seasons in recent years.
Where to Watch (USA) – Paramount+
3. Detective Conan (1996-present)
Based on the manga series, Detective Conan follows Shinichi Kudo, a detective who has been trapped inside the body of a child, and all the cases he solves, while figuring out the crime syndicate that did the deed. The show has been airing on Nippon TV since 1997 and has aired 31 seasons, with over 1,200 episodes.
It ranks third because, unlike several entries around it, it’s genuinely one continuous show with the same core cast and unbroken case-to-case continuity across three decades.
Where to Watch (USA) – Netflix
2. The Simpsons (1989-present)
Most of you knew The Simpsons would be near the top the moment you clicked on this article. The iconic animated show has been on the air for 37 years and has followed the Simpson family through decades of satire, pop cultural references, topical predictions, and even a movie.
It has passed 800 episodes across 37 seasons by early 2026 and has already been renewed through a 40th season. It’s the longest-running American sitcom of any kind. It ranks second only because of one Japanese show’s longevity.
Where to Watch (USA) – Disney+
1. Sazae-san (1969-present)
Based on Machiko Hasegawa’s manga, Sazae-san follows a good-natured Japanese housewife and her family through gentle, everyday domestic comedy. It has aired on Fuji TV every Sunday evening since 1969, without a single season break, hiatus, or cast overhaul in over 55 years, a Guinness World Record holder for the longest-running animated show.
It ranks first because no other animated show, anywhere, matches its combination of an entirely unbroken weekly run, over five decades on the same network in the same timeslot, and a stable creative team maintaining perfect continuity the entire time.
Where to Watch (USA) – Unavailable
| Rank | Animated Show Name | Number of Episodes |
| 1 | Sazae-san | 9,000 |
| 2 | The Simpsons | 808 |
| 3 | Detective Conan | 1,207 |
| 4 | South Park | 338 |
| 5 | SpongeBob SquarePants | 337 |
| 6 | Pokemon | 1,377 |
| 7 | Family Guy | 461 |
| 8 | American Dad! | 399 |
| 9 | Bob’s Burgers | 313 |
| 10 | Arthur | 253 |
Which longest-running animated show is your favorite?
