6 Beloved Retro Anime That Are Still Going Strong

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.

6 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.

5 The Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell is an iconic cyberpunk franchise born from a 1989 manga that cemented its legacy with a landmark film in 1995. It follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg who leads Public Security Section 9. It is a special division of the Japanese Public Safety tasked with counterterrorism operations with a focus on cybercrime.

The story is set in a futuristic world where humanity has largely conquered its physical limitations and is aided by advanced cybernetic implants across all areas. It introduced the concept of a “ghost,” which refers to individual human consciousness, and a “shell,” which refers to the external material vessel that houses it.

Besides the movies, the franchise is also famous for its TV anime Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, which premiered in 2002. It was widely celebrated and concluded its run with the 2006 movie Solid State Society. The story also received a live-action adaptation in 2017, starring Scarlett Johansson as Motoko and receiving a very mixed reception.

The series has received many other adaptations over the course of the years, but the most recent addition is the 2026 remake produced by Science Saru. Its designs are arguably the most faithful to the manga among all installments, and early signs indicate it still has much more to offer.

4 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.

3 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.

2 One Piece

One Piece premiered in 1999 and went on to become one of the most famous anime franchises ever. It is set in a pirate world gripped by tremendous fervor, thanks to the dying words of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. He single-handedly kicked off the Great Pirate Era and set countless pirates off in search of the One Piece.

The story follows the enthusiastic teenager Monkey D. Luffy, whose body gained unbelievable rubber-like properties after eating the mysterious Gum-Gum Devil Fruit. He also has dreams of finding the One Piece and becoming the Pirate King, gradually amassing a group of competent crew members throughout the series to that end.

The anime features an expansive world with multiple islands, each having its own special characteristics and storylines. It also features an equally expansive cast of characters with unique designs and quirks. These make for thoroughly enjoyable voyages as the Straw Hat Crew constantly battle formidable enemies and make precious allies along the way.

The show boasts over a thousand episodes and several non-canon movies, all littered with exciting adventures throughout. It also has a live-action series with two seasons available to stream on Netflix. Furthermore, the franchise has spawned standout spin-offs such as One Piece: Fan Letter and One Piece: Heroines, which are highly entertaining in their own right.

1 Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball premiered all the way back in 1986, and its influence on battle shonen ever since has been unrivaled. It follows Son Goku, a young boy belonging to a race of aliens known as Saiyans. He meets a girl named Bulma and joins her in her search for the titular Dragon Balls.

They are revealed to be seven mystical orbs that, when gathered, can summon a legendary dragon who can grant any wish the summoner desires. The series famously starts out as an adventure story and slowly transitions into a high-stakes, battle-heavy one. By the events of Dragon Ball Z, it becomes a bona fide action spectacle with nonstop fights.

Goku and his trusted allies constantly go up against powerful enemies across several iconic sagas that push them to their absolute limit. He is forced to grow stronger with each encounter, awakening to new levels of power largely thanks to his Saiyan heritage, which enables him to access multiple Super Saiyan forms.

The conflicts continuously increase in scale, going from the local martial arts tournaments in the original series to multiversal battles in Dragon Ball Super. The newest addition to the series is Dragon Ball Daima, airing from 2024 to 2025, and featuring an aged-down Goku who must traverse the Demon Realm and find a way to reclaim his adult body.