Movies

6 Anime Classics From Before 2000 Still Airing New Episodes Today!

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Anime is one of the longest-running and popular storytelling genres that dates back to the early days of television. Over the years, anime series such as Sore Ike! Anpanman have become cherished by children in Japan and beyond. Although they may not have achieved the same level of commercial success as some other anime shows, they are undeniably among the most beloved ones of all time. The Anpanman franchise has led to numerous merchandising deals and crossovers.

Some shonen anime have been on the air since the inception of the genre, and one of these is “Case Closed,” which boasts over a thousand episodes and is often hailed as one of the greatest detective series ever made. However, acquiring the streaming rights for such an enduring series isn’t without complications. In summary, there are many classic older anime that continue to broadcast new episodes even in the present day.

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A timeless children’s anime that debuted in 1988 and is still airing today is Anpanman. With its charming yet recognizable concept, Anpanman has left an indelible mark on pop culture. The titular character, Anpanman, has inspired numerous merchandise and spin-offs, expanding his popularity beyond the small screen. Since Sore Ike! Anpanman debuted in the 1980s, it has cultivated a devoted fanbase. Many of these longtime fans continue to watch the series and share it with their loved ones, allowing the series to evolve and adapt alongside its audience.

Over time, Anpanman has persisted in battling fresh challenges and delighting a brand-new crop of spectators. Despite the popularity of “Sore Ike! Anpanman,” it has received limited recognition from Western viewers. Four distinct attempts have been made to translate the series into English, but none have managed to capture its essence effectively. It seems improbable that all 1300+ episodes will be translated into English. However, many enthusiasts still harbor hopes for a precise English adaptation.

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Back in 1998, Crayon Shin-Chan made its debut, and since then, it has accumulated more than 1200 episodes. Regrettably, similar to numerous long-running children’s anime series, not all episodes have been dubbed into English. However, a good number of Crayon Shin-Chan episodes can be bought in English. Unfortunately, you won’t find the entire series on mainstream streaming platforms; only the tie-in movie is accessible there.

Without a doubt, Crayon Shin-Chan is undeniably among the most renowned anime in existence. Its unique art style and portrayal of Shin’s family’s antics resonate strongly with viewers worldwide, making them more than just relatable – they’re downright enjoyable. Over the years, this popular children’s anime has left an indelible impact on the genre. The spin-off series, Super Shiro, is a direct offshoot of the cherished original. Remarkably, even after running for over two decades, the series continues to captivate its diverse and ever-evolving audience. This speaks volumes about the enduring appeal that one anime has for countless generations of children.

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1993 saw the debut of the beloved anime series “Nintama Rantaro,” which stands out as one of the most enduring in history. The storyline revolves around a group of novice ninjas navigating Japan’s Sengoku era. Regrettably, finding episodes of “Nintama Rantaro” for streaming nowadays is quite challenging. Despite their brief 10-minute runtime, there are over 2000 episodes! Although primarily fictional, the show offers valuable historical insights in an engaging format, making it easier to keep viewers’ attention with its concise episodes.

Much like numerous other series, Nintama Rantaro is relatively unheard of in Western regions, making it challenging for fans to find fellow enthusiasts nearby. It’s clear that this series has significantly impacted almost every ninja anime that followed, with the Naruto manga being a direct successor and aiming to fill the void left by its popular predecessor in a more mature context. In essence, it can be argued that nearly every ninja anime produced post-1990s has been impacted by Nintama Rantaro, yet it remains obscure otherwise.

Initially broadcasted in 1996, Case Closed stands as one of the longest-running shonen anime ever produced. The protagonist, Detective Conan, is renowned for his exceptional detective skills, successfully resolving a new mystery almost every episode. With over 1000 episodes under its belt, this series has seen Conan tackle more than 1000 cases, making him arguably more skilled than the legendary Sherlock Holmes. To this day, Case Closed continues to captivate Japanese audiences and often outranks popular series like One Piece in shonen popularity surveys.

In the animated series “Case Closed,” the mood changes quite a bit depending on each episode, yet it tackles a broad range of subjects. Its intriguing, often dark mysteries have kept viewers of all ages hooked. It’s clear that other mystery anime have been impacted by “Case Closed” in some fashion. Just as Sherlock Holmes laid the groundwork for the original series, “Case Closed” has since become a cornerstone of the mystery genre. Additionally, many other shows have borrowed the plot device of having their main characters transformed into children. Most recently, the series “Dragon Ball DAIMA” features the Z-Fighters being turned into kids by the new demon king to make them less powerful.

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The animated series known as “Sazae-San” holds the title for the longest-running in history, boasting more episodes than any other anime. It first appeared on television screens in the late 1960s and has captivated viewers with its family-centric narratives for over five decades. Due to its lengthy run, “Sazae-San” is widely popular in Japan and has served as a unifying force for multiple generations of families. Initially and primarily, it was designed as a family show, aiming to portray the fundamental dynamics of families and how they have evolved over time.

Over time, the popular Japanese comic strip “Sazae-San” has delved into significant historical milestones in Japan. While it generally steers clear of political issues, it occasionally tackles pertinent themes, although this has stirred occasional debate. During the COVID-19 crisis, the Fugata family was portrayed disregarding quarantine and mask regulations, which upset many viewers who felt let down that the series didn’t follow the health guidelines during that period. However, the show later rectified these issues in subsequent episodes. Despite being an animated series, this inconsistency with real-world safety measures disappointed some fans.

One Piece is a globally renowned shonen series that has held this status for nearly three decades. The storyline revolves around the pirate Monkey D. Luffy, who aims to become the Pirate King. Over time, the animation quality of the show has significantly improved. Remarkably, even after all these years, One Piece remains contemporary and even made an appearance in the Macy’s Day Parade. Fortunately for fans, it appears that the series is far from winding down.

Despite Eiichiro Oda, the creator of “One Piece”, stating that the franchise is in its final arc, there’s a possibility this last arc could span an entire decade. Given its remarkable length, “One Piece” has left a lasting impact on contemporary shonen series and has been involved in numerous notable crossovers with “Dragon Ball” and other well-known anime. Fans from all generations eagerly anticipate the day when Luffy will ascend to the position of Pirate King. Regrettably, some devotees won’t get to witness the conclusion of their beloved series.

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2025-05-01 21:22

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