It’s The End Of An Era For Long-Running Anime

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The anime world is always changing and developing. In recent years, it’s shifted quite a bit, largely due to new viewers and what’s currently popular. Previously, shows like the Big Three were standard – One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach all ran for many years, releasing new episodes every week. However, that’s become less common, with anime now often released seasonally. While fans have adapted to this seasonal schedule, movies are also gaining traction, as demonstrated by Demon Slayer. Given the huge success of these films, it’s clear another significant change is coming. Additionally, fan frustration with filler episodes and the trend of shorter manga series are contributing to this evolution.

Long Running Anime Are Becoming Scarce

  • Manga Are Getting Shorter By The Day
  • Seasonal Anime Are Now Favored Over Weekly

Anime series that ran for a long time were common in the 2000s. Most popular shows were adapted this way, with new episodes released every week. Great examples include Naruto and One Piece, and One Piece still uses this format today. However, things are different now, and weekly anime releases are becoming less frequent. This isn’t necessarily negative. While fans receive less content overall, it often results in higher quality animation and a more carefully crafted story. The increase in seasonal anime has also led to a decrease in filler episodes. This is positive in some ways, but it also takes away from the enjoyment of seeing characters relax and connect with each other outside of the main storyline.

Currently, these changes could also be due to manga series becoming shorter overall, making it harder to create long-running anime adaptations. In the past, most manga would consistently have over 500 chapters. Now, it’s considered good if a series even reaches 300 chapters. Creators are prioritizing their well-being and are no longer willing to overwork themselves in this demanding industry, and this is having a noticeable effect on anime production.

Seasonal Anime Might Also Be Under Attack By Movies

Demon Slayer and Its Movie Success Are Shaping the Industry

Seasonal anime are currently very popular, but there’s a possibility they could become less frequent in the future, and this is largely due to anime movies, particularly Demon Slayer movies. Demon Slayer has demonstrated to the industry how successful anime movies can be. In the past, anime movies weren’t given much attention, especially internationally, but Demon Slayer: Mugen Train proved their potential, and that was reinforced recently with Infinity Castle. While more anime movies might seem positive, it’s actually a worry because they could start replacing seasonal anime. This could lead to story arcs taking years to finish, which isn’t ideal. Hopefully, seasonal anime will continue as usual despite the success of Demon Slayer.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is currently playing in cinemas. If you can’t wait for the film, you can read the story in the manga on Manga Plus. As for the anime, there are currently 4 seasons available to watch on Crunchyroll. The rest of the story will be adapted into movies, and fans will need to see them in theaters, with release dates varying by country.

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2025-10-03 04:34