Methodology: the top 10 is based on the animes with the most events referenced on Roster Con. The number of episodes and their average length are taken from IMDB.
1. Dragon Ball
Animes, animated movies, video games, mangas, … The world of Dragon Ball has everything to keep you busy during the lockdown period. First released in Japan in 1984 in Weekly Shonen Jump and published in France since 1993, Dragon Ball had the privilege of being first adapted for television in 1986. Since then, five other animes have been produced and twenty animated movies have been released. Some live-action movies have also been made but these can be easily overlooked considering their poor quality.
The first series deals with the childhood and adolescence of Son Goku, a boy gifted in martial arts who has a monkey tail and goes in search of the seven Dragon Balls in the company of Bulma. Legend has it that the crystal balls, once reunited, can be used to grant any wish.
Dragon Ball (1986-1989)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 153 (24min)
Dragon Ball Z (1989 – 1996)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 291 (24min)
Dragon Ball GT (1996 – 1997)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 64 (24min)
Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009 – 2015)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 167 (24min)
Dragon Ball Super (2015 – 2018)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 131 (24min)
Super Dragon Ball Heroes (2018 – )
- Status: In progress
- Episodes: 22 (24min)
2. One Piece
In 2019, One Piece celebrated the 20th anniversary of its anime and reached over 900 episodes. By the end of 2019, One Piece also had 95 volumes for its manga, fourteen feature films and several video games. Enough to keep you busy for a while. You should also note that a live-action series is also under development for Netflix.
For those who are unfamiliar with One Piece, the story revolves around Luffy, a young man who has eaten the fruit of Gum Gum which makes his body elastic, and who wants to become the lord of the pirates. Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji and Chopper are among the characters who will accompany him on his adventure. Comedy, action and friendships lie at the heart of this anime.
One Piece (1999 – )
- Status: In progress
- Episodes: 927 (24min)
3. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
Unlike the first two anime, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, an adaptation of the eponymous manga from Clamp, has only 52 episodes. It will therefore be quite easy to discover the entirety of this anime which takes place in the world of Claw. The synopsis is as follows: when Sakura, the princess of the kingdom of Claw, loses her memory, Shaolan, one of her childhood friends is sent through different worlds to find the fragments of her memory which have taken the form of feathers. But the price to pay is very high: Sakura will have no memory of him once she regains her memory. Shaolan will be joined in his quest by Kurogane, Fye and Mokona Modoki.
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (2005 – 2006)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 52 (25min)
4. Fairy Tail
Much like One Piece and Naruto, Fairy Tail has been a not-to-be missed anime of the last ten years. Adapted from Hiro Mashima‘s eponymous manga, we follow the adventures of Natsu, Lucy and Happy, all members of the famous Fairy Tail magic guild, in the world of Fiore, a world full of magic and fantastic creatures. Comedy and action are everywhere to be found and are sure to delight many in the audience.
In addition to the anime, Fairy Tail also includes OVAs, movies, video games and novels. A sequel to the manga is currently being prepared for publication and is titled Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest.
Fairy Tail (2009 – 2019)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 339 (24min)
5. Fullmetal Alchemist
After their mother’s death, brothers Elric (Edward and Alphonse) try to bring her back through alchemy despite the ban on human transmutation. The experiment goes wrong, Edward loses his left leg and Alphonse loses his entire body. Edward decides to sacrifice his right arm in order to seal his little brother’s soul in a suit of armor. In an effort to find their lost bodies, the Elric brothers will embark on a search for the Philosopher’s Stone and Edward will enlist as a state alchemist in order to take advantage of the army’s resources for their quest. He then becomes the Fullmetal Alchemist. Two anime have been adapted from the manga written by Hiromu Arakawa: Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The second one is intended to be a much more faithful adaptation of the original work.
In addition to these anime, Fullmetal Alchemist has been made available in video games, novels, animated films and even a live-action movie.
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003 – 2004)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 51 (24min)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009 – 2010)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 69 (24min)
6. Attack on Titan
On air since 2013, the anime Attack on Titan is an adaptation of the eponymous manga written by Hajime Isayama. The story takes place in a world where people live in cities surrounded by giant walls in order to protect themselves from the Titans, which are monsters that slaughtered most of the humans a century earlier. Eren, hero of both the manga and the anime, is a young man who dreams of discovering the world. To do so, he volunteers to join the exploration battalion made up of soldiers who are the only ones allowed to leave the city for the purpose of gathering more information about the world.
Several spin-offs of the manga have enriched the universe of Attack on Titan as well as video games, OVAs, animated films and live-action movies.
Attack on Titan (2013 – )
- Status: En cours
- Episodes: 69 (24min)
7. My Hero Academia
Pre-published since 2014, the manga My Hero Academia has become a huge success. In 2020, more than 26 million copies of the manga have been printed and My Hero Academia has already earned the honor of being adapted into an anime (season 4 is currently underway), video games and movies (two movies have been released in Japan). The manga also has two spin-off series: My Hero Academia Smash! and Vigilante – My Hero Academia Vigilantes. If you needed further proof of the success of My Hero Academia, know that there are conventions entirely dedicated to the anime and the manga, particularly in the United States.
If you are not familiar with My Hero Academia, the anime consists at the moment of 90 episodes and follows the adventures of Izuku Midoriya, also known as “Deku”, one of the few humans who do not have a quirk, a super-power. This doesn’t stop him from dreaming of becoming a superhero and joining the superhero program at the prestigious Yuei Academy. A dream that could become reality when he crosses the path of All Might, the most powerful superhero.
My Hero Academia (2016 – )
- Status: In Progress
- Episodes: 90 (24min)
8. Naruto
Just like One Piece, Fairy Tail or Dragon Ball, Naruto is a manga and anime that has been a must-see for almost 20 years. First published in 1999 in Weekly Shonen Jump, the manga Naruto has a total of 72 volumes. The anime is composed of two “series”: the first, Naruto, has 220 episodes and focuses primarily on the ninja training of Naruto, a young man from the village of Konoha who dreams of becoming the Hokage in order to be recognized as a leader by the villagers. But the fact that the nine-tailed fox demon is sealed inside him arouses fear. The second series entitled Naruto Shippuden and consisting of 500 episodes follows the adventures of Naruto and Sakura as they set off in search of Sasuke, who has left Konoha in order to acquire new powers.
Several movies, OVAs and video games have been added to the Naruto universe. Derivative mangas and animes have also been created, including Naruto Spin-Off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. This anime features Naruto’s son Boruto, who is determined to outshine his father at all costs.
Naruto (2002 – 2007)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 220 (25min)
Naruto: Shipudden (2007 – 2017)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 502 (24min)
9. Soul Eater
Adapted from the eponymous manga written by Atsushi Ōkubo, Soul Eater revolves around several students of the Shibusen school for soul reapers. Assisted by their demonic weapons that can take human form, the apprentice reapers will attempt to collect 99 corrupt human souls and the soul of a witch in order to make their weapons more powerful. However, this is without counting on the many obstacles that will stand in their way.
Even if no movie has come to broaden this universe yet, Soul Eater has had the right to a manga and an anime spin-off: Soul Eater Not!. This time, the story follows 14-year-old Tsugumi Harudori, who arrives at the Shibusen Institute to develop her powers as a weapon.
Soul Eater (2008 – 2009)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 51 (24min)
Soul Eater Not! (2014)
- Status: Ended
- Episodes: 12 (24min)
10. Case Closed (a.k.a. Detective Conan)
Since 1994, the manga Case Closed has captivated both young and grown-up readers with its investigations. To date, 97 volumes have been published in Japan and the publications will continue to grow. The anime appeared two years later, in 1996, and has more than 970 episodes in which we follow Shinichi Kudo, a high school student who is also a detective, and who has become younger after ingesting a mysterious drug. Now as a 7-year-old, Shinichi will do everything in his power to regain his body and investigate the organization responsible for his condition. To do this, he will use the alias of Conan Edogawa and will be able to count on the help of Professor Agasa, the only person who knows his secret.
Just like Dragon Ball, One Piece or Fairy Tail, Case Closed has also been adapted to video games and movies.
Case Closed a.k.a. Detective Conan (1996 – )
- Status: In progress
- Episodes: 972 (25min)
Dragon Ball (TV Shows) 
