Sazae-San is not only the longest-running anime; it's the longest-running animated series ever and one of the longest-running scripted TV series. Sazae-san has never stopped running since it started in 1969, with only a brief pause in production taking place in 2020 due to the Coronavirus.

Debuting in 1969 and still producing new episodes, the slice-of-life show Sazae-San is the longest-running anime series ever. It also holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running animated TV series of all time, with 214 seasons and more than 8,500 episodes.

Another contender for the oldest anime title is Toei Animation's 1965 Sally the Witch. This show was the first anime series to be directed by a woman, and is the longest-running surviving anime series still in existence.

Namakura Gatana is the oldest existing anime short film, dating back to 1917. The film was lost until a copy was discovered in 2008. The Dull Sword is one of three works credited as a forerunner of Japanese animation films and is the only anime that still exists.