Does episode count matter?

This blog is my personal opinion and experience with anime episode count. From getting back into anime in June of 2022 to now I have completed 100 anime. I know I am a little crazy.

Check out the anime I have seen this year - AnimeTipz

I have been watching anime for years before and have completed hundreds more. So it is safe to say I have some experience with watching anime. I also have been cursed with the need to finish every anime I start, even if it's dumb I have to see how it ends. With all of that in mind, I have found before starting an anime I look for a couple of things.

The biggest thing I look at is episode count. Most people don't think twice about it but this could make or break a show for me. The only math I can do off the top of my head is anime hours.

Take the number of episodes and multiply it by 20 (Typically episode is 20 minutes) and then divide it by 60 to see how many hours you are about to invest in this show. This might seem totally silly but that's how I decide if I should just watch it or if I should look more into it before I begin watching.

Here has been my experience, and I'd love to hear yours in the comments below.

Shows that are 12 episodes. I know I can finish a 12-episode show in one sitting, so if I am looking for a quick binge I will look for an anime with 12 episodes. I think anime with 12 episodes tend to have great fast pace stories. There are no filler episodes, But also little to no character development.

Erased is the perfect example of a fast pace story that doesn't need filler episodes and keeps you hooked from start to finish. They don't waste a second and there is very little character development. But the storyline doesn't require you to connect with the character, as much as to you get addicted to the storyline. You click the next episode because you want to know what happens next. Check out Erased review

The problem with 12-episode anime is when you fall in love with the characters and only get 12 episodes with them. I loved Horimiya and the characters, but the story was only 12 episodes so that love was short-lived. I hope they end up coming out with a season 2 but it doesn't look likely.

If you want a quick watch with a face pace story 12 episode anime are the way to go but don't get to attached to the characters.

24-30 episode anime are my favorite. They are long enough to add some fun episodes and character development, but not so long that I lose interest. Tokyo Revengers is a perfect example, there is a fast pace plot that keeps you hooked but also enough episodes to give each character a backstory and depth.

Another pretty well-known anime that also follows this episode count is Ouran Highschool host club. There is an overall story, but it has enough episodes to give each character their backstory and additional fun episodes that add to the main story.

I tend to stick to anime in this range because I can connect with the characters while keeping my interest in the story. With 24-30 episodes there is the ability to add story arcs that follow the main story and can even add more depth to the storyline.

30-50 episode anime have some qualities I look for before I start watching. The story needs to be interesting and complex enough to require that many episodes but also be fast pace enough to keep you hooked. Characters are critical for longer anime. Wait doesn't every anime have characters? Yes, but there is a huge difference between 5 characters and 20 characters. You know it's a great anime when there can be whole episodes without the main character in it and still have the depth that contributes to the story.

Fullmetal Alchemist is one of my favorite anime of all time so I might be a little biased. The storyline is complex and thrilling, with a huge cast of characters. It causes every episode to be necessary and entertaining.

School Rumble is another great example. They went all out with the characters and created so many characters with depth. There are full episodes without any main characters, but the amount of characters makes even side episodes with side characters entertaining. I have also found the more characters that are in an anime, the higher the chance of you finding a character you relate to. When you relate to a character you are more invested in them and the show.

100+ episode anime are a struggle for me. They tend to go one of two ways.

The first is a show that hooks you on the characters. Fairy tail doesn't have one story it follows, It has characters it follows. I have found this type of anime is the opposite of short anime. You watch short anime for a great story and you watch a long anime for the great characters. Fairy tail breaks into story arcs that are broken between 12-30+ episodes. If you fall in love with the characters the longer the show the better. I tend to get bored of endless character development and 5 main characters just getting stronger is the whole purpose of each arc. But I also have friends who never want anime like one piece to end because they love the characters so much.

The second is a show that hooks you on the story. My Hero Academia is an example that follows a single story. It does have smaller story arcs, but the purpose is to build on the main story. I think My Hero Academia has the best variety of characters I have ever seen. Between students, teachers, heroes, and villains there are tons of characters to connect with. I think the reason I connected more with My Hero Academia than other long anime is that I am more invested in the story and I want to know what happens next. Check out my full review here - My Hero Academia

The last category is movies. I know it's not an episode count but I have noticed more anime movies coming out that aren't connected to a series. Growing up I loved watching Studio Ghibli and contribute a lot of my anime addiction to those movies. Check out - The Wonderful World of Studio Ghibli

But I would hardly watch anime movies unless they were connected to a series I was watching.

This year however I have found a new love for anime movies. Netflix especially surprised me with some amazing original movies.

I would consider anime movies to be similar to 12 episodes, There is a single story that keeps you invested til the end. However, the layout is different, with 12-episode anime they typically throw you into the story and then you get the character backstories. In anime movies you learn about the characters and their connection to each other and then the story begins. I have been loving this format.

What are your thoughts on episode count? Do you look at how long an anime will be before you start watching? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Make sure to check out Animetipz for more anime content