The 10 Longest Anime Filler Arcs of All Time, Ranked

Rather than pre-empting the original story, production studios often insert filler episodes or anime-only content between canon events once the adaptation has caught up with its source material. Filler is especially common in long-running anime with more than 50 episodes, such as One piece, Bleachand Naruto.

While some anime only contain a few stand-alone filler episodes, others contain entire filler arcs spanning over 20 episodes. Over the years, some anime series have had incredibly long filler arcs, many of which are either enjoyed by fans or skipped entirely due to their length.

10

Bleach's New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc Is A 22-Episode Filler That Deserves A Second Look

To this day, the New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc remains one of them Bleach's most divisive filler stories. While some fans find it a useful addition, others choose to skip it altogether and continue with the Arrancar saga. One of the biggest complaints about this filler arc is that it follows the typical “protect the princess” formula, causing the story to feel generic despite its otherwise unique premise.

Despite its flaws, the New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc is worth experiencing at least once. Between its well-choreographed fights, political intrigue, and exploration of Shusuke Amagai's character, the arc offers more than standard filler. Fans of Izuru Kira and the 3rd Division will likely appreciate this arc as it puts the team and its members at the center of the story.

9

Boruto's Great Sea Battle of Kirigakure Arc is a 23-episode filler full of wasted potential

The Great Naval Battle at Kirigakure Arc remains one of them Borutomost polarizing storylines. It was criticized by many fans for its obvious villain plot, inconsistent power scaling, controversial character deaths, and numerous twists that dragged the story out longer than necessary.

While the concept of this filler arc is interesting and features a powerful pirate fleet backed by a ninja clan, its execution ultimately falls short of its potential. And so it is still has its great moments, especially the part where the members of the new Team 7 reject the concept of revenge.

8

Baby Saga is a 24-episode filler that introduced the best villain of Dragon Ball GT

This is no secret Dragon Ball GT has long divided the fan base. Even so, many viewers over the years have come to appreciate the series more and praise its ambitious ideas and experimental concepts despite its inconsistent execution. Among the standout stories in this anime-only sequel, the Baby Saga is widely considered to be the best arc.

In this arc, a villain born from the sins of the Saiyans comes to Earth to avenge his fallen race. Baby proves to be a terrifying force of nature, possessing parasitic powers bordering on the terrifying, as he infects and controls nearly everyone, including the all-powerful Vegeta, in his path.

7

Naruto's Three-Tails' Appearance Arc is a 24-episode action-packed Tailed Beast filler

The Three-Tails' Appearance Arc is one of them Naruto's many filler stories, but it stands out as the longest of them all. While many fans have decided to skip this arc, it's still worth a watch for those who want more Tailed Beast action. The arc also brings together Team Guren, Akatsuki, and several of Naruto's most iconic shinobi, all converging in a battle to capture and seal the Three-Tails.

It also introduces Guren's unique Crystal Release, introduces the Three-Tails in more detail, and introduces Naruto's cooperative jutsu with Gamatatsu and Gamakichi, Wind Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet, a technique never used again in the series.

6

The Prince of Tennis' 25 episode Junior Selection Camp Arc is still a fan favorite

The Prince of Tennis is one of the longest-running sports anime franchises, with its source material continuing more than 27 years after its debut. Among his longest anime-origin stories is the Junior Selection Camp Arc, which is often grouped with the Junior Selection Team vs. US Coast Team Arc and thus form a combined filler line that spans 25 episodes.

This filler anime arc is well received among fans as the beloved Captain Seigaku returns to Japan not as a player but as a coach. The arc also gave fans the iconic “Wonderful Days” performance by female tennis players led by Atobe and Sanada. More importantly, it was the first time the series pitted its protagonists against an international team, resulting in thrilling matches packed with powerful new techniques from start to finish.

5

Fairy Tail's Key of the Starry Sky Arc is a 26-episode filler that turned minor characters into stars

Between Fairy TailThe Key of the Starry Sky Arc is generally considered the best due to its clever callbacks, fun humor, and surprisingly decent story despite the messy execution and overall direction.

One of the arc's greatest strengths is the unexpected character build-up, bringing together a combination of characters rarely explored in manga. In addition, Lucy, Romeo, and even Laki received compelling character development. Another strength of the arc is that it provides answers to several unresolved details, although some of its development remains unexplained, creating new questions.

4

Saint Seiya's Asgard Arc is a 26-episode filler Done right

Despite being a filler anime arc, the Asgard arc is one of the best arcs in the Saint Seiya which are highly valued by fans. The care, imagination and creativity put into the Asgard arc is evident in every aspect, from the thrilling battles with well-choreographed action scenes and well-developed villains to the distinctive designs of the God Warriors.

Asgard's Arc is a solid anime filler arc that many viewers could easily mistake for a canon story arc. Another unique element of the Asgard arc is that it is the first time the series has explored mythology beyond the Greek legends. Instead of focusing solely on Greek mythology, the arc draws heavily from Norse mythology to shape its world, characters, and lore.

3

Bleach's Zanpakuto Rebellion Arc is a 36-episode filler that's too good to skip

Unlike the Bount Arc, the Zanpakuto Rebellion Arc is widely considered to be one of them Bleachthe best filler stories with so much potential. Much of its appeal comes from the fact that it gives fans a first look at Zanpakuto spirits in their physical form, each with a distinctive design and personality.

In other words, the Zanpakuto Rebellion Arc gave the fans a side Bleach they had never seen before. Combined with the impressive animation quality, pretty funny original anime stories, and memorable battles, especially the Ichigo vs. Zangetsu match, this arc remains one of the franchise's most popular filler lines that fans wouldn't mind revisiting.

2

Waking the Dragons Arc is a 40-episode filler that took Yu-Gi-Oh! Into darker territory

The Yu-Gi-Oh! Monster fight the anime has its own long filler anime arc in the Waking the Dragons Arc, otherwise known as the Orichalcos Arc. Fans generally consider this arc to be one of the anime's best stories, thanks to its memorable new cards, strong character development, and an emotionally driven plot that revealed the darker and more vulnerable side of its protagonists.

Perhaps the only major weakness of the arc is Dartz himself. Despite being the main antagonist, he remains largely in the background, relying on his underlings to carry out Doma's plans instead of taking a more active role in the story.

1

Bleach's Bount Arc didn't need 46 filler episodes to complete

While the Bount Arc presents an interesting concept, its story is stretched across too many episodes, making it feel unnecessarily long. This filler arc could have been excellent Bleach movie, but its painfully slow pace across dozens of episodes ultimately reduced the impact of its story.

While the Bount Arc struggled with pacing, its smaller character moments made it enjoyable, especially the interactions between Ichigo and Izuru, as well as Orihime and Rukia. The villains, led by Jin Kariya, are generally less compelling, but you can't deny they have cool character designs and powers that helped elevate the arc. The arc also wraps up neatly, ensuring that the canon storyline can continue without creating narrative issues.