Line #13 Main/SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon


1	Instead of the usual 13-17 episodes like certain Saturday Morning Cartoons, some western cartoons have had original runs lasting 65 episodes, because 65 episodes equals 13 weeks (or three months) of material to syndicate at one episode per weekday in the afternoon.
2
3	Typical with cartoons produced for first-run UsefulNotes/{{syndication}}, and was formerly adopted as policy by the Creator/DisneyChannel (which had a similar 65-episode cutoff for its live-action {{Kid Com}}s) and Creator/KidsWB, although some syndicated shows did air weekly originally. Disney would end up dropping the format after fans complained about the cancellation of several popular shows, with the renewal of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' for an additional season abolishing the rule.
4
5	Some people consider this a form of ScrewedByTheNetwork, especially if the shows they like are at the receiving end of this trope. It should also be noted that this trope really only applied to cartoons aimed at children, rather than adult cartoons -- ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and its imitators are treated like standard American sitcoms.
6
7	This practice became drastically less common near the end of the TurnOfTheMillennium, as American cartoon production has essentially abandoned broadcast syndication (at least domestically) in favor of programming exclusive to specific cable networks (or later streaming services). Still, some networks continue to cut their shows off at 65 episodes, either for foreign syndication, own network re-runs or force of habit.
8
9	This led to many cartoons in TurnOfTheMillennium to only reach 52 episodes, with 1/5 or 13 episodes cut off from the usual 65. Also with 1/2 or 26 episodes being produced per season now averagely for cable. Being distinct from Saturday Morning ones on broadcast networks and twice as many from their usual 13.
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11	See also TwelveEpisodeAnime and BritishBrevity -- both of which should remind fans of any of the shows listed here of how lucky they actually are -- and FiveYearPlan. For some shows that went well past 65, see MilestoneCelebration.
12
13	As a side note, if one wants to binge watch a whole 65-episode series in one sitting, and each episode is assumed to be exactly 22 minutes long, then you would be watching almost an entire day's worth of that show. (22 minutes per episode times 65 episodes equals 1,430 minutes, which is 23⅚ hours or 23 hours and 50 minutes.)
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15	----
16	!!Retired at 65:
17	* ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatiansTheSeries'': 65 episodes with one short first season (the Creator/OneSaturdayMorning episodes), and one ''long'' second season (WesternAnimation/TheDisneyAfternoon episodes). More confusingly, the second season ''debuted first''.
18	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'': 65 episodes over one season, not counting a ChristmasEpisode produced years later.
19	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTeddyRuxpin'': 65 episodes over one season.
20	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'': 65 episodes over one season.
21	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'': 65 episodes over five seasons.
22	* ''WesternAnimation/AngelaAnaconda'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
23	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBabaloos'': Two seasons with 65 episodes each.
24	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'': 65 episodes over five seasons (it was going to end at 52, but got an additional season.)
25	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': 65 episodes over three seasons. The plot of its final episode blatantly jabbed at the fact the show was DenserAndWackier than most ''Batman'' incarnations and CutShort in favor of introducing the DarkerAndEdgier ''WesternAnimation/BewareTheBatman'' to take its place, which, ironically, only made it to 26 episodes.
26	* ''WesternAnimation/BeverlyHillsTeens'': 65 episodes over one season.
27	* ''WesternAnimation/BikerMiceFromMars'': The original 1993 series lasted 65 episodes over three seasons.
28	* ''WesternAnimation/BionicSix'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
29	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'': 65 episodes over four seasons, including four episodes compiled from segments previously aired on ''WesternAnimation/RawToonage''.
30	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bravestarr}}'': 65 episodes over one season.
31	* ''[[Creator/RichardScarry The Busy World of Richard Scarry]]'': 65 episodes over five seasons.
32	* ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'': 65 episodes over one season, including the PilotMovie as the [[FiveEpisodePilot first three episodes]].
33	* ''Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years'': After their success with ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' (see below) Harmony Gold tried the same trick by licensing the 1978 ''Space Pirate Anime/CaptainHarlock'' series and another series based on an unrelated work from the [[Creator/LeijiMatsumoto same artist]] who created Harlock, called ''Manga/QueenMillennia''. Both series were 42 episodes in length. This time, rather then presenting one after the other (and ending up with an 84 episode series), the two shows were heavily edited and intercut with one another, ending up with a final total of 65 episodes.
34	* ''WesternAnimation/CarlSquared'': 65 episodes over four seasons, though the fourth season came after the show was UnCancelled.
35	* ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'': Initially had 60 episodes, but was briefly revived for a TV Movie and 5 new episodes in 2005 airing over three seasons total.
36	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Centurions}}'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
37	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Challenge of the GoBots}}'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
38	* ''WesternAnimation/ChillyBeach'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
39	* ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
40	* ''Literature/CliffordTheBigRedDog'' (2000s series): 65 episodes over two seasons. The show was going to get a third and final season in 2003 including a GrandFinale in which Clifford gets married, but it was scrapped when [[DiedDuringProduction John Ritter, the voice of Clifford, had a fatal heart attack.]]
41	* ''WesternAnimation/TheComicStrip'': 65 episodes over one season.
42	* ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
43	* ''[[WesternAnimation/COPS1988 C.O.P.S.]]'': 65 episodes over one season.
44	* ''WesternAnimation/CountDuckula'': 65 episodes over four seasons.
45	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'': 65 episodes over five seasons, not counting two {{Made For TV Movie}}s (a rare "adult" cartoon example).
46	* ''WesternAnimation/DefendersOfTheEarth'': 65 episodes over one season.
47	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaucers}}'': 65 episodes over one season.
48	* ''Disney's WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'': 65 episodes over three seasons (excluding the 52 episodes of its {{Creator/Nickelodeon}} predecessor).
49	* ''Series/TheDoodlebops'': Not animated, but ran for 65 episodes over 3 seasons.
50	* ''WesternAnimation/DrZitbagsTransylvaniaPetShop'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
51	* ''Anime/EagleRiders'': 65 episodes were dubbed from ''Gatchaman II'' and ''Gatchaman Fighter''. Only 13 were aired in syndication in the US, though Australia saw all 65 episodes over one season.
52	* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'': 65 episodes over six seasons, not including the four specials and the TV film.
53	* ''WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters'': 65 episodes over one season.
54	* ''Flitz das Bienenkind'': A recut German dub of ''Anime/HoneybeeHutch'' produced by Creator/SabanEntertainment, with the original 91 episodes reduced to 65.
55	* ''WesternAnimation/GormitiTheLordsOfNatureReturn'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
56	* ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'': 52 episodes in syndication, plus 13 on Creator/OneSaturdayMorning.
57	* ''WesternAnimation/HigglytownHeroes'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
58	* ''WesternAnimation/JamesBondJr'': 65 episodes over one season.
59	* ''WesternAnimation/JayceAndTheWheeledWarriors'': 65 episodes over one season.
60	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
61	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfPrinceValiant'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
62	* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'': 65 episodes over two seasons, not including its PilotMovie ''WesternAnimation/StitchTheMovie'' or its FinaleMovie ''WesternAnimation/LeroyAndStitch''. The first season's 39 episodes aired within a timespan of six months, while the second season's 26 took almost two years to get through.
63	* ''Literature/LittleBear'': 65 episodes over five seasons.
64	* ''WesternAnimation/TheMarvelSuperHeroes'': The series had a segment for one of five Creator/MarvelComics superheroes (ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/IronMan, the ComicBook/SubMariner, and ComicBook/TheMightyThor). The five heroes had 13 episodes apiece, making 65 altogether.
65	* ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndMiguel'': 65 episodes over one season.
66	* ''WesternAnimation/MonaTheVampire'': 65 episodes over four seasons.
67	* ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends My Little Pony 'n Friends]]'': 65 episodes over two seasons, though four of them are the two pilot specials cut in half.
68	* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfHeMan'': 65 episodes over one season.
69	* ''Series/TheNoddyShop'' (partly live-action): 65 episodes over two seasons, not including a Christmas special.
70	* ''WesternAnimation/PBAndJOtter'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
71	* ''WesternAnimation/PepperAnn'': 65 episodes over five seasons. Seasons 3-4 (made as one production order) were not even, as 8 episodes aired in S3 and 18 aired in S4.
72	* ''WesternAnimation/PeterPanAndThePirates'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
73	* ''Film/PoliceAcademy: [[AnimatedAdaptation The Animated Series]]'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
74	* ''WesternAnimation/PoundPuppies2010'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
75	* ''WesternAnimation/RamboTheForceOfFreedom'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
76	* ''WesternAnimation/RocketMonkeys'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
77	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rupert}}'': 65 episodes over five seasons.
78	* ''WesternAnimation/SilverHawks'': 65 episodes over one season.
79	* ''WesternAnimation/SimonInTheLandOfChalkDrawings2002'': 65 segments over one season.
80	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSnorks'': 65 episodes over four seasons.
81	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'': 65 episodes over five seasons.
82	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiralZone'': 65 episodes over one season.
83	* ''[[WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures]]'': 65 episodes over four seasons, if not counting the PilotMovie.
84	* ''Series/TheSuperMarioBrosSuperShow'' (partly live-action): 65 episodes (52 Mario, 13 Zelda) over one season.
85	* ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'': 65 episodes (including the [[FiveEpisodePilot 4-episode pilot]]) over one season.
86	* ''WesternAnimation/TazMania'': 65 episodes over four seasons.
87	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': 65 episodes over five seasons (the show was going to end on episode 52, but then got one more season), as well as a direct-to-video [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo movie]] and a cereal website exclusive half-episode. A revival [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGoVsTeenTitans crossover movie]] would arrive over a decade after the series' end.
88	* ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryKids'': 65 episodes over four seasons.
89	* ''Totally Tooned In'' (syndicated AnimatedAnthology of old Creator/ColumbiaCartoons): 65 episodes over one season.
90	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'': 65 episodes over three seasons (not counting the hour-long MadeForTVMovie, which would technically bring the count up to 68 episodes if divided up).
91	* ''WesternAnimation/TheWackyWorldOfTexAvery'': 65 episodes over one season.
92	* ''WesternAnimation/WidgetTheWorldWatcher'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
93	* ''WesternAnimation/YinYangYo'': 65 episodes over two seasons.
94	* ''Animation/YoohooAndFriends'': 65 episodes over three seasons.
95	* ''Series/{{Zoboomafoo}}'' (partly live-action): 65 episodes over two seasons.
96	* ''Series/ZoobileeZoo'': Not a cartoon, but ran for 65 episodes over one season.
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98	!!Renewed after the original 65 episodes:
99	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin\|TheSeries}}'' originally ran for 65 episodes on the Disney Afternoon Block. [[ChannelHop When picked up for the CBS Saturday morning block]], it was given an additional 21 episodes.
100	* ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks'' is an interesting case, as it was both first-run syndication ''and'' a network series at the same time: the first 65 episodes (five standard length seasons, and half of a long sixth) were produced specifically for syndication, but were also network-broadcasted, while the other 39 episodes of the series (the second half of Season Six, and the last two seasons) were not initially included in the original syndication package, and only aired once during the show's original run on NBC (however, international markets do include these 39 episodes).
101	* The first 65 episodes of ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' ran on Fox Kids, as did four more episodes cobbled together out of unused segments. Then came the ChannelHop to The WB. The show ended with 99 episodes (and having the strange side effect of having Season 1 have more episodes than the other four combined).
102	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': The first three seasons produced between 1996-1998 totaled 65 episodes. The show then went on a one-year hiatus in 1999 before its popularity resulted in the show being renewed (and subsequently, becoming a LongRunner). The show finally ended for real in 2022, after 25 seasons, at a whopping 253 total (493 segments).
103	* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Babar}}'' cartoon counts as UnCancelled despite the sixth season being produced ''nine years'' after the fifth season brought it to 65 episodes.
104	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' was 65 episodes for its first season on Fox Kids. It was continued by a 20-episode second season (under the title ''The Adventures of Batman & Robin'') on the same network. The follow-up series, ''The New Batman Adventures'', [[ChannelHop which aired on Kids WB]], is often shown in reruns as additional episodes to the original series, resulting in 24 more episodes for a total of 109.
105	* The Creator/JimHenson preschool series ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse'' was supposed to end at 65 episodes, with "And to All a Good Night" serving as the GrandFinale. However, the executives at Playhouse Disney were against this as the show was the block's highest-rated series, resulting in three more seasons to bring up the total to 118.
106	* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', while never officially canceled between its third and fourth seasons, had a notably stunted episode count for Season 3, only being thirteen episodes as opposed to each previous season's twenty-six, in order to bring it up to a total of 65. This is made up for in the fourth season, with an expanded episode count of 30.
107	* ''WesternAnimation/DennisTheMenace'' had a 65 episode season airing in syndication in 1986. It later got a 13-episode season for CBS Saturday Morning in 1988, bringing the total to 78 episodes.
108	* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' had 65 episodes for its first season (including the FiveEpisodePilot), then was renewed for two more seasons of 22 and 13 episodes respectively, bringing the total to 100.
109	* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' had a 65 episode season produced for The Disney Afternoon in 1991. Simultaneously, a 13 episode season also aired on ABC. A second 13 episode ABC season followed in 1992, for a total of 91 episodes.
110	* ''WesternAnimation/DragonTales'' had 40 episodes for its first season and 25 for its second, though "Just the Two of Us" and "Cowboy Max" were considered to be [[MissingEpisode lost episodes]]. There was also an unproduced pilot, a DirectToVideo musical special and a special in which parents use the show to teach kids lessons. After a gap of well over two years, it was announced that a third season would air, including the aforementioned lost episodes.
111	* ''Literature/{{Franklin}}'' had 65 episodes in its first five seasons, with 13 each. The sixth had an extra 13, totaling 78.
112	* The first two seasons of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' had 65 episodes total. The third season, re-titled ''Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles'', wound up in CanonDiscontinuity, save for the first episode "The Journey", which was reformatted for the later comic books anyway. For what it's worth, the 13 ''Goliath Chronicles'' episodes brought the total to 78 episodes.
113	* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoe'' had 65 episodes for its first season in 1985 (which includes the original [[FiveEpisodePilot five-episode mini-series]] from 1983 and the five-part "Revenge of Cobra" mini-series from 1984) and 30 additional episodes for its second season in 1986. The series eventually concluded with 100 episodes with an edited version of ''G.I. Joe: The Movie'' that was split in five parts in 1987.
114	* ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'' had 65 episodes which aired in syndication alongside a 13-episode season made for Saturday mornings on ABC.
115	* ''WesternAnimation/HeathcliffAndTheCatillacCats'' did 65 episodes in its first season and 21 in its second.
116	* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' originally had 65 episodes, but was successful enough to merit another 65 for a total of 130.
117	** ''He-Man'''s {{Spinoff}}, ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'', was also renewed after 65 episodes, but its total only came to 93.
118	* ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' did 65 episodes and was then renewed for an additional 21. The second season was produced in-house by Creator/DiC in Los Angeles in place of Creator/{{Nelvana}} in Toronto. Accordingly, the voice cast was replaced (Except for Gadget, Brain, and Dr. Claw) due to voice recording moving to Hollywood after being done in Toronto for Season 1. (The characters mentioned were already having their voices recorded in Hollywood.)
119	* The original ABC run of ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'' was quite short, lasting only 24 episodes from 1962 to 1963. When the show was syndicated in 1985, an additional 41 episodes were produced to bring the total number to 65. This was followed by ten more episodes in 1987, bringing the total to 75.
120	* ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest'', renewed for a fifth (and later sixth) season after the first four brought the total to 65.
121	* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', though it had to be UnCanceled to get a fourth season after reaching 65 episodes. Its final total (counting the movie as three single episodes) is 87.
122	* ''WesternAnimation/{{MASK}}'' had 65 episodes in its first series, followed by the short and very different racing series.
123	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' - The show had 26 episodes for each of its first two seasons, and 13 for its third season in order to meet syndication. The show became so popular and profitable that it was renewed for an additional 26 episode season. And a few more after that. The show would eventually end its run with 228 episodes (including six clip show episodes) over nine seasons and [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017 a theatrical film]], in additional to [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls spin-off]] [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyPonyLife materials]].
124	* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' – Ended at 222 episodes over 137 half-hours (plus a TV movie) making it Disney's second longest-running animated series after ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouseClubhouse''. Makes the list because the first two seasons total up to 65 episodes. (A revival is forthcoming.)
125	* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' had 65 episodes, not counting a few compilations of their ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' segments. However, it was continued as ''WesternAnimation/PinkyElmyraAndTheBrain'' for 13 episodes, 6 of them airing under its own name and the rest of the material airing on ''The Cat&Birdy Warneroonie [=PinkyBrainy=] Big Cartoonie Show''.
126	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' is a strange case. The series ended with 65 episodes (as per Disney's Rule), but [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]] wanted to order more episodes for the 2002-2003 season. At the last minute, Disney backed out, and three of the episodes that were finished before they did released as the DirectToVideo movie, ''WesternAnimation/RecessTakingTheFifthGrade'' (with one more being released as part of ''Recess: All Growed Down''), which brings the episode total to 69.
127	* The original 1991-1993 run of ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' lasted 65 episodes. They then aired specials between 1995 and 1996. However, the specials did so successfully that they actually renewed the show instead of cancelling it. The show was only cancelled in 2004.
128	* ''WesternAnimation/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeries'' lasted one season of 65 episodes from 1999 to 2000 (like a number of Saturday morning cartoons) but got a spin-off, ''Sabrina's Secret Life'', in 2003, with 26 episodes.
129	* The original North American dub of ''Anime/SailorMoon'' by [[Creator/DICEntertainment DiC]] originally aired in a 65 episode package for syndication. Stopping in the middle of the second season, with no real conclusion. Eventually [=DiC=] received funding to dub the final 17 episodes of R which were broadcast in Canada. One year later these episodes aired in the United States as The Lost Episodes. Two years after that Toei's North American branch, Cloverway, oversaw the dubbing of 77 additional episodes bringing the total of dub episodes to 159.
130	* The first four seasons of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' add up to 65 episodes, plus TheMovie. The show continues to this day with over 300 episodes.
131	* The first ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles\|1987}}'' series {{Channel Hop}}ped to CBS after producing 65 episodes for syndication.[[note]]The FiveEpisodePilot aired in 1987, then a year later 13 additional episodes aired in weekly syndication, followed by 47 more in 1989.[[/note]] 13 additional episodes were produced for Syndication in 1990, in addition to the first 26 episodes on CBS. The final episode count is 193.
132	* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' originally had 65 episodes (not counting the movies and special) comprising the original Tenchi [=OVAs=] (13 eps), Tenchi Universe (26 episodes), and Tenchi in Tokyo (26 episodes). It was shown on American TV because of this. However a sequel to the original [=OVAs=] was made years later bringing the count to 72 (73 with the Mihoshi special). If you count the spinoffs, the episode count is now at 112.
133	* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'', which had a 65-episode first season, and then many more episodes across three more seasons.
134	* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' followed its first syndicated season of 65 episodes with 13 more episodes in syndication and 20 episodes on Creator/FoxKids.
135	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': 65 episodes over two seasons, but after [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie the movie]], the show was renewed for a third season (albeit one that replaced most of the cast who were killed in the movie) that brought the count up to 95, followed by the three-part "The Rebirth" series finale.
136	* ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' was renewed for one more season after a total of 65 episodes across seven seasons, totalling 78 episodes.
137
138	!!Related Examples:
139	* ''WesternAnimation/AllHailKingJulien'': The Netflix original spanned 65 episodes over five seasons, with the total coming to 78 with the additional ''Season Exiled''.
140	* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'' also underwent ExecutiveMeddling that cut its intended 65-episode run down to 52 episodes.
141	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAngryBeavers'' was set to run for 65 episodes, but 3 episodes never finished production precisely because of a scene from a planned segment, "Bye Bye Beavers", in which Norb [[NoFourthWall breaks the fourth wall]] and reveals to Dag that they're characters in a cartoon show on its final episode. The scene in question (which can be heard [[https://youtu.be/cPP4zUDuo4c here]]) not only broke a Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} taboo at time, which forbade shows from having a definite ending so that the episodes could be re-aired in any order on reruns, but it's actually rather critical of this practice in general, accusing Nick of profiting off reruns of already-completed TV shows without giving any compensation to the actual creators.
142	* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'' was initially set for 65 episodes, according to documentaries included with the "Mike Judge Collection" DVD sets, although it is unclear if this meant 65 or 130 segments. The show ultimately had 200 segments during its original 1993-97 run with varying lengths due to various changes in format throughout the seasons.
143	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}}'' is an unusual example, in that it had a 65-episode syndicated season that came ''after'' several shorter ones. The first three seasons aired on ABC from 1989-1991, and consisted of 13 episodes in the first season, followed by 8 each in the second and third. It then got a 65-episode season that aired weekdays on Creator/FoxKids in 1991, (alongside the third ABC season). 94 episodes in total were produced.
144	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}}'' was originally announced as a 65-episode series, but was cut back to 52 episodes, purportedly because per-episode production costs were higher than anticipated.
145	* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuestTheRealAdventures'' was originally announced as a 65-episode series, but production was reduced to 52.
146	* ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' (a live-action show) was initially intended to run for only 40 episodes, with these episodes using most of the fight footage from its source material ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'', a 50-episode series. However, the show's unexpected popularity led to renewal for the remainder of its first season, forcing Saban to commission additional fight footage from Toei specifically for the American version. Toei created a total of 25 new [[MonsterOfTheWeek monsters]] intended to add-up to the existing 40 episodes (40+25=65), but due to time constraints, only 15 of these ended up being used for the remainder of Season 1, which was only 20 episodes (5 episodes short of meeting the 65 episode quota). The remaining 10 monsters ended up being spread across the first 13 episodes of Season 2, which was when Saban started adapting footage from the follow-up Franchise/SuperSentai series ''Series/GoseiSentaiDairanger''. ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' ultimately reached 155 episodes across three seasons.
147	* '' WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' had a 65-episode season airing on weekdays in syndication alongside the second season of Saturday morning episodes on ABC.
148	* The seventh and eighth series of ''Series/RedDwarf'' have eight episodes instead of the usual six, for no other reason than that would bring the total number of episodes to 52, which would be enough for a syndication package. Indeed, the only reason those series were made ''at all'' was for that purpose; series creator Doug Naylor wanted to make a movie based on the series, and was convinced to make the two new series because a syndication package would be able to generate revenue and international interest for the movie.
149	* ''{{Anime/Robotech}}'': Perhaps one of the most infamous examples, and how many people first heard of the practice. Harmony Gold originally secured the US license to ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'' for broadcast and syndication and intended to air it alone (even producing a few [=VHS=] releases of the standalone show), but the series was only 36 episodes long. The producers felt they ''had'' to have the minimum 65 episodes for syndication (or else the whole project risked financial oblivion), so they also licensed ''Anime/SuperDimensionCavalrySouthernCross'' (23 episodes) and ''Anime/GenesisClimberMospeada'' (25 episodes). 36 + 23 + 25 + 1 extra clip episode (cobbled together to help bridge the narrative gap between the first two sagas) brought the episode total to 85, well exceeding the minimum goal of 65. A SequelSeries, ''Robotech II: The Sentinels'', was planned to have 65 episodes of original animation, but production was halted after only 3 episodes, which were edited into a DirectToVideo movie.
150	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'''s original run consisted of 60 episodes over three seasons, with ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'' serving as the [[FinaleMovie series finale]]. However, the huge popularity of the show caused ExecutiveMeddling to renew the series for another season, even after [=SpongeBob=]'s original creator Stephen Hillenburg left the series after the movie. And from that point, [[LongRunners many more episodes would continue to be produced]].
151	* The 32 hour-long episodes of ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' become 64 half-hours when a cliffhanger ending is put in the middle; the series was often broadcast internationally under this format.
152	* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' has a planned 65 episode MythArc, but was axed after only 26 episodes.
153	* While ''Literature/TheWorstWitch'' 2017 series didn't make it to 65 episodes, the show ended after 52. However, it did get a [[GrandFinale proper finale]] to bring the story to its end.
154	* Disney also has a trend of retiring short series after two seasons. ''Tasty Time With [=ZeFronk=]'', ''Lou and Lou Safety Patrol'', ''A Poem Is...'', ''Nina Needs to Go!'', ''As the Bell Rings'', ''Shorty [=McShort=]'s Shorts'' and ''Take Two with Phineas and Ferb'' have all suffered this fate. The only exceptions to this are the ''WesternAnimation/{{Mickey Mouse\|2013}}'' shorts and ''Choo Choo Soul''.
155	* During the [[TurnOfTheMillennium early-to-mid 2000s]], Warner Bros. actually had a trend of pulling the plug on shows that reach ''52'' episodes. Shows like ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'', ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'', ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' all ended at 52 despite high ratings. [[note]]Though Justice League was revived with a sequel series, ''Unlimited.''[[/note]] Two of their shows for Creator/CartoonNetwork in [[TheNewTens the early 2010s]] (''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'') would likewise follow the 52-episode rule. ''The Batman'' and ''Teen Titans'' both proved popular enough to warrant one extra season and reached 65 episodes. Interestingly enough, ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' was the one show during this period that [[SubvertedTrope managed to surpass both benchmark]] thanks to 26 standalone episodes in its second season (a few of which factored into the plot for Season 3).
156	** Creator/CartoonNetwork (another WB owned network) had shows that lasted 78 episodes: ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' and ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor''.
157	* In the late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s, the minimum amount of episodes a children's TV show could have was now 40 (or in some cases, 39). Usually after those 39-40 episodes, the show would be cancelled. Examples of this include ''[[Series/CaptainKangaroo The All-New Captain Kangaroo]]'', ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Eckhart}}'', ''WesternAnimation/ChalkZone'', ''WesternAnimation/LibertysKids'', ''WesternAnimation/SagwaTheChineseSiameseCat'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Horseland}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Bratz}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheThreeFriendsAndJerry'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Tutenstein}}'' (ended at 39 episodes, but would have 40 counting the ''Clash of the Pharaohs'' TV movie) and the [[Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries original]] syndicated version of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries''. Britt Allcroft had intended to sell ''Series/ShiningTimeStation'' and ''WesternAnimation/MagicAdventuresOfMumfie'' into syndication with 40 episodes each,[[note]]although the former had 75 and the latter had 39, but would have 40 counting ''[[ChristmasEpisode Mumfie's White Christmas,]]''[[/note]] but after a meeting with Haim Saban, the shows wound up airing on the then-new [[Creator/ABCFamily Fox Family Channel]].
158	** In the case of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', when Creator/FourKidsEntertainment acquired the show, it aired in first-run syndication for a season of 40 episodes. After these episodes aired, Creator/KidsWB bought the airing rights to the series, adding 12 episodes to the season. Each season they ordered after was 52 episodes apiece, regardless of what arc the show was in; the first twelve episodes of the sixth season make up the conclusion of the original series, while the rest is the beginning of the Advanced Generation.
159	** Alternatively, a children's TV show would have the plug pulled after 26 episodes. Examples include ''WesternAnimation/TimothyGoesToSchool'', ''WesternAnimation/JaneAndTheDragon'', ''WesternAnimation/RudeDogAndTheDweebs'', ''WesternAnimation/VivaPinata'', ''Anime/{{Pecola}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{SheZow}}'', ''WesternAnimation/GrowingUpCreepie'', ''WesternAnimation/MyGoldfishIsEvil'', ''WesternAnimation/TimeWarpTrio'', ''WesternAnimation/ToadPatrol'', ''WesternAnimation/TurtleIsland'', and ''WesternAnimation/AnneOfGreenGablesTheAnimatedSeries''.
160	** Another alternative to the 65-episode rule during the 80s and 90s was cutting a show off after 13 episodes. Examples include ''WesternAnimation/RainbowBrite'', ''WesternAnimation/PotsworthAndCompany'', ''WesternAnimation/TheGetAlongGang'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', ''WesternAnimation/StoneProtectors'', ''WesternAnimation/TheShnookumsAndMeatFunnyCartoonShow'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfCalamityJane'', ''WesternAnimation/ConanAndTheYoungWarriors'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheKarateKid''.
161	** 52 episodes is another alternative that pops up here and there. Examples include ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', the original Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} run of ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily'', ''WesternAnimation/AaahhRealMonsters'', ''WesternAnimation/KappaMikey'', ''WesternAnimation/CaptainFlamingo'', ''WesternAnimation/MuchaLucha'', ''Literature/HarryAndHisBucketFullOfDinosaurs'', and ''WesternAnimation/WowWowWubbzy''. ''Series/{{LazyTown}}'' had 52 episodes in its original run (the 34 episodes of the first season plus an 18-episode second season), but after Turner Broadcasting System Europe bought [=LazyTown=] Entertainment, the show received two additional seasons with 13 episodes each, bringing the total episode count to 78 episodes over four seasons.

Context Main / SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon