Ryobe: The Sea

Ryobe: The Sea is a Japanese anime focused on the tales of Ryobe, a young teenager who turned pirate. The series started in the summer of 1993, and is still in production to this day.

Development and Production
In late 1992, Matsuda Mobumasu and Tamura Yasuhide came up with an idea to have a long lasting show about a pirate crew.

In 2017, it was announced that Studio Gallop will leave production by the end of 2017, with Studio Acesky replacing them.

In July of 2018, it was reported by Matsuda Mobumasu that the series will end "by the end of 2019" and that "the series is due course to end very soon". Chaossy left production a few weeks prior to the announcement, when Matsuda Mobumasu returned to the series to write.

25th anniversary special
Matsuda Mobumasu returns to the show to write the 25th anniversary special that aired on July 8, 2018. This episode was the last to be directed by Chaossy, as he left production of the series to focus on original series.

Young Ryobe arc
episodes 1 through 41

Captain Ryobe arc
episodes 42 through 72

Ryobe Company arc
episodes 73 through 98

Battle of Tortuga
episodes 99 through 121

Stranded (F) arc
episodes 122 through 134

Ryobe Curse arc
episodes 135 through 168

Ryobe Commissioner arc
episodes 169 to 210

Ryobe Fleet arc
episodes 211 to 250

Ryobe Jr arc
episodes 251 to 307

Father and Son Rule the seas arc
episodes 308 to 342

Quartermaster Ryobe Jr arc
episodes 343 to 399

Battle of the Republic of Pirates arc
episodes 400 to 464

Captain Ryobe Jr arc
episodes 465 to 499

Siege of Port Royal arc
episodes 500 to 535

Post Siege (F) arc
episodes 536 to 545

Travel the Caribbean arc
episodes 546 to 599

Tortuga for all arc
episodes 600 to 612

Rise of the Kraken arc
episodes 613 to 725

Defend the Port arc
episodes 726 to 800 

Execution of Ryobe Jr arc
episodes 801 to 905

Paradise arc (F)
episodes 906 to 920

On the Sea again arc
episodes 921 to 945

Russian seas arc
episodes 946 to 1046

European Siege arc
episode 1047 to 1080

Battle of the Atlantic arc
episodes 1081 to 1124

Port Brazil arc
episodes 1125 to 1150

Forever Youth arc
episodes 1151 to 1200

Search for Atlantis arc
episodes 1201 to 1246

Ryobe Jr's Son arc
episodes 1247 to 1300

Uncle, Father, Son rule the seas arc
episodes 1301 to present

Episodes
note: Funimation lists the arcs as seasons for home media and easier viewing online

Timeslots

 * 1993-1995: Sunday mornings at 10:00 JST
 * 1996-1998: Sunday evenings at 20:00 JST
 * 1998-2004: Friday mornings at 7:00 JST
 * 2004-2006: Wednesday mornings at 8:00 JST
 * 2006-2012: Sunday nights at 8:00 PM JST
 * 2012-2015: Friday afternoons at 6:00 PM JST
 * 2015-2017: During Toonado
 * 2017-present: Wednesday afternoons at 14:00 JST

Captain's Log
In March of 2004, Disney approached Ryobe Production Team (RP) to create a spin off using their Pirates of the Caribbean characters and settings, which they accepted and RP appointed Magic Bus and Pierrot to animate the series, which was 75 episodes airing from December 2004 to March 2006. In Japan, it was released as Captain's Log, while in other countries, it was called Captain Jack's Log.

Virgin Islands: The Adventure
After their contract with Disney was up, RP split into two, with one focusing on spin offs and the other focusing on the main series. RP appointed Sunrise and Pierrot to animate a new 26 episode series focusing on the Virgin Islands with a new cast. It first aired in July of 2006 and ended in early December of that year.

Ryoma & Akko: South China Sea
After Virgin Islands ended, RP contracted Magic Bus again with Manglobe and Sunrise supporting the animation to make a 104 episode series called South China Sea airing over the course of two and a half years, from April of 2007 to August of 2009.

Ryobe - Close to the End
In January of 2010, RP announced that a spinoff, 'Close to the End, will air in December of that year and will run for 13 episodes. Manglobe and Magic Bus were contracted to animate the spin off.

Movies
Over the course of the series, eleven movies have been released with one in production.
 * Ryobe Movie (February 2001)
 * Ryobe Movie (December 2003)
 * Ryobe Movie (January 2005)
 * Ryobe Movie (December 2006)
 * Ryobe Movie (May 2008)
 * Ryobe Movie (November 2009)
 * Ryobe Movie (December 2010)
 * Ryobe Movie (March 2012)
 * Ryobe Movie (December 2013)
 * Ryobe Movie (December 2014)
 * Ryobe Movie (July 2016)
 * Ryobe Movie: 25th Year Special (July 2018, TV special, 75 minutes)
 * Ryobe Movie: Final (December 2019, 115 minutes)