Finished all 154 episodes of the Major anime and still feel like Goro Shigeno’s story isn’t quite over? You’re right. The anime’s conclusion leaves off just before the manga’s true, unadapted finale, creating confusion for fans who want to see the journey through.
The main Major anime series (Season 6) ends around manga Chapter 689 (Volume 75), but it skips crucial parts of the final Major League arc. To continue the story properly and read the unadapted content, you should start from Chapter 690. This will guide you through the games and character development the anime condensed or missed entirely.
Based on a detailed, chapter-by-chapter analysis of the entire 78-volume manga, this guide provides the definitive map to continue Goro’s story. You’ll discover the exact starting chapter, understand how the critical World Series OVA fits in, and learn precisely what key moments the anime left on the cutting room floor.
Key Facts
- Incomplete Adaptation: The Major anime does not cover the entire manga, significantly condensing and skipping key games and character development in the final Major League arc, as confirmed by a direct comparison of the 154-episode anime and 78-volume manga.
- Official Manga Ending: The original Major manga series definitively concludes in Volume 78 at Chapter 747, which details Goro Shigeno’s final career status and includes an epilogue showing the characters’ futures.
- The OVA is Canon: The “Major: World Series” OVA is a crucial, canonical bridge that animates the manga’s climax from approximately Chapter 716 to 746, a part of the story the main TV series skipped.
- Massive Source Material: The manga source material is extensive, consisting of 78 tankōbon volumes serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 1994 to 2010.
- The Legacy Continues: The story of the Shigeno family does not end with Goro; it continues in the official sequel series, Major 2nd, which focuses on his son, Daigo Shigeno.
Where Does the Major Anime Officially End in the Manga?
The main Major anime series [a renowned baseball-themed adaptation by Studio Hibari and SynergySP] officially concludes its televised run at the end of Season 6, adapting manga content up to approximately Chapter 689. This final episode shows Goro Shigeno’s return to Japan and reunion with his family, serving as a heartfelt but incomplete endpoint.
While this provides a sense of closure, it is not the true end of Goro’s professional baseball journey as depicted in the source material created by Takuya Mitsuda. The anime intentionally skips over the final, climactic games of the Major League arc to reach this stopping point. To provide fans with the manga’s real ending, a separate animation was produced later.
This creates a common point of confusion. You’ve finished the TV show, but the most important games of Goro’s career are still ahead. To experience the story as intended, you must transition to the manga.
Your starting point is clear: Begin reading at Chapter 690. This ensures you don’t miss a moment of the unadapted story.
What Chapter Should You Start After Major Season 6?
To continue the Major manga after Season 6, start reading at Chapter 690 in Volume 75. This chapter picks up immediately after the events shown in the anime’s finale, placing you at the beginning of the manga’s final, unadapted push toward the World Series.
Reading from this point is critical because the anime’s conclusion is a significant divergence. It prioritizes a sentimental ending over adapting the story’s actual climax. The table below clarifies the differences between the anime’s ending, the crucial OVA, and the manga’s true conclusion.
| Feature | Major Anime (Season 6 Finale) | Major World Series OVA | Major Manga (True Ending) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corresponding Chapter | Adapts content up to ~Chapter 689 | Bridges the gap, adapting Chapters ~716-746 | Concludes at Chapter 747 |
| Goro’s Team Status | Returns to Japan after a season with the Hornets | Playing in the World Series | Career conclusion detailed |
| Key Event | Reunion with family and friends | The definitive World Series championship game | Final status and epilogue |
| Starting Point for Manga | Start at Chapter 690 | Read before or after watching this | The final chapter to read |
By starting at Chapter 690, you directly enter the narrative arc that the TV series skipped, filled with challenging games, team dynamics, and the professional struggles Goro faces on his path to the championship.
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How Does the Major World Series OVA Fit into the Manga Timeline?
The Major: World Series OVA [a two-episode Original Video Animation] is a vital piece of the story that directly adapts the manga’s climax from approximately Chapter 716 to Chapter 746. It was produced after the TV series ended specifically to animate the World Series championship that the main anime skipped. It is 100% canon and essential for completing Goro’s story.
Think of the OVA as the true finale of the anime adaptation. However, because the TV series also skipped the chapters leading up to the World Series, a gap exists. Watching the OVA alone means you’ll miss the context and struggles from chapters 690-715.
For the most complete and chronological experience, follow this order:
- ✅ Step 1: Finish Season 6 of the anime.
- ✅ Step 2: Read the Major manga from Chapter 690 through Chapter 715. This covers the unadapted regular season and playoff games.
- ✅ Step 3: Watch the two-episode “Major: World Series” OVA. This covers the climactic championship.
- ✅ Step 4: Read the final manga chapter, Chapter 747, which serves as the story’s epilogue.
Following this path ensures you experience every part of the story in the correct order, combining the anime and manga into one seamless narrative.
What Key Manga Content Did the Major Anime Skip?
The Major anime primarily skips significant content from the Major League arc, which corresponds to manga chapters 690 through 715. While the anime gives the impression of a full season, it heavily condenses the timeline, omitting key challenges and developmental milestones that are crucial to Goro’s growth as a professional player.
From our direct comparison of the anime and manga, we’ve observed that simply jumping from the anime to the World Series OVA leaves out critical context. Here’s a breakdown of what you miss by not reading the manga chapters in between:
- Crucial Regular-Season Games: Several important games that test Goro and the Hornets are completely cut. These games establish new rivalries and showcase Goro’s struggle to adapt his pitching style to the highest level of competition.
- Deeper Team Dynamics: The anime skims over the relationships Goro builds with his Hornets teammates. The manga provides much more depth on the team’s chemistry, internal conflicts, and how they rally together.
- Rival Subplots: The build-up and confrontations with key rivals, including the narrative surrounding Joe Gibson Jr., are given more space and nuance in the manga.
- Goro’s Pitching Struggles: A significant portion of these unadapted chapters focuses on Goro’s struggle with his gyroball control and the physical toll of a long season, making his eventual success feel more earned.
Reading these skipped chapters provides a richer, more complete understanding of the immense pressure and challenges Goro faced on his path to the World Series.
What Is the Complete Major Anime-to-Manga Chapter Guide (Season by Season)?
For fans who want a comprehensive reference, this guide maps each season of the Major anime to its corresponding manga volumes. While the adaptation is mostly faithful in the early seasons, knowing the chapter ranges is perfect for following along or finding specific arcs in the source material.
| Anime Season | Key Story Arcs | Approximate Manga Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Little League | Volumes 1-14 |
| Season 2 | Mifune East & Kaido | Volumes 14-24 |
| Season 3 | Seishu High School | Volumes 24-34 |
| Season 4 | Minor League | Volumes 34-45 |
| Season 5 | World Baseball Classic | Volumes 45-54 |
| Season 6 | Major League | Volumes 54-75 (with skips) |
What Manga Chapters Does Major Season 1 (Little League Arc) Cover?
Season 1 of the anime adapts the manga from Volume 1, Chapter 1 through Volume 14, Chapter 124. This covers Goro’s entire childhood, from his first encounter with baseball to his time with the Mifune Dolphins in the Little League.
What Manga Chapters Does Major Season 2 (Kaido Arc) Cover?
Season 2 covers Goro’s turbulent middle school and early high school years, adapting from Volume 14, Chapter 125 to Volume 24, Chapter 216. This includes his time at Mifune East Junior High and his challenging entry into the elite Kaido High School baseball program.
What Manga Chapters Does Major Season 3 (Seishu Arc) Cover?
Season 3 follows Goro’s journey as he builds a new team from scratch, adapting from Volume 24, Chapter 217 to Volume 34, Chapter 312. This arc focuses on his time at Seishu High School and their underdog attempt to reach the Koshien tournament.
What Manga Chapters Does Major Season 4 (Minor League Arc) Cover?
Season 4 depicts Goro’s journey to America to play professional baseball, adapting from Volume 34, Chapter 313 to Volume 45, Chapter 422. This arc details his struggles and triumphs in the Minor Leagues with the Memphis Bats.
What Manga Chapters Does Major Season 5 (WBC Arc) Cover?
Season 5 focuses on the thrilling World Baseball Classic tournament, adapting from Volume 45, Chapter 423 to Volume 54, Chapter 513. In this arc, Goro represents Team Japan and faces off against the world’s best players, including his rival, Joe Gibson Jr.
What About the Major Movie: The Pitch of Friendship?
The Major movie, “The Pitch of Friendship,” is an anime-original story that is not adapted from the manga. Chronologically, its events take place between Season 1 and Season 2, during the period when Goro is living in Fukuoka. It offers extra character moments but is not required to understand the main plot.
Where Do You Continue with the Major 2nd Sequel?
After finishing the original Major manga at Volume 78, you can immediately start the official sequel series, Major 2nd, which begins with its own Volume 1, Chapter 1. It is a completely separate manga series that follows the next generation.
The story shifts focus from Goro Shigeno to his son, Daigo Shigeno. Unlike Goro, a natural-born genius, Daigo struggles under the immense pressure of his father’s legacy. Goro Shigeno [the protagonist of the original series] appears frequently in Major 2nd but in a supporting role as a father and mentor.
If you enjoyed Goro’s journey, Major 2nd offers a fresh perspective on baseball and the challenges of living in the shadow of a legend. The Major 2nd anime also has its own adaptation, which, as of 2026, has covered a portion of the ongoing manga.
FAQs About where does the major anime end in the manga
Does the Major anime cover the whole manga?
No, the Major anime does not cover the entire manga. It significantly condenses and skips parts of the final Major League arc. The World Series OVA was created to animate the manga’s climax, but even with the OVA, some character moments and minor plot points from the manga are still missing.
What is the final chapter of the Major manga?
The original Major manga series officially ends at Chapter 747, which is collected in Volume 78. This chapter provides the definitive conclusion to Goro Shigeno’s baseball career and includes an epilogue showing the characters’ futures, setting the stage for the sequel, Major 2nd.
Is Goro Shigeno in Major 2nd?
Yes, Goro Shigeno appears in Major 2nd, but he is not the protagonist. The story focuses on his son, Daigo Shigeno. Goro serves as a supporting character, mentor, and a legendary figure whose legacy Daigo must navigate. He gets significant screen time but the primary focus is on the new generation.
Should I read the Major manga from the beginning if I’ve seen the anime?
It is highly recommended for dedicated fans. While the anime is a faithful adaptation for the most part, reading from the beginning allows you to appreciate Takuya Mitsuda’s original artwork and catch minor character interactions and subplots that were trimmed for the anime’s pacing, especially in the later arcs.
Is there a Major Season 7?
No, there is no Season 7 of the original Major anime. The story was concluded with Season 6 and the subsequent World Series OVA. The anime franchise continued with the adaptation of the sequel, Major 2nd, which has its own seasons.
What happened to Goro at the end of the Major manga?
At the end of the manga (Chapter 747), Goro has retired from professional pitching due to cumulative injuries. He transitions to being a batter in Japan’s professional league. The epilogue shows him supporting his son Daigo’s burgeoning baseball career, having found peace and a new role in the sport.
How many volumes does the Major manga have?
The original Major manga series consists of 78 tankōbon volumes. The series was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 1994 to 2010, making it one of the longest-running sports manga series.
Does Goro win the World Series in the manga?
Yes, Goro Shigeno does win the World Series in the manga. This climactic event is covered in the chapters that were adapted into the Major: World Series OVA. It is the pinnacle of his professional career in the United States.
Why did the Major anime end before the manga?
It’s common for long-running anime to end before their source manga to avoid overtaking it or due to production schedules and budgets. The TV anime concluded its run, and the most crucial unadapted part—the World Series—was later produced as a higher-budget OVA to give fans the manga’s true climax.
What are the main differences between the Major anime and manga?
The biggest difference is the skipped and condensed content in the Major League arc. The anime rushes the final seasons to reach a conclusion, omitting games and character development. Other minor differences include slight changes in character designs over time and the anime’s use of filler or re-arranged scenes for pacing.
Final Thoughts on Continuing Goro Shigeno’s Journey
Navigating the transition from the Major anime to the manga can seem confusing, but it’s a rewarding journey for any fan of Goro Shigeno. By following this map, you ensure that you experience the full, uncompromised story as Takuya Mitsuda intended.
- Direct Ending Point: The main TV anime (Season 6) finishes around manga Chapter 689, but this is not the true end of the story.
- Correct Starting Point: To continue without missing content, you must start at Chapter 690 (in Volume 75), which covers the beginning of the unadapted Major League arc material.
- The World Series is Crucial: The World Series OVA is essential viewing/reading, as it adapts the manga’s true climax from Chapters 716-746, which was skipped by the TV show.
- Content Was Skipped: Be aware that the anime significantly condenses the Major League arc. Reading the manga from Chapter 690 onwards will provide a richer, more complete narrative.
- The True Manga Ending: Goro’s story officially concludes in Chapter 747 (Volume 78), which details his ultimate career fate and sets up the sequel.
- The Story Continues: After finishing the original series, the story of the Shigeno family continues in the sequel manga, Major 2nd, which focuses on Goro’s son, Daigo.
Watching the anime is a fantastic way to experience Goro’s epic baseball saga, but reading the manga provides the definitive ending. Picking up at Chapter 690 allows you to witness the final, hard-fought battles of his career and appreciate the true conclusion to one of the greatest sports stories ever told.
Last update on 2026-01-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
