There has long been a stigma regarding Hollywood live-action adaptations of popular manga being unfaithful to its source material (think Dragonball Evolution, Death Note, and Cowboy Bebop, to name a few). As such, fans of Eiichiro Oda’s long-running pirate saga had serious doubts when Netflix acquired the rights for a One Piece TV series.

But to everyone’s surprise, it was a massive hit and now the anticipation builds on what the Straw Hat Pirates and their hijinks are up to in the sequel. Thankfully, we might not have to wait long to see the crew back in action again amid reports that season 2 of One Piece has already wrapped filming.

Off To Post -Production

News about the end of production comes via Emily Rudd’s (Nami) stunt double, Cape Town stuntwoman and actress Natalie Walsh. She uploaded a photo with colleagues Mcrae Douglas, Shaun Verth, and Nathan Barris on her Instagram Story and captioned it: “Wrap up party vibes let’s gooooo.” Given posts like this stay visible for only 24 hours, a content publisher for all things One Piece named Pew (@pewpiece) managed to grab a screenshot and posted it on X. 

While there’s no official confirmation yet from showrunners Matt Owens and Joe Tracz, or from Netflix or Oda himself, it’s safe to assume that season 2 of One Piece is probably on post-production now.  And if we take Walsh’s post as any form of confirmation, then filming for the sequel is well within its projected timeframe and we could probably get at least a teaser anytime soon.  Work began in June 2024 and was projected to finish before the year ends. 

Season 2 Story Arc and Potential Season 3 coverage

Expect Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his crew of loyal misfits in another action-packed adventure in the high seas. Initially, there were reports that the instalment will feature the Alabasta (or Arabasta) story arc. But due to it being too large, then season 2 of One Piece will instead focus on the beginning of this saga with the inclusion of exciting key locations: Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Drum Island, Little Garden, Loguetown, and Whiskey Peak.

Likewise, the anticipated season will introduce fresh faces to portray a bunch of crucial characters to the storyline. And if the sequel maintains the pace of progression like the inaugural episodes, then a fan-favorite character hinted at the end of season 1 could make an appearance and become a member of the Straw Hats (doctor Tony Tony Chopper is in).

Vincent Regan, who plays Vice Admiral Garp in the series, shared during an interview with Collider at Vienna Comic-Con that filming for season 3 will probably start soon. He also teased: “I think they are doing- I think it’s called the Albasta story arc. I think it’s going to take two seasons.” He added: “What I’ve seen of the designs, drawings, and when I was there, there was some really fun stuff being shot there at the moment.”

Accuracy Between The TV Series And Manga/Anime

We can’t wait to watch all the live-action hijinks Luffy (Godoy), Zoro (Mackenyu), Nami (Rudd), Sanji (Taz Skylar), and Usopp (Jacob Romero) get themselves into this time. Regan had teased that while filming for season 2 of One Piece has wrapped, it wont be ready for Netflix until before Christmas next year.

But with Oda closely overseeing production as creative consultant, we can at least take comfort in knowing that any creative changes made by Netflix is with his approval. Considering the first season was unanimously praised by critics and fans alike, it’s safe to say the upcoming and future installments are in good hands. Fans like us closely following the manga are definitely hyped!

Netflix is going all in on One Piece, and that doesn’t just include the anime, but also its original live-action series. As we approach the debut of its second season, one cast member has already spilled the beans on season 3, and it looks like a massive one.

The live-action One Piece series from Netflix was released in 2023 and told a version of the iconic manga story from Eiichiro Oda. In this first season, we saw similar things to what happens at the start of the anime, and it introduced new viewers to the loveable cast of characters that includes Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji.

Now it’s time for the show to venture further into the canon and while season 2 might be teasing the addition of Chopper to the crew, Vincent Regan, who plays Admiral Garp in the show, let slip what’s on the horizon in season 3 during a recent Comic-Con appearance shared by Comicbook.com, and it’s got us extremely excited.

“I guess they’ll start filming season 3 pretty soon, and I think they are doing- I think it’s called the Alabasta story arc. I think it’s going to take two seasons. What I’ve seen of the designs, drawings, and when I was there there was some really fun stuff being shot there at the moment.”

Alabasta is one of the most popular arcs in One Piece to date. The epic story takes our heroes to the desert where they are forced to deal with the dangerous members of Baroque Works, a criminal organization with extremely powerful members.

From what Regan has said the battle in the desert won’t just run through the show’s third season, but it could also make its way into a fourth. It’s worth noting that to date neither season three nor four has even been announced by Netflix yet, but seeing them taking a chance after the success of the debut run isn’t really much of a surprise.

While we won’t see Alabasta in season 2, we already know several of the actors poised to play members of Baroque Works as they will be introduced during the next batch of episodes. These include the group’s terrifying leader Crocodile. What will be included in the next season of the show are several key locations and stories including Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island. So there really is a lot to get to before we reach the Alabasta desert, and we’ll totally be along for the ride.

It wasn’t just season three details that Regan let slip, the actor also revealed a release timeframe for season 2 which is expected to air sometime before Christmas in 2025. We’d expect this means late next year, so there might still be a while to wait before we finally get to see the new episodes. That’s a whole lot of months to sit idly by, but we sure hope the upcoming season will at least be worth the wait.

The good news is that there’s no shortage of One Piece content to binge through in the meantime. Whether you want to refresh your mind on what happened in season one of the live-action show or catch up on the latest in the anime, Netflix is the place to go.

When news of the One Piece live-action adaptation broke, it felt like Eiichiro Oda was constantly in damage control mode. Whether it was the mere existence of a live-action adaptation, concerns about pacing, or casting choices, there was always someone unhappy about something — and truthfully, nothing has changed since then.

At this point, most One Piece fans know that Oda recently took a two-week break due to illness —marking only the third time in 26 years that the creator has paused his work for health reasons. Yet even during this rare break, the author of the world’s most successful comic couldn’t truly rest. Before long, fans were treated to some exciting behind-the-scenes footage from the production of One Piece live-action season 2.

“Cape Town is where the Netflix live-action show is being filmed! I got to see firsthand the hard work of so many crew members across various fields!” Oda wrote in a message to fans, going on to describe the massive new sets and ships under construction. The scale of production has clearly reached new heights, and the expectations are higher than ever — but that’s not all.

Later in the letter, Oda addressed a topic that has been both incredibly contentious and timely: the casting choices for season 2. “I also managed to speak with not only the returning cast from season 1 but also each of the new cast members,” he shared. “My own casting selections were made from Japan based on photos and videos, but seeing them all in person convinced me: they were absolutely the perfect choices!”

This intervention couldn’t have come at a better time either. In recent weeks — particularly since the announcement of the new cast additions — the One Piece fanbase has become sharply divided. I would say a large majority embraced the new names, celebrating additions like Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, an actress many recognized from Bridgerton. However, as is often the case, negativity echoed just as loudly as the cheers, and backlash quickly followed.

Chandran’s casting faced heavy criticism, primarily due to her ethnicity not aligning with Vivi’s Egyptian heritage. But that was hardly the end of it — it was the casting of Nico Robin that made all hell break loose. During Geeked Week 2024, the highly anticipated reveal announced Lera Abova (Pitch Perfect: Bumper Berlin) as the actress portraying Miss All Sunday — also known as Nico Robin (sorry about the spoilers).

Though Abova’s name may not immediately remind you of any familiar roles, fans wasted no time researching her background. They discovered that she is Russian, born in Slavgorod, Altai Krai, though much of her upbringing was in Siberia and Germany. Despite her international background, some fans deemed the casting choice inappropriate and even offensive, citing the current geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe.

Fortunately, a large majority of fans have half a brain to their name and they quickly pointed out a simple truth: no one chooses the country they are born in — it’s simply a matter of circumstance. While a vocal minority continues to demand the removal of Chandran and Abova from the cast, it’s obvious that Eiichiro Oda is neither here nor there when it comes to baseless criticism and mindless hate.

These past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for One Piece fans. On one hand, the anime is on a six-month break — right in the middle of the Egghead arc. New episodes won’t arrive until April 2025, making this one of the longest — if not the longest — breaks in the history of the anime.

If that wasn’t enough to break our hearts into tiny pieces, the One Piece manga also just had a two-week-long break. And as it appears, it’s about to enter another dry spell. But before you jump to conclusions, we’re fully supportive of Eiichiro Oda taking as many breaks as he needs — however, conflicting reports have added even more fuel to the fire, leaving fans concerned regarding this sudden pause, and whether it is real or not.

The first of notice came on November 11, when fans noticed that Shueisha had issued a delay in the One Piece schedule. It indicated that instead of a November 17 release, chapter 1132 would drop on December 1. Shortly afterward, however, Shueisha updated the release date again, reverting to the original schedule. This led fans to assume it was simply a database error, and that the chapter would still be released on the originally-scheduled date.

In this already confusing situation, fans started speculating on social media — after all, Oda rarely takes unplanned breaks, and retracting such an announcement as an apparent mistake was even weirder. But it didn’t end there. Just a few hours ago, Shueisha officially confirmed that the manga would not only be on break this week but also next week, returning on December 1.

The notice also confirmed everyone’s fears and suspicions: Oda’s health isn’t at its best. One Piece fans are all too familiar with the author’s tireless attempts to delivering chapters week after week. It’s no coincidence that for 26 years, One Piece has held the title of the best-selling manga in history — thanks entirely to Oda’s relentless work and talent. However, this dedication comes at a cost. On more than one occasion, the One Piece creator has been forced to take breaks following emergency hospital visits.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time a manga author’s health is at risk. Akira Toriyama, the author of Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, passed away earlier this year from an acute subdural hematoma, inspiring other authors like Eiichiro Oda to be more mindful of their own health. Yoshihiro Togashi, author of Hunter x Hunter, is also chronically ill, and he often takes long breaks due to severe back pain, which affects his ability to draw on a daily basis.

Health issues seem to impact manga creators more than your average creator, but given Japan’s intense work culture, it’s not entirely surprising. This grind isn’t confined to office workers — even the biggest manga authors are affected by the relentless drive to meet deadlines. Creators like Oda are in a constant state of stress, working tirelessly to produce quality chapters on time.

With stories like One Piece, which have an intricate and expansive lore, this task becomes even more challenging. In fact, a quick look at the latest chapter, chapter 1131, reveals the level of detail Oda maintains. In this recent chapter, Luffy finally reaches Elbaph — first mentioned in chapter 116 — and there, he meets Loki, the Prince known as “the shame of Elbaph.”

Meanwhile, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, and Chopper are also in Elbaph, running on a bridge away from something that we still have no idea what it is. Amidst all this chaos, Jinbe, Brook, Robin, and Franky are on the Giants’ ship, with Brook giving Robin a haircut. The chapter ended on a cliffhanger, after Sault fell — and we won’t know the answers until December 1. Get well soon, Oda!

The first season’s success was so large that a second installment was greenlit almost immediately, allowing Netflix to maintain momentum after the new One Piece adaptation became one of its most-watched series of all time. Now, nearly a year later, we’re finally getting updates about the cast — which was arguably one of the strongest aspects of the adaptation.

If there’s one thing the show excelled at, it was the casting. Watching Iñaki Godoy, Emily Rudd, Mackenyu Maeda, Taz Skylar, and Jacob Gibson shine on screen as the Straw Hats brought a special kind of magic to the series. Now, here are the new cast members set to join them in the upcoming season.

Who will be in One Piece season 2?

After nearly a year of speculation, Netflix, Tomorrow Studios, and Eiichiro Oda have finally announced and confirmed which part of the story will be adapted in the second season. This season will cover chapters 96 through 154 of the One Piece manga, specifically the “Loguetown,” “Reverse Mountain,” “Whiskey Peak,” “Little Garden,” and “Drum Island” arcs.

While Alabasta won’t be a part of Season 2, most of the Baroque Works members and its leaders will be introduced, and of course, more Straw Hats will join the crew. The first set of cast announcements, made on June 25, focused on Baroque Works members:

• Daniel Lasker (Hidden Within) as Mr. 9
• Camrus Johnson (Batwoman) as Mr. 5
• Jazzara Jaslyn (A Family Affair) as Miss Valentine
• David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight) as Mr. 3

The following day, three more cast members were revealed, with characters from Whisky Peak, and of course, our favorite pair of giants:

• Clive Russell (Silent Cry) as Crocus
• Werner Coetser (Getroud met rugby) as Dorry
• Brendan Murray (Dark Matter) as Brogy

The third and fourth announcements were particularly welcomed, after fans had long been speculating about who would get to play Smoker, Tashigi, and Dr. Kureha. Though most fans’ predictions were off (including our own), the casting for the tsundere doctor and the two marines was still widely celebrated:

• Callum Kerr (History of A Pleasure Seeker) as Smoker
• Julia Rehwald (Young Jedi Adventures) as Tashigi
• Rob Colletti (The Many Saints of Newark) as Wapol
• Ty Keogh (24 Hours To Live) as Dalton
• Katey Sagal (Married… with Children) as Dr. Kureha
• Mark Harelik (Trumbo) as Dr. Hiriluk
• Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes) as Nefertari Cobra
• Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton) as Miss Wednesday

Unfortunately, Chandran’s casting as Miss Wednesday — later known as Vivi — resulted in backlash from certain fans. Given Alabasta’s Egyptian and Middle Eastern influences, many believed an Arabic actress would have been a better fit for Vivi, and well, Chandran is Indian. However, this narrow-minded critique didn’t reflect the views of most One Piece fans, who embraced her as the perfect Vivi.

Of course, this isn’t all. During Geeked Week 2024, the most highly anticipated cast reveals were made — the season’s two main antagonists, Crocodile and Robin:

• Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike) as Mr. 0 (Crocodile)
• Lera Abova (Pitch Perfect: Bumper Berlin) as Miss All Sunday (Nico Robin)

Sadly, Lera Abova’s casting faced its own share of criticism, primarily due to her nationality, as she is Russian. However, this casting choice couldn’t have been more fitting. Not only is she the perfect embodiment of Robin, but Oda has also confirmed that, if Robin were a real person, she would indeed be Russian. It’s important to remember that someone’s nationality doesn’t associate them with the actions of their country — it’s never a crime to just exist, after all.

Following Geeked Week, four more names were announced. Although two of those have yet to have their roles unveiled, the other two will be playing minor roles in the story.

• Daniel Barnett as Sapi.
• Fadzai Simango as Mashikaku.
• Martial T. Batchamen (character unknown)
• Richard Gau (character unknown)

There are still many roles yet to be announced, including characters like Chopper — who will only require a voice actor — and Bon Clay (also known as Mr. 2) who will surely require quite an experienced actor to portray such an extravagant character. The second season of One Piece is scheduled for release sometime in 2025.

Nearly everyone who watches anime tends to assume that most characters are Japanese. After all, if an anime is written by a Japanese author and produced in Japan, it’s almost obvious that the characters will also be Japanese — it’s just basic reasoning. But, of course, One Piece breaks away from this norm.

In fact, given the world of One Piece, where guns eat magical fruits and turn into dogs, it’s not far-fetched to imagine it has some hint of realism and that certain characters are based on real-world nationalities and even historical figures. Shonen manga isn’t the only genre that does this either — cue in Attack on Titan, and Fullmetal Alchemist. So, considering the Straw Hats may not even be Japanese or Asian, where is someone like Robin from?

What is Robin’s nationality in ‘One Piece’?

Based on appearances alone, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has previously confirmed that in the real world, Robin would be Russian. This information was revealed in the SBS (Shitsumon o Boshū Suru) section of each volume, where the genius behind One Piece answers fan questions. In this case, Oda was asked about the real-world nationalities and ethnicities of the Straw Hats, and he responded based on their physical appearances.

Given Robin’s dark hair and light blue eyes, it’s not far-fetched to associate her with an Eastern European stereotype. Russian men and women are often stereotyped for their coldness and emotional distance, traits Miss All Sunday exhibited at one point. However, the Robin we know now and love is warm, caring, and incredibly funny, breaking away from that cold persona.

Moreover, after the Sabaody Archipelago arc, Kuma sent each of the Straw Hats to different islands, where they learned new skills and became stronger for their reunion at Fishman Island. Robin, for instance, was sent to Tequila Wolf, where she trained under Dragon, Luffy’s father, along with the rest of the Revolutionary Army. Coincidentally, the island was snowy, and many fans have noted the similarities between that landscape and various regions of Russia.

Who will be playing Robin in the ‘One Piece’ live-action?

Lera Abova, 31, has been cast as Nico Robin (aka Miss All Sunday) in the upcoming season of the One Piece live-action series on Netflix, according to the streaming service’s latest casting announcement. Abova, best known for her role as DJ Das Boot in Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, is also widely recognized for her modeling career in Russia — which is perhaps, where most of her expertise lies.

The actress was born on November 4, 1992, in Siberia, Russia, and it’s abundantly clear that the showrunners did their homework when casting her. While she may not have extensive acting experience, her appearance aligns perfectly with Robin’s facial features. Considering that Oda is deeply involved in the casting process, fans can rest assured that she’s a great fit, and so far the casting choices have not disappointed.

Abova will join Joe Manganiello, who is set to play Mr. 0 (or well, Crocodile), a leader of the criminal organization Baroque Works, some of whom were already introduced in season 1. Also joining the cast are Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha, Mark Harelik as Dr. Hiriluk, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra, and Callum Kerr as Smoker. The new season is expected to premiere in 2025.

The newest One Piece chapter is almost out and the Straw Hats are finally going to Elbaf. After literal decades of foreshadowing, fans are excited for Luffy and crew to finally step foot on the Giants’ homeland.

After the crew escaped Egghead, the World Government must deal with the monumental mistake of letting Vegapunk’s message reach the world. Saint Figarland Garling just joined the Five Elders after Saint Jaygarcia Saturn’s position was, um, made redundant by Imu. Edison combined with the other surviving Vegapunk variations while the Revolutionary Army, including Dragon who actually speaks in this chapter, discuss what to do now that Vegapunk’s shared his truth. 

Meanwhile, our favorite Straw Hat pirates are heading toward the land of the Giants, but if spoilers are anything to go off of, Elbaf will have to wait.

One Piece chapter 1126 spoilers

According to One Piece leaker @Pewpiece the newest chapter, titled “Payback,” starts off with Shanks’ crew facing off with Bartolomeo’s crew. It comes as no surprise when the Red Hair Pirates reign victorious but Shanks gives Bartolomeo a vial of poison with instructions to deliver it to Luffy within a month. Et tu, Shanks! Does he really want Luffy dead? 

Perhaps not: Bartolomeo drinks the poison himself rather than deliver it to Luffy, an outcome predicted by none other than the Red Hair pirate himself. Shanks gave Bartolomeo fake poison as a way to test his loyalty to Luffy. Figuring they’re in the clear, the Barto Club begins to escape, only for Yasopp to shoot their ship down. Leave it to Shank’s crew to keep us on our toes. 

The scene shifts to Blackbeard returning to Hachinosu Island and he is not happy with Avalo Pizarro. He berates Pizarro for losing Koby but then congratulates Kuzan for capturing Monkey D. Garp, which means Garp survived being frozen alive. 

Finally, we learn what the Straw Hats are up to after leaving Egghead. The Thousand Sunny suddenly disappears under the sea with Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper. On the Elbaf ship, the other Straw Hats as well as Bonney, Lilith, and the giants stare in shock as the ship goes under. The chapter then ends with Nami waking up in an unfamiliar room. 

What’s going to happen next? 

This might be the end of the Thousand Sunny as we know it. Will the Straw Hats get a new ship or will the Thousand Sunny survive whatever’s going on? I’m not sure I can handle another Going Merry moment. The Straw Hats who disappeared are the original crew and the ones who befriended Vivi all those years ago. With Vivi on the run, this would be a great time for a reunion. It could also be the Revolutionary Army since it’s implied Dragon can create vortexes in the ocean. Could he finally be ready to meet Luffy? 

Shanks sinking the Bartolomeo pirates doesn’t end the “secretly a villain” allegations, but they did burn his flag. He can’t let that slide. The Red Hair Pirates are certainly capable of worse. Is this Shanks’ way of making sure Luffy’s Fleet is tough? And speaking of villains,  who knows what nefarious plan Blackbeard has up his sleeve now that he has Garp. 

One Piece chapter 1126 will be released on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8am PT. 

To no one’s surprise, the insight into the Straw Hats’ families is limited — exactly as Oda intended when writing One Piece. After all, let’s not forget that the reason we still don’t know Luffy’s mother is because Oda believes mothers always oppose fun and adventure.

Generally speaking, Oda only includes information he deems relevant to the story. While we can appreciate this pragmatic approach, we still crave the nitty-gritty details about these characters. For instance, it’s fully confirmed that Ryuma is Zoro’s ancestor — but we only got this confirmation through an SBS, much to my own chagrin.

Now, there has been some speculation going around social media about Queen being Franky’s father, but is it confirmed? Why is it even a theory? Let’s go over that real quick and put an end to the rumors.

Who is Franky’s dad in One Piece?

We still don’t know if Queen is truly Franky’s father, but it is possible. The theory originated from the Vivre Cards, the One Piece Visual Dictionary, which is essentially a collection of cards that provide information about characters and even islands. You might have seen translations of these cards circulating on social media already, and in Queen’s Vivre Card, there’s a timeline indicating that 36 years ago — three years before being recruited by Kaidou — Queen had a child.

This immediately raised eyebrows, as Franky was born exactly 36 years ago. But the eerie part comes next. The Vivre Card states that 26 years ago, Queen abandoned his child to join the Beast Pirates. As we know from Water 7, Franky was 10 years old when he was abandoned by his parents, who threw him off a ship to pursue a life of piracy. This oddly specific timeline in Queen’s life perfectly aligns with Franky’s birth and subsequent abandonment, and the stories seem to match.

For this reason, many fans did the math, and it seems likely that the Vivre Card was hinting that Queen is indeed Franky’s father. However, here’s the catch: while the Vivre Cards are supervised and sometimes even written by Oda himself, they can contain outdated or incorrect information — and it does happen quite often.

In fact, there’s a specific section for redacted and wrong information on the Vivre Card’s website. For instance, a Vivre Card indicated that Momonosuke’s fruit was a SMILE, and later on, Oda confirmed and corrected, through a SBS, that Momo’s devil fruit had a different composition from SMILEs.

So while the timelines of events match — almost perfectly — there is no exact confirmation that Queen is Franky’s father. We also don’t know for sure if this kind of connection was even considered by Oda during Wano, as there wasn’t a single moment of interaction between Queen and Franky. For now, we’ll have to wait until someone asks Oda during an SBS, and if it turns out to be true, we were definitely robbed of a personal fight in Wano.

Every anime fan knows that some series can run for a very (very) long time. Isn’t that exactly why many of us put off watching One Piece until our friends wouldn’t stop nagging us about it and threatening to end our friendship? It’s practically a rite of passage at this point.

Imagine our surprise when we discovered that there are even older and longer-running anime out there — some of which you might never have heard of. Actually, I take that back because many of them are children’s anime that we all grew up watching — and if you didn’t, you were watching the wrong channels. You might also be surprised that some titles, like Dragon Ball, are not part of the longest-running anime series of all time —simply because they aren’t comprised of a single, continuous series. Shucks.

So, if you’re even remotely curious about which anime have stood the test of time, persevering where others have faltered with barely any breaks, we’ve got you covered, as always.

10. One Piece (1999 – present)

Despite what you might have assumed from our introduction, One Piece is one of the big Shounen that did make the cut for the longest-running anime list, though not by much. Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus was first televised in Japan in 1999, making it 25 years old this year (yes, we feel old). Aside from the occasional breaks from Toei Animation, One Piece — both the anime and the manga — has never truly stopped releasing new episodes and chapters. With over 1,100 episodes, it is one of the longest-running anime of all time.

9. Ojarumaru (1998 – present)

Ojarumaru is exactly the type of niche anime you wouldn’t normally think would be on this list — especially since it never really became popular outside of Japan. However, its family-friendly format has earned it the status of one of the longest-running anime of all time since 1998.

Despite not being widely broadcast outside of Asia, Ojarumaru remains a staple kids’ show in Japan. Created by Rin Inumaru in 1998, it is the second-longest-running anime on NHK and the ninth-longest-running anime on our list, with over 2,000 episodes.

8. Doraemon (1979 – 2005)

Anyone who grew up watching Doraemon won’t be surprised to learn that it is still one of the longest-running animated series of all time. Telling the story of Doraemon, an earless robotic cat, and Nobita, his unlucky and lazy owner, Doraemon became a huge phenomenon from the moment it first aired in 1979 — especially in Asia and Southern Europe.

While its second iteration began in 1979 and ended in 2005, the series had another adaptation that started in 2005, and if we considered it for the list, Doraemon would rank even higher. But for the sake of continuity, we’re only considering the 1979 version, which lasted for 26 years.

7. Pokémon The Series (1997 – 2023)

Pokémon is, unsurprisingly, an anime that has surpassed generation barriers for decades. Since its first episode aired 28 years ago, Pokémon has been a constant presence in our lives, with films, games, and new episodes releasing periodically.

Unlike Dragon Ball, which has gone through various iterations, studios, and series, Pokémon has steadily produced and released episodes since 1997 under the same company, with only two main series released: Pokémon The Series, which ended last year, and its sequel, Pokémon Horizons: The Series.

6. Case Closed (1994 – Present)

Also known as Detective Conan, Case Closed is another show many of us grew up watching. It follows the story of detective Shinichi Kudo, who is still solving crimes despite having his body transformed into that of a high school student. Over the years, Case Closed has become known not only for its appeal to younger audiences but also for its longevity. Its first episode aired in 1994, adapted from the manga series by Gosho Aoyama, and to this day, it continues to grace our screens with over 1,000 episodes.

5. Chibi Maruko-chan (1995 – Present)

Chibi Maruko-chan is another anime many non-Japanese viewers will have missed. Created by Momoko Sakura, this is a wholesome manga and anime that depicts the life of Momoko Sakura and her daily adventures with her family in suburban Japan in 1974. Known as a children’s series, Chibi Maruko-chan remains a beloved anime in Japan across generations, despite lacking popularity in the West. Still, it continues to air new episodes, and after 29 years, it has amassed over 1,400 episodes.

4. Ninjaboy Rantaro (1993 – Present)

Ninjaboy Rantaro, also known as Nintama Rantaro, might be unfamiliar. It’s yet another example of a show that remains incredibly popular in Japan and Asia but – shamefully – may not have even aired in most Western countries. The story follows Nintama Rantarō and his friends, who attend a school for budding ninjas. The anime, inspired by the manga by Sōbe Amako, first aired 31 years ago, in 1993.

3. Crayon Shin-chan (1992 – Present)

A far more popular title in the top 3 is Crayon Shin-chan. This anime series aired its first episode in 1992, and to this day, new episodes are still released regularly. Unlike many entries on this list, Shin-chan became quite popular in the West, with an English dub making it widely accessible across the U.S. in 2001. While this show might not be the best choice for children, Shin Nohara’s mischievous and often inappropriate behavior makes it a perfect show for a fun binge-watching session with family.

2. Soreike! Anpanman (1988 – Present)

The second longest-running anime series of all time is Soreike! Anpanman. Once again, this is the type of show that didn’t gain much momentum in the West, but across Asian countries, Anpanman remains an absolute staple for many anime fans.

The first episode aired in 1988, and the story, adapted from Takashi Yanase’s picture book series, is still airing today. Anpanman has arguably earned the title of one of the most successful and commercialized shows and characters in Asia, becoming the inspiration for many shows, including One Punch Man, and even songs like BTS’ “Anpanman.”

1. Sazae-san (1969 – Present)

The number one spot for the longest-running anime series of all time is, by a mile, Sazae-san. Following the story of Sazae Fuguta and her family, Sazae-san first aired in 1969 and has remained a steadfast presence in Japanese households every Sunday night for over 55 years(!). The series has managed to keep its beloved vintage art style, which continues to attract both old and new viewers. With over 2,500 episodes, it easily holds the record as the longest-running anime of all time.

With over 1,100 episodes and counting, One Piece is pretty much in a league of its own among the major crossover anime. If you haven’t started it yet, you have a long road ahead of you, but one of the best ways to enjoy One Piece is through the movies.

The Straw Hat Pirates, led by the iconic Monkey D. Luffy, have a lot of adventures outside of the original manga and anime. However, not every film in the One Piece universe is considered canon. There are 15 movies so far, and the first, One Piece: The Movie, came out in 1999. While the films mostly involve separate stories from the series, they take place between its events.

In what order do I watch the One Piece movies?

Here’s the correct viewing order for each One Piece movie:

• One Piece: The Movie (2000)
• One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure (2001)
• One Piece: Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals (2002)
• One Piece: Dead End Adventure (2003)
• The Cursed Holy Sword (2004)
• One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island (2005)
• One Piece: The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle (2006)
• One Piece – Episode of Arabasta: The Desert Princess and the Pirates (2007)
• One Piece – Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in Winter, Miracle Sakura (2008)
• One Piece Film: Strong World (2009)
• One Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chase (2011)
• One Piece Film: Z (2012)
• One Piece Film: Gold (2016)
• One Piece: Stampede (2019)
• One Piece Film: Red (2022)

As most die-hard fans will testify, the One Piece movies that were released post-2008 are where the magic really happens. Here’s a rundown of the best movies, if you’re prioritizing storylines, action sequences, and animation quality.

One Piece Film: Strong World (2009)

Strong World was birthed for One Piece‘s 10th anniversary, and it follows the legendary pirate Shiki, who escaped from the infamous Impel Down prison. He kidnaps Nami and forces the Straw Hats into a deadly game on his floating islands. With Nami’s life hanging in the balance, Luffy and the crew must use all their skills to defeat Shiki and his monstrous beasts, leading to an epic showdown that tests their limits.

One Piece Film: Z (2012)

In One Piece Fim: Z, the crew faces off against Zephyr, also known as Z, a former Marine admiral who seeks to end all pirates with a devastating weapon. Driven by a deep hatred for pirates, Z’s mission threatens to bring the world to its knees. Luffy and his crew must stop him before his plan spirals out of control, leading to a climactic battle with high emotional stakes. Z became a game-changer in the One Piece film series because of the intense action scenes and significant upgrades in animation quality.

One Piece Film: Gold (2016)

Gold is a follow-up to the TV special, One Piece: Heart of Gold. The Straw Hat Pirates visit Gran Tesoro, a glittering city of gold ruled by the wealthy and corrupt Gild Tesoro. What starts as a fun-filled trip quickly turns into a high-stakes battle as they uncover Tesoro’s sinister plot to control the world. The crew must outsmart this powerful foe to escape with their lives — and maybe a bit of gold. One Piece Film: Gold is flashy, fun, and gives off major casino heist vibes.

One Piece: Stampede (2019)

A more recent addition to the One Piece film series, Stampede launched on Aug. 9, 2019, and commemorated the anime’s 20th anniversary. Here, the Straw Hats join a massive pirate festival where the biggest names in piracy gather to compete for a treasure left by Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King. What begins as a friendly competition quickly escalates into chaos when a powerful and dangerous figure enters the fray, turning the festival into a deadly battle royale. The crew must fight for survival while navigating old rivals and new allies in this action-packed film. One Piece: Stampede is a love letter to fans, featuring a huge cast of our favorite pirates and marines.

Related: 10 Best One Piece Characters via Attack of the Fanboy

One Piece Film: Red (2022)

Red is a musical adventure with emotional depth, perfect for fans of the series’ lore. Here, the Straw Hats attend a grand concert by Uta, the world’s most famous singer, whose voice has the power to bring peace or destruction. As the event unfolds, Luffy reveals that Uta is his childhood friend, and also Shanks’ daughter. The concert eventually becomes a fight for survival as dark secrets from Uta’s past come to light, challenging the crew’s resolve.

Very few pieces of media can compete with One Piece‘s longevity. As much as we’d love to say there are other anime like One Piece, for better and for worse that’s unfortunately not the case

While we can’t help but praise Eiichiro Oda for his masterful worldbuilding, we also feel a bit guilty about recommending One Piece to our friends. It’s not that they won’t get swept up in the adventure of a lifetime — they absolutely will. But we also know that One Piece is not an easy anime to dive into, largely due to its sheer length.

After 25 years in the making, One Piece has understatedly amassed a gigantic number of episodes, and it’s no surprise that this can be intimidating for new fans. That’s why we’ve decided to make your life just a tad bit easier, so you can finally embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

How to watch One Piece in order

The watch order for One Piece is fairly straightforward: start with the first episode and continue onward. The tricky part, however, comes with the movies, fillers, and television specials — all of which you can skip without compromising the integrity of the story. But for the sake of completeness, here’s the perfect watch order if you want to watch every single minute of One Piece that’s available to you.

East Blue Saga:

• One Piece Episodes 1 – 3 (Romance Dawn arc)
• One Piece Episodes 4 – 8 (Orange Town Arc)
• One Piece: Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack! (OVA)
• One Piece Episodes 9 – 18 (Syrup Village arc)
• One Piece: The Movie
• One Piece Episodes 19 – 30 (Baratie arc)
• One Piece Episodes 31 – 44 (Arlong Park arc)
• One Piece Episode 45 (Loguetown arc)
• One Piece Episodes 46 to 47 (Buggy’s Crew Adventure Chronicles filler)
• One Piece Episodes 48-53 (Loguetown arc continuation)
• One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure
• One Piece TV Special: Adventure in the Ocean’s Navel
• One Piece: Jango’s Dance Carnival
• One Piece Episodes 54 – 61 (Warship Island filler arc)
• One Piece: Episode of East Blue: Luffy and his 4 Crewmates’ Big Adventure

Alabasta Saga

• One Piece Episodes 62 – 63 (Reverse Mountain Arc)
• One Piece Episodes 64 – 67 (Whisky Peak Arc)
• One Piece Episodes 68 – 69 (Diary of Koby-Meppo filler)
• One Piece Episodes 70 to 77 (Little Garden arc)
• One Piece Episodes 78 to 91 (Drum Island arc)
• One Piece: Dream Soccer King
• One Piece Episodes 92 – 130 (Alabasta arc)
• One Piece: The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta
• One Piece: Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals
• One Piece Episodes 131 to 135. (Post-Alabasta arc)

Sky Island Saga

• One Piece Episodes 136 – 138 (Goat Island filler arc)
• One Piece: Dead End Adventure
• One Piece: The Cursed Holy Sword
• One Piece: Open Upon the Great Sea! A Father’s Huge, HUGE Dream
• One Piece: Take Aim! The Pirate Baseball King
• One Piece Episodes 139 – 143 (Ruluka Island filler arc)
• One Piece Episodes 144 – 152 (Jaya arc)
• One Piece Episodes 153 to 195 (Skypiea arc)
• One Piece: Episode of the Sky Island
• One Piece Episodes 196 – 206 (G-8 filler arc)
• One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island

Water 7 Saga

• One Piece Episodes 207 – 219 (Long Ring Long Land arc)
• One Piece: Protect! The Last Great Stage
• One Piece Episodes 220 – 224 (Ocean’s Dream filler arc)
• One Piece Episodes 225 – 228 (Foxy’s Return arc)
• One Piece: Giant Mecha Soldier of Karakuri Castle
• One Piece Episodes 229 – 263 (Water 7 arc)
• One Piece Episodes 264 – 290, 293 to 302, 304 to 312 (Enies Lobby arc)
• One Piece Episodes 291 – 292, 303, 406 to 407 (Boss Luffy Historical Specials- filler)
• One Piece Episodes 313 – 325 (Post-Enies Lobby arc)
• One Piece: Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Cherry Blossom

Thriller Bark Saga

• One Piece Episodes 326 – 335 (Ice Hunter filler arc)
• One Piece Episode 336 (Chopper Man Special – filler)
• One Piece Episodes 337 – 381 (Thriller Bark arc)
• One Piece Episodes 382 – 384 (Spa Island arc)

Summit War Saga

• One Piece Strong World Episode 0 (OVA)
• One Piece Movie: Strong World
• One Piece: Straw Hat Chase (Short)
• One Piece 3D! Trap Coaster (Short)
• One Piece: Romance Dawn Story
• One Piece Episodes 385 – 405 (Sabaody Archipelago arc)
• One Piece Episodes 408 – 417 (Amazon Lily arc)
• One Piece Episodes 418 – 421 (Straw Hats Separation Serial arc)
• One Piece Episodes 422 – 425 (Impel Down arc)
• One Piece Episodes 426 – 429 (Little East Blue filler arc)
• One Piece Episodes 430 – 452 (Impel Down arc cont)
• One Piece Episodes 453 – 456 (Straw Hats Separation Serial arc cont)
• One Piece Episodes 457 – 489 (Marineford Arc)
• One Piece Episodes 490 – 491 (Post-War arc)
• One Piece Episode 492 (Toriko Crossover)
• One Piece: 3D2Y

One Piece post-time-skip: Fish-Man Island Saga

• One Piece Episodes 517 – 522 (Return to Sabaody arc)
• One Piece: Episode of Nami: Tears of a Navigator and the Bonds of Friends
• One Piece Episodes 523 – 541 (Fish-Man Island arc)
• One Piece Episode 542 (Toriko Crossover)
• One Piece Episodes 543-574 (Fish-Man Island arc cont)

Dressrosa Saga

• One Piece Episodes 575-578 (Z’s Ambition filler arc)
• One Piece: Glorious Island Part 1
• One Piece: Glorious Island Part 2
• One Piece Film: Z
• One Piece Episode of Luffy: Adventure on Hand Island
• One Piece: Adventure of Nebulandia
• One Piece Episodes 579 – 589 (Punk Hazard arc)
• One Piece Episode 590 (Toriko & Dragon Ball Crossover)
• One Piece Episodes 591 – 625 (Punk Hazard arc cont)
• One Piece: Episode of Merry: The Tale of One More Friend
• One Piece Episodes 626 – 628 (Caesar Retrieval filler arc)
• One Piece Episodes 629 – 746 (Dressrosa arc)
• One Piece: Episode of Sabo: The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and Inherited Will

Whole Cake Island Saga

• One Piece Episodes 747 – 750 (Silver Mine filler arc)
• One Piece: Heart of Gold
• One Piece Film: Gold Episode 0
• One Piece Film: Gold
• One Piece Episodes 751 – 779 (Zou arc)
• One Piece Episodes 780 – 782 (Marine Rookie arc)
• One Piece Episodes 783 – 877 (Whole Cake Island arc)
• One Piece Episodes 878 – 889 (Levely arc)

Wano Country Saga

• One Piece Episodes 890 – 894 (Wano Country arc – Act 1)
• One Piece Episodes 895 – 896 (Cidre Guild filler arc)
• One Piece: Stampede
• One Piece Episodes 897 – 906 (Wano Country arc – Act 2)
• One Piece: Anime 20th Anniversary Special: Episode 907
• One Piece Episodes 959 – 1028 (Wano Country arc – Act 3)
• One Piece Episodes 1029 -1030 (Uta’s Past filler arc)
• One Piece Film: Red
• One Piece Episodes 1031 – 1085 (Wano Country arc – Act 3, cont)

The Final Saga

• One Piece Episodes 1086 – Present (Egghead arc)

You might notice that an episode or two is missing from this watch order, and that’s intentional. Given One Piece‘s length, Toei Animation often includes a few episodes solely for recap purposes. These episodes aren’t at all needed to understand the story, and if you prefer to skip them, here they are:

• Episode 50
• Episode 99
• Episode 102
• Episodes 213-214
• Episodes 279-283
• Episodes 291-292
• Episode 303
• Episodes 317-318
• Episode 336
• Episode 406-407
• Episode 457-458
• Episode 492
• Episode 499
• Episode 542
• Episode 590
• Episode 907

Should I watch the One Piece live-action before the anime?

You don’t need to watch Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation before watching the anime or reading the manga. While the live-action series serves as a great introduction to the story for those who might feel overwhelmed by the world of Japanese anime, it doesn’t add anything new to the original story – if anything, it only changes it for the worse.

If you want to include the live-action in your marathon, it’s best to watch it first and then follow up with the anime. This is because the live-action adaptation takes some liberties with the original story, skipping certain scenes and even some characters. I strongly recommend not skipping the anime, and you can watch it on Crunchyroll, where dubbed and subtitled versions are available.

Any One Piece fan knows by now that Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus is far from being just a funny little comic about pirates. We’ve read about classism, genocide, slavery, tyranny, racism, and child labor — all while reading what many believe to be a silly little shounen.

As Oda introduced the many different races in the One Piece universe, he intentionally presented them with some sort of socio-political commentary. Arcs such as Fish-man Island and Sabaody Archipelago touch on topics like segregation and slavery, further expanding on some of the most commonly seen races in the story: Merfolk and Fish-men. Since then, more and more races and tribes have been introduced to the story.

We now know for certain that races have long been persecuted for their uniqueness by the likes of the World Government. For what ends, though, we couldn’t tell you for sure, but something definitely smells fishy. Pun intended. With that said, let’s explore all the known races in One Piece thus far.

Humans

Humans are, by default, the vast majority of the characters we meet in One Piece. They’re the rulers of the world, with the World Government being founded and operated by humans. Unlike what we may be led to believe, in the One Piece universe, humans are not necessarily tied to a small stature. They can be up to 26 feet tall (8 meters) and even have animalistic traits like horns or scales. Gigantic heads or other unusual features are also not uncommon traits among humans.

Giants

One of the first races introduced in the story is the Giants. Physically, they’re not much different from humans — aside from their enormous size. They are, by far, the largest and tallest sentient creatures in the story, with the smallest giant recorded in history being 12 meters tall. We’ve long known that the Giants’ home country is Elbaf, but there is more than one type of Giant. We have ancient giants, like Oars and Little Oars Jr., who are distinguished by their horns and unusual skin tone. Additionally, we have the Yeti Cool Brothers, who are likely from a different giant tribe as well.

Fish-men

Fishmen are, most likely, the One Piece race we’ve grown most accustomed to. As the name implies, Fish-men are hominids with traits reminiscent of aquatic creatures like sharks, whales, or even octopi. They often have unusual features like an extra arm, leg, or sharp teeth. They have both lungs and gills, allowing them to live on land and in the sea, as we’ve seen in Arlong Park. Generally, Fishmen are the conduit characters to the theme of race and by proxy, racism, in One Piece, and we even have Jinbe among our Straw Hats.

Tribes

Truthfully, if we were to name all the different tribes in One Piece, we’d never leave this article with a sane mind. For your sake and ours, we’ll just touch on some of the most important tribes we’ve encountered over the years. You may recall the Kuja Tribe, led by our very own Boa Hancock. Although they may look like humans in nearly every aspect, they have some key differences. The Kuja Tribe has an aptitude for learning Haki, they are inherently connected with snakes and are known for only giving birth to women.

The Mink Tribe are also characters we’ve grown accustomed to in Zou. They are essentially humanoids who possess features of mammal animals like rabbits, cats, or dogs. We also have the Three-Eyed Tribe, represented by Pudding in Whole Cake Island. We know for sure that she’s been persecuted for her powers and, most of all, her unusual appearance and third eye.

Merfolk

Merfolk also play an important role in One Piece. Unsurprisingly, merfolk are creatures that have the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish. Much like Fishmen, merfolk are capable of living on land. However, mermen are not able to walk on two legs, whereas mermaids’ tails can split in half when they turn 30, allowing them to walk. We’ve met our fair share of mermaids, from Shirahoshi to Camie and Kokoro, and by now, the Straw Hats have long established a good relationship with the merfolk. Just don’t let Sanji catch sight of Mermaid Island again.

Skypieans

Also known as Sky People, Skypieans are a race of people that live on various islands clouds in the sky. They’re mostly reminiscent of humans, with one very obvious difference: they have small wings on their backs. Generally, Skypieans are a peaceful group, and throughout the Sky Island arc, we’ve met quite a few of the residents on the Angel Island, like Mochi and Gan Fall.

Moon People

Moon People are different from Skypieans in that these winged extraterrestrial creatures originated on the Moon and are considered an ancient civilization. They are the ancestors of Skypieans, Shandians, and Birkians. They were forced to migrate to the Sky Islands due to a lack of resources, settling and expanding there. They mostly resemble humans, but like Skypieans, they also have small wings on their backs. Generally, the Straw Hats didn’t interact with Moon People, but we know of their existence due to ancient drawings from the Skypiea arc.

Shandia

Much like the Moon People, the Shandia tribe was a group forced to relocate and adapt to the Sky Islands. However, unlike the Moon People, the Shandia tribe were actually forced out of Jaya and the Blue Sea, sent above by the Knock Up Stream. They have a strong history tied to Mont Blanc Noland, and have adopted many characteristics from the Skypieans, such as the usage of modern clothing. Physically, they also have wings, albeit much larger than those of the other Sky Island residents — aside from Birkans.

Birkans

Birkans are a race of people hailing from the sky island of Birka. Although we don’t know how many survivors remain after Enel decided to obliterate his homeland, we do know that the few survivors completely worshipped Enel. So much so, that details of their past customs are clouded by Enel’s presence and their devotion to him. Their appearance tends to resemble humans; however, they are known for their larger wings that point downwards, except for Enel, who has no wings whatsoever.

Dwarves

We met dwarves in One Piece already, and as you can imagine, they’re humanoids that are incredibly small, have fluffy tails, and pointy noses. They are so small that they would fit in the palm of an average-sized human. Up until now, the Straw Hats have only encountered the Tontatta tribe of dwarves near Dressrosa, but we’ve already become acquainted with their quirks. Dwarves have incredible strength for their size, capable of even damaging buildings, and they also have above-average speed.

Lunarians

Lunarians are a race that was believed to be extinct until we met King. He is the only member of this race believed to be alive, though Vegapunk has briefly mentioned that there are a few Lunarians left in the world, alluding to the possibility of more Lunarians existing aside from King. We know that they can generate and manipulate flames and that physically, they are known for their brown skin, silver-white hair, and large, dark wings. Their scarcity in numbers, likely due to persecution, is also one of the many reasons why Big Mom had an increasing interest in King.

Kinokobito

For the sake of accuracy, we’re adding Kinokobitos to the list, although no information is known about them other than their mushroom-shaped bodies and four-legged humanoid figures. We have only seen one example of this race — in Big Mom’s room, as part of her race collection.

Hybrids

Hybrids, as the name suggests, are composed of mixed-race individuals in the story, and we’ve met plenty of them. Big Mom’s offspring are often prime examples of hybrid characters, with many of her children being half mermaids, or half Snakeneck. We have also met Wotans, who are half Fish-Man and half giant, and Buccaneers, exemplified by Kuma, who are a near-extinct race stemming from a common ancestor, with some giant ancestry — making them an almost full-blooded race with semi-hybrid qualities.