One Piece recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the anime’s very first broadcast in Japan with a brand new special, and One Piece Fan Letter is anything but “filler” for the anime’s story. One Piece Fan Letter made its debut earlier this month, and quickly became regarded as one of the best anime specials of all time. It’s been ranking high with fans ever since its debut as One Piece celebrates how far its come in the 25 years since its release, but there’s been a bit of debate about the content for the episode itself as fans wonder about its place in the canon.

One Piece Fan Letter tells a story during a very important time in the Straw Hats’ journey. Taking place after the events of Marineford as Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats gather at the Sabaody Archipelago, the anime special showcases the events through different characters’ perspectives. But while it’s revealing how other characters saw the events, it’s far from being “filler.” It’s an officially recognized part of the original canon, and it’s not even what “filler” is supposed to refer to when talking about anime releases anyway. It’s far from it.

What Is Filler Anyway?

To further debunk whether or not One Piece Fan Letter as filler, it’s time to explain what “filler” refers to anyway. To put it simply, it’s additional materials exclusive to an anime that have been created to give the manga release more time to develop. It happens quite a bit with TV anime adaptations taking on a then in-progress weekly manga series. It’s when during scheduling, the anime’s content is quickly approaching the most recent chapters of the manga. Thus the anime team then decides to instead craft an original story to help further distance their materials from the manga.

In One Piece‘s case, “filler” arcs exclusive to the anime release include the likes of the Ice Hunter arc from Episodes 326-335 ahead of Thriller Bark, or G-8 (from Episodes 196-206) ahead of Long Ring Long. These arcs aren’t seen in Eiichiro Oda’s original One Piece manga, and thus is literal content made to fill time. Thus it had been dubbed by fans as “filler” because it’s considered non-canonical to the events of the series as anything that happens in these arcs usually is not considered important to anything that could happen later. It’s even gotten to the point where fans have even shared edited versions of the anime to make the experience faster without these extra episodes. But that’s not One Piece Fan Letter.

Why One Piece Fan Letter Isn’t Filler

First of all, One Piece Fan Letter isn’t something the anime produced to fill time. As production on the weekly series goes on hiatus until next April for the second half of the Egghead Arc, One Piece Fan Letter is an additional project released to celebrate the 25th anniversary. It’s something that was produced alongside with the anime, and not just meant to fill time on the schedule. Secondly, it’s adapting a novel that’s been recognized by Oda as part of the official One Piece timeline. Therefore, it’s part of the main series’ canon.

One Piece Fan Letter adapts material from the One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories spinoff novel written by Tomohito Ohsaki. This novel doesn’t shake up anything that happened during the Sabaody Archipelago, and doesn’t really shift any big moments to make them worse. It’s only making everything more fleshed out and full as One Piece fans actually get a new perspective on what the Straw Hats had been up to. It’s not like it’s a completely different story than seen in the manga.

Although it’s not adapting the manga, it’s by far from being a piece of “filler” meant to just buy time. It’s just an extra anime special adapting one of the many canonical side stories that have been released in novels and other materials that fans of the anime might not be entirely privy too. And with it being the only new piece of One Piece anime we’re going to get in several months, One Piece Fan Letter thankfully exists as, ironically, a way to fill the time until we get those new episodes.

The post No, One Piece Fan Letter Is Not Filler and Here’s Why appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is now in the midst of the Final Saga of Eiichiro Oda’s long running manga and anime franchise, and it should really come circle and fully make Vivi Nefertari the final member of the Straw Hat crew before it all comes to an end. One Piece is currently in the middle of quite the lengthy break for both the manga and anime releases as both productions prepare for what’s coming next, and it’s likely that Vivi is going to play a key role in how the grand finale all comes together. So she just needs to be a full member of the crew.

One Piece initially began with Luffy teasing that he wanted ten people to join his crew, and has since grown his crew to ten strong with the latest addition of Jimbei during the events of the Whole Cake Island and Wano Country arcs. While those arcs also offered the opportunity for additional members of the crew like fan favorites such as Yamato, there’s still one character who can serve an important role in the crew that already has a place within it, Vivi. All that’s left to do is fully bring her into the crew as the Straw Hats head towards the One Piece treasure.

Vivi Has An Important Role in the Straw Hats

One Piece already made Vivi a member of the crew but the timing just didn’t work out. Even before the events of the Alabasta arc, Vivi had already made a place for herself within the crew. Not only did her diplomacy keep Luffy and the others safe through some tricky situations, but that also revealed her role in the crew overall. Because each member of the crew serves a purpose to the adventure overall, any permanent member of the Straw Hats would need to add something to the dynamic that wasn’t already there.

As member of royalty, Vivi is aware of how to navigate the things that Luffy and the others aren’t really going to be able to. Vivi not only will have a place within the royal system, but it will also serve as a bridge between pirates and the world government as a result. That’s going to be incredibly important when all of this comes to an end. Because when Luffy and the others find the One Piece, it might be the end of the series but it’s far going to be the end of Luffy and the others’ lives. They’re going to need to navigate a new sea after it all, and Vivi serves that important leadership role.

Vivi’s Already a Straw Hat

While Vivi should be the final member of the Straw Hat crew added before the series comes to an end, she’s technically a member of the crew still. She had to separate from each of them following Alabasta, but it’s really only been a matter of time before she actually joins. That seems more real than ever thanks to the new reveals in the Egghead Arc as well as Vivi was revealed to have a D. in her name, and now is in hiding from the World Government.

It’s really only a member of time before she joins up with the Straw Hats again during all of this turmoil as they will honestly provide the best protection for her moving forward. As a Straw Hat she’ll help them figure out some things that they’re not aware of, and her knowledge of Alabasta’s past and her blood connection to a former rival of Imu likely makes her one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle heading into the grand finale. And just in terms of characters overall, Vivi’s already proven to have a memorable dynamic with the rest of the crew already. Just make it permanent.

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One Piece’s anime might be taking a break until April when it comes to the final saga but the manga series is still releasing new chapters on a nearly weekly schedule. Following the wild battle taking place on Future Island, the Straw Hat Pirates have made their way to an island that has been talked about for decades. While Luffy and his crew break down everything that has happened in their recent adventures, Monkey comes across a major character that has been referenced in the past. The arrival of said character not only sparks some potential major events but also pays homage to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s resident trickster god.

Warning. If you have yet to read the latest chapter of One Piece, Chapter 1130, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into spoiler territory. The Straw Hats have finally made their way to the land of the giants, Elbaph, and Luffy and company are attempting to focus on the future and the past. As Nico Robin explains, the Straw Hats have been blamed by the World Government for the death of Vegapunk and even the giants Brogy and Dorry have received massive bounties on their heads in the process of helping Luffy’s crew. Setting out on his own, Luffy comes face-to-face with the giant Loki, who has a foreboding prophecy surrounding his current imprisonment.

Marvel’s Loki Vs. Anime Loki

While One Piece’s Loki and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Asgardian god might be far different from one another, the shonen series dropped a massive easter egg to the latter with its latest chapter. In the MCU, the current Loki who is the star of the two season television series on Disney+ is “Variant 1130”, the same number as the latest chapter. Giving One Piece its own Loki in this particular chapter makes for such a coincidence that many anime fans believe it isn’t a coincidence at all.

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Who is The Loki of One Piece?

One Piece’s giant has a far different origin story than Marvel’s iteration of the Norse god. Born as a prince of Ebaph, Loki was once set to be married to none other than Big Mom herself, Charlotte Lola, as part of a proposal to ally the giants’ land with the Big Mom Pirates. This Loki was imprisoned by Elbaph’s populace thanks to killing his father, Harald, in search of a legendary Devil Fruit. Should Loki be freed, he will bring about the destruction of the world, or so the giant says.

Monkey comes across Loki in a rather legendary environment known as “War-Land”, Elbaph’s “Kingdom of Warriors.” As stated by the imprisoned giant, War-Land was once “the most powerful nation in the world, which once lived and breathed warfare.” How this new environment and Loki come into play in the final saga is anyone’s guess though Luffy encountering him might just make for a major milestone in the Straw Hats’ journey in discovering the One Piece.

For fans hoping to see this scene animated, you might be waiting for some time. As previously mentioned, One Piece’s anime is taking a break from the final saga until April of next year, giving the manga time to build its story and the animators a much-deserved break. Even Oda is taking a brief hiatus from the manga, though shockingly, not to take a vacation but rather, to work on the second season of Netflix’s live-action adaptation. Despite the hiatuses, now is one of the best times to be a fan of the Grand Line.

Want to stay up to date on the Grand Line’s trickster god? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Straw Hat Pirates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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One Piece Fan Letter was a special new anime commemorate the 25th anniversary broadcast of One Piece’s first anime episode, and it really proved that Marineford really is the best arc in the series to date. One Piece might be taking a lengthy break for the anime as the staff behind the scenes gets ready for the next phase of the Egghead Arc, but it’s impressive that the series has been running weekly for as long as it has even with some of the huge events it’s been adapting from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga series. Looking back, the biggest of which is definitely the Paramount War at Marineford.

Marineford was a major turning point for One Piece that marked the halfway point of Eiichiro Oda’s original manga and the TV anime adaptation. It was the culmination of years worth of buildup in a massive war bringing in tons of characters to the frontlines for the first time, and ended up changing the rest of the series in the years to come. Some of these changes we’re actually still seeing revealed for the first real time, and that’s especially true thanks to the new perspectives and characters offered from the anime special, One Piece Fan Letter.

One Piece Fan Letter Reveals New Side of Marineford

Directed by Megumi Ishitani, One Piece Fan Letter adapts material from the One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories spinoff novel written by Tomohito Ohsaki. Taking place right after its big timeskip, it showcases how others in the One Piece world see everything that Luffy and the Straw Hats had been doing up to that point. But the most revelatory aspect of the new special was the new look at the Paramount War that took place at Marineford. While the series was fully revealing in just how many people were actually involved in the conflict, the new anime helps to fully emphasize just how many unnamed people were involved in it all.

Marineford was game changing for everything that happened to Luffy alone, and it’s impact on the Marines changed them forever as well. It led to them wanting to dissolve the Seven Warlords system not long after, and develop powerful new weapons to make sure they were never caught in this kind of conflict again. This was also a new era for pirates as while Luffy suffered a massive loss through it all, he was since inspired for he and his crew to reach a suitable level of power to really make a name for themselves in the New World in the years to come.

Why Marineford Still Matters

One Piece might have had other huge battles (with years long build up) happen since such as the climax of the Wano Country arc, but Marineford really was the end of an era both literally and figuratively. Because it’s where Whitebeard died, it was the first real shake up to the world powers in balance as one of the four Emperors of the Sea had fallen for the first real time. It was also where as a result of this, Blackbeard made his first big move that helped to firmly put his place as a new Emperor of the Sea to replace him. But unbeknownst to us at the time, the Marines were also making their move.

As a result of this, we’re seeing the Marines making some big changes to their arsenal in the current Egghead arc of the anime. The fallout of Marineford led them to develop a new wave of Pacifistas modeled after the Seven Warlords, and moved King Imu to start collecting the ancient weapons once hidden from history. It’s such a shake up for the world that Luffy is still seeing everything falling out from this key piece of his past. It made him a bigger target than ever before, and it’s what’s going to follow him through to the end of his journey.

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One Piece has been around for decades, and we have seen the anime put out a lot during its run. From feature films to recap specials, the Straw Hat crew has done plenty. Of course, that all eyes are on the anime nowadays as it is preparing for a big remaster. But before that project could even begin, well – it seems One Piece: Fan Letter has stepped forward to become of the top-rated anime titles of all time.

Sorry, Fullmetal Alchemist. Not even Attack on Titan could stop this beast. One Piece: Fan Letter is one of the few masterclasses we’ve been given in anime, and it deserves the top marks it is boasting.

ONE PIECE: FAN LETTER IS THE WORLD’S BEST SPECIAL

After all, the folks at My Anime List (MAL) are making it clear that One Piece has struck gold. Its latest anime special went live less than a week ago, and noise around the episode will not settle. Over on MAL, the anime is now the second highest-rated anime title of all time. It falls just below Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End which boasts a 9.32 rating. One Piece: Fan Latter is in second at 9.26, and third place goes to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood at 9.09.

If you are new to the anime fandom, you may not get the significance of this ranking. MAL has curated some of the most famous anime lists in the fandom, and its Top Anime ranking has long bowed to Fullmetal Alchemist. It was only after Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End went live that the show was dethroned, and now it has been knocked once more by One Piece. It is hard to believe the Elric Brothers have been overcome once more, but that is how anime works. As new masterpieces come to light, the fandom embraces them, and One Piece: Fan Letter is worthy of such praise.

Directed by Megumi Ishitani, the beloved animator flexed in bringing this special to life. From its color palette to its pacing and heartfelt motifs, One Piece: Fan Letter embodies the hope of the entire series. Momoka Toyoda penned a thoughtful script that illustrates the best (and worst) pieces of the One Piece fandom. And with music by Kouhei Tanaka, the anime special could not have been paired with better sound. Watching the special has been described as a spiritual experience by fans, and that kind of praise is not handed down very often.

WHAT ARE ANIME’S TOP-RATED TITLES?

Released less than a week ago, One Piece: Fan Letter is the most recent release to make it on MAL’s most famous list. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is up there as the fantasy series debuted in September 2023. However, for the most part, the anime titles found on the top list are from the ’10s.

For instance, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood began in early 2009, and it ran through July 2010 to great success. Steins;Gate is ranked in fourth place along with Attack on Titan in fifth. The top twenty list features a healthy mix of projects, of course, but older titles definitely pop up more frequently. So if you want to check out the fandom’s top anime picks, you can find them below:

1. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
2. One Piece: Fan Letter
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
4. Steins;Gate
5. Attack on Titan, Season 3B
6. Gintama (2015)
7. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Part 3
8. Gintama: The Final
9. Gintama (2011)
10. Hunter x Hunter (2011)
11. Gintama: Enchousen
12. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Part 1
13. Legend of the Galactic Heroes
14. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – Ultra Romantic
15. Gintama (2017)

What do you think about One Piece‘s latest special? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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One Piece has been in the game for decades, and it has earned its high marks. From a publication standpoint, the manga is one of the most reliable series on the market, and we have creator Eiichiro Oda to thank. The artist works like a madman throughout the year to bring the Straw Hat crew to life, but he does need to rest. In fact, One Piece is on a hiatus right now, but Oda is hardly resting as it turns out the break is tied to Netflix’s live-action hit.

Oh yeah, you read that right. Oda took a break from One Piece to work on… One Piece. During a recent TV appearance, Oda told fans his latest hiatus is tied to Netflix’s live-action series as it is now filming season two.

ONE PIECE’S CREATOR IS A BUSY, BUSY MAN

According to Oda, he just returned to Japan after visiting Cape Town, South Africa where Netflix’s show films. The artist would not say anything definitive about One Piece season two, but he did bring some souvenirs back from the set. Oda plans to reveal those goodies in the coming weeks as the One Piece manga will not return until the second week of November.

As for why Oda went away on business, well – One Piece is One Piece. It doesn’t matter what form the series takes, Oda is always going to have his fingers on the Straw Hat crew. When Netflix began courting Tomorrow Studios, the production company behind One Piece, Oda made it clear that he had to be involved with the adaptation. The existence of a live-action One Piece hinged on Oda’s involvement, and that is not it. The artist was also given veto powers, so Oda’s final say on One Piece is absolute.

Now, Netflix’s One Piece is moving forward with season two, and the show is a total hit. Upon its launch in 2023, the live-action show broke a slew of records as its ratings challenged Bridgerton and more. It did not take long for Netflix to order a second season of One Piece which Oda announced himself. So now that filming is underway, it is no surprise that Oda took time to visit set and see how his precious series is faring.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ONE PIECE SEASON 2?

As for what One Piece season two has in store, there is a lot in store. Oda confirmed earlier this year the season will start with Loguetown, and season two will carry on through Drum Island. This means the Arabasta arc will not being in full, but characters like Vivi and Miss All Sunday (or rather Nico Robin) will appear. Plus, the Drum Island arc includes the debut of Tony Tony Chopper, so fans are eager to meet the doctor IRL.

With its storyline stacked, co-showrunner Matt Owens has ushered in a slew of new stars for One Piece. As you can imagine, season two will have a lot of new faces pop up from Baroque Agents to Marines. We know actors like David Dastmalchian have been cast as the horror buff will play Mr. 3. Katey Sagal has been recruited as Dr. Kureha while Callum Kerr will bring Smoker to life. We will even get a peek at Mr. 0 courtesy of Joe Manganiello, and of course, the series has found its scholar. Lera Abova will bring Nico Robin to life, so now fans are just waiting to learn who is voicing Tony Tony Chopper.

No pressure, you know?

Currently, One Piece season two has not locked in a release window, but fans expect the series to drop in 2025. Filming is still underway as One Piece returned to set earlier this summer. In the meantime, you can find One Piece season one streaming on Netflix subbed and dubbed. And if you want to watch the Japanese audio, you can expect to hear the anime’s legendary voice actors appear in their respective roles.

What do you want to see from Netflix’s One Piece? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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One Piece has been around for decades, and in that time, the anime has done a lot. We have seen Monkey D. Luffy overcome the most intense obstacles on his journey to become the pirate king. From movies to specials, One Piece has done it all, and now it has a new project in the works. This fall, One Piece will begin its remaster of the Fish-Man Island arc, but the new anime was just hit by a delay.

Yes, that is right. Even series as big as One Piece can be delayed. The team at Toei Animation confirmed the delay earlier today, so One Piece fans can expect to revisit Fish-Man Island in early November.

ONE PIECE WAYLAYS ITS NEW PROJECT FOR THE MLB

“The first episode of One Piece: Special Edit – Fish-Man Island arc scheduled for October 27th has been delayed due to the live broadcasting of the MLB World Series,” the One Piece crew shared. “We apologize to everyone who was looking forward to the event. The episode is now scheduled for November 3rd. Please make sure to tune in.”

As you can see, we have Major League Baseball to thank for the delay. The Yankees and the Dodgers may be the only powers alive that can cause One Piece to push back a release date. After all, the MLB World Series has six games scheduled, and the first will go live on October 25th. However, the big problem comes with Game 2 on October 26th. When you account for the time difference with Japan, the game is airing during One Piece’s slot overseas. So rather than air the game on a delay, One Piece is moving.

And if you are wondering why the MLB World Series is so powerful, well – Japan really loves baseball. The game is considered a staple in Japan, and to make things more pressing, we have Shohei Ohtani to consider. The breakout athlete hails from Japan, and Ohtani is a designated hitter for the Dodgers. His fanbase in Japan is massive, so interest in the MLB World Series is higher than ever. So when push comes to shove, Ohtani vs Luffy has a clear winner when the World Series is involved.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE FISH-MAN ISLAND REMASTER?

Thankfully, the new anime will not have fans waiting long. One Piece will bring the remaster to life on November 3rd, and we have already been shown a sneak peek at the project. The Fish-Man Island remake will begin at the arc’s start, so fans will get to visit Sabaody soon. The island is where the Straw Hat crew reunited after their time away training. The gang will have new abilities to show off when its members reunite, and of course, Luffy’s team runs into trouble along the way.

The Fish-Man Island arc marks a turning point for the anime, so fans are very eager to see how its facelift looks. From new Dolby sound to updates visuals and color filters, One Piece is pulling out all the stops for this remaster. The Fish-Man Island arc is ready to channel the aesthetic of the Wano Country saga, so fans better brace themselves for the stylish makeover. Of course, the original version of the Fish-Man Island arc is still available to watch. The One Piece arc, which first hit television in 2011, can be streamed over on Hulu and Crunchyroll.

What do you make of this latest One Piece project? Are you excited to check out the remaster? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post One Piece Makes Last-Minute Delay to Its New Anime (and Here’s Why) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece Fan Letter was a new anime special celebrating the anime’s 25th anniversary, and the new special revealed just how bad of a Paramount War at Marineford it actually was for every other person involved. One Piece‘s official 25th anniversary broadcast over the weekend was commemorated with a new anime special taking on one of the more beloved spinoff novel releases. One Piece Fan Letter told the story from the perspective of everyday people within the One Piece world, and went to showcase that Luffy and the Straw Hats pirates have had a much bigger impact on the rest of the world than they ever planned.

One Piece Fan Letter takes place just when Luffy and the Straw Hats are reunited at the Saobody Archipelago after their two years spent training, and reveals the perspectives of some of the other characters in the world around them have had their lives changed because of Luffy. The biggest example is a set of Marine brothers who actually fought in the Paramount War. While it was definitely a heartbreaking an intense situation for Luffy, those without his level of power or influence were caught in quite the hellish battlefield as revealed in this new special.

One Piece’s Stealth Marineford War Remake

Directed by Megumi Ishitani, One Piece Fan Letter adapts material from the One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories spinoff novel written by Tomohito Ohsaki. This novel shows new sides of the Straw Hats seen through the eyes of other people in the world, and Luffy’s angle is the most intriguing. It involves a set of two brothers in the Marines. The older brother is clumsy, and has started to resent his younger brother who openly picks on him for moving up the Marine ladder much faster than the older one. But even with all of this, the younger brother has a soft spot for Luffy.

It’s revealed that during the Paramount War, both brothers were nearly killed in the crossfire of the Devil Fruit powers that had been fighting. Caught between Hawkeye Mihawk and Sir Crocodile, and nearly being squashed by a thrown pirate ship, these two brothers are basically the unseen Marines that littered the background of the war that Luffy (or fans) really didn’t care about. And from their perspective, it’s all very terrifying as the both of them barely escaped with their lives. But in seeing Luffy fight to rescue his brother, the younger brother is inspired to help his own.

Marineford Continues to Be Important in One Piece

The Paramount War represented a literal turning point in One Piece’s story as Luffy and the others have never been the same ever since. It was also when the wider world began to change as a whole, and through new perspectives like this fans get to see why it’s been such a game changing kind of event. Because it wasn’t just a war where Luffy lost his brother in the chaos, but it had an impact on the everyday lives of the people who don’t really have the power to fight back.

One Piece’s anime really went out on a high this year as the production for the series is going to go on a lengthy hiatus. The production team is entering a charging period for the next few months in order to get ready for what’s coming next in the Egghead Arc, and won’t be returning in full with new episodes until some time in April 2025. It will be launching with a new timeslot when it returns in Japan as well, but we won’t get information on that until Jump Festa 2025 later this December.

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One Piece is gearing up for a big new project, and anime fans are keeping an eye on the treat. Last week, the fandom was sent for a loop when One Piece announced its anime was taking a hiatus through April 2025. In the meantime, the show will keep fans fed with a remaster of the Fish-Man Island arc, and now, we have been given our very first look at the project.

As you can see above, the very first promo for the Fish-Man Island remaster is live, and the footage has us feelilng emotional. It has been over a decade since the arc was on the air, but One Piece fans look back upon the story with fondness. After all, the Fish-Man Island arc marks several major moments for the Straw Hat crew, and that includes their reunion after the Marineford War.

ONE PIECE REVISITS FISH-MAN ISLAND WITH A REMASTER

Graced with updated visuals and Dolby sound, this One Piece remaster is already looking strong. Toei Animation has announced this ‘special edit’ is meant to bring the Fish-Man Island arc in line with the anime’s latest arcs. This means some of the filters and visual additions from the Wano saga and the Egghead Island arc will appear in this remaster. And thanks to this new promo, we can see those filters are looking great on the Straw Hat crew.

On October 27th, the first episode of the Fish-Man Island remaster will go live, and it will follow the original One Piece arc as expected. The debut will follow the Straw Hat crew as the gang reunites on Sabaody after spending a couple years apart to train. While Luffy worked with Rayleigh to up his power, the rest of the Straw Hat crew trained hard to prepare for the Grand Line. The Fish-Man Island arc begins with our heroes reuniting at last, and they find themselves facing a rather strange threat.

I mean, it isn’t every day Luffy’s friends run into people impersonating them. A group of thugs are going around Sabaody pretending to be the Straw Hat crew, and the actual gang will teach the criminals a lesson when they reunite at the Thousand Sunny.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FISH-MAN ISLAND ARC

As you can imagine, One Piece fans are eager to see the anime bring back the Fish-Man Island arc. Not only does the storyline mark the end of One Piece‘s time skip after Marineford, but it kickstarts a new era for the Straw Hat crew. After training their bodies, the pirates are ready to navigate the Grand Line, and this arc puts them on the map. After all, Luffy makes a name for his crew with the Fish-Man Island royals and issues a challenge to Big Mom along the way. From secret weapons to Jinbe’s comeback, the arc is filled with important revelations, so One Piece could not have picked a better arc to remaster.

Now if you are not familiar with the original arc, we recommend you give the story a look. The Fish-Man Island arc hit televisions back in 2011, and it ran through 2012 before the Punk Hazard arc arrived. One Piece began the big arc with episode 523, and you can find the arc streaming on Hulu as well as Crunchyroll. And for manga readers, they can revisit the game-changing arc with ease as it began with chapter 603.

One Piece will spend the next few months working through its Fish-Man Island remaster, and then the mainline series will return. One Piece is set to resume its release of the Egghead Island arc in April 2025. This extended hiatus was ordered by Toei Animation to give the anime team time to prepare for One Piece‘s epic (and painstaking) visuals. The Egghead Island arc has put these visuals on display week after week, so you can imagine that work is exhausting. So when One Piece returns, it will do so with a well-rested staff on hand.

Are you excited for One Piece to kickstart its Fish-Man Island remaster? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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The One Piece fandom is reeling right now, and we have a new anime special to thank. It was not long ago that Toei Animation confirmed One Piece: Fan Letter was in the works, after all. The ambitious special promised to embody the best parts of One Piece in a bid to honor the anime’s 25th anniversary. And now that the episode is live, well – we can say confidently that One Piece just dropped its best episode of all time.

Marineford? No. The awakening of Gear Five? Close but not quite. One Piece: Fan Letter is in a class of its own, and netizens are calling the anime special a masterclass in animation.

WHAT IS ONE PIECE: FAN LETTER?

This weekend, One Piece: Fan Letter stood tall with its debut, and the special came to life under director Megumi Ishitani and Nanami Michibata. The two directors came together with artist Nagisa Nishida to create something unforgettable. From the episode’s pacing to its sakuga and screenplay, every piece of One Piece: Fan Letter was honed to perfection. The special is now streaming everywhere from Netflix to Crunchyroll, so fans better not miss out on the treat.

After all, One Piece: Fan Letter is a love note to the franchise. The special adapts the contents of One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories, but it elevates the book with some key changes. From its narrative structure to its emotional stakes, this new One Piece special takes the anime’s story to new heights as it shows us how the world around the Straw Hat crew sees them.

For decades, we have followed the Straw Hat pirates, and the crew has been led by Monkey D. Luffy. The pirate has proven himself a hero in every sense, and that truth is felt by everybody on the Grand Line. In One Piece: Fan Letter, we follow every day people as they stumble across the Straw Hat crew. From young admirers to Marine skeptics, the special touches upon them all, and One Piece: Fan Letter proves Luffy’s adventure brings a powerful ripple. His actions impact the whole Grand Line, and more often than not, that motion is for the best.

THE FUTURE OF ONE PIECE IS BRIGHT

As you can see below, One Piece: Fan Letter is a clear winner with fans, and many are calling it the anime’s best release to date. The special features innovative animation, and its stylized design is a breath of fresh air. Filled with heartwarming asides, One Piece: Fan Letter is nothing less than hopeful, so you can see why it fits the Straw Hat crew perfectly.

With this new special out of the way, One Piece fans are looking to the future. The mainline anime is on hiatus until next spring, but One Piece will not leave us hanging. A remaster of the Fishman Island arc is on the horizon, and it will premiere next weekend. As for the manga, creator Eiichiro Oda is still working on the hit series. It will hit a short hiatus at the end of October, but One Piece will return to print well before November closes. So if you want to catch up on One Piece, now is the best time to get familiar.

If you are eager to brush up on the Grand Line, it is easier than ever to find One Piece. The hit anime is now streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll; Some of the anime’s older content can even been found through Tubi and Freevee. As for the manga, One Piece can be read through Viz Media’s Shonen Jump app as well as the Manga Plus website which Shueisha operates.

One Piece Fans React in Their Own Words

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One Piece is at the top of the world right now, and the seas have never fared better for the Straw Hat crew. For decades, we have watched Monkey D. Luffy lead his nakama on wild adventures as they travel the Grand Line. From the TV series to its film and live-action adaptation, Netflix is firing on all cylinders. Naturally, this means plenty of news fans are eager to watch the anime, and One Piece has a secret shortcut that you may not have heard about.

And no, we are not talking about any One Piece parody or recap film. With over 1,100 episodes to its name, One Piece is a beast to watch, and the fandom knows that well. That is why One Pace was created as the fan-project takes the hit anime and recuts the series to be more in line with Eiichiro Oda’s manga.

THE QUICKEST WAY TO WATCH ONE PIECE

Now you may be asking what the big deal is with One Pace, the nonprofit project lays it out plainly enough. “One Pace is over 40% faster to watch compared to the original One Piece anime, while retaining the entire canon. That’s over 9000 minutes (150+ hours) saved,” the fan-project explains.

“The project is an ongoing labor of love that started in 2013. Recently, its scope has expanded to include high-quality subtitles for multiple languages, the English dub, animation error fixes, and much more. In addition, we hope to provide a standard middle ground between the anime’s presentation and manga’s story-telling for fans looking for an alternative watching experience.”

As you can see here, One Pace is a streamlined version of the One Piece anime, and the fandom has embraced it fully. Not long ago, a popularity poll broke down just how big the recut is. When asked the best way for new fans to watch One Piece, nearly 20,000 netizens answered the call, and half of those fans said One Pace is the way to go. So if you are looking for a faster way to watch One Piece, this fan-project is the way to go.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WATCH ONE PIECE?

After all, it is no easy task watching all of One Piece. The anime got its start in 1999 under Toei Animation, and it has been a constant in the industry ever since. To date, the anime has 1,122 episodes, and each one runs up to 24 minutes. If you do the math, that means there are 449 hours of One Piece to binge. That is a long time, but of course, fans have found ways to cut down that watch time without One Pace.

For one, the anime does have recaps films on hand. The Episode of East Blue and The Episode of Skypeia cover the anime’s first two sagas. If you watch these recaps, you can skip nearly 200 episodes of the TV series. And of course, One Piece does have some filler episodes. You can bypass that content without missing anything in One Piece, so for a list of filler, you can find the offending episodes below:

• 54-60, 98-99, 102, 131-143, 196-206, 220-225, 279-283, 291-292, 303, 317-319, 326-336, 382-384, 406-407, 426-429, 457-458, 492, 542, 575-578, 590, 626-627, 747-750, 780-782, 895-896, 907, 1029-1030

As for where you can watch the original One Piece anime, the series is easier to find than ever before. Netflix has select episodes of the show available including its most recent arc. Of course, Crunchyroll and Hulu have all of One Piece to date, and other services like Tubi have dedicated channels for the hit anime.

Have you started your journey with One Piece yet? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Want to Watch One Piece Quicker? It Is Time to Meet One Pace. appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Believe it or not, One Piece is on hiatus. The series is no stranger to taking breaks, but we have not seen the anime take a hiatus as long as its current one. The hit anime will not drop any new episodes until April 2025, leaving fans unsure of what to do in its absence. For some fans, they are planning to rewatch the anime, and we’re here to help any newcomers tackle the long-running series.

After all, it isn’t every day you decide to start a TV show that has over 1,000 episodes to its name. One Piece dates back to October 1999, and it has been a constant presence in the shonen sphere. If you want to watch the anime for yourself, we’ve done the math to get you caught up by next spring, so brace yourself.

HOW TO WATCH ONE PIECE BEFORE THE ANIME RETURNS

If you want to check out all of the One Piece anime, you have 1,122 episodes to watch, and you have six months to do it. So let’s break that down. There are roughly 180 days to go before the series returns to the air, so you can catch up on One Piece by watching six episodes a day. Given the short runtime of One Piece episodes, you can watch six episodes of One Piece in about two hours if you are willing to bypass opening and ending credits.

For some netizens, it is nothing to dedicate two hours a day to watching One Piece, but that is not the case for everyone. Luckily, there are a few cheats you can abide by to catch up with One Piece faster. The first short cut comes with One Piece‘s recap movies, and the second comes courtesy of filler episodes.

If you want to brush past the East Blue saga, One Piece did release a recap film titled Episode of East Blue. The film, which is streaming on Crunchyroll, condenses the anime’s first saga into a feature film. This was also done for the anime’s second saga as One Piece: Episode of Skypiea covers the somewhat controversial saga. By watching these two movies, you can bypass 195 episodes in total.

Beyond that, One Piece does have some filler episodes you can bypass while catching up. The anime has a low percentage of filler content at just about 8% total. So while you are watching, feel free to skip the episodes below if you want to avoid any filler content:

And as for where you can watch One Piece? The anime is easier to find these days than ever before. The entire series is streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu to start. Plus, other streaming services like Netflix, Pluto, and Freevee have access to select episodes of One Piece.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR ONE PIECE?

It is hard to believe that One Piece is taking a break through April 2025, but even the best animators need a break. Toei Animation promises the anime will return better than ever next spring, and in the meantime, One Piece has some special gifts in store. For instance, this weekend will bring a special titled One Piece: Fan Latter to life, and it will adapt content from a fan-favorite novel.

Beyond this special, One Piece is also working on a special remaster. Toei Animation is giving a makeover to the Fishman Island arc featuring new animation and Dolby sound additions. At this time, no start date has been released for this remaster, but fans are eager to check out the project. And of course, Luffy will return to television with new episodes starting in April 2025.

What do you want to see from One Piece when the anime returns? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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Some unannounced games in the worlds of One Piece and Naruto have supposedly been either paused or canceled entirely amid some larger shakeups at Bandai Namco, according to new reports. It’s been suggested that work on these unknown games is uncertain at the moment due to a underwhelming demand, and the games in flux apparently extend beyond anime titles, too, with a Nintendo project currently on hold at Bandai Namco as well.

News of the state of these Naruto and One Piece games supposedly in the works over at Bandai Namco comes from Bloomberg which said that the publisher had either halted or canceled some of its projects. Bloomberg speaks of a “lackluster demand,” though it seems the demand here is referring more to games in general as the gaming industry continues to cut costs by canceling projects and laying off workers. There were no references made to a lack of demand for Naruto and One Piece, specifically, which makes sense given that the latter is more popular than ever after Netflix’s live-action Naruto series even if the franchise is currently going on a hiatus. That does made it even stranger that Bandai Namco would be reconsidering a One Piece game, however, given its popularity and the fact that we’ve gotten several One Piece games in the last four years.

Bandai Namco publishes tons of anime-themed games — pretty much any of the more modern ones that you can think of — so there’s no telling what kinds of games these One Piece and Naruto projects were. Many of Bandai Namco’s anime games are arena fighters like the wonderful Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero while others are a bit more open like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, but they all typically circle back around to beating up anime baddies.

But while anime adaptations may be the publisher’s bread and butter, its work extends beyond that scope as well. Bandai Namco published Elden Ring and other Souls games, for example, and also works with Nintendo on some projects. Two Nintendo franchises Bandai Namco works on are the Mario Kart and Smash Bros. games with a broader team established recently to work closer with Nintendo (though those franchises were not specifically mentioned in the announcement). Mobile games are another focus of Bandai Namco which are also supposedly being impacted by these decisions made internally. Another game, Blue Protocol, was recently confirmed for a shutdown early next year despite having only just released recently. The Western version of the game which was to be published by Amazon has also been canned.

As a result of these cancelations and paused games, Bandai Namco is also reducing its workforce with around 200 employees said to be affected. These employee losses also contribute to an already brutal year for gaming studios in terms of layoffs and lost talent.

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For decades, One Piece has followed the Straw Hat Pirates as they fight the good fight in the Grand Line, attempting to make their dreams come true and crown Monkey D. Luffy as the new king of the pirates. Despite following the shonen characters for years, fans are still left wondering what the legendary treasure known as “The One Piece” will turn out to be. While anime enthusiasts still debate just what Gol D. Roger buried to help promote the pirate profession before his execution in Loguetown, one theory has arisen online that the legendary pirate might have something far more widespread in mind.

Gol D. Roger might have died long before Luffy formed the Straw Hat Pirates but that hasn’t stopped the swashbuckler from making appearance in the shonen series. Most recently, fans had the chance to witness the true power of the One Piece founder during a flashback sequence in the Wano Arc. In fighting against Whitebeard in a “friendly skirmish”, anime fans were able to witness Roger at his strongest thanks to a battle that lasted for days and confirmed that the moustached swashbuckler was Whitebeard’s equal. While the flashback did feature Roger discovering the One Piece along with Wano’s Kozuki Oden, we still have yet to receive a definitive answer as to what the treasure might be. This fact, of course, hasn’t stopped anime fans from coming to their own conclusions.

Is The One Piece A Metaphor?

For quite some time, many anime fans believed that The One Piece could be a metaphor, in that it would ultimately revealed to be something like a mirror to highlight the “friends made along the way” to discover the treasure itself. In 2019, creator Eiichiro Oda stated plainly that he wasn’t expecting to reveal that the treasure was a non-tangible concept but rather, that Luffy would receive a real treasure for eventually discovering the item in question. One fan theory imagines that the item in question might be powerful enough to not just crown a new pirate king but to unite the world as a whole.

The Grand Line and the Red Line could not be more different, with the former largely considered quite the dangerous place to be. With recent developments in One Piece’s manga putting the future of the world at large hanging in the balance, it’s entirely possible that Oda has set up the treasure to unite the world. As one fan theory breaks down, Luffy and the Straw Hats might bring about a new era of peace if they are able to beat evil pirates and the World Government to the punch on discovering the legendary treasure.

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The State of The One Piece

Recently, Toei Animation made the startling announcement that the One Piece anime adaptation was taking quite a long hiatus. Following its latest episode, the shonen series will be taking a break from the Egghead Island Arc until April 2025, but luckily, the manga won’t be doing the same. Eiichiro Oda is still releasing new chapters on a weekly basis, minus random breaks, and things are continuing to heat up in the Grand Line.

Following the arrival of the Five Elders on Future Island, the big reveal from Dr. Vegapunk regarding the Grand Line, and the Straw Hats working their way to the land of giants, it’s a mad dash for the One Piece treasure. Luffy and his friends might still be the favorites to find Gol D. Roger’s legendary treasure, but they will have to deal with the Cross Guild and the World Government in trying to make their dreams come true.

Want to stay up to date on what the One Piece treasure might ultimately turn out to be? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Straw Hat Pirates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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One Piece: Egghead Arc is taking a very long hiatus before the anime returns for new episodes some time next year, and it’s leaving Monkey D. Garp’s life on the line. One Piece‘s anime has been working through the Egghead Arc of Eiichiro Oda’s original manga franchise, and it’s the first arc of the Final Saga for the series as a whole. The anime has already showcased how as this arc has made some key reveals about the wider history of the One Piece world as it’s clearly setting the stage for a grand climax coming some time in the future.

One Piece: Egghead Arc has been spending the last few episodes of the anime prior to its hiatus exploring more of what’s happening while Luffy and the Straw Hats are trying to escape from Dr. Vegapunk’s future island laboratory. This included a revisit of what happened to Koby after he had been taken captive by Blackbeard, and Garp launched a huge new effort in an attempt to rescue him. But while Koby is now safe, the anime is leaving Garp in a much worse place as it’s clear there’s no way he’s going to make it out of Beehive alive.

One Piece: What Happens to Garp?

Garp had initially started out the chaos on Beehive at a very strong clip as he made a huge impression with his strength. But as the attempt to save Koby continued, it only got worse for the Marines as more pirates began to spring up the more they were defeated. Making matters even tougher was that some of Blackbeard’s key crew members had stayed behind on the island, and those like Kuzan actually had the power to stand toe to toe with Garp. Eventually wearing him down, Garp took a fatal looking blow.

In blocking a hit meant for Koby, Garp was stabbed through the stomach with a sword and is left bleeding out. He still managed to display some real power despite all of this, however, as he ordered Koby and the remaining Marines to make one final attempt at escape. Making one final move, he gives Koby the opening he needs to rescue to other Marines in a huge display of power. But after all of that, the last we see of Garp is his passing along the message to the other Marines that they need to escape without him on their ship.

Will Garp Die?

The last we see of Garp in One Piece Episode 1122 is him being surrounded by Kuzan and the rest of Blackbeard’s crew. They’re all drawing their weapons and looking at him menacingly, but Garp can do nothing but laugh. As he urges the rest of the crew to go off without him, he knows he’s leaving the future of the Marines in capable hands so he has no feelings about his own potential fate. As the episode ends, the narrator then explains Garp had disappeared on Beehive without a confirmation if he’s alive or dead.

It’s going to be quite a while before One Piece fans get to see whether or not Garp has lived through the fight on Beehive as the anime is going on a very lengthy hiatus. Following the release of One Piece Episode 1122, One Piece: Egghead Arc has announced it’s going on a hiatus until the anime returns for new episodes next April. Those behind the scenes have noted how this hiatus is going to be a “charging period” for the production until it returns in April 2025, and thus fans are going to be waiting quite a while to find out whether or not Garp lives.

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Everybody needs a break from time to time. Whether you are young or old, employed or on the job line – life finds a way to weigh on you fast. For manga creators, that stress is doubled as the industry operates under a notoriously difficult schedule. Guys like Eiichiro Oda have operated under this schedule for decades, and now, the artist behind One Piece is prepping for a fall vacation.

Yes, that is right. One Piece is going on an extended break. The hit manga will skip two issues of Weekly Shonen Jump this fall, and the hiatus will be here much faster than you may think.

ONE PIECE WILL TAKE A BREAK IN FALL 2024

Not long ago, Shueisha confirmed One Piece is eyeing a break for late October 2024. Chapter 1130 will go live on October 21st in Japan, and after that release, One Piece will go on break. It will return on November 11th overseas, so fans stateside will get access to chapter 1131 on November 10th.

As you can imagine, fans are eager for Oda to take a break. The artist is one of the hardest working in the industry, and Oda has been at it for years. One Piece is more than 20 years old now, and it is still going on strong. Over the years, Oda’s editors have stressed how hard the artist works, and he has suffered various ailments like insomnia because of his schedule. So when Oda opts to take a break, you know the artist needs it.

While some may not believe manga artists have it hard, well – you only have to look for a minute to see the truth. Manga artists rarely get a day off because of production deadlines if their series is published weekly. For creators like Oda, they admit to getting a handful of hours of sleep when they are working. As for other artists, they have found themselves crippled by the job. Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter x Hunter, suffers from debilitating back pain because of tenure with manga. As you can imagine, One Piece fans want Oda to stay healthy, so they are down for any and all breaks he needs.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR ONE PIECE?

With this break on the horizon, One Piece fans better cherish the next few chapters they get in October. The manga is in the middle of a new arc, and it is already dropping important lore drops. At last, the Straw Hat crew has made it to Elbaf Island, and the arc is setting up more info about the Sun God and Joy Boy’s tenure during the Void Century.

As for the anime, One Piece is also gearing up for a break, and this one will be a historic one. The anime has entered a six-month hiatus, leaving the Egghead Island arc hanging in the balance One Piece will return in April 2025 with the arc in tow. In the meantime, One Piece fans will not be left bereft. Toei Animation is set to release a remaster of the Fishman Island arc complete with new music, Dolby sound, and visual style. Plus, an anime special titled One Piece Fan Letter is set to debut in Japan on October 20 that adapts part of a hit spin-off novel dedicated to Luffy’s nakama.

Clearly, One Piece has a lot going on, and we have yet to touch upon two of its biggest projects. Netflix is doubling down on its live-action adaptation of One Piece as season two is filming in Cape Town, South Africa. And over in Japan, a full-blown remake is in the works for One Piece at Wit Studios. Both projects will hit Netflix in the near future, so it seems the Straw Hat crew is getting comfy in the spotlight.

What do you make of this latest One Piece break? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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One Piece has announced that the anime is going on a very lengthy hiatus, and those behind the scenes have explained why the anime is going away for such a long while. One Piece will be fully celebrating the 25th anniversary of the anime’s very first broadcast on October 20th in Japan, and with it will be entering a whole new era of the Final Saga from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga franchise. But while the anime is ready to kick off this grand new adventure in the future, One Piece instead is going to be taking some time off to better prepare for what’s next.

One Piece has officially announced that following the premiere of Episode 1122 this past weekend, the anime is now going to go on a hiatus for nearly six months. Chief producer Ryuta Koike explained during a special live stream event announcing the news that One Piece will begin airing in a new time slot when the anime returns for new episodes beginning in April 2025. Which means that the anime will be going into a “charging period” while the team behind it all gets ready for the next phase of the Egghead Arc and beyond.

Why One Piece Is Taking a Break

As Koike explained to fans, this hiatus will begin following the debut of the One Piece Fan Letter anime special airing on October 20th, the anime will be heading into a “charging period” until March 30th next year. Koike revealed that the time aside is so the team behind the anime can improve. Noting that as Eiichiro Oda’s original manga is getting more exciting with each new release, the anime team would “like to take this opportunity to make the anime even more powerful” when it starts to air its new episodes next April in its new time slot.

As for this new time slot, news about One Piece‘s new schedule will be revealed during Jump Festa 2025 later this December. It was also noted during the special live stream that the anime seems to be getting more “powerful” with its cinematic presentation for big scenes in a weekly anime (Shanks’ attack on Captain Kid being the example given), and this makes a lot of sense to be pointed out considering that the anime production has been keeping up with the demands for its weekly releases since the Wano Country arc back in 2018, and thus it eventually would lead to some level of the production needing to slow down.

What One Piece Is Doing During the Hiatus

The One Piece anime is going on break for quite a while, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be new episodes to watch. Airing in the meantime, One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga will be a new remake of the original Fish-Man Island arc of the anime series. This is going to be a touched up and re-edited version of the arc with updated visuals, sound effects, and new material when needed. It’s going to be condensing the 58 episodes of the original run, and will be editing it into 21 episodes for its new run. It will then end when the anime is ready to return in full.

One Piece: Egghead Arc is promising to return to Luffy and the other Straw Hats on Dr. Vegapunk’s future island laboratory. They are currently trying to escape from the island while the Navy is closing in, and have tried to find the missing Dr. Vegapunk while all of this goes down. It’s gotten the attention of the entire world, and will be shaking up the franchise when it’s over as it’s the first real arc of the Final Saga for Eiichiro Oda’s original manga series. Lots of reasons to be ready for next April.

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One Piece: Egghead Arc is now in a hiatus with new episodes not premiering until next year, and things went out on a high with Koby making an epic save with an explosive new move! One Piece‘s anime has been impressing fans pretty much weekly ever since it kicked off the Wano Country arc several years ago. This high quality presentation of the anime has led to explosive moments pretty much every week as there has always been something big to enjoy with each episode punctuating some of the biggest moments in the series to date. And that’s continued with the Egghead Arc as well.

One Piece: Egghead Arc has also impressed fans with not only some of the big things going down on Dr. Vegapunk’s future island laboratory itself, but also revealing more of what’s happening in the rest of the open seas as well. There have been some key fights while Luffy has been struggling against the Marines, and it’s led to some major chaos on Blackbeard’s home base on Beehive. While Garp has had a lot of the moments for this fight thus far, Koby ended up outshining his mentor with an epic save and epic use of his strongest Honesty Impact yet. Check it out below.

What Happens in One Piece Episode 1122?

One Piece Episode 1122 picks up shortly after Garp has been taken out of commission following his fight against Kuzan, and Avalo Pizarro is using his Island-Island Fruit in an attempt to crush the Marines’ ship before it makes its escape. While Garp and the others are still stuck on Beehive, the Marines’ ship was in very great danger from this threat. Still, Garp was entirely confident that Koby and the others would be able to stop this terrible future that Koby was seeing. That’s when Garp gives the other.

Telling the others to stop the giant hand and make their way out to sea, Garp creates an opening for the others by striking Pizarro’s giant island face directly. It’s here that Koby is inspired to make his own move and he thinks back to the path that brought him there. After struggling so much with his training to become a strong Navy soldier, this was going to be the make it or break it moment for Koby as he readies to carry on the torch that Garp is passing along for the future of the Navy.

What’s Next for Koby and One Piece?

We’ll soon see how it all shakes out for Koby and the rest of the Marines after Garp’s sacrifice and Koby’s big save as One Piece: Egghead Arc continues. The anime is now kicking off a new hiatus for the next few months, however. Planning to return to air some time in April 2025, One Piece‘s anime instead will be spending the next few months airing a remade version of the Fish-Man Island arc with re-edited visuals, content, and sounds to make it better align with the current way the anime is produced.

Koby is on a parallel path with Luffy as while Luffy is rising in the pirate world, Koby is now making a name for himself as a hero of the Navy. Now this is another major accomplish that’s setting Koby on a path to true greatness, and that’s even more compelling considering that he’s likely going to have to come to blows against Luffy should the Navy pull one last stop against Luffy. With the Straw Hats now in the mix on Egghead, the anime will be revisiting their status when it all returns next year too.

The post One Piece Anime Ushers in Hiatus With Koby’s Epic Save: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece‘s anime is about to kick off a historic hiatus for the series, but thankfully fans will be treated to a whole new take on the Fish-Man Island arc for the next few months! One Piece has made some major announcements for the anime’s immediate future, and each of them have shaken up things in quite big ways. With the anime officially marking its 25th anniversary of its very first broadcast on October 20th, One Piece is preparing for some big changes as it gears up for the return of the Egghead Arc some time next year. But in the meantime, fans will be treated to some newly produced episodes.

While One Piece: Egghead Arc will be going on hiatus until some time in April 2025, fans will get to see the Fish-Man Island arc in a whole new way with the release of One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga. This is a newly edited version of the Fish-Man Island arc episodes of the One Piece anime that will be including updates to the lighting, sound production and more to make it more in line with the current way the anime is produced. You can check out the announcement poster for the new One Piece remake below.

What’s New in One Piece: Fish-Man Island Remake?

Beginning on October 27th in Japan and streaming with Crunchyroll when it premieres, One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga is a re-edited version of the One Piece anime’s previous episodes. While this arc originally took a year to air for its original broadcast across 58 episodes, this new version of the anime will be condensed into 21 episodes instead. One Piece producer Ryuta Koike explained that it’s not to be seen as a compilation, but more that they actually rebuilt the arc from scratch and edited into the new 21 episodes.

This new version of the arc will fall more in line visually with the current One Piece anime with thicker outlines, different lighting, Dolby Atmos quality audio, and adjustments to the character visuals overall. It’s meant to be seen as an experience that everyone can jump into, and an experience that newer fans will be able to jump into these classic episodes if they had not seen them before. Given how important Fish-Man Island ends up being to the future of the series, it does make quite a lot of sense to see that it was this arc given the remake treatment. You can check out more of the comparison visuals below to see the differences.

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What’s Next for One Piece?

One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga will also feature a newly updated episode previews (as Koike explained that the newly edited episodes necessitated new previews) along with new opening and ending theme sequences as well. The new opening is titled “We go! ~Straw Hat Pirates ver.” as performed by the Straw Hat Pirates’ voice cast, and the new ending theme is “Sailing,” as performed by BE:FIRST. This new remake will be broadcast in the weeks between the Egghead Arc.

One Piece: Egghead Arc is currently on hiatus until April 2025 while the anime staff goes on a “charging phase” to better produce the series in the future. Following the release of One Piece Episode 1122, One Piece will be airing a new special, One Piece Fan Letter, on October 20th with the new Fish-Man Island remake episodes beginning their run the week after. So One Piece fans will still have quite a lot to enjoy, and not to mention that Eiichiro Oda’s original One Piece manga is still releasing new chapters continuing through the Final Saga of the series overall.

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One Piece had been hinting at a major announcement this week and fans might be disheartened to learn that the anime didn’t drop the news that a new anime is in the works. Instead, the Straw Hat Pirates are taking a long break from the anime scene as Toei Animation wants to put more effort into the current Egghead Arc. Since One Piece normally airs on a weekly schedule, Grand Line fans might be despondent to learn just how long Luffy and company will go on break but it’s for a good reason. Despite the hiatus, Toei does have something special in store for fans.

One Piece announced during a live-stream event, “One Piece News #1″ that the Egghead Arc will be absent until next April. The reasoning Toei Animation gave was for animators to “recharge”, which makes sense considering the series has been regularly producing new episodes on a weekly basis for quite some time. Luckily, anime viewers won’t be going without One Piece entirely, as the production house has something in store. Instead of a new episode for the next release date, Toei Animation will instead air the “One Piece Fan Letter Special”. The Fan Letter Special is a celebration of the series for its 25th anniversary and will feature new material for the Straw Hat Pirates.

The Grand Line Hiatus

Following the “One Piece Fan Letter Special”, Toei is planning to air a new special edition of the “Fish-Man Island Arc”, one of the first storylines of the series. Acting as the twenty-fifth storyline of the anime series, the Fish-Man Island Arc is one that focuses on new aquatic villains that have put a plan into motion to take over the locale. In hinting at the arrival of the remaster, Toei Animation featured brand new images of the upcoming episodes which you can check out below:

What Does This Mean For The Manga?

One Piece’s manga, luckily, has not made mention of taking a break in the same vein as its anime. Creator Eiichiro Oda is still working on the final saga and, as far as we know, is still working on weekly chapters that document the Straw Hat Pirates following their big fight on Future Island. Headed to the land of the giants, one of the Five Elders has been permanently defeated, but in typical hydra fashion, someone new has taken their place and the villainous Imu still has big plans in place.

Anime adaptations going on hiatus is nothing new, though it might come as a surprise in relation to One Piece. The long-running anime is one that routinely releases episodes on a weekly schedule, playing catch-up to the events taking place in the printed story. Considering the amount of effort that the animators put into the Straw Hats journey, it makes sense that they would need more time to take a break, especially considering that Toei Animation has another major series releasing right now in Dragon Ball Daima.

When One Piece’s anime does return with new episodes, it is sure to be a major event as the Egghead Island Arc has big implications for the past, present and future of the Grand Line. Unfortunately, not everyone makes it out of this latest anime storyline alive thanks to the sheer number of characters that go to war.

Want to follow along with the Straw Hats and stay updated on their big break in the anime world? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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One Piece is in the middle of celebrating its milestone 25th anniversary, and fans will get to see the anime branch out in a whole new project with the first look trailer for One Piece Fan Letter. One Piece has been branching out in all sorts of ways ever since it kicked off its 25th anniversary. This has branched out in a new Luffy parade balloon, taking over the Las Vegas Sphere, and even a full remake anime being announced to be in the works. That’s far from the end of all the new projects we’ll get to see either as some of them are actually big surprises.

One Piece Fan Letter was first announced to be in the works earlier this month, and will be adapting elements from the One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories spinoff novel. Airing on October 20th in Japan, the anime special will be airing in place of One Piece‘s usual anime time slot instead of resulting in a new episode. You can check out the first look at what to expect from this new special below with the trailer for One Piece Fan Letter released by Toei Animation.

What Is One Piece Fan Letter?

Directed by Megumi Ishitani, who has been at the helm behind some of the best received One Piece episodes in recent memory, One Piece Fan Letter adapts material from the One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories spinoff novel written by Tomohito Ohsaki. These stories showcase what other people in the seas feel about the Straw Hats, and showcases how each of the pirates has impacted people around the world through the eyes of people seeing all of their accomplishments. It’s going to be the same length as a standard episode, but will likely take from a little of each of the stories in that original novel.

Premiering on Saturday, October 20th in Japan, it seems that the stories we will see adapted in the new special revolve around Luffy, Zoro, Nami and Franky. Here’s how the original novel teases each of the segments we could be seeing in the coming anime special:

What’s Next for One Piece’s 25th Anniversary?

One Piece still has plenty in store for the anime’s 25th anniversary. The biggest project is undoubtedly the new remake series now in the works. Developed by WIT Studio and produced by Netflix, Shueisha, Fuji Television, and Toei Animation, The One Piece will be a brand new anime adapting Eiichiro Oda’s manga from the very beginning. This new series has yet to announce a release window or date as of the time of this publication.

Masashi Koizuka will be directing The One Piece for WIT Studio with Hideaki Abe serving as assistant director. Taku Kishimoto will be handling series composition, Kyoji Asano and Takatoshi Honda will be providing character designs and serving as chief animation director, Yasuhiro Kajino will be handling creature design, Eri Taguchi serves as prop designer, Ken Imaizumi and Shuhei Fukuda will be action directors, and Tomomori Kuroda will be serving as art director. 

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One Piece has never been more popular than it is right now. On top of the manga and anime adaptation following the Straw Hat Pirates in their final saga, Netflix’s live-action series took the world by storm with its second season currently in production. As Luffy and his crew continue to become household names thanks to their many appearances, the shonen franchise has something big brewing behind the scenes. In an official teaser released by One Piece, Eiichiro Oda’s creation is hinting at a “major announcement” that is sure to send shockwaves throughout the anime world. Needless to say, it’s a good time to be a Straw Hat fan.

When it comes to the current storyline that the Straw Hat Pirates, the final saga hasn’t been holding back in One Piece’s manga and anime adaptation. In encountering the enigmatic Dr. Vegapunk, Luffy and his crew have learned far more about Devil Fruit and the Grand Line as a whole on Future Island. Thanks to the mad scientist spilling the beans, the World Government isn’t too thrilled and is dead set on both stopping Vegapunk and finally ending Luffy’s sea-faring career. While creator Eiichiro Oda hasn’t hinted at when he will bring the shonen franchise to an end, the stage is set for the Straw Hats’ journey to conclude with a bang.

One Piece’s Big News

One Piece took to its social media account to state that the shonen franchise would be revealing big news “regarding the TV anime”. Here’s how the shonen franchise hinted at the major reveal, “One Piece News will be available on YouTube from 9:30pm! With TV anime producer Koike From One Piece Editor-in-Chief Nakano: An important announcement regarding the TV anime and the original work…!?”

View on X

Are The Straw Hats Sailing To The Silver Screen?

While not confirmed, the big announcement might be that Luffy and his crew will be in a new movie. One Piece Film: Red was the last time that the shonen franchise hit the big screen, doing so in 2022. Since it’s been over two years since we were introduced to Shanks’ daughter Uta on the silver screen, now seems like excellent timing for One Piece to start hinting at a new cinematic adventure to capitalize on the continuing popularity of Eiichiro Oda’s creation.

When it comes to One Piece movies, Eiichiro Oda has always had a major role in producing these stories. With Uta’s introduction, Oda not only helped in telling her story in the previous film but also worked with Toei Animation in creating new original episodes that documented the early friendship between Monkey D. Luffy and the daughter of Shanks.

One Piece’s Ending

While One Piece has been in its final saga since the defeat of Kaido in Wano, Oda has been remiss to say when we can expect the manga’s final chapter to arrive. In the past, the manga artist has often spent years creating the Straw Hats’ storylines and the same is definitely true for the final saga. So far, Luffy and company have found themselves facing down the Five Elders while learning far more than they ever expected about their world in the process.

While the five heads of the military are a threat in their own right, they are led by the enigmatic Imu. As of the writing of this article, we have yet to learn who the Five Elders’ leader truly is but the stage is being set for Imu to be the final boss that Luffy will take on.

Want to see what the future holds for the Straw Hat Pirates? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Grand Line and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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One Piece has reached a new climax in the chaos on Beehive, and the first look at the next episode of the anime is setting up for Koby’s biggest hero moment yet. One of the best aspects of the Egghead Arc thus far is the fact that fans have been getting to see what else has been happening in the rest of the world while Luffy and the Straw Hats are trying to escape from Dr. Vegapunk’s future island laboratory. Many of these updates have also filled in many of the gaps of what’s been going on in the immediate fallout of the Reverie.

Koby has been in the middle of most of this, however, as it was revealed that following the dissolution of the Seven Warlords system during the Reverie, he was taken captive by Blackbeard’s crew and was kept prisoner at his home base on Beehive. As Garp and the Marines have mounted a new effort to save him, Koby’s been challenged more than ever before as more pirate enemies are coming out to attack the few Marines left on the island. Even worst, Garp’s taken what looks to be a fatal wound. This is all setting up something big with the preview for One Piece Episode 1121 that you can check out below as shared by Toei Animation.

What’s Next for Koby?

Koby’s development has been curious to see following the time skip for the series. It was revealed that while Luffy and the others were training to get to a new level of strength that would allow them to survive against the real opponents in the Grand Line, Koby had also been making a real name for himself with the Marines. Not only was he training his strength under Garp, but he was being celebrated as a major hero for some of the things he had been up to in the meantime.

Koby’s path to the top is almost a parallel to Luffy, and it’s clear that the two of them might have a more significant face off someday as their rises will lead them to clash in full. That’s why seeing his development with this chaos happening at Beehive is even more intriguing as while Garp has been taken out of the fight for now, the Marines are in a more immediate threat as their escape ship (and everyone on it) are about to be crushed by Avalo Pizarro’s giant hand made out of the island itself.

How to Watch One Piece Episode 1121

One Piece Episode 1122 will be streaming with Crunchyroll and Netflix when it premieres this Saturday, October 12th. The episode is titled “The Last Lesson! Impact Inherited,” and the promo teases how Koby is going to be pushing himself to a whole new level. As Garp uses the last bit of his strength, it’s going to be up to Koby to showcase what he’s really made of. This is coming in the next episode with one of his most heroic moments in the anime to date, and now it’s up to the anime to bring this to life as Koby reaches a new level with a truly heroic save.

It’s just a matter of seeing it go down in the next episode, and getting ready for what’s coming next as One Piece is still only in the start of the Egghead Arc itself. Once the anime returns to the future island laboratory and more chaos starts to break out for Luffy and the others, it’s going to be one major incident after another as the Final Saga of Eiichiro Oda’s long running franchise continues.

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One Piece is showing off Red-Haired Shanks in a whole new way with some special new art from Sakamoto Days’ creator. Sakamoto Days has quickly been picking up speed in the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and it’s likely that the series is going to get even bigger when the anime finally makes its official debut next year. It’s going to be where fans finally see how Sakamoto Days has made a name for itself even with all of the big franchises running in the magazine, and there’s even more space to do so after a few big finales through the Summer and Fall. 

Yuto Suzuki’s Sakamoto Days has been quickly making a name for itself for how well the creator takes action to wild new extremes, and the creator has such a distinct art style that the world of assassins has introduced some notable characters to Shonen Jump’s massive roster of favorites. Now the creator is taking on another fan favorite as Suzuki has shared some special new art for Emperor of the Sea, Red-Haired Shanks for a trading card in the official One Piece card game. Check it out below: 

One Piece: Who Is Shanks?

Shanks is arguably one of the most important characters in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece franchise overall. As one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, Shanks is one of the strongest characters in the franchise but we rarely have gotten to see what he can really do in action. Outside of a few displays of power in the anime and manga​, it’s yet to be fully explored what kind of threat he’ll pose to Luffy and the Straw Hats as they make their way to the final One Piece treasure. But that’s also became he’s likely an endgame kind of opponent. 

Shanks is the one who ultimately inspired Luffy to go out to sea in the first place. Himself a former member of Gol D. Roger’s world famous crew, Shanks was such a big part of Luffy’s young life that it’s even where he gets his iconic Straw Hat from. The two have just barely missed one another across their respective journeys as Shanks has been steadily dodging Luffy through the series thus far, but eventually they are going to need to come face to face before their adventures come to an end. 

What Is Sakamoto Days?

Sakamoto Days first made its debut with Shonen Jump back in 2020, and has since taken over the magazine for its unique take on the world of assassins. Staring Taro Sakamoto, an assassin who’s since retired and opened a convenience store with his new family, things quickly get out of whack as it’s not long before he’s pulled back into the game. From then on, it’s one explosive fight after another as Taro needs to take on tougher and deadlier assassins with each new mission while building a group of allies along the way.

Sakamoto Days is about to explode in popularity next year, however, when its official TV anime adaptation​ makes its debut. Releasing some time in January next year as part of the Winter 2025 anime schedule, Sakamoto Days will be directed by Masaki Watanabe for TMS Entertainment with Taku Kishimoto overseeing the scripts, and Yo Moriyama providing the character designs. The new anime will be streaming with Netflix when it premieres next year, and even more fans will get to see how the series is basically just a rule of cool type of story where the coolest thing will always take priority. And when combined with Shanks? It just makes a ton of sense at the end of the day.

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One Piece has reached a new climax of Koby’s struggles on Beehive, and the newest episode of the anime really went all out with the final clash between Monkey D. Garp and Kuzan. One Piece‘s anime is now in the midst of a new phase of the Egghead Arc as while Luffy and the Straw Hats are trying to escape from Dr. Vegapunk’s future island laboratory, the anime has been shifting its focus to other stories in the rest of the seas. As the anime fills in the gaps of everything that happened during the Reverie, it’s led to some huge events. 

One Piece‘s previous episode revealed that Garp and the members of SWORD had mounted a new effort on Blackbeard’s home base of Beehive to rescue the captured Koby. As one would expect from an island filled with pirates, Garp and the others have been struggling to actually escape. Making matters tougher is the members of Blackbeard’s crew that are going all out to take down Garp, and this includes the recently turned Kuzan. As he and Garp went all out for their fight, it goes to a whole new level with some incredible animation work in One Piece Episode 1121. Check it out below as shared by Crunchyroll: 

What Happens in One Piece Episode 1121? 

One Piece Episode 1121 continues Garp and the others’ struggle on Beehive. Despite how many big attacks he’s launched in the episodes prior, it’s only led to the reveal of even more pirate enemies coming out of the seams. The Marines have successfully made their way out to sea with the rescued hostages, but Garp has been left on the island with Koby and a few others. And although he easily dispatched Kuzan in their first conflict before, Kuzan is now back on his feet to deliver another massive blow to Garp to further wear him down. 

Garp has taken a sword through the chest in an attempt to save Koby from an attack, and Kuzan knows that this still isn’t enough to take down Garp completely. This is proven in their next all out attack on one another that sees the two of them channel their strength into a direct hit on each other. It’s through this that fans also get to see Kuzan’s past as Garp’s pupil, and see that their relationship was once a lot better than it is at this time. 

Does Garp Die in One Piece? 

Garp is left in quite the situation when the episode comes to an end, however. After taking that direct punch to the face and sword to the chest, he’s now very much worse for wear as Koby and the others are now desperately fighting to defend him. He’s thankfully still alive, but he’s also seen much better days. Garp is likely at his worst point seen in the series to date, but this is also the first real time we’ve gotten to see what he can really do in combat. 

Garp’s built up a reputation among the Marines and pirate world for his actions as an invincible hero, so it’s hard to believe that this is going to be the end of him. But at the same time as the series continues to move into the future and new faces start to take the important positions in the world, Garp’s death would also usher in someone else to take that hero role. Someone like Koby, who is rising in the Navy just as fast as Luffy is rising in the race towards the King of the Pirates. 

The post One Piece Goes All Out for Garp vs. Kuzan in Gorgerous New Scene: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There hasn’t been a better time than now for the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece. As the final saga takes place in both its manga and anime adaptation, Luffy and his crew have become household names as the Grand Line continues growing in popularity. Thanks to Netflix’s live-action One Piece series, even more fans around the world are coming to know the creations of Eiichiro Oda. Unfortunately, some recent news might throw Straw Hat fans for a loop as it has been confirmed that a voice actor responsible for one of the shonen’s biggest characters is taking a step back due to health issues. 

Kazuki Yao has spent years playing the role of Franky, the cyborg who joined Luffy’s crew to become the Straw Hat Pirates’ shipwright. While the anime adaptation has not stated that Yao will be leaving the part of Franky temporarily, Kazuki is taking a break from another character he gave life to, Jango. The One Piece anime did not state that this would be true for the cybernetic shipwright but it seems like a safe bet that Yao’s health issues might make it so. The swap will begin with the next anime episode, Episode 1121.

Kazuki Yao Takes A Break From One Piece

In an official statement, the One Piece anime stated the following, “The anime ” #ONEPIECE ” will be broadcast on Sunday, October 6th at 9:30am. Django appears in episode 1121, “Garp and Kuzan: Master and Student’s Conflict of Justice.” Due to poor health of Kazuki Yao, who plays Jango, Wataru Takagi will be taking over the role. We hope you will continue to support the anime “ONE PIECE.”

Alongside playing Jango and Franky in One Piece, Kazuki Yao also played the parts of Mr. 2, aka Bonclay, the Baroqueworks villain who would come to be a brief ally to the Straw Hats. In his anime career, Yao has had quite a few roles under his belt outside of the Grand Line. On his resume, Yao’s roles include Berserk’s Gaston, Fullmetal Alchemist’s Yoki, Bastard’s Dark Schneider, and Super Robot Wars’ Judau. Having been a part of the anime world since the 1980s, Kazuki will be sorely missed from One Piece and the anime industry. 

Who is Replacing Kazuki Yao?

Taking over for Jango will be voice actor Wataru Takagi. Anime fans might know the voice actor best for his roles as Obito in Naruto, Gohei in Rurouni Kenshin, Ganju in Bleach, and Okuyasu Nijimura in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable. As of the writing of this article, it hasn’t been confirmed if Takagi will also take on the role of Franky or if a new voice actor will be taking on the part of the Straw Hats’ shipwright. 

One Piece Replacements

While Kazuki is stepping aside for health-related issues, there has been another major voice actor who took a step back from the Grand Line. The voice of Sabo, Luffy’s brother, Toru Furuya was a part of a long-running affair with a fan, causing him to step back from the anime industry and this particular role. Much like One Piece, Furuya was also replaced in the upcoming Dragon Ball Daima when it came to his role as Yamcha. Being a part of Akira Toriyama’s anime adaptation since it first premiered in the 1980s, Toru’s departure makes for quite the shake-up in both shonen series. 

Want to stay up to date on the Grand Line? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for all the latest updates on the Straw Hat Pirates. 

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For some time here on ComicBook.com, we have documented Universal Studios Japan and their various anime events over the years. In these writings, we have also been very jealous of the fact that none of these attractions appeared to be making their way to North America. Luckily, we have the privilege of reporting that not only is anime coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, but two major shonen franchises will be joining the Western amusement park in 2025. Universal Fan Fest Nights is set to be one of the theme park’s biggest events and the anime additions are sure to help push it over the top. 

Both One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen have been major shonen players in the anime world, so it makes sense that the two franchises are making the jump from Japan to California. The two anime franchises are set to arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 25th, 2025 and will remain for a limited time until May 18th, 2025. While this doesn’t mean that anime is set to be a permanent part of Universal Studios Hollywood, it’s a great sign that the medium is finally making its way to North America.

Universal Studios Hollywood x Anime

Here’s how Universal Studios describes the upcoming Fan Fest Event, which will now include One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen, “Universal Fan Fest Nights comes to life from the innovative creators of the theme park’s successful Halloween Horror Nights event. This all-new, interactive, separately ticketed event is an ideal adventure for guests of all ages and will capture the compelling worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, anime and cosplay, and invite theme parks guests and fans to partake in all-original and immersive, in-world experiences. And just like Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Fan Fest Nights will present all experiences simultaneously throughout the theme park each night of the event for guests to enjoy. One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen will join previously announced experiences, including Star Trek, Back to the Future and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS as well as all-new experiences to debut within the theme park’s magical land The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”

Universal Studios Hollywood also described what the Straw Hat Pirates and Jujutsu Tech are bringing to the amusement park:

• One Piece: This experience is inspired by the long-running global hit anime series, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, and follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates crew on their epic quest to find “One Piece,” the legendary treasure of the former King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger.

• Jujutsu Kaisen: This experience is also inspired by the widely popular Japanese manga and its anime adaptation follows high school student Yuji Itadori after he accidently become the host of a powerful curse and joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School, an organization that fights the curses.

Universal Studios’s Anime History

As previously mentioned, Universal Studios Japan has seen its fair share of attractions that honor some of the biggest anime franchises. In recent memory, the theme park has recreated hits such as Attack on Titan, One Piece, Hunter x Hunter, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and almost too many others to list. Perhaps, should One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen’s arrival be successful, anime fans will get tthe chance to see other major anime franchises leaping to North America. 

Want to stay up to date on Universal Studios Hollywood’s anime arrivals? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on anime theme parks and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime. 

Via Press Release

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When it comes to One Piece, fans are always looking for the next big thing, and the series never fails to give up the goods. From the anime to its live-action TV series, One Piece has done it all. Now, a new update from Toei Animation has gone live, and it confirms a special project is in the works. One Piece Fan Letter is a go, and the anime special will feature the Straw Hat crew in a way we have never seen before.

The update comes straight from Eiichiro Oda’s staff as the series creator signed off on the project. One Piece Fan Letter is on the way with an expected launch on October 20. The special will adapt content from One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories, and director Megumi Ishitani was tapped to oversee the anime. After all, the special was ordered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of One Piece, so all eyes are on Luffy’s gang.

What Is One Piece Fan Letter?

For those wanting to know more about One Piece Fan Letter, you are in luck. The upcoming special will pluck stories from a popular novel that Tomohito Ohsaki penned in 2017. The book, One Piece Novel: Straw Hat Stories, tells various tales about Luffy’s crew from an outsider POV. We are introduced to tons of original characters in One Piece who witness the Straw Hat crew in action, and their lives are inevitably changed by Luffy one way or another.

So far, we know One Piece Fan Letter will adapt at least four chapters of the Straw Hat novel. Luffy, Zoro, Franky, and Nami will all get the spotlight. Of course, the novel goes on to regale Luffy’s other crew members excluding Jinbe. So if you want to know more about the One Piece Fan Letter excerpts, you can read its current synopses below:

• Nami: “A young shut-in from Sabaody with an obsession for female pirates falls in love with her idol, Nami. When she hears of the Straw Hats returning at the Archipelago after 2 years, she hopes to catch a glimpse of the woman that changed her life.”
  

• Luffy: “During the battle of Marineford, a Marine witnesses Luffy rescuing Ace. Witnessing the bond between the two brothers makes him question his relationship with his own brother, who is also fighting in the war.”
  

• Zoro: “In a bar at Dress Rosa, a drunk Zoro enters a powerscaling debate with a bunch of Marines about who the strongest swordsman in the world is: Mihawk, Shanks, Vista, Ryuma, or Zoro; without any of the Marines realizing who he really is.”
  

• Franky: “A young girl moves to Water 7 from another island and takes the job of managing a bookstore. There she hears stories about Franky from different familiar faces, as she grows accustomed to her new life in the Water Capital.”
  

The Future of One Piece Is Packed

With Ishitani at the helm of this special, One Piece fans know they are in for a treat. The director is an incredible animator who helped oversee a number of highlights during the Wano Country saga. Ishitani will be joined by Keisuke Mori, the anime’s character designer and animation director. Plus, Momoka Toyoda will oversee the script for One Piece Fan Letter.

The new special is slated to drop in late October, marking yet another event for One Piece. The series is always busy, so what is one more project? Oda is still churning out weekly chapters of One Piece, and the anime is following suit at Toei Animation. Over at Wit Studios, the team is working on its own One Piece remake for Netflix, and the streaming service is not stopping there. The second season of One Piece‘s live-action drama is now filming, and Oda has promised the hit series will introduce Tony Tony Chopper ASAP. 

What do you make of this new One Piece project? Will you be checking out One Piece Fan Letter? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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One Piece’s anime is now working through a transitional phase of the Egghead Arc, and the promo for the next episode of the series is really putting Monkey D. Garp’s life on the line. One Piece: Egghead Arc has taken some time away from Luffy and the Straw Hats’ attempts to escape the chaos on Dr. Vegapunk’s future island laboratory to fill in the gaps of what’s happening out in the rest of the seas. One of the major developments has been chaos breaking out on Blackbeard’s Beehive base, and Garp has been right in the thick of it all. 

One of the cliffhangers left from the Reverie arc was the fact that Koby had been taken prisoner by Blackbeard and held at Beehive. It wasn’t until after the events of the Wano Country arc that we got to see how this came to be as One Piece revealed that Blackbeard and Koby had crossed paths at Amazon Lily, and Koby was captured as a result of the conflict that had broke out between Blackbeard’s crew and the Amazons. Now as we see his attempts to escape, Garp has come for a big rescue as he puts his life on the line in the preview for One Piece Episode 1121. Check it out below: 

One Piece: What’s Happening to Garp? 

When we had last seen Garp in action, he surprisingly mounted a force on Beehive in an attempt to rescue Koby. It was thought that Koby would be on his own thanks to SWORD doing their own thing outside of the Marines’ jurisdiction, but clearly Garp wasn’t beholden to this idea as he came to Beehive with the intent of freeing his pupil. Unleashing the full force of his strength, Garp has sparked a huge fight against Blackbeard’s massive crew. One of which happened to be the former Admiral, Kuzan, which took Garp by surprise. 

It was revealed that following Kuzan’s loss to Akasuki during the time skip, Kuzan left the Marines and was basically wandering on his own. On a chance run in with Blackbeard, Kuzan ended up joining the crew and is now there fighting on behalf of his new captain. This led to Kuzan and Garp exchanging the first few blows, and now after a few weeks of the anime exploring other major events from the Reverie’s fallout, we’re now going to see the next crucial step of this fight. 

How to Watch One Piece Episode 1121

One Piece Episode 1121 will be streaming with Crunchyroll and Netflix when it premieres this Saturday, October 6th. The episode is titled “Garp and Kuzan – A Master and Pupil’s Beliefs Clash” and the promo for the episode teases it’s going to be an intense final clash between the two. Garp has seen better days as he’s basically fighting alone against a huge crew, and Kuzan still has some gears to grind against his former master thanks to how his life has gone thus far. 

It’s going to make for a massive fight between the two before it’s all over, and this is still all developing while Luffy and the crew are trapped on Egghead. With this being the first major arc of the Final Saga of the series, One Piece still has plenty to reveal and showcase as Eiichiro Oda’s original series continues to lay the groundwork for the grand finale coming in the future. It’s just a matter of seeing how each of these characters fit or don’t fit into those future plans from here on out. 

The post New One Piece Promo Puts Garp’s Life on the Line appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It is wild to think the world has been chasing after the One Piece for decades. Years ago, creator Eiichiro Oda thought up the famous treasure, and fans are still arguing over its source. Since One Piece began, Gol D. Roger has kept us hanging over his fabled haul, and the Straw Hat pirates have been chasing it for ages. Of course, netizens have spent years speculating the true nature of the One Piece, and they have been given plenty of hints along the way.

After all, Oda knows exactly what he is writing towards. The creator of One Piece has never admitted what Roger’s treasure is, but he has given us clues. Oda has even shared the secret with his most trusted advisors, and from the sounds of it, the One Piece is some sort of tangible treasure.

What Is the One Piece?

As the series works through its final saga, One Piece fans are more eager than ever to unpack the series’ treasure. ComicBook is looking back at some of the biggest teases we have been given about the one-and-only One Piece, so you can read up on that research below:

• In 1999, Oda shared in an early interview that he already knows how One Piece will end. He shared, “I’ve already decided the ending and drawn the last panel. I’ll focus on both the crew and the outside world.” So since the start, Oda has know about what the One Piece was.
  

• During a 2019 interview with Fuji TV, Oda was asked again about the ending of One Piece. The creator was questioned whether Roger’s treasure was something immaterial like love or friendship, and Oda shut down the idea entirely.  “No, I hate that kind of thing,” Oda stressed. “That’s like the ending of The Wizard of Oz, which I watched when I was a kid. Adventuring that long, and having the adventure itself be the treasure, is really dissatisfying. Those kinds of stories are impossible. It feels like, ‘I’ve gone on this long adventure, so give me the treasure!'”

• Suguru Sugita, a longtime editor on One Piece, knows what the One Piece is as does former editor Kaito Anayama. During a promo for the One Piece manga, Sugita teased fans about the treasure, saying, “It’s difficult to explain in one word what the One Piece as a treasure is.” Naito stepped in to hush the editor before any actual details could come forward. After all, Naito shared in early 2024 that he knew the ending of One Piece, but he will never share the secret before Oda does.
  

As you can see, few concrete details about the One Piece have gone live, but it has been talked about for years. Oda has kept the treasure in mind for decades, and Luffy’s journey has been building up to its debut. In the latest One Piece arc, Vegapunk shared a big update on the treasure as he suggested Roger’s boon could save the world from an impending flood. So now, Luffy has serious competition as crews across the world are gunning for the One Piece.

When Will One Piece End?

Now, we will not find out what the One Piece is for some time. Oda has assured fans the mystery will not be solved until the manga reaches its end. Oda has said the manga is in its final saga, but knowing One Piece, it could take years to reach its final chapters. Still, the wheels are now in motion to address the biggest mystery in shonen as the Straw Hat crew is on the cusp of cracking the case.

If you want in on the fun, One Piece is easier now than ever to read. The hit manga can be read on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump app as well as Manga Plus.

What do you think about Oda’s teasers to date? Do you have any guesses about Roger’s infamous treasure? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post What Is the One Piece? Eiichiro Oda Has Given Us Plenty of Clues appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is now in the works on Season 2 of the live action series with Netflix, and new star David Dastmalchian teases how the series will be tapping into his Horror side with his take on Mr. 3! One Piece‘s live-action series fully kicked off production on Season 2 earlier this year, and with it has seen some major names joining the cast. As Luffy and the Straw Hats get ready to make their first steps into the Grand Line, One Piece is set to expand with a ton of characters fans have been excited to see make the jump from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga release. 

Briefly teased in the first season of the live-action series, One Piece Season 2 will be fully introducing the members of the mysterious Baroque Works group and they are headlined by some pretty huge stars. David Dastmalchian, who has starred in projects such as The Boogeyman, Late Night With the Devil, AfrAId and more, will be bringing Mr. 3 to life, and speaking with Nerdist, Dastmalchian teased the kind of body horror vibes he’ll be able to tap into with the help of Galdino’s Devil Fruit powers in the new episodes. 

David Dastmalchian Teases Netflix’s One Piece Season 2

“I mean, he’s so unique and such a fantastically interesting odd character. So, the idea of getting to be a part of what is already an amazing ensemble is incredible—I think that season one was just so great,” Dastmalchian stated when opening up about being cast as Mr. 3 in One Piece Season 2. “And I think that what I want to bring to him is finding the David that lives inside of Galdino. I want to find the David that is, I mean, he was just an office worker at Baroque Works, and now he’s this really cool, weird, often seen-as-bad guy character whose alliances can kind of shift around just like so many of the characters in One Piece. And I’m excited to see what they want to do because they’ve done such an exceptional job making the anime and the manga into a live-action world.”

When asked whether or not he’ll be able to draw from his experience with horror for the role, Dastmalchian responded “A hundred percent. Also, there’s a level of energy and performance that the show taps into really well when you think about the source material.” Speaking on this further, Dastmalchian opened up more about what he hopes to bring to his take on the character, “So I would also like to bring some of my theater background into the world of One Piece and what Mr. 3 looks, moves, and speaks like. Hopefully no one will be able to hold a candle to what I’m about to do.” But in terms of what his character will look like on screen, it appears as Dastmalchian has yet to get to work on set. 

What Will Mr. 3 Look Like in One Piece Live Action? 

When asked about Mr. 3’s wild design and how it might translate to the live-action series, Dastmalchian revealed he has yet to see it but has full confidence in the One Piece team to knock it out of the park. “I haven’t seen anything yet, but I know that the design team on the show has done such a great job staying true to the source material. So even though I haven’t seen anything yet, and I don’t know what it will look like yet, I am certain it’s going to pay great honor to the design from the source material. And I am just super curious about what kind of eyewear I’m going to get to have and I’ll see if I can maybe hopefully make my arms look decent enough to be wearing the very short sleeve shirts that he wears.”

As for when the new episodes will hit, Netflix has yet to announce a release date or window for One Piece Season 2 as of the time of this publication. Dastmalchian joins the cast of the series alongside other new additions such as Joe Manganiello as Crocodile, Lera Abova as Nico Robin, and more as Eiichiro Oda’s world continues to expand in live-action. 

HT – Nerdist

The post Netflix’s One Piece Will Embrace David Dastmalchian’s Horror Roots appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is on a roll this year. While its manga moves towards its next arc, the anime is turning heads with its adaptation of Egghead Island. The Straw Hat crew is on top of the world, and of course, that doesn’t even touch upon their Netflix stint. Last year, One Piece posted its live-action adaptation to the delight of fans, and season two is now in production. Netflix is set to bring Tony Tony Chopper to life with season two, and after being teased about his debut, one fan decided to piece together the reindeer’s look for fans.

As you can see below, Netflix’s One Piece is drawing plenty of buzz thanks to Chopper, and can you blame the fans? For decades now, the Drum Island doctor has been a favorite with One Piece lovers. Chopper’s sweet and sour personality helped turn the reindeer into a key member of Luffy’s crew, and his debut at Netflix has been talked about often online. And if he looks anything like the fan-art below, audiences will be in for a treat.

View on X

Let’s Welcome Tony Tony Chopper

As you can tell, the One Piece fan-art leans into the official peek we got of Chopper during Netflix’s Geeked Week. At that time, the streaming service showed Chopper from behind in Still, we could make out his chibi frame, and his iconic pink hat looked incredibly fluffy. With his antlers out, the official teaser made Chopper look adorable, so this fan-art takes the reindeer further in that direction.

With wide eyes and a rounded snout, this One Piece draft makes Chopper look adorable. In fact, he may be to cute. Chopper has quite an adorable look these days, but before One Piece hit its timeskip, Chopper was a bit scrappier. It will be interesting to see how Netflix navigates this design shift as many One Piece fans know Chopper best with his post-timeskip design. But if we are being authentic to Eiichiro Oda’s manga, then Chopper needs to be a big rougher around the edges when he first arrives at Netflix.

What’s Coming for One Piece Season 2?

Currently, we have no word on when Chopper’s full design will be shown to fans, but One Piece season two is in the midst of production. Filming kicked off this summer as the core cast of Netflix’s One Piece returned to South Africa to shoot. In the following months, we have learned much about the new season, and Oda even confirmed its story outline.

Rather than head into Arabasta, One Piece season two will start at Loguetown and finish up with the Drum Island arc. This story spread is ambitious, and it will bring tons of new characters to life. For instance, Mr. 3 will bring David Dastmalchian to life while Katey Sagal oversees Kureha. And as for its biggest additions, One Piece has secured its own Nico Robin. Lera Abova will bring the historian to life, and as for Crocodile, Joe Manganiello has been tapped to play the villain.

What do you make of this Tony Tony Chopper design? Do you think Netflix will be able to pull off the reindeer? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Here’s How Chopper Could Look in One Piece Season 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is now in the works on Season 2 of the live-action series with Netflix, and the showrunner behind it all only had Joe Manganiello in mind for the role of Mr. 0, otherwise known as Sir Crocodile. One Piece has been in the midst of filming Season 2 of the live-action series since earlier this year, and fans have been getting a steady flow of updates about what and who to expect to see in the coming episodes. This includes the reveal of some of the huge foes coming in Monkey D. Luffy’s future like Crocodile, who has been recently cast. 

Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 will feature Joe Manganiello (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Magic Mike XXL) in the role of Crocodile, and a special video featuring showrunner Matt Owens released by Netflix reveals that Owens wanted Manganiello from the beginning. During the video, Owens tells Manganiello that he was the “first person, the only person in my mind to do this.” And from the kinds of research that Manganiello details about his time with the role thus far, and his excitement with fans, Manganiello will indeed be the perfect choice. 

How Much Manganiello Has Researched Into Crocodile

“I have like tables and chairs full of all these different versions of Crocodile to look at while I’m going through this material. But I mean, for me, a lot of it is, it has to be real,” Manganiello began when detailing how much research he’s done into his new role for One Piece. “And especially when you’re playing a character that people want to call a ‘villain,’ it’s like, well, he just has different intentions. And a different path than some of the other characters.” But through his research, Manganiello also came to a new realization about the kind of character Crocodile is. 

“But what I found, he is this flip side of the coin from Luffy. Potentially,” Manganiello explained. “He represents this dark potential future for Luffy. If he’s affected or allows the trauma of defeat to infect him the way it was for me, and I think that there’s a part of Crocodile that wants everyone to suffer the way he did after Whitebeard, or with the disappointment of not becoming the King of the Pirates and letting that go. And of course, not trusting your friends.” But Manganiello is ready to get started and explore more of his character. 

What Will Crocodile Do in One Piece Season 2

“You know, I just want to do the best job that I possibly can, to honor all those fans, and Oda, and [Owens], and everybody that’s brought this show to life and kept it alive for 25 years and made it what it is. I’m just excited to get to Alabasta and get to work,” Manganiello teased as he and the rest of the cast get ready for their part of the work. But there’s also a crucial tease here as Manganiello is also teasing the famous Alabasta location, and that’s something that might only be seen briefly in what’s to come in Season 2. 

One Piece series creator Eiichiro Oda previously confirmed that the new episodes will be adapting the Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island arcs from the original manga, and the Alabasta saga doesn’t kick in until after each of these arcs. But if it’s like the first season of the live-action series, there’s a chance we’ll get to see at least some of Alabasta in action before the Straw Hats land there. 

The post Netflix’s One Piece Always Knew Joe Manganiello Would Be Crocodile appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes down to it, who doesn’t like free anime? There was once a time where anime was impossible to get a hold of unless you had ample funds to import VHS tapes, but those days are gone. There are plenty of streaming services that offer free-to-watch anime from Tubi to Freevee. Still, this industry shift has not stopped piracy. In fact, technology has only made anime piracy and manga leaks worse. So really, it was just a matter of time before an industry insider went viral for pushing back against the trend.

Taking to social media, Sota Shigetsugu earned headlines recently as the animator made their grievances public. The artist, who is known best for working on One Piece, admits they are frustrated by so-called fans sharing anime leaks online.

What Is the Danger With Piracy?

“I know the majority of fans are good people, but I often see some fans overseas… eagerly awaiting leaks or expressing thanks to those who leak content. It really frustrates me when I see pirated anime footage being circulated right after they’re released in theaters,” Shigetsugu wrote.

“How many reading and viewing experiences were ruined because of leaks? While those who leak content are obviously terrible, what annoys me even more are the so-called fans who appreciate it,” the animator continued. “Don’t act like it’s something to be enjoyed.”

Continuing, the One Piece staffer said he believes the rise of simulcast schedules have royally messed up the anime industry. If Shigetsugu had a say, he would extend the time between releases in Japan and America as the artist says most anime leaks are coming from overseas.

“The global simultaneous release of films is the worst. If releases were only in Japan, camrips almost never happen, but as soon as it’s released overseas, the pirated footage gets circulated on the first day. I really wish there would be a delay between the Japanese and global releases. I completely understand the anticipation of overseas fans, but overseas camrips happen every time.”

Will Anime Piracy Ever Become Obsolete?

As you can see, Shigetsugu has a big issue with anime piracy, and he is not the only industry veteran feeling this way. From anime piracy to manga leaks, creators from across the board in Japan have railed against the practice. Earlier this year, Netflix was hit by a huge data mine that leaked a number of high-profile anime titles like Dandadan. Staff at Science Saru was quick to critique the piracy push as well as the leak. And while anime piracy is still a big issue, studios and licensors are fighting back.

In the past five years, both manga publishers and anime distributors are taking arms against piracy. A number of historic legal cases have been filed in recent years that target these leakers. In the United States, licensors like Aniplex helped bring down some of the biggest anime piracy sites online including those serving NSFW content. Now, the question is whether this aggressive takedown policy will curb piracy or simply slow it down.

What do you think about this animator’s outburst against piracy? Do you think anime can ditch its piracy roots? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post One Piece Animator Slams Piracy Culture, Manga Leaks in Viral Post appeared first on ComicBook.com.

David Dastmalchian might be an actor that has appeared in classics such as Dark Knight and The Suicide Squad, but the young actor remains a true nerd at heart. While Dastmalchian has a love for comic books and Dungeons And Dragons, the actor has never tried to hide his love of anime. Such is the case with his recent casting as One Piece’s Mr. Three in the live-action Netflix adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s work. In a new interview, David discussed his role as the member of Baroqueworks, examining his approach while also musing over how his character will look in the “real world”. 

In a recent interview with outlet The Nerdist, Dastmalchian goes into depth when it comes to his upcoming portrayal of Mr. Three and his role in the upcoming second season, ” I mean, he’s so unique and such a fantastically interesting odd character. So, the idea of getting to be a part of what is already an amazing ensemble is incredible—I think that season one was just so great. And I think that what I want to bring to him is finding the David that lives inside of Galino. I want to find the David that is, I mean, he was just an office worker at Baroque Works, and now he’s this really cool, weird, often seen-as-bad guy character whose alliances can kind of shift around just like so many of the characters in One Piece. And I’m excited to see what they want to do because they’ve done such an exceptional job making the anime and the manga into a live-action world.”

David Dastmalachian is Lighting a Candle For Mr. Three

Dastmalchian might have had his fair share of nerdy roles, but the talented actor also has plenty of spots in the horror genre. Starring in films such as Late Night With The Devil, The Last Voyage of The Demeter, The Boogeyman, and more, David is hoping to bring his horror roots to the role of the Baroqueworks member, “A hundred percent. Also, there’s a level of energy and performance that the show taps into really well when you think about the source material. So I would also like to bring some of my theater background into the world of One Piece and what Mr. 3 looks, moves, and speaks like. Hopefully no one will be able to hold a candle to what I’m about to do.” Dastmalchian did not apologize for the candle pun. 

Finally, the live-action Mr. Three addressed a question that many fans had when it came to bringing the classic anime villain to life, ‘how on Earth were they going to adapt his hair?’, “I haven’t seen anything yet, but I know that the design team on the show has done such a great job staying true to the source material. So even though I haven’t seen anything yet, and I don’t know what it will look like yet, I am certain it’s going to pay great honor to the design from the source material. And I am just super curious about what kind of eyewear I’m going to get to have and I’ll see if I can maybe hopefully make my arms look decent enough to be wearing the very short sleeve shirts that he wears.”

When Does One Piece Season Two Arrive?

While the live-action series did play a heavy role in Netflix’s recent Geeked Week, showrunner Matt Owens dodged the question of when anime fans can expect the live-action adaptation to return. Production only recently began for One Piece’s second season, meaning that the series’ return in 2025 might not be a given. Whenever Netflix does unleash season two, 

The post Netflix’s One Piece: David Dastmalchain Teases Mr. 3 and His Season 2 Debut appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece’s live-action adaptation on Netflix had some big news for fans as a part of this year’s Geeked Week. On top of giving anime fans a brief look at Tony Tony Chopper in the second season, One Piece also confirmed that Joe Manganiello and Lera Abova would be taking on the roles of Crocodile and Nico Robin respectively. In a recent video, the streaming service was more than willing to share a behind-the-scenes look at the production for season two. One keen-eyed fan was able to spot a locale that is a part of One Piece history but had never made its way to the manga.

While Eiichiro Oda’s original manga series is quite massive on its own, the anime still had to create several original stories in order to let new chapters be forged. Often referred to as “filler”, One Piece wasn’t the only shonen series that created unique characters and locations that never appeared in their preliminary manga series. Some of the best examples of this include Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer, Naruto, Bleach, and many more as the anime stories would create never-before-seen adventures for its starring characters. 

Hand Island Becomes Netflix Canon

If this is your first time hearing of Hand Island before, this locale arrived as a part of a special made for television episode, “One Piece: Episode of Luffy – Adventure on Hand Island“. Arriving following the release of episode 576, and on the same day as One Piece: Film Z, the special presented a story that worked as a build-up to the movie but wasn’t originally a part of the manga series. Most recently, we saw a similar situation to this with the original One Piece episodes that explored the past friendship of Luffy and Uta to help build up to One Piece: Film Red. Spotting a map of Hand Island during a behind-the-scenes video, One Piece fans are now left wondering if this island will appear in season two.

One Piece Season 2’s Locations

Hand Island might have appeared in the recent One Piece set visit but that doesn’t mean it will make an appearance in the live-action Straw Hats’ comeback. None other than creator Eiichiro Oda himself confirmed where Inaki Godoy and the other young actors would be visiting in the Netflix series, stating that environments like Drum Island, Loguetown, Little Garden, and Whiskey Peak to name a few.

While showrunner Matt Owens stated that production has begun in Cape Town, South Africa, the creator was remiss to share a date as to when Netflix viewers can expect season two to arrive. One Piece’s live-action series definitely won’t be making a comeback in 2024 but it is possible that the Straw Hats might return next year. Since the series has become one of the biggest hits for the streaming service, we’ll be sure to let readers know when Luffy and company are given a return date.

Where’s Alabasta?

Even though the next season of the live-action One Piece will feature the likes of Crocodile, Nico Robin, Princess Vivi, and other Baroqueworks members, Alabasta seemingly won’t be taking the main focus of season two. The desert island creates a massive arc for the Straw Hats and cramming it in with the other arcs might be a lot for one season to handle. Luckily, the success of the series means that a third season for the live-action One Piece appears inevitable. 

Want to see what other locales make their way to One Piece’s live-action series? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Grand Line. 

The post Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 Is About to Shake Up the Canon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is in the early days of a new arc, and fans have been waiting decades for this storyline to come up. After being teased about Elbaf in Little Garden, the series has brought Monkey D. Luffy to the mysterious land. The latest chapter of One Piece ushers part of the Straw Hat crew to Elbaf, and it is clear the land with lean on Norse myth in some ways. After all, One Piece just got its own world tree, and the introduction has raised some big questions.

The debut came to pass in One Piece chapter 1127, and stakes for the World Tree were put high. After all, it seems a fire has taken over part of Elbaf, and it is now threatening the tree. A slew of natives are seen speaking about the tree as they say Elbaf “is finished” should it catch fire. So clearly, the world tree has a very important purpose within the nation.

The Yggdrasil of One Piece

Of course, the concept of Yggdrasil is not new by any means. This world tree has been spoken about for centuries, in fact. It first appeared in Norse mythology as Yggdrasil was laid out in the Poetic Edda in the 13th century. At that time, the world tree was revered as a sacred one from which the Nine Worlds spawn. Norse mythology states Yggdrasil holds the multiverse upon its branches, and its body extends into the cosmos. From the heavens to the underworld, Yggdrasil is an integral part of reality’s very fabric in Norse myth. And in its trunk, all sorts of monsters and creatures thrive.

Over the centuries, the world tree has been used in various franchises including those outside of North myth. Famously, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has used Yggdrasil. The tree made its first appearance in Thor and has gone on to appear in other projects like Captain America: The First Avenger and Loki.

One Piece Kickstarts Elbaf Arc at Long Last

As for how the world tree ties to One Piece, well – the Elbaf arc is going to lay out that connection. The presence of Yggdrasil has fans questioning whether One Piece exists in some kind of multiverse. The Straw Hat crew has been busy on the Grand Line, and the world map One Piece has pieced together is undeniably strange. From Skypeia to Fishman Island and beyond, many have questioned if the world of One Piece as we know it was created by a multiversal collision. And thanks Yggdrasil’s debut, the theory has been given a boost.

The truth behind the world tree will come to pass as Eiichiro Oda brings Elbaf to life. We are just one chapter into its grand arc, after all. One Piece may be in its final saga, but Oda has plenty of story left to go before Luffy’s dream is realized. So if you have your own theories about Yggdrasil, now is the time to lay them out!

What do you make of this new One Piece arc? Are you ready to see Elbaf’s adventure unfold? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post One Piece Taps Norse Mythology by Debuting Its Own World Tree appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Of the many revelations that arose during Netflix’s recent Geeked Week Event, the live-action One Piece definitely had some of the biggest. On top of confirming that Lera Above would take on the role of Ms. All Sunday, aka future Straw Hat Nico Robin, Joe Manganiello was confirmed to be playing the part of Crocodile. The Warlord of the Sea is the “big bad” of the Alabasta Arc and Manganiello has already stated his admiration for the shonen series he will join. In a new interview, the future Crodocile explores the villain’s past before he arrives in Netflix’s One Piece Season Two.

To give those fans who didn’t follow the source material, One Piece’s Crocodile is one of the biggest villains of the shonen series. Thanks to having Devil Fruit abilities that allow him to transform into sand, take control of sand, and even sap the moisture from anything he touches, the antagonist has earned his place as a big bad of the Grand Line. Rather than trying to find the One Piece like Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, Crocodile wants to rule the land of Alabasta with an iron fist and has put together the organization known as Baroqueworks to do so. 

Crocodile’s Dark Origin

In a recent statement, Joe Manganiello dissected his character and stated that Crocodile’s past with Whitebeard helps forge the anime character’s villainous future, “But what I found, he is the flip side of the coin from Luffy, potentially. He represents this dark potential future for Luffy if he’s affected or allows the trauma of defeat to infect him the way it was for me, and I think that there’s a part of Crocodile that wants everyone to suffer the way that he did after Whitebeard, or with the disappointment of not becoming the King of the Pirates and letting that go. And of course, not trusting your friends.”

Explaining Crocodile’s Past

Earlier in his life, the Warlord of the Sea bore witness to the execution of Gol D. Roger. Much like Luffy, Crocodile dreamed of one day becoming the king of the pirates, however, this dream was eradicated when he challenged Whitebeard to a fight and was completely destroyed. Following this confrontation, Crocodile went about creating his own personal army in Baroqueworks, a collection of bounty hunters and criminals that would help in doing his dirty work.

Crocodile might be a villain but he is able to hide his status thanks to fighting against threats to Alabasta, the desert land that he is hoping to call his own. While the Straw Hats deal with Baroqueworks outside of the island, the Warlord’s eyes are only set on this major prize. In terms of Joe Manganiello, many anime fans agree that he was an amazing actor to take on this role thanks to both his love of the franchise and his ability to portray a solid villain. 

Crocodile’s Cross Guild

In both the manga and the anime adaptation, Crocodile has built a new organization and is once again dead set on finding the One Piece. The Cross Guild is headed by the likes of Crocodile, Mihawk, and Buggy, though the pirate clown is hardly an equal to his two cohorts. During Geeked Week, One Piece showrunner Matt Owens even referenced the Cross Guild when actors Joe Manganiello and Jeff Ward shared the stage.

Want to stay up to date on all things Crocodile? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for everything One Piece and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime. 

The post One Piece Star Joe Manganiello Teases Crocodile’s Dark Origin appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is moving forward at Netflix with a busy second season. Following the show’s debut in 2023, the live-action anime has earned little but love. From its top-notch casting to its loving sets, One Piece made history in Hollywood by showing the industry how anime is done. Now, season two is in the works with stars including Lera Abova. The actress, who will play Nico Robin, is now teasing the character’s debut with a special letter meant for the fans.

As you can see below, Abova took to social media to post a letter about her addition to Netflix’s One Piece. It was there the actress gave thanks to the anime fandom for embracing her with such love. And as Nico Robin (or Miss All Sunday) takes shape on set, One Piece has become a precious treasure to Abova.

Nico Robin Is Ready to Join Netflix’s One Piece

“A few days ago, I was introduced to something I didn’t know existed: a whole community of such loyal fans who will protect and uplift you, just like each of the Straw Hats would,” the Russian actress shared.

“I feel so loved by so many incredible people. Deep people. Strong people. People who are so special, both individually and as a community… I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve done for season two, and I will, of course, do my absolute best to bring Miss All Sunday to life, so that you, as the biggest part of the One Piece family, feed proud and happy. Thank you, Oda-sensei, for creating this wonderful piece of culture that shows us life is about friendship and love for one another. That together we can conquer any battle that comes our way, and that life truly comes from within us.”

As you can see in her letter, Abova has captured the spirit of the Straw Hat pirates. She has gotten a front seat to Nico Robin thanks to showrunner Matt Owens and series creator Eiichiro Oda. While the character may be working against Luffy at the start of the One Piece, Nico Robin becomes more than an adversary. A series of intense trials transforms the Devil Child into nakama. Abova has learned all those sides of the character, and fans are eager to see how she handles the role.

When Will One Piece Season 2 Premiere?

For now, all eyes are on Netflix as One Piece season two is filming. Production began in full this summer as the Straw Hat crew’s main cast hit up set in South Africa. At this time, no word has been given on when One Piece season two will debut, but the live-action series has fans hooked. And if rumors are right, the show will make its comeback sometime in 2025.

In the meantime, the cast of Netflix’s One Piece is doing its best to honor Oda on set. We know a number of big stars have joined the live-action production. Asides from Abova, we know major talent like Joe Manganiello has joined One Piece along with Katey Sagal, David Dastmalchian, and more. And before long, the world will finally find out who in the world is bringing Tony Tony Chopper to life.

What do you make of this letter by Abova? Are you excited to see the actress take on Nico Robin? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post One Piece Star Lera Abova Teases Nico Robin’s Debut in New Letter: Read appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece has added Joe Manganiello to the cast of Netflix’s live-action series ahead of Season 2, and the star explained that his character represents a “dark potential future” path for Monkey D. Luffy. One Piece is now hard at work on its production for Season 2 of the live-action series since earlier this year, and the cast has been getting stacked with all sorts of new additions making their debuts in the coming arcs from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga series. Manganiello was announced to be officially joining the cast during Netflix’s Geeked Week this year, and has since revealed how much research he’s done into the characters. 

In a special video released by Netflix featuring One Piece‘s showrunner Matt Owens, Joe Manganiello opened up about joining the live-action series as Sir Crocodile and revealed that he’s been actually doing quite a bit of research into the role. In talking about his approach to the character leading into the new episodes, Manganiello explained that while going over all of the material he came across a unique vision for the character. Mentioning Crocodile’s loss to Whitebeard, Manganiello explained that he represents a “dark potential future” for Luffy in where he wallowed in his losses than overcome them. 

Netflix’s One Piece: How Crocodile Is Like Luffy

“I have like tables and chairs full of all these different versions of Crocodile to look at while I’m going through this material. But I mean, for me, a lot of it is, it has to be real,” Manganiello began. “And especially when you’re playing a character that people want to call a ‘villain,’ it’s like, well, he just has different intentions. And a different path than some of the other characters.” Through all of this, Manganiello also honed in on a connection between Crocodile and Luffy that fans might not have even recognized themselves after all this time. 

“But what I found, he is this flip side of the coin from Luffy. Potentially,” Manganiello continued. “He represents this dark potential future for Luffy. If he’s affected or allows the trauma of defeat to infect him the way it was for me, and I think that there’s a part of Crocodile that wants everyone to suffer the way he did after Whitebeard, or with the disappointment of not becoming the King of the Pirates and letting that go. And of course, not trusting your friends.” So as Manganiello sees it, Luffy can become just like Crocodile if he goes down a darker path. 

Who Is Crocodile? 

Crocodile makes his debut in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga as the first major foe that Luffy and the Straw Hats will come across in their adventures across the Grand Line. The first season came to an end with the tease that the Straw Hats would officially begin this adventure, and soon they’ll discover that all of the threats to come are much more dangerous than anyone they have faced in the East Blue. And the biggest example of this change is Crocodile, who is in control of the mysterious Baroque Works group. 

With Manganiello’s insight, it seems that One Piece will be showcasing a different side of this villain for the live-action series. It’ll likely be a much different take on it that Manganiello will bring to the table, and it makes it even more exciting to see it all come to fruition. But as of the time of this publication, the release window or date for One Piece Season 2 has yet to be announced. 

The post Netflix’s One Piece: Joe Manganiello Explains How Crocodile Is Luffy’s “Dark Potential Future” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While One Piece’s second season had quite a bit of information revealed thanks to the recent Netflix Geeked Week, the streaming service has remained tight-lipped regarding a release date for season two. Though actors Joe Manganiello and Lera Above have joined the cast as Crocodile and Nico Robin, One Piece’s live-action return is still in the works as filming continues in South Africa. Thanks to the filming in Cape Town, One Piece fans are scoring the opportunity to see some of the sets from a distance, as one keen-eyed anime fan has been able to spot a familiar locale from the One Piece franchise.

For those who might not be familiar with Whisky Peak, the town is billed as a village that welcomes pirates with open arms. Unfortunately for the Straw Hat Pirates, the denizens of this town aren’t all they appear to be but are rather bounty hunters who look to score the bounties of the pirates that visit them. Whisky Peak not only gives us a closer look at Baroqueworks, but it also harbors some other major moments such as the introduction of Princess Vivi to the Straw Hats. The smaller arc also focuses on a fight between Luffy and Zoro in a brawl that is sure to throw many for a loop when it hits live-action.

Whisky Peak Revealed

Taking pictures of One Piece’s live-action filming in Cape Town, South Africa, one fan has given anime fans an idea of what Whisky Peak will look like in season two. Considering the importance of the town filled with bounty hunters, it should come as no surprise that it is set to remain in the live-action adaptation. Whisky Peak’s placement in the One Piece story means that it is most likely set to take part around the halfway point of the upcoming second season.

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One Piece Season Two: The Environments

On top of Whisky Peak, One Piece’s second season will house quite a few wild locations. The likes of Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, Little Garden, and Drum Island have already been confirmed by Eiichiro Oda himself. Some of these arcs might be more important to the overall lore than others, but all are essential in capturing the Grand Line adventures. Whisky Peak’s introductions and events are essential in building Baroqueworks along with several characters that become allies and enemies to Monkey D. Luffy and his crew. 

Where’s Alabasta?

Despite Crocodile and Nico Robin being cast, this doesn’t mean that Alabasta will play a major role in season two. Considering how gigantic that arc is, and the amount of characters that make up the desert locale, saving it for season three makes sense. Luckily, various Alabasta favorites will play significant roles in season two all the same and it goes to show how serious One Piece’s creative team is when it comes to making sure the source material is honored in the right way.

While a definitive episode count has yet to be confirmed regarding the upcoming second season, fitting in all of these storylines into an eight to ten-episode season would be nigh impossible. There are simply too many moving pieces and too many characters to juggle when it comes to this massive One Piece storyline. While this ultimately means that anime fans will have to wait longer to see Monkey D. Luffy fight Crocodile one-on-one, the wait is sure to be worth it. 

Want to stay up to date on One Piece’s upcoming live-action season two? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Grand Line and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime. 

The post Netflix’s One Piece Set Photos Bring a Big Season 2 Set to Life appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is on a hot streak these days, and we have Netflix’s live-action adaptation to thank. While the anime and manga doing heavy lifting, the team at Netflix is working hard on One Piece season two. Not long ago, fans got a taste of what’s to come as Geeked Week unveiled tons of info about the series. Now, even more set information has come to light for One Piece, and a new photo has fans eyeing some surprising pirates.

The update comes from social media as One Piece fans got their hands on new set photos. It was there they spotted a familiar ship on the horizon, and no – we are not talking about the Going Merry. The ship pictured on set belongs to the Rumbar Pirates, and their flagship looks like it was taken straight from the manga.

Who Are the Rumbar Pirates?

You might be wondering who the Rumbar Pirates are and that is a fair question for new fans. After all, season one of Netflix’s One Piece did not touch on the crew. As fans of Eiichiro Oda know, the Rumbar Pirates were a crew from long ago that sailed the seas. First captained by York, the Rumbar Pirates sailed far into the Grand Line. During the crew’s run, the Rumbar Pirates would adopt two different ships, and a second captain would step in for York at the end. The second captain was a man named Brook, and he becomes a key figure in One Piece.

As for the Rumbar Pirates, we do get mention of the crew pretty early on in One Piece. The gang is brought up by Crocus during the Reverse Mountain arc as he tells Luffy about his friend Laboon. The Rumbar Pirates swore to return to Laboon as the gang befriended the whale, and the poor creature has been waiting ages to see his friends. The flashback is a quick one in the manga, but thanks to this set photo, we know Netflix is going to dive deeper into the Rumbar Pirates. So maybe, just maybe, we will get an early peek at Brook in season two.

One Piece Season 2 Will Cover a Lot

If Netflix does not get the chance to preview Brook, don’t be surprised. One Piece season two has a lot of ground to cover. Oda has already laid out the story arcs for One Piece season two, so we know it will kick off in Loguetown. From Whiskey Peak to Little Garden, One Piece will keep sailing through the Drum Island arc before season two wraps. Netflix will cap the show just before Luffy can tackle Arabasta for real, but hey – at least Tony Tony Chopper will have joined his team by then!

So far, no release date has been given for One Piece season two, but fans expect the show will return in 2025. The main cast of season one will return for season two, so the Straw Hat crew is intact. A slew of new stars will also join the cast for season two. For instance, Lera Abova has been cast as Miss All Sunday (Nico Robin) while Joe Manganiello will oversee Mr. 0 (Crocodile).

What do you think about this latest One Piece teaser? Are you ready for Netflix to lift anchor on season two? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Netflix’s One Piece: New Season 2 Set Photo Welcomes Some Surprising Pirates appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece has officially taken its first steps into the Elbaf arc as Luffy and the Straw Hats find themselves lost in a mysterious new area, and the newest chapter of the series made a great throwback to the original core crew! One Piece is now in the midst of the Final Saga of Eiichiro Oda’s long running manga series, and Luffy and the Straw Hats have gone through many adventures together since it all began. But the crew really started to come together during the East Blue saga as Luffy was looking for those who could support him on his journey to becoming King of the Pirates. 

The East Blue saga of One Piece then introduced Luffy to Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Sanji, and ever since fans have loved seeing them fight alongside one another and the rest of the Straw Hat crew. But it seems like the core group has been separated from all of the others ahead of their arrival on Elbaf. The new arc has gotten off to a mysterious start as the core Straw Hat crew is now in a dangerous area full of massive animals, and Nami brings this all full circle when she cries out for help from these fellow core members. 

One Piece Kicks Off the Elbaf Arc

One Piece Chapter 1127 picks up right after Nami wakes up in a mysterious castle in a giant like outfit. This turns out to be the Bigstein Castle, and Nami has no idea how she got there. After being attacked by bees, Nami then specifically cries out for help from the members of the core Straw Hat group. Calling out for Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and “even Usopp,” it’s a fun throwback to the fact that while the Straw Hat crew has grown to double its size since the East Blue saga, Nami has been traveling together with these specific crew members for much longer. 

Soon coming across Usopp (who’s also changed his outfit to something more Elbaf appropriate), the two briefly think about whether or not they’re hallucinating all of the giant attacking monsters. After soundly discovering they aren’t, it’s not long before they are reunited with Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. It’s been quite a long time since this particular group has been all together on an island adventure to kick off an arc of the series, and now it’s made Elbaf seem more like a throwback than ever. 

One Piece: What’s Next for the Straw Hats? 

With One Piece now starting the Elbaf Arc, the rest of the crew was previously shown still out to sea. It was teased that it might be a while before the arc actually got started, but now as of this chapter it’s clearer that it really just meant that it’s going to be a while before the Straw Hats are all fully together again along with the rest of the giants. But as fans know full well about this particular group, it’s not long before Luffy and the others will stir up trouble and get the crew involved in some other kind of mess before Elbaf can even officially begin. 

With Elbaf being teased as a legendary location since the East Blue saga, the core Straw Hat crew being the first ones that seemingly also make it to the island first brings it all full circle. This group has been waiting to get to this place for a very long time, and now they’ll get to essentially enjoy it a bit before things eventually fall into chaos like they always do. 

The post One Piece Just Made the Cutest Throwback to Its OG Crew appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is continuing to work its way through the Egghead Arc to fill in the gaps of what’s happening to the rest of the seas, and the newest episode of the anime has revealed the final three of the Seraphim that Government has created. One Piece: Egghead Arc has temporarily turned its attention away from the events of the future island laboratory itself as Luffy and the Straw Hats try and escape it, and the episodes thus far have been revealing more of the secrets happening in the rest of the ocean. The biggest of which involves the World Government as they have many plans in place. 

As the One Piece anime continues to work through the Final Saga of Eiichiro Oda’s original manga series, the Government has been revealing some major secrets about their real control over the rest of the world. Not only are Imu and the Five Elders even more sinister than fans might have realized, but their machinations are continuing to bear fruit thanks to all of the work Dr. Vegapunk has done. This includes the Seraphim weapons, and One Piece Episode 1120 revealed the final three of these weapons in the anime’s latest episode. 

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One Piece: What Are the Seraphim? 

As introduced during the Egghead Arc in One Piece‘s previous episodes, the World Government decided to get rid of the Seven Warlords System as one of the decisions they made during the Reverie. The fallout led to those former Warlords all splitting off in their own ways, and during the Straw Hats’ landing on Egghead fans got to see why. The Marines had gotten rid of this system because they were able to develop a Pacifista that was much stronger than any of the others they had built based on Kuma’s body. 

These Seraphim are modeled after the former Seven Warlords lineup. The four seen attacking Luffy and the Straw Hats on Egghead had been based on Jimbei, Boa Hancock, Hawkeye Mihawk, and Kuma. This is clearly modeled after the first incarnation of the Warlords and not the other line ups that came later with shake up introductions from the likes of Trafalgar Law or Buggy. But now thanks to One Piece Episode 1120, the final three of these powerful Seraphim weapons have been revealed in full. And much like the others, they are younger versions of the ones they’re based off of. 

Who Are the New Seraphim? 

The three new Seraphim revealed in One Piece Episode 1120 appear to be modeled after Donquixote Doflamingo, Sir Crocodile, and Gecko Moria. With these three being the final members of the original Seven Warlords line up, these are also likely the final of the Seraphim weapons that we’ll see. Barring Dr. Vegapunk secretly crafting yet another powerful weapon (which is unlikely given that his island is currently being wiped out by the Government),this is the full line up for the Seraphim weapons. 

The Seven Warlords once worked with the World Government to create a sort of stalemate where neither would get too involved in one another’s business, but the Government has since thrown the rest of the seas into chaos as the balance of power between the pirates and the marines have been disrupted in such a way. It’s why each subsequent arc has been one intense event after another, and it’s clear that it’s all going to get a lot messier before it gets better. Especially if these new Seraphim are just as strong as the ones we have gotten to see in action already. 

The post One Piece Welcomes Three New Seraphim in Latest Episode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is gearing up for a big new adventure, and we have the island of Elbaf to thank. It has been ages since we first learned of the mysterious land, but at last, the Straw Hat crew has made its way to Elbaf. After their excursions at Egghead Island, the Straw Hat crew is rushing from one mission to another. And of course, this new arc has gifted our One Piece heroes with brand-new outfits. 

As you can see in the slides below, One Piece has brought Elbaf to life, and the nation has given the Straw Hat crew brand-new designs. Just as Luffy’s crew got a makeover for Egghead Island, the same is happening once more for Elbaf. Given the nation’s nordic inspiration, the Straw Hat members are given a viking makeover, and the rugged designs definitely suit the series.

One Piece Kickstarts the Elbaf Arc at Last

If you are not familiar with Elbaf and its ties to One Piece, no worries. The nation of giants has been a central hub in the series for centuries, but up until now, we have never seen Elbaf. Back in the day, our first taste of Elbaf came to life with the Little Garden arc, so the Straw Hats learned about the giants before they ever set foot on Drum Island. From Big Mom to Vegapunk, a number of big players on the Grand Line are somehow related to Elbaf, and it wasn’t long ago that Shanks visited the mysterious land.

With Elbaf in sight, fans are curious what this new arc will look like, and One Piece has left its options open. The Straw Hat crew made its way to the nationafter a crew of giants intercepted our heroes at Egghead Island. Of course, the Giant Warrior Pirates were led by Dorry and Brogy, the two captains we met long ago during the Little Garden arc. The crews align themselves to flee Egghead Island amidst a Buster Call, and their escape route worked. Given what we’ve seen of Elbaf, the nation has tight ties to the Red-Haired Pirates, and Luffy has his own in with the nation. Now, the Straw Hat crew is ready to learn what Elbaf is all about, and the members will do so with new nordic threads.

What’s Next for One Piece

As for what One Piece will do next, well – the Straw Hat crew is currently split in half. Usopp, Nami, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji have somehow found themselves on Elbaf or are have a very realistic hallucination of the island. With the rest of the Straw Hat crew onboard with the Giant Warrior Pirates, Luffy’s team needs to find out how they got to Elbaf if they really are there. From the location of the Thousand Sunny to the mysterious fire overtaking Elbaf, there is a lot going on for One Piece to explore. So buckle up! Oda is about to settle in for another long haul with the Elbaf arc.

What do you think about this latest One Piece update? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

Elbaf Arc – Usopp

Elbaf Arc – Sanji

Elbaf Arc – Roronoa Zoro

Elbaf Arc – Nami

Elbaf Arc – Monkey D. Luffy

The post One Piece Welcomes Elbaf Arc With the Straw Hat Crew’s Best Outfits Yet appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is now hard at work on Season 2 of the live-action series with Netflix, and new star Lera Abova has shared a special message with fans ahead of her debut as Miss All Sunday. One Piece has been in the midst of production on Season 2 with Netflix since earlier this year, and thus fans have gotten all sorts of updates about what and who to expect in the coming season. This includes not only many of the arcs from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga series we’ll get to see adapted, but also many of the stars helping to bring all of the characters to life. 

Netflix recently shared a major update with fans during Geeked Week 2024 as they revealed that Lera Abova would be joining the cast of One Piece as the mysterious Miss All Sunday. Known by fans of the series as Nico Robin, this character knows a lot more than they let on when they first make their debut. It’s something Abova herself is playing into with a special message shared with fans following the confirmation of her casting as she teases her work on One Piece Season 2. 

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Netflix’s One Piece: Lera Abova Speaks Out on Nico Robin Casting

“Hi Grand Fleet, it’s Lera Abova here. Otherwise known as Miss All Sunday,” Abova’s special message to Netflix’s One Piece fans began. “Thanks for welcoming me aboard. Couldn’t be more excited to go on this incredible adventure with now. But for now, I’m headed back to Cape Town to continue filming Season 2. Let me tell you, there are some secrets and mysteries you won’t want to miss. Knowledge is power, Nakama.” As teased with her message, Miss All Sunday has a lot more going on as her mysterious nature would imply. 

It’s something fans of One Piece’s manga and anime are well aware of as Nico Robin is one of the most important new additions to the series in Season 2. Not only does this character plant some big seeds for the future with her initial debut as a member of the Baroque Works group (together with Joe Manganiello’s Mr. 0/Sir Crocodile), but she’ll also play an even more significant role in everything that’s going to happen in a future season of the live-action series should One Piece continue beyond Season 2.

What to Know for Netflix’s One Piece Season 2

One Piece Season 2 is now in the works for a release with Netflix in the future, but has yet to announce a release window or date as of the time of this publication. One Piece series creator Eiichiro Oda previously confirmed that the new episodes will be adapting the Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island arcs from the original manga, so Nico Robin’s role in the coming episodes are certainly more interesting given that she has more to do in the series later. 

But like seen with the first season, there will likely be time made to explore more of the characters who don’t really have a lot of screen time in the original version of One Piece. It’s something unique to the live-action series as more characters are given more to do thanks to the benefits of retrospect (as some seemingly small moments led to huge things in the future), and that’s likely going to be the case for Season 2 as we’ll see more of Robin ahead of her full thrust into the story. 

The post Netflix’s One Piece: Lera Abova Breaks Silence on Nico Robin Role appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The team behind One Piece is getting bigger by the day. From crew to cast, Netflix is recruiting in a big way for One Piece season two now that the show has resumed production. With Luffy leading the Straw Hat crew, all eyes are on season two as One Piece will bring some big characters to life. Not long ago, Netflix even confirmed Joe Manganiello had joined the One Piece cast to bring Crocodile to life. And thanks to some epic fan art, we can see how Manganiello might look as the villain.

As you can see, the art comes from K164 over on X (Twitter) as they did some clever editing to bring Manganiello to life in One Piece. The shot gives us a clear vision for how the True Blood star may look when he goes up against the Straw Hat crew. Fitted with a hook prosthetic and smart suit, Crocodile looks nothing short of savage here. One Piece fans know just how heartless the villain can be, and Manganiello will be asked to bring that apathy to television soon.

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Who Is Crocodile?

Clearly, the Hollywood star fits the look for Crocodile, and we will get to see the villain unfurl ever so slowly in One Piece season two. After all, the new season will start off in Loguetown, so the Straw Hat crew will meet Manganiello first as Mr. 0. The codename marks Crocodile as the leader of Baroque Works, a mysterious crime syndicate that has its fingers all over Arabasta. The group is set on overthrowing the desert kingdom with Mr. 0 at the helm. However, at the same time, Crocodile makes sure the public sees him as an ally so his deception is never even suspected.

Crocodile is a major antagonist in One Piece, and his legacy stretches far longer what we saw from Arlong. Whether as a Warlord of the Sea or the leader of Baroque Works, Crocodile is a gnarly guy. To this day, Crocodile remains a threat to the Straw Hat crew and the Grand Line. Over the years, the character has worn a lot of hats, and Crocodile’s roots run deep. So Manganiello better hunker down; He could be with this role for a long, long time.

What to Expect From One Piece Season 2

With Crocodile cast, Netflix’s One Piece is moving along with production, and Manganiello admits he will be heading to set soon to start filming. In the meantime, plenty of stars have already hit up Cape Town, South Africa to film. Not only is the main cast of One Piece returning from season one, but more newcomers are in the wings. Lera Above, for example, has been cast as Nico Robin (or rather Miss All Sunday). Other actors like Katey Sagal and David Dastmalchian have also signed on to One Piece season two, so the show is stacked.

As for when One Piece will return to Netflix, we have not been given a solid date. Reports suggest a 2025 launch is in the cards, however. When the show does return to the air, series creator Eiichiro Oda has shared what arcs it will cover. Netflix’s One Piece is about to tackle Loguetown in season two and capstone its return at Drum Island. So yes, it won’t be much longer before the world gets to see Tony Tony Chopper in live action!

What do you think about this One Piece casting? Are you excited for the show’s second season? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Netflix’s One Piece: Here’s How Joe Manganiello Could Look as Crocodile appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece is now in the works on Season 2 of the live-action series with Netflix, and new addition to the series Joe Manganiello has shared a special statement with fans following his casting as Mr. 0. Netflix’s One Piece has been full steam ahead with its production on Season 2 of the live-action series since earlier this Summer, and with it has been adding tons of new members to the cast as the series readies to take on its next wave of arcs from Eiichiro Oda’s original manga and anime franchise. This includes some of the big villains coming Luffy and the Straw Hats’ way. 

Netflix recently shared a great deal of updates during Geeked Week this year, and One Piece Season 2 is looking more full than ever with the confirmation that Joe Manganiello will be joining the cast as Mr. 0, who goes by Crocodile in the original manga release. To celebrate his joining the series, Manganiello shared a special statement with fans teasing that he’s going to be starting work on the series in full very soon. You can check out Manganiello’s message below as shared by One Piece‘s official X account. 

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Netflix’s One Piece Live-Action Cast So Far

“Hello Grand Fleet, Joe Manganiello here,” Manganiello began. “You may have seen the leak! But you don’t know all of my secrets. I’m excited to join the cast as Mr. 0, and now I’ve gotta head to set to get down to business. So keep your guard up, Straw Hats because we’re just getting started. See you soon.” Manganiello’s message teases that he’ll start his time filming for the new episodes fairly soon (while addressing that it was leaked before its official announcement), and he’s only one of the many new cast members confirmed to be joining the series for the new season. 

Manganiello will be joined in the cast by not only the returning members from the first season, but new faces such as Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9, Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5, Jazzara Jaslyn as Miss Valentine, David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3, Clive Russell as Crocus, Werner Coetser as Dorry, Brendan Murray as Brogy, Callum Kerr as Smoker, Julia Rehwald as Tashigi, Rob Colletti as Wapol, Ty Keogh as Dalton, Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha, Mark Harelik as Dr. Hiriluk, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Cobra Nefertari, Charitha Chandran as Vivi Nefertari, and Lera Abova as Miss All Sunday. 

What Role Will Joe Manganiello Play in Netflix’s One Piece? 

Manganiello will be introduced to Netflix’s One Piece as the mysterious Mr. 0 in Season 2. That’s his codename as a member of the Baroque Works group, and he plays a huge role in the series’ future. What’s interesting about his character appearing, however, is just how much we might get to see Manganiello in the series compared to the original iterations of the story. One Piece series creator Eiichiro Oda previously confirmed that the new episodes will be adapting the Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island arcs from the original manga, and that’s raised some questions about Crocodile. 

This major foe plays a significant role much later after these arcs, and that could mean that Netflix has even more plans for One Piece in the future. Season 2 already seemed like a lock because of how popular that first season was, and characters like Mr. 0 popping up feel significant as it teases that there could be pieces in place for a potential third season to follow to cover what Manganiello’s really meaty role will come into play. 

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Netflix’s One Piece has had some rather big announcements to reveal in recent days, as the recent Geeked Week dropped quite a few information bombs on Grand Line fans. Not only did the streaming service reveal that Joe Manganiello and Lera Abova would be taking on the roles of Crocodile and Nico Robin, but the platform also took the chance to reveal a brief hint as to what Tony Tony Chopper will look like. While Charithra Chandran had been confirmed as Princess Vivi earlier this year, a new behind-the-scenes video has had keen-eyed fans spot a potential change to the daughter of King Cobra.

While Alabasta might not be a significant part of One Piece’s upcoming second season, that doesn’t mean that Princess Vivi won’t have a significant role. As Grand Line fans know, King Cobra’s daughter initially appears as “Miss Wednesday”, working undercover within Baroqueworks in a bid to save her threatened nation. While Vivi doesn’t have any Devil Fruit powers to speak of, her strength of character and determination see her as a worthy ally both before and during Luffy’s time in Alabasta. Thanks to a recent video released by Netflix, Jeff Ward walked fans through a behind-the-scenes look at the making of season two, giving viewers a big Vivi easter egg.

Princess Vivi Hair Color Change

While far from confirmed, numerous One Piece fans online think they have spotted the wig that Charithra will be wearing for One Piece’s second season. Said wig looks far darker than Vivi’s hair which was seen in both the manga and anime, proving that the live-action adaptation is willing to make changes from its source material. At the Netflix Geeked Week, showrunner Matt Owens was remiss to even confirm a release window for the second season but filming is already underway in South Africa as of the writing of this article.

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Vivi In Season Two

If the live-action series continues to take its cues from the source material, Princess Vivi won’t be alone when she hits the scene in One Piece’s second season. In the manga and anime adaptation, Vivi had a quirky protector in the form of Karoo, a big yellow bird who was more than willing to throw itself into harm’s way if it meant protecting Alabasta’s princess. While no hints have been revealed as to how Karoo might look in live-action, the glimpse at Tony Tony Chopper leads credence to the idea that CG might bring the Alabasta bird to life.

While Alabasta most likely won’t be heavily featured in season two, viewers might get something of a glimpse at the desert locale. At that point, Vivi will be fully onboard with the Straw Hats, meaning that she is sure to play a major role in season three, should Netflix bring the series back. Vivi does leave the Straw Hats following the Alabasta Arc but she remains a major part of the franchise to this day all the same.

Alabasta’s Anime Predicament

As One Piece anime viewers have seen in recent days, King Cobra’s death has been revealed. Thanks to the reveal of World Government leader Imu, the Alabasta’s ruler’s days were numbered. The Grand Line might have believed that Sabo was the perpetrator but the truth is far more insidious and has put both Luffy’s brother and the resistance in a tricky situation.

Want to follow along with the live-action take on the Grand Line? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Straw Hat Pirates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime. 

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Netflix’s One Piece has revealed quite a bit this week thanks to the streaming service’s Geeked Week event. On top of the live-action adaptation finding its Crocodile in legendary actor Joe Manganiello, the series also shocked fans by giving Straw Hat fans a first look at Tony Tony Chopper, the next character to join Luffy’s crew. On top of these two tidbits, Nico Robin was cast as Lera Abova (Pitch Perfect: Bumper In Berlin) as the member of Baroqueworks has quite a future in the shonen series. Lera’s casting is one that turned quite a few heads and it might just be the best casting of season two so far.

To start, from a strictly physical aesthetic, Lera looks like the spitting image of Nico Robin. Her tall frame seems well suited to the archaeologist whose Devil Fruit powers allow her to spring limbs from any surface in her periphery. Her previous role as something of an anti-hero in the Pitch Perfect series gave her some worthy experience in preparing for the live-action anime role as well. Since Nico Robin skirts the line between hero and villain early on in her appearances, Abova has that part of the equation solved.

One Piece Chemistry

From the brief time anime fans were able to see Lera with Joe Manganiello during Netflix’s Geeked Week Event earlier this week, it’s clear that the two are able to work well off one another. Miss All Sunday is initially the right-hand for Crocodile, aiding in his quest to take over Alabasta but for a reason that many don’t initially see coming. Of course, Abova’s infectious enthusiasm for becoming a member of the Going Merry was apparent at the streaming service’s big preview, hinting that there will be solid chemistry between herself and the other young Straw Hat actors. 

The live-action adaptation made all the rights moves with casting the heroes and villains of its first season, as the Straw Hat Pirates have already become household names. On the flip side, even the villains got their fair share of attention as Jeff Ward’s Buggy has become something of a Netflix icon since being introduced in the first season. Keeping this in mind, the casting directors clearly knew what they were doing in casting Abova and even showrunners Matt Owens stated that Lera could not have been a better choice for the role.

Nico Robin’s Role in Season Two

The live-action adaptation has been adamant about sticking to the source material, meaning that One Piece’s second season will mostly have Nico Robin in a “background role”, at least in comparison to season three. When the Straw Hat Pirates eventually arrive on Alabasta, expect Robin to unleash her powers in several different ways, and unfortunately for Luffy and his crew, many of her attacks are directed at the Straw Hats and their Alabasta allies. 

As One Piece fans know, Robin will most likely strictly be a villain in the second season, though seeds will be planted for her eventual change in allegiance. While the Going Merry won’t be welcoming Miss All Sunday to its roster if the live-action series sticks to the source material, the Straw Hats are planning to welcome a new swashbuckler to the ship in Tony Tony Chopper. The adorable reindeer doctor was briefly shown from the back during the Netflix Geeked Week event, confirming that the Straw Hat will be brought to life using CG.

Want to see who else joins the live-action Straw Hat Pirates? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Grand Line. 

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