One Pieceis one of the most popular anime series worldwide, with a dedicated fan base that spans multiple generations. However, despite its acclaim, the series’ episode count is often cited as a barrier for new viewers. While loyal fans may enjoy the show’s long run, many others find the episode count overwhelming and hesitate to commit to the series.
Even with high ratings and being considered a worthwhile journey by fans, with over a thousand episodes,One Pieceisn’t easily accessible for many newcomers, making it difficult for them to jump into the series. Luckily for anime fans, a remake of the series is being made, and honestly, it’s the best thing that could have happened for the series.
One Piece Is One of the World’s Most Popular Anime
One Piece Is Among the Highest-Grossing Anime IPs Worldwide
Since its premiere in 1999,One Piecehas established itself as one of the longest-running and most successful anime series worldwide. Based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga, the anime has aired for over two decades, maintaining a loyal fan base and attracting new viewers. The series’ longevity is a rare achievement in the anime industry that speaks volumes about its appeal.
The popularity ofOne Pieceis a reflection of its impressive legacy. The manga holds the record as the best-selling manga series of all time, and the anime consistently draws in strong viewership both domestically and internationally. Its storytelling, characters, and tone have madeOne Piecean unforgettable favorite among anime fans around the world.
The anime stands out from others due to its ability to remain relevant despite its length and decades-long run. New story arcs continue to receive high ratings, and the series regularly introduces fresh characters and developments. WhileOne Pieceis very successful, its high episode count and inconsistent pacing across arcs make it difficult for new viewers to start watching.
The Series’s Greatest Weakness Is Its Length
One Piece Has Nearly as Many Episodes as It Does Chapters
With nearly as many episodes as manga chapters,One Piece’spacing has received significant criticism from viewers. Additionally, only a shocking 10% of the episodes are filler, meaning that the slow pace mainly results from story arcs being stretched out. As a result, the narrative often feels drastically elongated beyond necessity, with some arcs testing the patience of its audience.
For example, the Wano Country arc spans 191 episodes while covering only 149 manga chapters, showing how much the anime expands its material. The extended battles, numerous flashbacks, and added scenes make the story feel unnecessarily drawn out and make it difficult for viewers to stay engaged as they experience fatigue despite the arc’s popularity.
Another arc that drew criticism is Dressrosa, which is often seen as the most dragged-out and poorly paced part of the series. While it provides interesting story developments, the lengthy exposition and repetitive fight scenes slowed the story’s momentum. Many fans expressed frustration over the excessive length and pacing issues, with many feeling it diminished the impact of important moments.
Due to this drawn-out storytelling, many new viewers feel overwhelmed by the large volume of content. The slow pacing of key arcs alsomakesOne Pieceseem inaccessible and discourages anime fansfrom fully engaging with the series. Fixing the pacing issues and cutting down on the episode count would attract more fans to one of shōnen’s greatest stories.
The One Piece Will Make the Series More Accessible
One Piece’s Remake, the One Piece, Will Change Everything
The announcement ofThe One Pieceanime remakeduring 2024’s Jump Festa has generated excitement among both longtime fans and newcomers interested in the series. Produced by Wit Studio, the remake will adapt the manga from the beginning and run concurrently with the original anime.The One Piecewill stream exclusively on Netflix with modern animation and improved pacing.
Remaking the series opens the door for new fans who might have been intimidated by the original series’ length. With over 1,000 episodes, many viewers don’t have the time to commit to the story.The One Piecewill enhance the series' reach by inviting a larger audience to experience the world, characters, and adventure that made the franchise so popular.
By addressing pacing issues and reducing episode count,The One Pieceprovides a modern and more inviting entry point to experience one of anime’s most iconic and beloved franchises.
The remake has the potential to bridge the gap between longtime fans of the series and newcomers by honoring the original story while improving its presentation through modern animation techniques and tighter pacing.It offers an experience that attracts a broader audience, effectively sparking more interest and expanding the series’ fan base.
The One Piecewill likely benefit from a more controlled release structure, allowing each story arc to unfold as intended without unnecessary prolonging. By addressing pacing issues and reducing episode count,The One Pieceprovides a modern and more inviting entry point to experience one of anime’s most iconic and beloved franchises.
The One Piece Has the Potential To Surpass the Original
The Remake Seems Far More Inviting Than the Original
The remake has the chance to expand on what made the original great while avoiding its mistakes. The One Piece can deliver a more polished and engaging experience for fans that respects the source material while feeling new and exciting. It might even set a new standard for how classic anime series are revisited in the future.
The improvements in pacing alone could dramatically enhance the viewing experience, allowing the story to maintain its momentum and interest without feeling too stretched out or exaggerated. Remaking the series from the beginning will bring in new fans while giving longtime followers a chance to experience the story in a new light.
One Piece’sremake attracts new fanswhile also appealing to older fans with updated animation of their favorite arcs by honoring the source material and streamlining the pacing.The One Piecehas the potential to become even more popular and influential than it currently is, possibly opening the door for other classic series to get their own remakes.
By refining the structure and presentation of the series, The One Piece has the chance to reintroduce its rich world and unforgettable characters to a new audience. In doing so, the franchise broadens its appeal and proves that classics and long-running stories have the potential and even the demand from audiences to be revisited.
