One Piece anime takes first hiatus in years...thanks to the One Piece Netflix show
By Jonny Malks
At the time of writing, the beloved One Piece anime has 1,122 episodes to its name, and the manga’s been going on since 1997. Such longevity comes from an almost unspeakable commitment to consistency, One that fans have come to trust out of the franchise’s creator and enduring creative lead, Eiichiro Oda.
However, recently One Piece has been taking one of its rare hiatuses. It will not return until April of 2025. While you might think that Oda-san is taking a well-deserved rest, the truth is a little stranger. No, the real reason Oda has had to pause One Piece is...to make more One Piece. As reported by Comicbook.com, Oda has been in South Africa visiting the set of the second season of Netflix’s live-action remake of the classic anime.
It seems that the One Piece manga and anime are on temporary hold so Oda can attend to the live-action show. While fans were initially wary of the new version, its first season received positive reviews. Much of what sets One Piece apart from other anime series that have gotten the live-action treatment and bombed — like Netflix’s 2021 attempt to reboot Cowboy Bebop — is that its core creator is still very much involved.
In fact, When Netflix reached out to Tomorrow Studios, the production company behind One Piece, Oda asserted that he would not allow for a live-action version unless he had creative control. Oda was even given veto powers, making his say on One Piece absolute and leaving no doubt that it couldn't proceed without his say-so.
That’s what makes all iterations of One Piece consistently great; it’s Oda all the way down.
While season 2 of the live-action version does not yet have a release date, fans can expect new episodes to drop in 2025. Season 1 is streaming on Netflix right now. Or, if you’re brave, you can dig into that 1,122-episode back catalog for the original anime. The live-action version has been hailed as a great entry point for those who have always been curious about One Piece but find the high anime episode count daunting.
We can’t wait for more!
Next. The Penguin boss is open to making another season, but only if it improves on the first. The Penguin boss is open to making another season, but only if it improves on the first. dark
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