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One Piece - Watching Guide

This guide will focus on what's worth watching. One Piece has a lot of Movies, Specials, Shorts, etc. I am only adding the most important ones in order to keep the list manageable, so If the item is not listed, then it can be considered to be "Skipped" and it's probably just a commercial, a collaboration, or promotional short.
1 One Piece

One Piece

Scroll down below the guide for an in-depth explanation of Why is One Piece worth watching? 

ONE PIECE - WATCHING GUIDE

Sources: 

Episode Guide:

For the best pacing of the story, I recommend you watch the Movies & Specials at the end of the series, but I added some of the ones I recommend watching on the list, so you can see where they fit best within the timeline of the main story. But skipped the ones that don't really fit due to many inconsistencies. If you are in no rush, and just enjoying the series as it goes, then you may want to watch them chronologically as they appear here.

  • Watch Episodes 1-44 - East Blue Saga - These Arcs introduce you to One Piece's world & main protagonists. It is a slow start but they are important for the story, so I don't recommend skipping. Includes the following arcs:
    • Episodes 1-3 - Romance Dawn / Captain Morgan Arc
    • Episodes 4-8 - Orange Town / Buggy the Clown Arc 
    • Optional OVA - One Piece: Defeat the Pirate Ganzak! (See notes below on the OVA)
    • Episodes 9-18 - Syrup Village / Captain Kuro Arc
    • Optional - One Piece Movie 1
    • Episodes 19-30 - Baratie Restaurant / Don Krieg Arc
    • Episodes 31-44 - Arlong Park / Nami's Arc - This is the Arc where One Piece really starts to come into its own. You'll have to watch at least to the end of this arc in order to appropriately judge One Piece and to decide if you want to keep watching it or not. It will keep getting better and better from this point on.
  • Watch One Piece Special 1: Adventure in the Ocean's Navel
  • Watch Episode 45 -  Loguetown
  • Optional Episodes 46-47 - Buggy's Crew Adventure Chronicles
    • This is canon, but it's just a comedic side-story. You won't miss anything important if you skip it, although you may want to try the beginning to see if you like it or not.
  • Watch Episodes 48-49 - Loguetown (Continuation)
  • Optional Filler Episode 50
    • This episode is ok, but mostly comedic relief. It shows how Usopp acquires one of his distinctive gadgets and also helps to develop his character, but It's not essential to the main plot.
  • Skip Filler Episode 51
    • This is mostly comedic relief. It also reinforces Sanji's dream and reason to go on the trip, but it's not essential to the main plot.
  • Watch Episodes 52-53 - Loguetown (Continuation)
  • Watch One Piece Movie 2: Clockwork Island Adventure
  • Optional Filler Episodes 54-61 - Warship Island / Apis Arc
    • This is the first filler arc, it's not bad, I personally like it, so I recommend you give it a try.
    • This Filler Arc shows important information about how the seas are connected & how the "Calm Belts" work, explaining the reason why there is only one path to the Grand Line; but you'll need to watch Filler Episodes 54 & 55 up to 8:05. Eventually, the information will be repeated in the canon, but it will be hundreds of episodes later.
    • If you watch this arc, you'll have to remember in the future that any reference to dragons doesn't apply, since this is just filler material. This is also why this story & characters are never mentioned again.
  • Watch Filler Episode 61 From 13:25 to the end.
    • Ignore the antagonist which is left from the previous filler arc.
  • Watch Episodes 62-97 - Grand Line - Includes the following arcs:
    • Episodes 62-63 - Reverse Mountain / Laboon Arc
    • Episodes 64-67 - Whisky Peak
    • Episodes 68-69 - Diary of Koby-Meppo
    • Episodes 70-77 - Little Garden
    • Episodes 78-91 - Drum Island
    • Episodes 92-97 - Alabasta (Vivi's Arc)
  • Watch Filler Episodes 98-99
    • These episodes actually add to the story by showing how the people of Alabasta live and are dealing with the current conditions.
  • Watch Episodes 100 - Vivi & Koza's Flashback
  • Optional Filler Episode 101 - I recommend skipping.
    • This is a comedic episode of average quality with a family theme. It feels out of place considering the situation they are in.
  • Optional Filler Episode 102 - I recommend skipping.
    • This episode shows the state of mind Vivi is in but slows down the pace a little.
    • It also introduces a major inconsistency with the plot, if you watch it just ignore the Poneglyph, it has no relevance to the story since it's just filler.
  • Watch Episodes 103-130 - Alabasta (Vivi's Arc) (Continuation)
    • Some of the best and most memorable moments of One Piece happen during this part. By now you should be realizing why One Piece it's a masterpiece. It is just amazing that future arcs will be equal to or even better than what you have experienced here.
  • Skip Filler Episodes 131-143 - These 3 filler arcs are really low quality.
  • Watch One Piece Movie 4: Dead End Adventure
  • Watch Episodes 144-195 - Sky Island - It includes the following arcs:
    • Episodes 144-152 - Jaya / Mock Town / Bellamy's Arc
    • Episodes 153-195 - Skypiea
  • Optional Filler Episodes 196-206 - G-8 Arc:
    • Personally, I liked this filler arc, so I recommend watching it or at least giving it a try. It is fun and provides a good transition of the story into the next arc.
  • Watch Episode 207 up to 8:30
  • Optional Canon Episodes 207-219 - Long Ring Long Land Arc / Davy Back Fight Arc / Foxy Arc
    • Although this is canon, personally I didn't enjoy it too much, so I recommend you try the first 2 Episodes (207-208) and see if you like the comedy or not.
    • The whole arc is just comedic relief created by the author himself. It shows how pirates can deal among themselves through bets, sports & games, in order to avoid fighting and take members from another crew to increase their ranks.
    • The Arc starts around 8:30
    • As of Episode 1000, this arc has not had any relevance to the main story.
    • At this point, One Piece becomes HD and increases its visual quality.
  • Watch One Piece Special 2: Open Upon the Great Sea! A Father's Huge, HUGE Dream!
  • Watch One Piece Special 3: Protect! The Last Great Stage
  • Watch One Piece Movie 6: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island
  • Skip Filler Episodes 220-225 - Ocean's Dream & Foxy's Return
  • Watch Filler Episode 226 from 19:35 to the end.
    • The first part of the episode is the end of the filler arc.
    • Only the last minutes from around 19:35 are relevant, where they meet a new character.
  • Watch Episodes 227-278 - Water 7 / Robin's Arc - It includes the following arcs:
    • Episodes 227-263 - Water 7 / Going Merry
    • Episodes 264-278 - Enies Lobby Arc
  • Skip Filler Episodes 279-283 - These are just recaps of the Straw Hats' backstories.
  • Watch Episodes 284-290 - Enies Lobby Arc (Continuation, Straw Hats vs. CP9)
  • Optional Filler Episodes 291-292 - Boss Luffy Historical Special
    • I recommend skipping unless you are into seeing the Straw Hats & other antagonists in a setting of 19th century Japan. 
    • It's mostly comedic relief, there is not much to the story.
    • If you want to watch all Historical Specials together, they are Episodes 291-292, 303, 406-407
  • Watch Episodes 293-302 - Enies Lobby Arc (Continuation, Straw Hats vs. CP9)
  • Skip Filler Episodes 303 - Boss Luffy Historical Special (Continuation)
  • Watch Episodes 304-312 - Enies Lobby Arc (Continuation, Straw Hats vs. CP9)
  • Watch Episodes 313-316 - Return to Water 7 / Thousand Sunny Arc
  • Optional Filler Episodes 317-319 - Post-Enies Lobby Arc
    • Filler Episode 317 is a good filler story that focuses on the cycle of life.
    • Filler Episode 318 I recommend skipping, it's just comedic relief.
    • Filler Episode 319 It's one of my favorites, it ended up inspiring me to learn to cook and gives you a simple tip to improve the flavors of your cooking.
  • Watch Episodes 320-325 - Post-Enies Lobby Arc
  • Skip Filler Episodes 326-336 - Ice Hunter Arc & Chopper Man Special (336)
  • Watch Episodes 337-381 - Thriller Bark / Gecko Moria Arc
  • Skip Filler Episodes 382-384 - Spa Island - Just comedy relief.
  • Watch Episodes 385-405 - Sabaody Archipelago
  • Skip Filler Episodes 406-407 - Boss Luffy Historical Special (Continuation)
  • Watch Episodes 408-417 - Amazon Lily Arc
  • Watch Episodes 418-421 - The Friends' Whereabouts!
  • Watch Episodes 422-425 - Impel Down
  • Skip Filler Episodes 426-429 - Little East Blue
    • A special filler arc that was made to lead into the One Piece Movie 10: Strong World. See the notes on the movie entry below.
    • The movie starts after this special, but I recommend you watch the movie after you catch up with the current arc, so you don't interrupt the pacing of the main story.
    • The special filler arc it's only average at best and it's not necessary to watch this before the movie as the connection is weak. I rather recommend you skip it.
    • The movie is actually set between the Thriller Bark Arc & the Sabaody Archipelago Arc. But it doesn't really fit within the main story due to many discrepancies creating plot holes. It's just filler after all.
  • Watch Episodes 430-452 - Impel Down (Continuation)
  • Watch Episodes 453-456 - The Friends' Whereabouts!
  • Skip Filler Episodes 457-458 - They are just recaps.
  • Watch Episodes 459-489 - Marineford Arc / Summit War / Paramount War
  • Watch Episodes 490-491 - Post War
  • Skip Filler Episode 492 - Toriko Crossover
    • See the notes below for Toriko Specials.
  • Watch Episodes 493-504 - Post War > Luffy's Childhood
  • Watch Episodes 505-516 - Post War (Continuation)
  • This is the point in the story which is referred to as the 3D2Y TIMESKIP
    • The 3D2Y Special recaps the important moments of the show, but you should watch it after Episode 663 in order to avoid spoilers, or after Dressrosa Arc.
    • The special tells the story of the two-year training period of Luffy.
    • See the notes below for more information about the special.
  • THE FINAL SEA: THE NEW WORLD SAGA - It contains the following Arcs:
  • Watch Episodes 517-522 - Return to Sabaody
  • Watch Episodes 523-541 - Fish-Man Island
  • Skip Filler Episode 542 - Toriko Crossover
  • Watch Episodes 543-573 - Fish-Man Island
  • Optional Filler Episode 574
    • Episode 574 is marked as Mixed Canon/Filler but it's mostly comedic relief filler that shows the trip up to the sea, leading into Z's Ambition filler arc.
  • Skip Filler Episodes 575-578 - Z's Ambition
    • This filler arc leads into One Piece Film: Z but I don't recommend watching either one since they are low quality and add some inconsistencies to the story.
  • Watch Episodes 579-589 - Punk Hazard
    • Note: Remember that the previous appearance of Dragons belongs to the "Filler Arc" of Warship Island, therefore it doesn't count as part of the canon.
  • Skip Filler Episode 590 - Toriko & Dragon Ball Z Crossover
  • Watch Episodes 591-625 - Punk Hazard (Continuation)
  • Skip Filler Episodes 626-628 - Caesar Retrieval
  • Watch Episodes 629-746 - Dressrosa
  • Skip Filler Episodes 747-750 - Silver Mine
    • This filler arc leads into One Piece Special: Heart of Gold & One Piece Film: Gold but I don't recommend watching the filler arc as it's low quality. 
    • I don't recommend watching the film either One Piece Film: Gold, it's bad quality.
    • The only one worth watching is the special One Piece Special: Heart of Gold, but it doesn't fit on the main timeline anywhere due to inconsistencies with the present members of the Straw Hat Crew, so it's better to leave it to the end of the main story.
    • See notes below for the special & movie.
  • Watch Episodes 751-774 - Zou
  • Optional Filler Episode 775 - Save Zunisha
  • Watch Episodes 776-779 - Zou (Continuation)
  • Skip Filler Episodes 780-782 - Marine Rookie
  • Watch Episodes 783-877 - Whole Cake Island
    • Optional Filler Episode 807 is full of flashbacks that you may want to watch or skip depending on how much you remember.
  • Watch Episodes 878-889 - Levely
    • Although this Arc is short, it has major revelations & implications for the story (even if they bring more questions than answers, lol). However, the Arc has a lot of flashbacks, so you'll just have to skip them as necessary.
    • Optional Filler Episode 881 - I found the beginning interesting. The recaps start after 8:25, so you can skip to the next episode afterward.
  • Watch Episodes 890-894 - Wano Country
  • Skip Filler Episodes 895-896 - Cidre Guild
    • This filler arc leads into One Piece Movie 14: Stampede but I don't recommend watching them as the story is low quality.
    • See the notes below for the movie.
  • Watch Episodes 897-906 - Wano Country (Continuation)
  • Optional Episode 907 - One Piece: Romance Dawn
    • This is the adaptation of Romance Dawn Version 2 created as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the One Piece anime.

    • This story is average, but interesting if you care about the beginning of One Piece and how Oda started his ideas.

    • See the notes below for Romance Dawn Specials

  • Watch Episodes 908-1028 - Wano Country (Continuation)
  • Skip Filler Episodes 1029-1030 - Uta's Past Arc
    • These filler episodes are ok, just average slice of life, and they lead into the One Piece Film: Red, but you only really need to watch them if you want to watch the movie, which I can't recommend, unless you are into JPop Music and you don't care if the story doesn't resemble One Piece at all.
    • The movie is just like a JPop Music Video with One Piece characters, but nothing makes sense, just a colorful animation with nonsense, so if you are not into that kind of music, then you probably won't like this movie.
    • Even if you intend to watch the movie, you should leave it after the Wano Arc to avoid interrupting the pace.
    • See the notes below for the movie.
  • Watch Episodes 1031-1088 - Wano Country (Continuation)
  • Watch Episodes 1089-TBA - Egghead Island 
  • When will the Egghead Arc End?
    • It first needs to finish in the manga, so we can estimate when it will end in the anime.
    • Each arc takes as many episodes as it needs to tell its story, so there is no set number of episodes or time to finish an arc.
    • On average, most major arcs have taken about a year to complete, but recent arcs like Whole Cake Island took 3 years and the Wano Arc took 5 years, which is the longest so far.
  • At this point, you caught up with the Current Arc
    • In order to maintain the pacing and momentum of the story, I recommend you wait until the current arc is complete, or at least have a few episodes done so you can binge-watch them on your own time. It may take several years to complete the arc, and you never know how many episodes it will have.
    • I myself prefer to wait, so I won't be updating the guide as often in order to avoid cliffhangers for myself until I see the arc is completed in full.
    • You can use this time to watch the Movies & Specials, see the notes below for each of them.

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WHY WATCH ONE PIECE? WHAT SETS IT APART FROM OTHER WORKS?

What Makes One Piece Special?

Think about those moments when you were with a group of friends and either someone says or does something funny that sticks out, and later on, you refer to that saying with your friends; or have a special sign among yourselves that only your group of friends understands; and this becomes the symbol of your bond between your group of friends through the years. One Piece is filled with moments like this, meaningful moments of high emotional intensity that seem life-changing. And only the ones who were there can understand.

The level of emotion in the show is quite intense, taking some of the characters almost to insanity due to despair. When characters in One Piece suffer you feel it, as well when they celebrate.

The crucial moments when the characters have to make life-changing decisions in a flash are also part of what makes this anime great. Their decisions are well explained through the dialog.

One Piece is Full of Interesting Mysteries

  • There is the question about What is One Piece itself? We know is the treasure left by the Pirate King, but we can only speculate what exactly is.
  • The "Missing History of the World", what exactly happened?
  • Who are the people with the D? Although you won't understand this question until you are far into the story.
  • Perhaps one of the more perplexing things in the story is the fact that despite the corruption in the Navy, they still have honorable people that are willing to fight even their family in order to maintain the current status quo. Why is that? Good vs Evil does not seem to be black & white in this world.
  • What are the Devil Fruits? Where do they come from? Why people who eat them are unable to swim?
  • Was the world always this way geographically? Or did something happen?
  • There are plenty of mysteries to focus on and explore through the story, which makes it very interesting and they are full of moral questions as well with many shades of grey. And definitely, some of these mysteries also allude to parallels to real life.

Themes

The main theme is perhaps friendship, with the word 'nakama' meaning something like friends that share the same path to reach their goals (but not necessarily the same goal for all of them). It's a special kind of bond tied to the theme of following your dreams and living your freedom.  

The story also takes you through difficult situations with themes like self-confidence, physical & mental abuse, rebellion, abuse of power, the importance of having a clear dream & the commitment to see it through, conspiracy theories, the importance to stand up for yourself and defend your convictions, selfishness seems to be a common trait of many characters both good & evil, etc. 

It talks even about the importance of history and the fact that is written by the victors. It makes emphasis on the fact that you have to figure out things for yourself. There are many layers and comparisons to our history and different cultures that you'll have to figure out on your own. It pays special attention to archeology & the importance to learn about the history of the world.

In the end, this show is both motivational & inspirational, trying to move you to achieve your dreams.

The Intent of The Author

One Piece is a masterpiece created by Eiichiro Oda, and opposite to other large works where the story is filled with fluff in order to keep it running as long as they can, you can really tell that this author really loves his work and is having a lot of fun with it while expressing his ideas through the story & characters. He definitely has something to say and do so through this world. In One Piece is the story itself that drives the length of this epic anime.

The Writing

Think about other epic works you might have seen, perhaps The Lord of the RingsHarry PotterThe Marvel Cinematic UniverseAll these works pale in comparison in length, scope, and themes explored through the series. Perhaps the only other anime of equal quality & scope is Hunter x Hunter, which pales in length. There are other animes with more episodes like Naruto (426 Canon Episodes) & Bleach (203 Canon Episodes), but they don't cover the same scope of themes and they are stuffed with fillers, not the real story (One Piece at 931 Episodes only had 99 Fillers = 832 Canon).

There is also another thing that sets One Piece apart. In all other works, the story arcs are usually linear & self-contained, they may have a theme in place but once everything gets resolved they go into a new story. However, in One Piece the arcs are divided by the location, but the events are intrinsically connected with each other, creating a truly epic story. Some of the events that set the arc in motion might have been started hundred of episodes in advance.

For example, there is a character that appears briefly in the early episodes, he seems to be of some importance and says a few words that although we understand them, those words lack significant meaning at the moment. They never mention him again until about 250 episodes later (and that is about 5 years of broadcast), then we finally know who he is and those few words are filled with unparalleled significance.

Similarly, power upgrades do not happen all of a sudden, we get hints here and there that something is happening. Without much information, you may think they were Deux Ex Machina, until we finally get an explanation of how they work around Episode 581, and then, we finally realize that we have been seeing hints for this from the very beginning of the story. They are quite cohesive and organized, in the end, it just ends up being beautiful writing!

The only other show that has been able to create an intrinsically connected story through all of its arcs is Attack on Titan. This creates a lot of rewatch value and is only when you watch it a second time that you realize how everything fits together so well. It is really worth it to have a well-planned story. Clearly, Oda has planned all events in advance, he seems to have set all characters' backstories in advance, so any character can take the spotlight anytime, even if it was introduced as a minor character. A simple minion can become the focus of the next arc, and characters come back when you least expect it. Some events that might seem unimportant can be of significance in future arcs. Even minor jokes can become the foundation for an arc later on. All of these fill this world with unprecedented detail, and you can only be amazed by how everything fits together so well, especially when you consider the number of chapters & the time of broadcast. While other shows fall apart through potholes and inconsistencies in only 12 episodes. I have barely rewatched any movies & animes before I got into One Piece, but by the time of writing this guide, I'm on my 6th rewatch of the series! Sometimes I prefer to rewatch this series than to watch newer shows of lower quality.

The Lenght, Don't Be Afraid of so Many Episodes!

As I mention, the story is what drives the length of this anime, not the other way around, so you don't even feel it. The anime does have a slow start, you'll have to watch at least up to Episode 44 in order to judge it properly, but afterward, One Piece really comes into its own and you end up binging whole arcs without noticing.

There are plenty of twists and turns that keep the story interesting & fresh. You usually can't wait to see what happens next. Personally, I have more trouble to stop watching than to keep going, I usually binge watch a few arcs.

The Pacing

One Piece is not a show that can be watched week to week, as this disrupts the pacing of the anime since it's unable to maintain momentum. You'll realize this soon enough, that you need to watch several episodes together so you can maintain the momentum of the story, this is especially true during fighting sequences. This is because the episodes usually have a long intro/outro song with an intro to the story and a recap. So you only get around 18 minutes or less of new content in each episode.

Once you catch up with the current airing arc, I recommend you let it complete so you can see it in full at your own pace. I tried to watch it week to week during the Fishman Island Arc, but the level of excitement really drops a lot. I thought the arc was bad, but when I rewatch it I realize the issue was with the pacing, the story was quite good in fact. 

The Characters

One Piece does things with its characters that very few other shows attempt. Oda is not afraid to create conflict between the characters and bring them to the point of physical confrontation. For an anime that is all about friendship, this is quite unprecedented, but it's true to reality as the confrontations come due to stress and disappointments shown through the story.

Luffy may seem like your typical shounen protagonist, but at times when smarter characters come to a halt, being unable to make a decision or move forward, he always seems to know exactly what to say, to the point that he seems to me he is like Vash, a character who loves to play dumb, but there is a lot more to him than meets the eye. Nami says that he does it by instinct, but at the very least he demonstrates that despite whatever IQ he has, he does possess a high level of Emotional intelligence, empathy & creativity (especially when it comes to fighting).

Usopp, is a character with barely any redeemable qualities. He is a coward and a compulsive liar, quite unlikeable. He is aware of his shortcomings and we see him struggle constantly through the story to try to overcome them. Despite his terrible personality, the other characters accept him for who he is. His development is quite interesting and sometimes painful to watch.

The characters are not introduced all at once like in most shows. Instead, most of them receive their own arc. Sometimes they are even introduced in little bits and then they receive an arc for their development much later in the series.

Not all characters are overpowered and the ones who are, eventually meet antagonists that they have to struggle to defeat. Sometimes winning comes down to luck or external factors that could have gone either way. Coincidences create opportunities, but the protagonists have to figure out how to make them work for them and struggle to make it happen. The protagonists don't always win, and this keeps you guessing what will happen in future arcs, as there is always a sense of danger.

There are great antagonists and even the evil characters are not so black & white. It's interesting to learn the reasons why they acted evilly and this may take several arcs to go full circle. Forgiveness also plays a big role in the story.

The Comedy, Goofiness & Wackiness

If I ever heard a complaint about One Piece, it's that the characters are too goofy, the powers are too wacky, and the comedy is too lame!

I must admit, that I dropped the anime 3 times myself. Twice in Episode 1, which is terribly bad, but not a good representation of the anime overall. And then again when I saw Buggy. But I keep getting this anime recommended, so I finally stick to it and by Episodes 31-44, Arlong Park Arc which is Nami's Arc, I finally was able to figure out why everyone told me this show was so good. This is the point where most fans agree One Piece finally comes into its own, and that is why I recommend you watch at least up to that arc.

The goofiness has a purpose, I'll just make your life easier and say that One Piece is not a show that is concerned with looking cool. Luffy especially doesn't care about being cool or what people think about him, he just wants to be himself. It's an overall theme of the show that carries into the viewer. Despite many powers being so wacky, they are not to be underestimated, Oda always finds ways to make them believably powerful despite their looks.

If you are not watching the show because of these reasons, then perhaps you are not focusing on what is truly important, and you already fell for the author's trap (like I myself did several times, lol). The point of the show is to be willing to dream. Have you ever had to struggle to reach your dreams? Have someone ever ridiculed your dreams? Or have you only dared to reach for dreams that you are sure won't be ridiculed by anyone, limiting your possibilities? There is a whole arc dedicated to these philosophical questions and the show as a whole embodies these matters through the goofiness & wackiness of its characters & powers.

This is a show that invites you to keep an open mind to the possibilities & to let your imagination wander. It couldn't do this if it were serious all the time. In fact, in the initial setting, most characters think that "Devil Fruit Powers" are a myth and except for Luffy, there is some sense of reality. Then the show slowly takes you on a journey that demands more and more of your imagination, to the point that by the time they enter the most important sea of this world, The Grand Line, the anime states through the dialog "This is a sea where everything is possible!", a clear invitation to open yourself to the possibilities, and perhaps to find & regain your inner child, to let your imagination free, from a time where you didn't know your limits, you didn't know what was myth & what is real, and you just wanted to explore the world.

Oda has a great sense of humor and while not every joke succeeds, eventually, the jokes take you by surprise and you find yourself laughing more and more.

Additionally, there are lots of references to pop culture, historical figures (especially pirates), fairy tales, works of literature, etc. They are however just a reference, and they are often not what you expect, but these also help to keep an interest in the story, mostly in a comedic sense.

The Animation

This is definitely one of the weaker aspects of the anime. Toei Animation is rather famous for only doing long-running shows with average animation to the time of its release, probably to keep it within budget. This is especially true of the motion which is mostly panned static frames. The quality of the animation increases during the fights but not all the time. Thankfully this anime is driven by the story and not dependent on the animation alone, the complete opposite of other shows that succeed by "the rule of cool". The quality of the graphics is good when it matters but varies depending on the importance of the scenes.

The Sound

The background music is usually a good choice that helps create the mood of the story, it may be repetitive at times but I never found it annoying. The intros & outros vary constantly but only a few are memorable, mostly in the early arcs. There are some songs created for the show itself, sung by the crew, which are of good quality and appropriate for sailors.

NOT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT

The animation certainly isn't perfect, sometimes the jokes do not work, you won't like all characters, and some are really annoying.

There is a character introduced later in the story clearly to replace another one who was removed, in my opinion, this happened more likely due to pressure from editors/producers rather than what Oda wanted to do with the story. This is perhaps one of the major blemishes on a story that up to that point was really well-planned. But this clearly shows signs of being introduced rather forcibly just to compensate.

Fan service was introduced after the Timeskip, One Piece really didn't need that and it rarely uses it for the first 516 Episodes! So perhaps more pressure from editors/producers? Personally, I think this deteriorates and distracts from the story.

There was a change in directors after the Punk Hazard Arc. Instead of focusing on the philosophical aspects of the show during fights, where they used to contrast the convictions & points of view of the characters' fighting; the new directors have placed more focus on the action of the fighting sequences, making them extremely long but far less exciting. They kind of lack the sense of danger they had before, in part due to adding too much mediocre comedy filler placed between the fights that just disrupt the pacing. They also seem to try to lighten the tone of the show overall, when it should be getting darker and more serious due to the point where the story is in.

Despite all these blemishes, when you consider what this anime has accomplished over the years, the number of episodes, and especially when compared to what other animes are currently doing, I can only consider One Piece a Masterpiece. By the time of this writing, I have recently earned the badge of Life on Anime: 2 Years, and except for some classics, I have seen everything worth watching from 1960-2020, I can honestly say that One Piece has remained my favorite anime of all time, followed closely by Attack on Titan.

Do yourself a favor and give yourself a chance to experience this amazing story!

MORE REASONS TO WATCH ONE PIECE

Why is One Piece so popular?

Why You Should be Watching ‘One Piece’

Here's Why You Should Finally Give One Piece A Chance

=============================================================

DUB vs. SUB & SPECIAL EDITION

  • I strongly recommend you watch the Old Sub in 4:3 TV Format for this anime since it's far superior by the voice actors and more importantly, uncensored.
  • The Special Edition in 16:9 HD Format  
    • Currently on Netflix, Hulu & Crunchyroll.
    • This is good for a rewatch, but I rather recommend you watch the Old Sub Version, in 4:3 TV Format, since it's uncensored.
    • The Special Edition looks awesome but seems it was created from the censored dub version and is censored even further, removing more blood and projectile weapons.
    • These changes are minimal, but substantial, as they happen in some of the most important scenes taking away from the full experience.
    • Some scenes were edited further, and unfortunately, not always for the better. Some crucial conversations feel rushed and lack the same emotional impact that the original had.
    • Even the Sub version of the Special Edition is censored!
  • There are at least 2 Dubs for this anime:
    • 4Kids which is highly censored to the point of absurdity and was not able to continue the series due to this censorship. Avoid this version like the plague.
    • Funimation Dub, which is good quality, and if you need/want to watch the dub you should make sure its this one. For this dub, there is also the original version in 4:3 TV Format and the Special Edition in 16:9 HD Format (Currently on Netflix & Hulu). Both of them are censored, the reason why I recommend watching the old Sub. The Special Edition is censored even further, removing some blood and projectile weapons. These changes are minimal but the censorship takes away from the full experience. I found this dub acceptable, and I use it sometimes when rewatching the show, but definitely miss the blood & gore of the original.

=============================================================

MOVIES & SPECIALS

All movies & specials are non-canon, just stand-alone side stories, not related to the main series. They embody the same themes & feel of the series in a short story. Sometimes the main TV Series fillers & specials are related to the movies and these instances are marked below.

The movies & specials are organized on this list in a way to avoid spoilers for the main TV Series, however, I recommend you watch them after you catch up with the current arc. This will be best to maintain the pacing of the main story and ensure you avoid any spoilers.

2 One Piece: Defeat the Pirate Ganzak!

One Piece: Defeat the Pirate Ganzak!

Optional.

This is average at best, but interesting if you care about the origins of the anime. Fits best between Episodes 8-9 (Between Buggy & Syrup Village Arcs), but you can watch it anytime.

Is the first anime in a movie form created in 1998 one year before Toei Animation took rights to create the series based on the manga. This was produced by Production I.G for the 1998 Jump Super Anime Tour and was directed by Gorō Taniguchi, who will later be known for directing Infinite Ryvius & Code Geass.

Ganzack was a basic concept for Don Krieg.

3 One Piece Movie 1

One Piece Movie 1

Optional.

This movie takes place in the East Blue, just before the Baratie Arc, so chronologically fits better between episodes 17 and 19. But you can really watch it at any time afterward. If you enjoy One Piece, then you'll probably like this movie too.

The animation is outdated, but it's similar to the first episodes of the series.

4 One Piece Special 1: Adventure in the Ocean's Navel

One Piece Special 1: Adventure in the Ocean's Navel

Watch.

Although it was aired after Episode 52 of the anime, the events of this TV Special can be viewed as taking place after either the Arlong Park Arc or the Loguetown Arc.

Another One Piece adventure, same quality as the first movie, so if you like one then you'll like the other one.

5 One Piece Movie 2: Clockwork Island Adventure

One Piece Movie 2: Clockwork Island Adventure

Watch.

This is a good movie with good animation for its time and the comedy is very good too. The island they visit has an interesting concept.

Chronologically, while making no mention of the Straw Hats' approach of the Grand Line (or the concurrently-set Warship Island Arc), it strongly suggests a setting just before the Reverse Mountain Arc, taking place between the Loguetown Arc and the Warship Island Arc. But you can really watch it at any time. If you enjoy One Piece, then you'll probably like this movie too.

6 One Piece: Django's Dance Carnival

One Piece: Django's Dance Carnival

Skip.

It's bad just comedic relief.

'It mainly serves as a showcase for the song 'Ready!' by Folder 5 (who had previously performed 'Believe' for the anime's second opening). Continuity-wise, this short could take place anytime between the Arlong Park Arc and the Laboon Arc. This short was likely inspired by the Jango's Dance Paradise cover arc, particularly in its emphasis on (the otherwise manga-exclusive) Mirror Ball Island.' -One Piece Fandom

7 One Piece Movie 3: Chopper Kingdom of Strange Animal Island

One Piece Movie 3: Chopper Kingdom of Strange Animal Island

Skip.

This is just filler dumb comedic relief and cannot be placed in the canon due to character inconsistencies.

8 One Piece Movie 4: Dead End Adventure

One Piece Movie 4: Dead End Adventure

Watch.

Chronologically, Since Robin is seen to be a part of the crew and the Straw Hats are traveling on the Going Merry and the crew does not know the new bounties, this movie must take place at some point between the Arabasta Arc and the Jaya Arc. Luffy also makes a statement about Gasparde's bounty being higher than Crocodile's, having defeated him recently. Furthermore, Robin asks if things are always as lively on the ship once Luffy resolves to fight Gasparde, indicating she has just joined the crew, which would put this closer to the end of the Arabasta Arc. Given its release date, and the lack of serious damage to the Going Merry, the most likely intended placement for it is between the Goat Island Arc and the Ruluka Island Arc, taking place after Alabasta Arc fits better between episodes 135 and 136. But you can really watch it at any time. If you enjoy One Piece, then you'll probably like this movie too.

9 One Piece Special 2: Open Upon the Great Sea! A Father's Huge, HUGE Dream!

One Piece Special 2: Open Upon the Great Sea! A Father's Huge, HUGE Dream!

Watch.

Another One Piece adventure, this time making family the centerpiece of the story. The storyline time is assumed to be between the Long Ring Long Land Arc and Ocean's Dream Arc, between episodes 219-220, but you can watch anytime afterward.

10 One Piece Special 3: Protect! The Last Great Stage

One Piece Special 3: Protect! The Last Great Stage

Watch.

This is a good story if you like One Piece, everything is well explained in the description of the special. The storyline time is assumed to be between the Long Ring Long Land Arc and Ocean's Dream Arc, between episodes 219-220, but you can watch anytime afterward.

11 One Piece Movie 5: The Curse of the Sacred Sword

One Piece Movie 5: The Curse of the Sacred Sword

Skip.

This is average at best, a lame attempt to pit Luffy vs Zoro. The storyline time is assumed to be between the Long Ring Long Land Arc and Ocean's Dream Arc, between episodes 219-220, but you can watch anytime afterward.

12 One Piece Movie 6: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island

One Piece Movie 6: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island

Watch.

This is a great One Piece movie that does not quite stick to the formula. First is set apart with a distinctive art style with creative camera angles and a bright color palette and then, while the movie starts full of comedy it becomes much darker, with the main theme of What Luffy would do if he suddenly loses all of his Nakama (friends)? The story is similar to the Davy Back Fight, only that the setting is darker, and the events bigger.

The storyline time is assumed to be between the Long Ring Long Land Arc and Ocean's Dream Arc, between episodes 219-220, but you can watch anytime afterward.

'...unlike the previous movies, this is by far the darkest, saddest, scariest, and most psychological of them all. It is also the most unorthodox of all the movies, as it was quite different from the overall feeling of the main series...

Another thing is the animation style which is quite artsy most of the time. During the peaceful moments it looks cheery and normal with rather a minimal shading and fluent animation, but during the dangerous scenes it changes to this gritty, colorless, rough outline style, which is quite creepy and unorthodox.' -roriconfan

'This has to be my most favorite One Piece movie. I would never have thought that such a lighthearted and friendly anime/manga could be depicted as so creepy and chilling. Well, this movie proved it can be done.' -eeveepkmnfan

13 One Piece Movie 7: Karakuri Castle's Mecha Giant Soldier

One Piece Movie 7: Karakuri Castle's Mecha Giant Soldier

Skip.

This is set before the events of the Water 7 Arc, so it fits best between episodes 228 & 229. The story is average at best but introduces a lot of fan-service and inconsistencies to the main story.

'This movie is not to be considered canon, it shows Luffy activating Gear Second unwittingly, being a possible explanation for the origin of the technique.' -One Piece Fandom

14 One Piece Special 4: The Detective Memoirs of Chief Straw Hat Luffy

One Piece Special 4: The Detective Memoirs of Chief Straw Hat Luffy

Skip.

It's average at best. It was aired after episode 253 of the anime, but the special cannot be placed in the anime series timeline.

15 One Piece Movie 8: The Desert Princess and the Pirates - Adventures in Alabasta

One Piece Movie 8: The Desert Princess and the Pirates - Adventures in Alabasta

Skip.

This is a condensed version of the Alabasta Arc but many things were changed. Watch the main TV Series instead, this just destroys the story and spoils everything if you watch it first.

16 One Piece Movie 9: Episode of Chopper - The Miracle Winter Cherry Blossom

One Piece Movie 9: Episode of Chopper - The Miracle Winter Cherry Blossom

Skip.

Is a condensed version of the Drum Island Arc, but with many inconsistencies that butcher the story. Watch the main anime instead. 

'It is dramatically different from the canon events that occurred at Drum. However, the revised 2014 edition adds an additional scene which retroactively makes it a dream that Chopper experienced.' -One Piece Fandom

17 One Piece Movie 10: Strong World

One Piece Movie 10: Strong World

Watch.

The film is set between the Thriller Bark Arc and the Sabaody Archipelago Arcs, you should watch after episode 429, or anytime afterward. However, I recommend you watch it after you catch up with the current arc so you don't interrupt the pacing of the main story.

This is a good movie if you like One Piece, not part of the main timeline, hence it's not canon. Oda personally supervised the production, created the film's original story and over 120 pages of rough drawings, so the quality is quite good. Even so, if you consider it from the point of view of the main story it creates many plotholes and discrepancies (including the use of guns for the Straw Hat crew), so it's not more than a filler arc after all that does not fit within the main story. However, it does convey the feeling of friendship & trust from the series. Many people like it because it makes the Straw Hats look like Gangsters.

Little East Blue Arc: A special filler arc consisting of four episodes: 426-429, that was made to lead up to the movie. It's only average at best and it's not necessary to watch this before the movie as the connection is weak, so I recommend you skip it.

18 One Piece: Strong World - Episode 0

One Piece: Strong World - Episode 0

Optional.

This adapts the manga's special 'Strong World Chapter 0', which shows how things were before & after the death of Roger. It's not too great but offers more information about the villain.

Although its a prequel to the movie, featuring the events that lead into the movie and giving a backstory for the villain, I recommend you watch it after the movie, as it may be a little boring if you watch first, and the beginning contains some battle spoilers for the movie. 

19 One Piece 3D: Mugiwara Chase

One Piece 3D: Mugiwara Chase

Skip.

It's just a terrible 3d movie. The movie is set between the Thriller Bark Arc and the Sabaody Archipelago Arcs, you should watch after episode 429, or anytime afterward.

20 One Piece Special: Glorious Island

One Piece Special: Glorious Island

Optional, but I recommend skipping.

This is average, is a prologue to One Piece Film: Z, with an original story penned by manga creator Eiichiro Oda. It occurs at some point between the anime-only Z's Ambition Arc and the Punk Hazard Arc (Between Episodes 578-579), and before the movie.

21 One Piece Film: Z

One Piece Film: Z

Optional, but I recommend skipping it.

It takes place at various locations in the New World and is the first movie set there.

Z's Ambition Filler Arc (Episodes 575-578), leads into the movie but don't recommend watching it. So watch this movie between Episodes 578-579, or anytime afterward.

The story is terrible, with many inconsistencies, but it has good animation. This movie is all about the rule of cool.

22 One Piece Special: Heart of Gold

One Piece Special: Heart of Gold

Watch.

The time of this special is sometime after the Dressrosa Arc as Nami has the Straw Hat Pirates' new bounty posters and Usopp's novice usage of Kenbunshoku Haki. So the events of this special are supposed to take place between Episodes 750 & 751, but it doesn't really fit into the main timeline due to inconsistencies with the present members of the Straw Hat Crew at that point in time.

Personally, I liked this special better than the movie because it has a much better story about family and dreams.

23 One Piece Film: Gold ~Episode 0~ 711 ver.

One Piece Film: Gold ~Episode 0~ 711 ver.

Optional, but I recommend skipping it.

Despite their airdates, the events of this episode occur after the special Heart of Gold.

This mobile-released short leads directly to the start of the film. On their way to Gran Tesoro, the Straw Hat Pirates enjoy a barbecue and some competitive sports.

24 One Piece Film: Gold

One Piece Film: Gold

Optional, but I recommend skipping it.

Skip The Silver Mine Filler Arc, Episodes 747-750 from the main anime. This arc ties into this movie, but it's very bad, mostly comedic relief.

The events of the movie take place between Episodes 750 & 751, but not really due to too many inconsistencies.

It's yet another movie with great animation but a terrible storyline. Some people like it, but I found it average at best, so I cannot recommend it. I liked the Heart of Gold special much better.

25 One Piece Movie 14: Stampede

One Piece Movie 14: Stampede

Skip.

Another movie with a terrible story that just follows the rule of cool. Due to inconsistencies, it does not fit into the main timeline. You can watch it anytime after Episode 896.

The Cidre Guild Filler Arc, Episodes 895-896 of the main anime, ties into this movie, but I recommend skipping.

The dub is ok.

26 One Piece Film: Red

One Piece Film: Red

Skip

  • Unless you are into JPop Music this movie holds no value whatsoever. It plays like a JPop Music Video with One Piece characters and that's all.
  • There is so much nonsense that at 10 minutes into the film I was bored and forcing myself to watch it, I couldn't get past 30 minutes. There is no point in suffering through the movie. It doesn't help that I don't like pop music, I listen to music from every genre and from any epoch, except pop.
  • If you still intend to watch it, then I recommend waiting until you watch the Wano Arc in full, or at least to episode 1000 in order to avoid any spoilers for the arc.
  • The movie is set after the Wano Arc, but it doesn't really fit anywhere in the canon as there are too many inconsistencies. Nothing really makes sense in the story, it's just marketing with colorful animations.
  • The film was created in commemoration of the One Piece anime episode 1000. Oda is the executive producer, character designer, and also the script reviewer of the film. But if that statement is true, I have to wonder why it doesn't resemble One Piece. It's probably marketing bull$hit or Oda sold his soul for some cash, lol.

27 One Piece: Romance Dawn Story

One Piece: Romance Dawn Story

Optional.

It is better to watch after Episode 381 of the main anime in order to avoid spoilers, especially for the cast.

This story is average, but interesting if you care about the beginning of One Piece and how Oda started his ideas.

'Romance Dawn refers to two stories written by Eiichiro Oda before One Piece but set in a similar world. While a first-year junior high school student, he began sketching out ideas for a pirate-themed manga in a notebook, in pencil. Years later, as an assistant to Rurouni Kenshin author Nobuhiro Watsuki, he began refining his ideas into what would become 'Romance Dawn', and later, One Piece. All 3 versions were published in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, with the final incarnation published exactly one year after the first. The author made significant alterations to the premise and plot over the course of the three chapters, which are examined in-depth in this article.' -One Piece Fandom

This is the adaptation of Romance Dawn Version 1. This was produced by Toei Animation in July 2008 for the Jump Super Anime Tour. It is 34 minutes in length and based on the first version of Romance Dawn.

28 One Piece: Romance Dawn

One Piece: Romance Dawn

Optional.

This is the adaptation of Romance Dawn Version 2 and is the same as Episode 907 of the main anime. It is better to watch at least after Episode 325 in order to avoid spoilers.

This story is average, but interesting if you care about the beginning of One Piece and how Oda started his ideas.

29 One Piece: Episode of Luffy - Hand Island no Bouken

One Piece: Episode of Luffy - Hand Island no Bouken

Optional, but I recommend watching.

This is an original story mixed with an expanded retelling and flashback from when Luffy met Shanks. It shows how Luffy got the scar under his eye. It aired after Episode 576.

30 One Piece: Episode of Nami - Koukaishi no Namida to Nakama no Kizuna

One Piece: Episode of Nami - Koukaishi no Namida to Nakama no Kizuna

Skip.

It's a condensed version of the Arlong Park Arc, that destroys the story. Watch the arc in the main anime instead, Episodes 31-44.

31 One Piece: Episode of East Blue

One Piece: Episode of East Blue

Skip.

A condensed retelling of the first five Straw Hat Pirates' development during East Blue Saga. Watch the main anime instead.

32 One Piece: Episode of Skypiea

One Piece: Episode of Skypiea

Skip.

A condensed retelling of the Skypiea Arc. Watch the main anime instead.

33 One Piece: Episode of Merry - Mou Hitori no Nakama no Monogatari

One Piece: Episode of Merry - Mou Hitori no Nakama no Monogatari

Skip.

This is a condensed version of the Water 7 and Enies Lobby arcs. Watch the arcs in the main anime instead.

34 One Piece 3D2Y: Overcoming Ace's Death! Luffy's Pledge to His Friends!

One Piece 3D2Y: Overcoming Ace's Death! Luffy's Pledge to His Friends!

Watch.

This is a good special if you like One Piece, set during the time skip so between episodes 516-517, but watch after Episode 663 in order to avoid spoilers. The first part is a quick recap of important moments of the show, but then it goes into an original story about friendship & betrayal with a different crew of pirates. It was much better than I expected, although I was not expecting much. It tells the story of the two year training period of Luffy.

Stay away from the dub for this one if you want to enjoy it.

35 One Piece: Episode of Sabo

One Piece: Episode of Sabo

Optional.

It condenses & retells the events of the first third of the Dressrosa Arc from Sabo's point of view. Watch the main anime instead if is your first-time watching. Only use this as a recap of the events afterward.

'This One Piece TV special was interesting because it gave us a view of what has lead to what's happening now but in a point of view different from Luffy's, hence 'Episode of Sabo'. It is basically the Dress Rosa arc but in sabo's perspective. we see a lot of unseen stuff like how sabo entered the coliseum and how he found out that Lucy was Luffy. quite interesting.

However, the story is not really that different, like i said before this is just Dressrosa arc in sabo's perspective.' -idontreadmanga

36 One Piece: Adventure of Nebulandia

One Piece: Adventure of Nebulandia

Skip.

Mostly bad comedic relief. The special has the Straw Hat Pirates fight Foxy again in the New World, on Mushroom Island. This soon gives way to a battle against the Marines on an island called Nebulandia that can nullify Devil Fruit powers.

37 Toriko x One Piece Collabo Special

Toriko x One Piece Collabo Special

Skip.

This basically has the cast from One Piece & Toriko eating together with comedic relief.

'Arrival on Gourmet Island! The Gourmet Hunter Toriko Appears!' is the 1st episode of the Toriko anime. It is a collaboration special between Toriko and fellow Shonen Jump manga One Piece. The second part of this episode is the 492nd episode of the One Piece anime, which is this special. -One PIece Fandom

38 Toriko x One Piece Collabo Special 2

Toriko x One Piece Collabo Special 2

Skip.

'The Reunion of Toriko and Luffy! Find the Seafood Fruit!' is the 51st episode of the Toriko anime. It is the second crossover with the One Piece anime. This episode acts as the first part of the special, while Episode 542 of One Piece is the second part, which is this special -One Piece Fandom

39 Dream 9 Toriko x One Piece x Dragon Ball Z Super Collabo Special

Dream 9 Toriko x One Piece x Dragon Ball Z Super Collabo Special

Skip.

'Is a crossover special which aired on April 7, 2013, on Fuji TV. It was made to commemorate the start of the third year of the Toriko anime, which premiered in April 2011, and it features characters from Dragon Ball ZOne Piece and Toriko. The special consists of two episodes which aired together: Episode 99 of Toriko, Run, Strongest Team! Toriko, Luffy, and Goku!, and episode 590 of One Piece, The Mightiest Collaboration in History vs. the Gluttonous of the Sea' -Wikipedia

Comments

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Zayngster Jan 21, 2024

 I have a question regarding these two excerpts: 

"For example, there is a character that appears briefly in the early episodes, he seems to be of some importance and says a few words that although we understand them, those words lack significant meaning at the moment. They never mention him again until about 250 episodes later (and that is about 5 years of broadcast), then we finally know who he is and those few words are filled with unparalleled significance."

"...we get hints here and there that something is happening. [Until] we finally get an explanation of how they work around Episode 581, and then, we finally realize that we have been seeing hints for this from the very beginning of the story." 

I wanted to know what two things each excerpt is referring to. The character of the first (and the moment he first spoke his message and its return with more purpose), and the concept that's explained "around 581". I'm currently at the Whole Cake Island arc and honestly can't recall those specific things as I started watching One Piece a little over a year ago. I'm curious about what these specific messages were referring to. I may recall the events that happened, but this very specific allusion to it isn't familiar at first or second glance.

iamsreeman Nov 21, 2021

What do you think about One Pace?

Windyorbits Sep 13, 2021

From my core of my heart I wanna thank u Halex , without your guidence i wouldn't have started watching one piece. Thanks for leading me to this journey. ARIGATO GOZAIMASU

Ichigoyume520 May 17, 2021

I have been following this order and am waiting for its update

I know that I might be a bit needy

But,

Please make an update as soon as possible