One Piece, the long-running and iconic Japanese animation series, is going on an unexpected six-month hiatus.
READ MORE: ‘One Piece’ review: swashbuckling pirate samurai on the high seas
Toei Animation, the company behind the show, confirmed that the series will now be on a break after Episode 1,122 aired yesterday (October 13). It will return in April 2025 with fresh episodes from the Egghead Arc.
No official explanation for the abrupt hiatus has been offered, but at an online event, it was explained that the creators needed to “recharge” themselves, according to Variety.
The show, which airs weekly, has run for 25 years since it made its Japanese TV debut. It is based on the best-selling manga series created by Eiichiro Oda.
The Egghead Arc is now on break and will resume in April 2025. #OnePiece will still continue with ONE PIECE LOG: FISH-MAN ISLAND SAGA, a special edited version of the original arc from the series! Begins late October in an abridged story with enhanced visuals! #OnePieceLOG pic.twitter.com/lT7lbYAVTD
— Toei Animation (@ToeiAnimation) October 13, 2024
The stories follow the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates to find the ultimate treasure, The One Piece, and become the Pirate King. There are currently 25 story arcs as well as 15 feature films, a series of video games and a live-action adaptation which Netflix released earlier this year.
News of the hiatus was greeted with dismay by fans. “WTF I can’t go this long with no One Piece,” wrote one. Another added: “I’m gonna miss you guys.”
WTF i can’t go this long with no One piece
— Speed (@ishowspeedsui) October 13, 2024
I’m gonna miss you guys pic.twitter.com/Vog1Nk6diQ
— 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨 (@MarcoGrandFleet) October 13, 2024
But why. . . . .
— OP Raver (@opraver11) October 13, 2024
Nooooo
— Agent Judo (@JudoJew) October 13, 2024
To make up for the lost time, Toei Animation is putting out a revised version of one of the series’ early story arcs – the Fish-Man Island Arc and this Sunday (October 20), a special 25th anniversary episode will premiere, honouring One Piece’s enduring legacy with a 30-minute ensemble depicting the reunion of the Straw Hat crew from the perspective of the non-pirate characters.
Both will be aired on Crunchyroll. Meanwhile, earlier this summer it was confirmed that the live-action anime adaptation of One Piece was returning for a second season.
Elsewhere, a host of anime series have been made available to stream for free ahead of Halloween (October 31).
Up to 17 shows including Chainsaw Man, Berzerk, Mieruko-Chan and the Junji Ito Collection can be streamed free with ads through Crunchyroll.
The post ‘One Piece’ anime is going on an unexpected six-month hiatus: “WTF I can’t go this long with no ‘One Piece’” appeared first on NME.
