I’m a huge anime fan, and it’s amazing to see how much the industry has grown! It’s definitely not stuck in its ways. Over the years, they’ve really listened to what fans want and kept up with new technology. We’re seeing incredible improvements in animation quality, and thankfully, they’ve started to cut down on those long, drawn-out filler episodes that used to bog down adaptations from manga. It’s a really exciting time to be watching anime!
One of the biggest shifts in the anime world is the decline of long-running series. Anime are now much more likely to be produced in shorter, seasonal blocks, which helps maintain quality and prevents burnout for the animators. It’s becoming unusual for a show to reach even 50 episodes in a row, and this trend is expected to become even more pronounced after 2025, potentially ending the era of very long anime series.
How One Piece Just Changed The Anime Industry Forever
While most anime series began releasing new seasons throughout the year, One Piece continued to produce episodes continuously for a long time. Although there was a break in production from fall 2024 to spring 2025, it appeared the show would return to its usual continuous release schedule.
To the surprise of many fans, it was recently announced that One Piece will take another break after the Egghead arc. When it returns in spring 2026 to begin the Elbaph arc, the anime will switch to a seasonal release schedule, meaning only about 26 episodes will air each year.
For years, fans have discussed whether the One Piece anime should switch to releasing seasons instead of weekly episodes, given the show’s sometimes uneven animation and speed. Now that it’s actually happening, it’s still surprising. If even One Piece needs a seasonal format to keep its quality consistent, it might signal the end of very long-running anime series as we know them.
Are Long-Running Anime Actually Dead?
Since One Piece is expected to conclude in 2025, some might think this signals the end of consistently running, long-form anime. However, anime produced in seasons have been standard for years. If the creators of One Piece believe a seasonal format would help maintain the show’s quality, it’s possible this style of anime will become a thing of the past.
Although some popular anime series like Gundam and Bleach have moved to seasonal releases, many long-running shows such as Pokémon, Detective Conan, and Sazae-san continue with their traditional formats. This demonstrates that a seasonal model isn’t necessary or desired by every animation studio, and that may remain true in the future.
Watching One Piece switch to a seasonal release feels like a big shift. It doesn’t necessarily mean all long-running anime will do the same, but it really highlights how rare these consistently airing shows are becoming. For those of us who’ve been watching One Piece for years, it’s a bit sad to realize that era of constant releases is over – it’s a bittersweet feeling, honestly.
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- How To Watch Call The Midwife 2025 Christmas Special Online And Stream Both Episodes Free From Anywhere
- Arc Raiders Guide – All Workbenches And How To Upgrade Them
- Emily in Paris soundtrack: Every song from season 5 of the Hit Netflix show
- Tougen Anki Episode 24 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Avatar: Fire and Ash’s Biggest Disappointment Is an Insult to the Na’vi
- Avatar 3’s Final Battle Proves James Cameron Is The Master Of Visual Storytelling
- Apple TV+’s Severance Is the Perfect Holiday Binge
2025-12-30 03:44