After 26 years, the One Piece anime is changing its production schedule. Along with celebrating its 26th anniversary, the series has had an unusual year. It returned from a six-month break earlier this spring, but will soon be taking another significant pause. Fans recently got a first glimpse of what to expect when the anime returns from this next break, specifically the beginning of the Elbaph arc.
The popular anime One Piece has announced that the current story arc, Egghead, will finish by the end of this year. After that, there will be a three-month break before new episodes return in April 2026. Instead of releasing episodes weekly, the anime will switch to a seasonal format with 26 episodes per year. Along with this change, fans got a first look at how the anime will adapt the Elbaph arc and a preview of new outfits for the Straw Hat crew.
One Piece’s Anime Has Biggest Schedule Change of Its History
I just read a press release from Toei Animation with some big news for One Piece fans. Starting in January 2026, the anime will switch to a new format where each year is divided into two parts, or ‘cours,’ giving us a total of 26 episodes. This also means the weekly episode releases we’ve been used to for the past 26 years will be ending. After the Egghead Arc wraps up later this year, there’s going to be a three-month break before they start the Elbaph Arc.
The One Piece: Elbaph Arc is now scheduled to begin airing in April 2026 as part of the Spring anime season. Ryuta Koike, the series producer, stated that this delay is intended to help the anime series improve and develop. Although fans will receive fewer episodes compared to previous years, the anime will more closely follow the story, speed, and rhythm of the original manga. This means a more focused and streamlined viewing experience to compensate for the reduced episode count.
What Does This Mean for One Piece’s Future?
Now that One Piece is moving to a seasonal release schedule, longtime fans who are used to weekly episodes might need some time to adjust. However, this change will likely benefit the series in the long run. We’ve already seen how extra production time improved the later episodes of the Egghead Arc, and this new schedule should result in fewer interruptions and delays between releases.
I’m really excited about the recent schedule change for One Piece! The animation quality has been consistently amazing, and I’m hoping this gives the incredibly talented staff a chance to recharge. Honestly, a little more breathing room between each cour should mean even better episodes. That’s the idea, at least – we’ll find out for sure when the next season airs next Spring, but I’m optimistic!
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2025-10-28 19:10