‘One Piece’ Is Becoming a Seasonal Anime After 25 Years
Toei Animation has announced a major change for the One Piece anime, ending its long-running weekly schedule after more than 25 years.
Starting in 2026, the series will move to a seasonal format, with a maximum of 26 episodes per year, according to an official English press release from Toei and a news broadcast on the Japanese One Piece YouTube channel.
The new schedule will begin after a three-month production break from January to March 2026. The anime will return in April to kick off the Elbaph arc, which will be split into two cours, totaling up to 26 episodes for the year. Along with this announcement, Toei released a teaser illustration for the upcoming arc and some updated character profiles.
📢 Breaking News from ONE PIECE NEWS
— Toei Animation (@ToeiAnimation) October 28, 2025
ONE PIECE will go on a three-month break starting this January, returning in April 2026 with the start of the Elbaph Arc!
Beginning in 2026, the anime series will also kick-off its new production schedule, dividing into two parts for a… pic.twitter.com/EQQI6mv4tB
This shift to a seasonal structure brings One Piece in line with traditional anime formats and gives the production team more time to maintain quality.
For years, the weekly schedule has made the series prone to filler episodes, recaps, and pacing issues, which often occur when long-running manga are adapted to anime.
Series producer Ryūta Koike described the change as a strategic move, saying it supports “the advancement and evolution of the anime series.” Toei explained that under the new structure, episodes will cover more content from the manga, keeping the story’s tempo and pacing intact while making the most of animation’s unique storytelling abilities.
“Going forward, under the two cours structure, new episodes will incorporate more content, tempo, and pacing of the manga while continuing to leverage the unique storytelling that is only possible with animation,” the studio added.
On X, Toei reassured fans, “Don’t worry, Nakama – you’ll have a chance to gear up for the next adventure. Stay tuned for exciting surprises during the series’ break!” They also highlighted that this new approach will allow the team “to dive even deeper into the heart of the ONE PIECE world.”
This marks a significant change for One Piece, which has been a weekly anime staple for over two decades. The move is expected to improve the storytelling, reduce production strain, and let fans enjoy a more faithful adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!