2023 Was a Pinnacle Year for One Piece Fans; Here’s Why
Jan. 18, 2024Spoiler Warning:This article contains information about the latest events in the One Piece manga and anime. So, we highly suggest you to watch the anime and read the manga up to the Chapter 1100 to avoid ruining your intended experience.
The Ultimate Triumph of One Piece Anime
In the middle of the year, we witnessed the peak of One Piece, which is when Luffy finally used theGear 5 techniquein anime. The goofy Tom & Jerry-like sequences along with Mayumi Tanaka’s delighted voice made the Gear 5 moment a special moment for me in One Piece history.
As a fan who had read the manga beforehand, I was patiently waiting to see this pinnacle moment in the One Piece anime, and oh boy! I was satisfied beyond expectations.
Like Momonosuke, I was not able to bid an emotional goodbye to the crew and the samurai alliance without shedding a tear. However, after 5 years, the Wano arc wrapped up spectacularly, laying the foundation for the next big arc – the Egghead arc in the anime.
Up next, we have the most surprising addition to the franchise, the One Piece live-action series by Netflix. To be honest, when the live-action was first announced, being a long-time fan, I was quite skeptical about the success of the series. I didn’t want Netflix to end up butchering the legacy that One Piece has cultivated with the anime and manga so far.
But Netflix and Tomorrow Studios said, fear not, One Piece fans! They went on to shatter the long-running live-action curse (special mentions: Death Note, Cowboy Bebop) in Hollywood.
The first season of the One Piece live-action series was undoubtedly an engrossing beginning to the legendary journey of theStraw Hat Piratesto obtain the One Piece. It was very well-received by both newcomers and longtime fans of the series, making it a blockbuster success.
The creative freedom given to the creators of the show and the exploration of this fabled story in a new medium together made it a refreshing experience and forged a unique identity of its own. Not to forget, Netflix has renewed the show, so gear up forOne Piece Live Action season 2.
To me, the retelling of the grand One Piece story in the live-action medium was a success primarily because of the near-perfect cast selection and wholehearted production team. From Iñaki Godoy’s charming performance as Luffy to the production crew recreating the unimaginable world of One Piece in a vibrant reality was nothing short of epic for a fan like me.
If you haven’t watched the show or have kept it on hold, I urge you to streamOne Piece live action (review)on Netflix right now.
The most unexpected announcement was that of theOne Piece anime remake. Never had I, or any One Piece, ever dreamed of getting a One Piece remake, and that too by the AOT-fame Wit Studios. This instantly sent me into an utter state of joy as fans can continue to enjoy the taste of One Piece for yet another decade along with all the other OP series that are currently airing. This way, we can control our insatiable hunger for a daily dose of One Piece for years to come.
And last but not least, the commencement of the Egghead arc anime is something all the fans had been waiting for a long time. As mentioned earlier, manga fans like me love to hype up anime-only fans, which in turn results in the fandom banding together and madly waiting for a grand new arc.
Additionally, Oda has revealed that a battle between two of the most important characters will take place soon and have an unforeseen result. I can’t stop thinking about this fight, will it be Shanks vs Blackbeard or Blackbeard vs Luffy or Luffy vs Imu? What are your guesses? Is the ongoing Kuma vs Saturn fight?
An entertainment writer with a passion for analyzing and sharing insights on movies, shows, and anime.
