‘One Piece’ Anime Revises Production Schedule, ‘Elbaph-hen’ to Begin in April 2026
The livestream confirmed that 2025 will see a total of 38 episodes aired (33 main episodes + 5 specials), after which the series will pause for a three-month window from January through March 2026. Beginning in 2026, the anime’s broadcast structure will change: recap episodes will be removed and the series will air up to 26 episodes per year, with a production goal of adapting one manga chapter per anime episode to deliver a more concentrated narrative.
The decision was explained by Toei Animation producer Ryuuta Koike and One Piece media editor Hiroyuki Nakano (formerly editor-in-chief of Weekly Shounen Jump). Addressing concerns over production strain, Koike denied that the reduced episode count was due to budget or scheduling issues. Instead, he described the change as a creative choice aimed at enhancing narrative density and visual quality.
“From 2026, we’ll deliver the story in a concentrated form, producing one anime episode per original manga chapter,” Koike said. “This adjustment strengthens our production system as we approach the very core of the One Piece world.”
Alongside the schedule change, Toei Animation unveiled a teaser visual (pictured right) and new outfit designs for the Straw Hat crew for the upcoming Elbaph-hen (pictured below). The new production approach is expected to allow for greater polish and storytelling depth, aligning more closely with Eiichiro Oda’s original pacing.
In the same livestream, character designs for Nami and Nico Robin for the One Piece: Heroines anime adaptation were revealed. Based on Jun Esaka and Sayaka Suwa’s spin-off light novel, the anime will spotlight the female characters of the franchise, exploring their individuality and personal journeys.
Originally debuted in Weekly Shounen Jump in 1997, Oda’s One Piece remains one of the most influential manga series in history, with a cumulative 510 million copies in circulation worldwide. The anime, which began airing in 1999, continues to be a cultural phenomenon across generations, bolstered by record-breaking films such as One Piece Film: Red and a 2023 live-action adaptation from Netflix.
Official site: https://one-piece.com/
Official X: @Eiichiro_Staff
Source: Oricon News, Anime! Anime!
