Elbaph Arc of One Piece Set to Release Sooner Than Anticipated

After 25 years, One Piece has shifted from its weekly broadcast to a seasonal format, aligning with the trend of modern anime. While fans knew the anime would return in April, the exact date has now been confirmed: a new season of One Piece will debut on April 5.

This premiere will kick off the Elbaph arc, where the Straw Hats finally journey to the land of giants—a long-held dream since their early days in the Grand Line. The timing is perfect, as Netflix’s One Piece season 2 trailer shows the crew entering the Grand Line and encountering Dorry and Broggy on Little Garden, the very giants that inspired their quest to reach Elbaph. Meanwhile, the manga is already deep into this arc, which promises to be just as significant as the previous Egghead Island arc.

Speaking of Egghead Island, the final episodes of this arc are set to receive an English dub, with episodes 1144-1155 arriving on Crunchyroll on March 22.

With Toei Animation moving to a seasonal schedule, the One Piece adaptation will now produce 26 episodes each year, divided into two “cours.” Each episode will adapt at least one full manga chapter, marking the end of excessive padding and anime-original filler. The One Piece anime previously took a six-month hiatus from October 2024 to April 2025, allowing the production team to improve animation quality and giving the manga time to advance, which helps avoid rushed pacing and the need for lengthy recap episodes.

Even with these breaks, fans can still enjoy the live-action series and weekly manga releases, ensuring they stay connected with their favorite pirates. Additionally, the first 155 chapters of the One Piece manga are available for free until April 10.

Catch One Piece on Crunchyroll, with new episodes set to premiere on April 5.