Crunchyroll Already Has The Perfect 2026 Replacement For One Piece

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Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is a hugely popular and long-running series. The manga began in 1997, and the anime followed in 1999. For more than 20 years, Toei Animation has consistently released new episodes of the One Piece anime almost weekly. But that consistent schedule is about to change.

After a six-month hiatus from late 2024 to April 2025, it’s been announced that One Piece will be taking extended breaks more frequently, essentially moving to a seasonal release schedule. This is disappointing for fans eager to see the start of the Elbaf arc. However, fans can look forward to Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, which premieres in January 2026, as a great alternative while they wait for One Piece to return.

The One Piece Anime Is Going On Break In Early 2026

  • The Egghead Arc Of One Piece Wraps Up In December
  • No One Piece Anime Until April 2026

The One Piece anime is currently showing the events on Egghead Island, but that storyline will wrap up soon. It’s expected to finish before 2026, and then the anime will pause production for a while. This break is part of a new strategy Toei Animation is trying out.

Rather than releasing a new episode each week for an entire year, the anime will now have a six-month break each year, dividing the content into two parts. This means that beginning in 2026, One Piece will air 26 episodes annually.

I won’t argue that’s unfair, sailor. But attacking those young, hopeful sprouts that signaled the end of piracy? Isn’t that going too far? Are you really that scared of what’s coming next? — Shanks

The One Piece anime is taking a break starting soon, and won’t be back until April 2026. This is disappointing for fans eager to see the story continue to Elbaf. While we wait, Jujutsu Kaisen offers a great alternative to keep fans entertained.

One Piece Fans Can Hop On Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Until The Return Of The Anime

With One Piece currently paused, several popular anime are returning to screens, including Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Fire Force. But the biggest return of early 2026 will be Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is set to premiere in January 2026, and fans are in for a treat! It’s expected to have stunning animation and direction, potentially making it one of the best anime in recent memory.

With One Piece currently on break, Jujutsu Kaisen is a great anime to watch instead. Although it has a different style – focusing more on action and less on detailed world-building – it’s still incredibly fun and engaging.

Why Is One Piece Going On Break?

As a huge anime fan, I’m really excited for Jujutsu Kaisen to keep me going while One Piece is taking a break! But honestly, I’m a little puzzled by Toei’s decision to switch to a seasonal release schedule. One Piece has been reliably weekly for almost thirty years now, so it’s a big change and I’m curious about the reasons behind it.

Long-running anime series are becoming less common these days. Studios often extend the production schedule to allow more time and effort for each episode. We’ve seen a clear improvement in One Piece’s quality recently, but maintaining that level with the current fast pace isn’t sustainable.

The team behind the show is working on smoothing out the story’s flow by adapting one chapter of the manga per episode. Fans are hoping the next season of One Piece, expected in 2026, will be a truly unforgettable adventure.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, on their adventure to find the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. The newest chapter, 1169, will be released in this week’s issue of Weekly Shonen Jump on December 21, 2025. In Japan, it will become available at midnight on Monday, which is 11:00 AM Eastern Time and 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, and doing so helps support the creator.

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2025-12-22 01:34