The past few years have been delightful for One Piece fans, as a steep rise in the series’ popularity has led to the announcement of new projects. First, it was the One Piece Live-Action and now the Studio Wit remake is in production. Given all the minor and major issues with the original anime, the remake is a great development.
From the moment the official announcement was made, fans have been eagerly waiting to see a refreshing new spin on Eiichiro Oda’s storytelling. There’s a long list of positive possibilities that the remake hints at; however, there’s one concerning issue as well.
The original anime recently took a long break, and it’s expected to return with a bang. Considering the near future and what’s going on with the series, this might not be a good time for the remake’s release. And, here’s why that might be the case.
It might be too soon for a One Piece remake
Toei Animation’s One Piece anime started its run in 1999 and is currently ongoing in full swing. Over the years, the animation has undergone a lot of changes, and Wano was visually stunning. At present, the anime is on a six-months-long hiatus. This break has led fans to believe that the anime will return with better animation and pacing. At the same time, we also have the reboot adaptation to look forward to.
Studio Wit’s One Piece was first announced in 2023 and is expected to have a seasonal schedule. While no definite release window has been announced yet, it’s safe to assume that the remake will be released before the original anime’s conclusion. This suggests both anime will air simultaneously at some point, competing with each other in a way.
Moreover, the remake is not likely to catch up to the manga or the anime in the near future or even five or seven years down the line. So, if fans want to continue the story, they’ll have to switch to the manga or the original anime. All these options might make One Piece difficult to follow as there are multiple ways to enjoy the beginning i.e. East Blue Saga.
Even though the remake is expected to be an easier gateway for newer fans, it might end up overcomplicating the simple watch order of One Piece. All these issues suggest that this might not be the right time for the remake. It would have been better if the remake was announced when the end of the original was in sight.
The positives of the One Piece remake outweigh the concerns
With how the Netflix live-action opened up doors for more live-action adaptations, the remake might follow the same pattern, making way for remake and reboot adaptations. However, these few issues aside, the One Piece remake is something to look forward to. It will fix the diabolical pacing of the series, compressing the experience into less number of episodes without undermining the enjoyment, hopefully.
Fans will get to experience One Piece in a completely new animation and art style. From the color palette to the fights, Studio Wit will give a new definition to the beloved series. And, given their track record with anime series like Attack on Titan, Vivy, and After the Rain, we know that their version of One Piece will be worthwhile.
One Piece anime is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
