On the surface, One Piece looks like just another shonen about a young man and his friends sailing around the world getting up to shenanigans. But by the end of this review, you’ll see that it’s much more than that. The story is full of thoughtful themes that take a while to start developing, but are nevertheless there. 

Since starting back in 1997, the author of the One Piece manga, Eiichiro Oda, has put out over 1150 chapters. While the story is coming to an end soon, it's safe to say it has cemented its place as one of the longest running manga series of all time. One Piece also holds the record for top selling manga, having sold over 530 million copies as of 2025. The series was quickly picked up by animation studio Toei Animation for an anime adaptation. The anime has put out over 1100 episodes to date and has stayed one of the most popular anime series, earning its place among the big three alongside Naruto and Bleach.

Despite the overwhelming popularity of One Piece, there are some stigmas about the show that diminish its reputation. 

One of these stigmas is about the show’s length. Many people look at the episode count and decide that it’s way too long. They find it hard to believe they could enjoy “sitting through” so many episodes. Well I’m here to argue that the show’s length is actually one of its greatest attributes. Before starting the show, I was one of those people intimidated by the episode count. However, I became hooked fairly quickly. The show starts strong and only gets better and better with each story arc. Another thing to consider is the anime’s filler content. While it does have a fairly low filler amount, you can skip around 100 episodes if you’re only interested in the canon story. 

Another stigma the show has revolves around the pacing. One Piece has garnered a reputation for having some of the slowest pacing in anime. In fact, there is an entire genre of memes focused on how slow the story progresses from episode to episode. I will be the first to admit that, yes, some of the story’s arcs are pretty dreadfully slow. However, I think the truth has been exaggerated a bit. One Piece is probably a much longer story than most people are used to, so at times what feels like slow pacing is actually just more content than people are used to digesting. There are many scenes that slow down the action for a minute to take a dive into a character’s motivations. These scenes make the show longer, but they also strengthen the story by adding another layer of depth to appreciate. 

In my opinion, most of the show progresses at a nice pace. I actually believe that most anime could benefit from a few extra episodes to slow them down. When the pace of a show is too fast, it's more difficult to digest what’s happening. With a slower pace, you can fully appreciate the depth of a story as well as connect more with the characters. It gives you a chance to better understand their intentions and their actions. So, once again I’m going against the stigma and saying this is actually another of One Piece’s greatest characteristics. 

I’m now realising this is turning into me trying to convince everyone reading to watch One Piece. It’s too late to turn back now, so I’ll just continue down this rabbit hole. So, what else makes the show so great?

Well, it’s not the animation. That is just about the only thing I don’t love about the show. But that only makes sense, since the anime started in 1999. It makes sense the animation will seem lackluster compared to the new anime coming out with their beautiful art styles. And I find it worth mentioning that the art and animation get progressively better as the show goes on. 

However, I would never say this is a reason not to watch the show. One Piece has plenty to offer that more than makes up for the art. Among these things, the storytelling is by far the best attribute the show has to offer. 

At the beginning of the show, Luffy has already set off on his journey, all alone, to become king of the pirates. It isn’t until later in the story that we get glimpses into Luffy’s past and what led up to him setting off in the first place. These segments of backstory show up at the perfect time: when it relates to the story’s current events. This style of recursive storytelling keeps the show interesting by feeding us small chunks of how our lovable main character came to be who he is. These glimpses into the past don’t just happen for Luffy, though. Almost every character in the show, whether they’re an antagonist or protagonist, gets a backstory. Each one of these backstories not only builds on our understanding of that character, they also expand what we know about the world of One Piece. The story’s history is long and vast, and as the show progresses you can piece it together into a detailed, expansive world. 

As I mentioned, when the show begins, Luffy is all alone. But not for long, as he quickly begins to gather crewmates. As each Straw Hat joins, they fit into their role in the crew. For example, Nami is the ship’s navigator, while Sanji is the cook. The point is, each one has an important role to play, and without any one of them Luffy wouldn’t be able to continue on his journey. 

This situation lays the groundwork for strong bonds to be formed between each member of the Straw Hats. They very quickly become the best of friends who would do anything for each other. They may not always show it, though, as they are often yelling at each other and calling each other names. There is also a running gag of a longstanding rivalry between two members who just can’t stand each other. On top of that, Luffy has a very chaotic nature, and is often getting the crew into more trouble than necessary. However, this lighthearted comradery between the Straw Hats is very entertaining, and is another part of what makes One Piece so great.

However, the show is not all fun and games. This lighthearted tone is offset by themes of injustice and corruption.

As much as some people want to deny it, One Piece gets very political. When you think of your typical pirate, you think of a bad guy who steals and kills for his own benefit. However, in the world of One Piece, some of the pirates are actually the morally correct ones in the story. This includes the Straw Hats. Yes, they’re the protagonists so of course they’re the good guys, but it's more than that. Along their journey, they take down bad guys regardless of their affiliation. Whether they're another pirate crew, a group of marines, or even a part of the World Government, Luffy will take down anyone who preys on the weak for their own benefit. 

At the top of the World Government lies the Celestial Dragons, the worst of the worst. This class of people has placed themselves at the top of society, through somewhat unknown means. They set the rules for everyone to follow, with their actions often worsening the lives of the people. They treat people as if they’re worthless, and even looking at a Celestial Dragon is considered a crime. And yet, no one knows how they ended up with such power, because it happened during the blank century. This is a period of history that has been erased from existence by the Celestial Dragons themselves. It’s obvious they are hiding some horrible things they did to gain the power they hold. 

It’s clear to see how One Piece can quickly become political, but there is one example that displays this better than any other. This particular scene sets off a chain of events that place Luffy as a top enemy of the corrupt World Government. 

It happens at Enies Lobby, an important World Government stronghold. When one of his crewmates, Robin,  is captured by the marines and taken there for her sentencing, Luffy leads his crew straight there to take her back. In a display of outright defiance, he orders one of his crew to shoot down the World Government flag being flown at the base. In doing so, he knowingly declares war on the entire World Government, all for the sake of his friend’s life. The Straw Hats proceed to take down the military force stationed there, saving Robin and dismantling Enies Lobby entirely. 

These actions lead to Luffy and the Straw Hats being targeted by the strongest forces of the World Government, and yet they never back down. They continue to defy the government because of its innate corruption and ceaseless unjust actions. Despite the dangers, they hold their resolve and stand up for what they believe in. 

Due to its profound themes, One Piece has grown considerably in popularity since the start of the series, and it only continues to increase its fanbase. 

In fact, the show has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Beyond the show’s overwhelming popularity, younger generations have been inspired by the themes of fighting against an oppressive power. In recent years, it has become pretty common to see the Straw Hat’s jolly roger being flown during peaceful protests. The flag has become a real world symbol of resistance and justice, and not just in the US. In fact, the flag has practically been banned in Indonesia. While there’s no official ban, the government has threatened criminal consequences for displaying it. Some members of the Indonesian government have labeled the flag as a sign of treason or an attempt to divide the nation. 

Of course, I don’t believe it’s that serious. People have begun to use the flag as a way to peacefully protest and to express a dislike for the way their government is handling things. They are not trying to overthrow the government like Luffy does in the show, they just related heavily to the show’s themes and found a new way to express themselves. Needless to say, that should not be frowned upon as it is every person’s right to peacefully stand up for what they believe in. 

One Piece may be ending soon, but the legacy the show will leave behind will last a while to come. It’s clear to see that the series has earned a special place in many people’s hearts. Beyond that, it has cemented its place in youth culture. Stories great enough to achieve that are few and far between. So, whether you enjoy the series or not, it's safe to say One Piece is pretty damn amazing.