If you’re planning to start One Piece or you’ve been away and want to catch up, the first question that comes to mind is: What is the correct watch order? With over 1,000 episodes, multiple movies, OVAs, and specials, One Piece can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry—I’ll break it down for you in a way that makes sense, so you can enjoy the epic journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew without confusion.
As someone who has been following One Piece for years, I can tell you this: the story is worth every minute. It’s not just about pirates and treasure—it’s about dreams, freedom, friendship, and chasing the impossible. But since the anime has been running since 1999, the watch order is a little tricky. Let’s go step by step.
1. Start with One Piece (1999 – Ongoing)
The main anime series is the heart of the story. It follows Luffy from his childhood dream of becoming the Pirate King to forming his Straw Hat crew and exploring the Grand Line.
- Episodes: 1,000+ (still ongoing)
- Recommendation: Watch everything if you can, but skip fillers if you only want the main story.
The anime is divided into arcs, and each arc adapts a part of Eiichiro Oda’s manga. Key arcs include East Blue, Alabasta, Skypiea, Enies Lobby, Marineford, Dressrosa, Whole Cake Island, Wano, and now Egghead Island.
2. One Piece Movies
The movies are not essential to the main plot, but some are very entertaining and feature original stories or side adventures. A few like One Piece Film: Z, One Piece Film: Gold, and One Piece Film: Red are fan favorites.
- If you want extra fun content, watch them, but remember—they are mostly non-canon.
- A good time to watch movies is after finishing a major arc.
3. Fillers and Specials
Like many long-running anime, One Piece also has filler episodes. While some fillers are fun (like G-8 Arc), you can skip most if you’re only after the main story.
- Canon episodes: Directly adapted from the manga.
- Filler episodes: Original anime content.
If you’re short on time, use a filler guide to skip non-canon content. But if you love spending time with the Straw Hats, even fillers can be enjoyable.
4. One Piece OVA and Specials
Over the years, Toei Animation has released multiple OVAs and specials that either recap parts of the story or tell side stories. They’re optional, but hardcore fans might want to explore them.
Examples include:
- Episode of Luffy (a retelling of East Blue)
- Episode of Sabo (covering Sabo’s childhood)
- Episode of Merry (about the Going Merry ship)
5. The Best Watch Order (Recommended)
Here’s the simple breakdown for beginners:
- One Piece main anime series – Watch from Episode 1 onwards.
- Skip fillers if you want (but G-8 Arc is worth watching).
- Movies – Watch anytime after the arcs they loosely connect to (not required for main story).
- Specials/OVAs – Optional, only if you want extra background.
That’s it. Don’t overthink it—the simplest way is to just start from Episode 1 and keep going.
Why One Piece is Worth the Journey
Yes, One Piece is long. But that’s also its strength. You grow with the characters, you feel their struggles, and every victory feels earned. Luffy’s never-give-up spirit, Zoro’s loyalty, Nami’s courage, Sanji’s kindness, and the bonds between the crew make this more than just an anime—it’s an adventure of a lifetime.
If you’re patient enough to stick with it, you’ll understand why One Piece is often called the greatest anime ever made.
Final Thoughts
The best way to watch One Piece is straightforward: follow the main anime series, skip fillers if you want, and enjoy the movies and specials whenever you’re in the mood for extra content.
If you’ve already finished Naruto or Tokyo Revengers, and you’re looking for another big adventure, One Piece is the perfect next step. And once you’re hooked, you’ll realize the length isn’t a problem—it’s a blessing, because it means more time with the Straw Hats.
“If you’re into long-running shonen anime, don’t miss our complete Naruto Watch Order, Tokyo Revengers Watch Order, and Death Note Watch Order guides as well.”
