Is seasonal anime better? How One Piece's length works against gaining new fans

In the age of One Piece and instant gratification, anime fans are facing a dilemma: is it better to binge hundreds of episodes of an all-time great series, or embrace the seasonal model? As a long-time fan of anime, this question always makes me pause and think.

We live in an age defined by 8-12 episode anime seasons. With platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Disney+ shaping how we consume media, it’s no longer about patience or the slow burn. With shows like Jujutsu Kaisen or Spy x Family, viewers know exactly what they’re in for: one cour, two weekends, minimal filler, and an emotional payoff.

Compare that to One Piece. We are signing up for a lifestyle. Over 1000 manga and anime episodes. A backlog so long it feels like a second job. Moreover, seasonal anime thrives precisely because it respects modern attention spans.

Each season is a neatly packaged, highly curated experience. In contrast, the sheer scale of One Piece makes it nearly impossible to casually recommend. That’s why Wit Studio’s decision to reboot the anime with The One Piece (a new seasonal remake) is not just bold, but rather necessary.

Ask a fan how long One Piece is, and we will hear everything from “20 minutes a day for two years” to “don’t worry, it gets good after episode 300.” That’s not a joke, it’s the unfortunate truth. No matter how incredible One Piece becomes (and it does become transcendent), the reality is that most people won’t stick around long enough to find out.

This is where seasonal anime wins again. New shows like Chainsaw Man, Hell’s Paradise, or Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End became popular from episode one. They don’t ask for a long-term commitment; rather, they want a weekend binge.

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Why One Piece's format holds it back

The early episodes of the anime are in a 4:3 aspect ratio. And the pacing of the anime often adapts less than a chapter per episode. This is due to Toei’s model of producing weekly episodes year-round instead of seasonal batches

This format works for children’s shows and toyetic franchises like Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh!, but for a serialized epic like One Piece, it felt like a risky move. Filler episodes, recap specials, bloated arcs, these aren't just common, they're built-in features of the long-runner model.

Seasonal anime avoids this entirely. It adapts at the pace the story deserves. No filler. High animation quality. Carefully planned arcs. There’s a reason Demon Slayer breaks the internet every time it airs, as Ufotable takes a full year to produce 11 episodes, and it shows.

At its core, this anime is definitely long, but it makes up for the length as the story is incredible and the world-building is masterful. Although the payoffs are second to none, compare that to something like Mob Psycho 100: three seasons, each under 13 episodes. Fans get an emotionally complete, visually stunning, narratively satisfying story in under 40 episodes.

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Ultimately, One Piece's length is also its greatest strength

Despite everything I’ve just said, I’d still argue that this anime is worth it. Its very length allows it to explore characters, cultures, and politics with a richness you will not find in a 12-episode series. This isn’t just a pirate adventure. It’s a world-spanning epic with revolutionary undertones, emotional gut punches, and some of the most jaw-dropping reveals in fiction.

The arcs aren’t just stories rather they’re civilizations. It seems like each arc could be its own anime. And they build on each other in ways that seasonal anime simply doesn’t have time for.

Yes, it’s long. But that length allows for unparalleled depth. Still, the truth remains: for most people today, length is a barrier. Not because the story isn’t worth it, but because the format isn’t friendly.

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Final thoughts

So, when we ask the question, 'Is seasonal anime better?' In most ways, yes. It’s more accessible. It’s more polished. It suits the rhythm of modern life and allows fans to easily explore multiple series a year without being chained to one epic. But that does not mean that One Piece is not peak, because no matter how long it takes, One Piece is really the one, and for fans, it's a lifestyle.

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