One Piece: Complete watch order, explained

One of the most popular shonen anime series of today and of all time is Toei Animation’s One Piece television anime series. Adapting mangaka Eiichiro Oda’s best–selling manga of all time of the same name, it’s considered by many to also be the best anime and manga of all time. The anime’s popularity has particularly grown in recent years thanks to all of its collaborations.

This exposure helps to attract new fans to the series daily, whether it’s the series’ overall aesthetic that ropes them in or otherwise. Likewise, with how long and expansive an anime franchise it is, many find themselves asking where to start. While the obvious answer is with the first episode, this doesn’t account for the various movies and other related anime projects.

This likewise confuses many prospective One Piece fans on where to start the series and how to consume the full anime franchise. This rings especially true for fans who want a chronological watch order rather than going through the mainline television anime first. Further complicating this issue is the addition of projects like Monsters to the series’ canon.

Thankfully, even for the chronological watch order, which accounts for all of these issues, there is an easy-to-follow path. This will account for when to watch each movie, OVA, and short, with the necessary information needed to avoid spoilers. This watch order will also include skippable filler arcs, and be structured in a way that allows for minimal spoilers in viewing each project.

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How to watch the One Piece anime franchise in order, explained

For a truly chronological watch order of the One Piece television anime series, fans will want to first start with Netflix's ONA of Eiichiro Oda’s Monsters one-shot. While created before Oda’s flagship series, it was later confirmed to be canon to the main franchise. Although the final minutes of the ONA are technically spoilers for the main series, they are relatively out of context.

From here, fans can move directly into the first episode of the television anime series, which starts the East Blue Saga. Fans can watch the first eight episodes before pausing to view the Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack! OVA. Fans can then return to the television anime through episode 18, which concludes the Syrup Village Arc.

Fans will then step away from the television anime once more to watch the franchise’s first film, simply titled One Piece: The Movie. Fans can then return to the television anime from episodes 19 through 53. At this point, they’ll break away to watch the Clockwork Island Adventure movie, the Adventure in the Ocean’s Navel TV special, and the Jango’s Dance Carnival short.

Fans can then return to the anime for the Warship Island Arc from episodes 54 to 61; however, this is a filler arc, and thus can be skipped if desired. It is recommended that fans do additional research on exactly where to stop filler arcs, as some mix in canonical material. Either way, fans can then watch the Episode of East Blue, which recaps all of the major mainline events so far.

Viewers will then move on to the Alabasta Saga, starting at episodes 62 and 6,3, which fully adapts the Reverse Mountain Arc. This is followed by the Whiskey Peak Arc from episodes 64 to 67, the Diary of Koby-Meppo Arc from episodes 68 to 69, the Little Garden Arc from episodes 70 to 77, and the Drum Island Arc from episodes 78 to 91.

Fans can then watch the Dream Soccer King short before returning to the anime’s Alabasta Arc from episodes 92 to 130. This is followed by The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta movie. Like the Episode of East Blue film, this is essentially a recap of the major events in One Piece’s Alabasta Arc. Likewise, it can be skipped if fans so desire.

This is followed by the Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals film. Fans can then go back to the mainline anime for the Post-Alabasta Arc from episodes 131 to 135. This is followed by the start of the Sky Island Saga, which begins with the Goat Island Arc from episodes 136 to 138. However, this is a filler arc and can be skipped without issue.

Fans can then watch the next two One Piece movies, the Dead End Adventure and The Cursed Holy Sword films. This is followed by the Open Upon the Great Sea! A Father’s Huge, HUGE Dream Special and the Take Aim! The Pirate Baseball King is short. Fans then return to the anime for the Ruluka Island Arc from episodes 139 to 143; however, this is also a skippable filler arc.

Returning to the anime, fans can view the Jaya Arc from episodes 144 to 152 and the Skypiea Arc from episodes 153 to 195 without interruption. Another recap film follows in Episode of Skypiea, which can also be skipped if so desired. This is then followed by the also skippable filler G-8 Arc from episodes 196 to 206, and then the Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island film.

This is then followed by the Water 7 Saga, which begins with the Long Ring Long Land Arc from episodes 207 to 219. While the arc does have filler episodes, it is not wholly a filler arc as some fans jokingly claim. This is then followed by the Protect! The Last Great Stage special, and the skippable filler Ocean’s Dream Arc from episodes 220 to 224.

Following the Ocean’s Dream Arc is another skippable filler arc in the Foxy’s Return Arc from episodes 225 to 228. The next One Piece film follows the Giant Mecha Soldier of Karakuri Castle movie. The television anime’s Water 7 Arc follows from Episodes 229 to 263, followed by the Enies Lobby Arc from episodes 264 to 290, 293 to 302, and 304 to 312.

Interspersing the Enies Lobby Arc are the Boss Luffy Historical Specials from episodes 291 to 292 and 303. These episodes are not considered to be filler, but rather anime-original content. However, they are skippable like filler for those only interested in viewing the canonical mainline series and its events. Returning to the mainline television anime for the Post-Enies Lobby Arc from episodes 313 to 325.

Following this is the Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Cherry Blossom movie. This is a non-canonical remake of One Piece’s earlier Drum Island Arc, now featuring additional characters not present in the original canonical arc. The anime then moves onto its Thriller Bark Saga, starting with the next filler arc from episodes 326 to 335 in the Ice Hunter Arc.

This is followed by the Chopper Man Special in episode 336, and then the mainline Thriller Bark Arc from episodes 337 to 381. Fans can then watch episodes 406 and 407, completing the Boss Luffy Historical Specials. The saga then ends on the filler Spa Island Arc from episodes 382 to 384.

This then begins the Summit War Saga, which, chronologically speaking, fans should start by watching the Little East Blue Arc from episodes 426-429. This leads into the Strong World Episode 0 OVA and the subsequent Strong World film. Next is the Straw Hat Chase Short, ONE PIECE 3D! Trap Coaster short, and the Romance Dawn Story movie in order.

Fans can then return to the mainline television anime for the Sabaody Archipelago Arc from episodes 385 to 405. This is followed by the Amazon Lily Arc from episodes 385 to 405, the Straw Hats Separation Serial Arc from 418 to 421, and the Impel Down Arc from episodes 422 to 425. Fans will then jump ahead to episode 430 to continue the arc until episode 452.

Episodes 453 to 456 mark the continuation of the Straw Hat Separation Serial Arc, after which fans begin One Piece’s iconic Marineford Arc. This arc lasts from episodes 457 to 489, and is followed by the Post-War Arc in episodes 490 and 491. Episode 492 then marks the Toriko crossover, followed by the continuation of the Post-War Arc from episodes 493 to 516.

The Summit War Saga then ends with the 3D2Y special, and concludes the series’ pre-time skip portion. The post-time-skip section of the series begins with the Return to Sabaody Arc in episodes 517 to 522. Fans can then watch the Episode of Nami: Tears of a Navigator and the Bonds of Friendship recap film, which essentially retells the Arlong Park Arc.

This is followed by the Fish-Man Island Arc from episodes 523 to 541. The arc is interrupted by the next Toriko crossover in episodes 542 and resumes in episode 543 until its end in episode 574. The Dressrosa Saga then begins with the Z’s Ambition Arc from episodes 575 to 578. While technically filler, it’s a recommended watch for fans watching each film as well.

Likewise, both parts of the Glorious Island special follow it, with One Piece Film: Z unifying the storylines from these three preceding entries. Fans can then watch the Episode of Luffy: Adventure on Hand Island special, followed by the Adventure of Nebulandia movie. The Punk Hazard Arc then begins with episodes 579 through 589.

The arc is then interrupted by the One Piece, Toriko, and Dragon Ball Z crossover in episode 590. The Punk Hazard Arc then resumes in 591 and is uninterrupted until concluding with episode 625. This is followed by the Episode of Merry: The Tale of One More Friend special, and the filler Caesar Retrieval Arc from episodes 626 to 628.

The Dressrosa Arc then follows without any interruption from episodes 629 to 746. The Dressrosa Saga then ends with the Episode of Sabo: The Three Brothers’ Bond - The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will special. The Whole Cake Island Saga begins with the filler Silver Mine Arc from episodes 747 to 750.

However, like the Z’s Ambition Arc, it’s recommended that fans watching all the franchise films don’t skip it. Likewise, it’s followed by the Heart of Gold Special, One Piece Film Gold: Episode 0, and One Piece Film: Gold, all of which are connected. Fans then return to the television anime for the Zou Arc from episodes 751 to 779.

This is followed by the filler Marine Rookie Arc from episodes 780 to 782. The saga then ends with the canonical Whole Cake Island Arc and Levely Arc from episodes 783 to 877 and episodes 878 to 889, respectively. The Wano Country Saga then begins with the Wano Country Arc from episodes 890 to 894.

This is then interrupted by the filler Cidre Guild Arc from episodes 895 to 896, which is yet another film tie-in arc for the One Piece: Stampede movie. Following these two entries, the Wano Country Arc then resumes from episodes 897 to 906. Episode 907 follows as a special adaptation of the series’ Romance Dawn one-shot prototype for the anime’s 20th anniversary.

The Wano Country Arc then resumes from episodes 908 to 1051, which is then followed by One Piece Film: Red. Within the preceding Wano Country Arc stretch are several episodes that tie in to the film. Likewise, the episodes are considered canon and thus should not be skipped, even if the film itself and its events are technically not considered canon.

The Wano Country Arc then ends with its final stretch from episodes 1052 to 1085. The anime then begins the series’ ongoing Final Saga, which begins with the Egghead Island Arc in episode 1089. It is recommended that fans wait until reaching this point to watch the One Piece Fan Letter special, given how disjointed it is from the anime’s main narrative and focus.

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In summation

While the chronological watch order for the One Piece anime franchise is intimidating, there is a relatively clear pattern. Generally speaking, fans will watch groups of episodes from the mainline anime series before breaking for some sort of special. These specials typically highlight additional side stories and events that are at least considered anime canon.

However, there are also several filler arcs which are truly skippable by nature of not being referenced ever again. Some of these are exceptions to this rule, such as those identified above as tying into the anime franchise’s films. Likewise, it’s recommended that fans who plan to watch all of the franchise films view these tie-in television anime filler arcs.

Lastly, there are also the various recap films, some of which retell canonical One Piece arcs while others break away from canon. While those that stick to the canon events are technically canon, they serve primarily as abridged retellings of corresponding arcs. Likewise, fans can skip these if so desired, as they offer no new material or information.