The One Piece anime has officially wrapped up its continuous weekly broadcast after an unprecedented 26-year run. The show has been going on since 1999, and it's gone on to become a huge part of pop culture. It is the first and only anime to have over 1,000 episodes, and it has never taken a break between seasons. The show will change to a seasonal schedule starting in 2026. So now it is the end of an era for one of the longest-running anime in history.This is such a huge change, so naturally, the fans have reacted with their sense of humour, calling the whole 1000+ episode series "Season 1" since it's technically one continuous "season" that they've been watching for 20 years plus. The internet is now full of funny commentary from viewers who are just figuring this out. The One Piece anime community is totally rolling with the crazy.Luffy uses Red Hawk Roc (Image Source: Toei Animation)From the minute One Piece aired, fans have been comparing the show to other anime shows because of how many seasons of One Piece have been made compared to other anime. People have said One Piece has been part of their life since they were kids, and now as adults.Season 2 Predictions and Playful SpeculationFans started giving their opinions on the new seasonal format. Many fans figured that since season one had 1,000 episodes, then obviously season two would have 2,000 episodes. The progression of seasons became a funny meme posted all over social media. A lot of fans went along with this, and now they call their favourite moments from season one lol.we really watching one piece grow up after 26 years on air, the anime switching to a seasonal format in 2026 is gonna be a wild ride," exciting moment for a fan"calling it the “end of season 1” is honestly the funniest way to frame it," hilariously commented anotherThe One Piece anime fans have always been really good with their self-awareness. They did that again for this milestone, too, recognizing the silliness in it but also celebrating it, providing a perfect combination of both commitments to comedy and appreciation.The Treasure Hunt Continues in One Piece AnimeRoronoa Zoro as seen in the anime (Image Source: Toei Animation)While it's been out for 26 years and has more than a thousand episodes, they've still never found the treasure that the title refers to. Obviously, there's a fair amount of irony there, but it also sparked conversations on how the journey seems to have become the main point of the whole thing."they still haven't found the one piece btw," one user deadpanned "One Piece really redefined what long-form storytelling means," another commentedA fan has shared that their biggest fear about One Piece is the possibility of never seeing the end of the anime. While that may be an uncertain concern, fans have done just the opposite; they see this time for a seasonal change as a chance to experience a higher quality of production and a more tightly paced story.Looking Forward to 2026Switching to seasonal production changes how we view the One Piece anime completely. Fans are expecting that this new method will increase both the quality of animation produced and the storytelling consistency, as well as update the animation to a higher level after the new format is established.The purpose of going to a seasonal format is to try to reduce the number of filler episodes that have been produced during the weekly episode release cycle.For hardcore followers of the One Piece anime, hearing that Season 1 will be finishing off soon has been an emotional rollercoaster ride. The word "one piece" really sums up the show in both puns and feelings.The One Piece anime has become a shared experience and entertainment spanning generations. The anime gave people an anchor during all of life's chaos; it was something to look forward to every week. Now that the format is changing, viewers have a new excitement for what's coming up next.