Addressing One Piece's Major Flaw: The Game-Changing Chopper and Robin Segments

The Egghead arc of the One Piece anime is now being adapted, showcasing a shift in animation style that perfectly suits the aesthetic of Egghead Island and captures the cartoony essence of the Gear 5 form. Despite concerns about pacing due to the anime catching up to the manga, the latest episode proved otherwise, with a pleasant surprise in the segment featuring Robin and Chopper at the end.

One Piece anime might finally fix its pacing issues

In the latest One Piece anime episode 1089, the focus was on Sabo and the murder of King Cobra at the Reverie. Despite denying the allegations, he seemed to have inside information about events at Marijoa's Pangaea Castle. However, before he could reveal anything, his call was abruptly cut off and the Lulusia Kingdom was wiped out.

@GalaxyDanGan pointed out the new segment in the credits focusing on Sabo, with Robin and Chopper providing details about his character. This addition, expected to continue in future episodes, has been supported as a potential solution to the pacing issues in the One Piece anime.

The One Piece anime has traditionally adapted one manga chapter per episode to avoid catching up with the manga, resulting in overly long episodes. With the manga only releasing 35 chapters in 2021, 34 in 2022, and 31 in 2023, the animation team faced the options of taking a break, creating filler arcs, or diving into the ongoing Egghead arc. They ultimately chose to adapt only half a chapter per episode to strike a balance.

Luffy, Ace, and Sabo sharing sake as seen in the One Piece anime episode 1089 end segment recap (Image via Toei Animation)

The decision to condense the 22-minute-long episode by incorporating the Robin and Chopper segment at the conclusion is a tactic that should have been implemented earlier in the series. It allows for recaps, like the one in episode 1089 detailing Sabo’s past with Luffy and Ace, to be placed at the end, giving viewers the option to skip it if they prefer.

Additionally, using a simple animation style for these segments could help the studio save resources for the main part of the show, ultimately enhancing the quality of animation and viewer satisfaction. These segments could also incorporate cover stories from the manga that were not included in the anime, adding depth and richness to Oda's fictional world.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of One Piece, I am thrilled to see the anime finally addressing its pacing issues. The decision to adapt only half a chapter per episode and incorporate the Robin and Chopper segment at the conclusion is a brilliant move that should have been implemented earlier. This tactic allows for recaps and additional content to be placed at the end, giving viewers the option to skip it if they prefer. It also helps the studio save resources for the main part of the show, ultimately enhancing the quality of animation and viewer satisfaction.

I am particularly excited about the potential for these segments to incorporate cover stories from the manga that were not included in the anime. This would add depth and richness to Oda's fictional world and give fans a more comprehensive One Piece experience. Overall, I believe these changes are a step in the right direction and I am looking forward to seeing how they impact the anime going forward.

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.