After a short hiatus, the One Piece anime is back on air, opening the gates to an exciting new story arc. Episode 1156 marks the beginning of “Elbaf,” the 33rd arc, where the Straw Hat Pirates will join forces with the Giant Warrior Pirates to journey to the legendary land of giants.
This resumption of broadcast effectively signals the start of a new phase, which can be seen as a “second season,” with a key change being the updated episode release model. New episodes will now be released in blocks of 26 episodes per year. Each block will be divided into two parts, consisting of 13 episodes each. Episodes will traditionally be available on Sundays, with a short break planned between the parts (cours).
This strategic move is designed to give the manga more time for story development and, just as importantly, to address long-standing issues with the anime’s pacing, ensuring a higher quality and more engaging viewing experience.