One Piece has gone through several evolutions during its long publication, but the ending of Elbaph teases a disappointing trend that could ruin the story’s final arc. A trend that threatens plot threads that some fans have waited decades to see come together.
Several of One Piece‘s arcs were criticized for feeling dragged out, with a few of them taking years to publish. Wano, the franchise’s longest arc so far, took over four years to release its 149 chapters. However, both Egghead and Elbaph have shown signs that author Eiichiro Oda has changed things for the story’s final saga.
Oda Is Rushing To End One Piece
Luffy looks shocked.Custom image created by Umair Nakade
It has been almost thirty years since One Piece began being published on Shōnen Jump. While its long runtime continues to intimidate potential fans from diving into the story’s depths, those who do brave its waters soon find themselves thirsty for more. However, those who have consumed the Egghead and Elbaph arcs might have noticed some changes in how the story is being dished out.
The stories’ 33 arcs have not all been delivered with exquisite pacing. Dressrosa and Wano arguably had the worst progression because of the sheer number of characters Oda introduced. While most of those characters have (or will) have a major bearing on One Piece‘s overall plot, the two most recent manga arcs have corrected most pacing complaints, perhaps too much.
The Ultimate · Straw Hat Challenge Set Sail for Trivia “I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”
⚕CrewNakama!
🌊SeasEast Blue
🍋Devil FruitsGomu Gomu!
☠VillainsFear the sea
🏆DreamsOne Piece!
01
Monkey D. Luffy accidentally ate a Devil Fruit as a child, giving him rubber-like abilities. What is the name of that fruit?
✓ Correct! The Gum-Gum Fruit (Gomu Gomu no Mi) turned Luffy’s body into rubber. He ate it from Shanks’ treasure chest as a kid, gaining stretchy powers but losing the ability to swim forever.
✗ Overboard! The answer is the Gum-Gum Fruit. The Chop-Chop Fruit belongs to Buggy, the Flame-Flame Fruit to Ace, and the Smoke-Smoke Fruit to Captain Smoker — but Luffy’s rubber powers come from the Gomu Gomu no Mi.
02
Luffy’s iconic straw hat was given to him as a child by a famous pirate who inspired his dream. Who gave Luffy the hat?
✓ Correct! Red-Haired Shanks entrusted his straw hat to young Luffy in Foosha Village, telling him to return it when he becomes a great pirate. That promise drives Luffy’s entire journey.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Red-Haired Shanks. While Gold Roger originally wore the hat, it was Shanks who passed it down to Luffy after saving his life from a Sea King — a defining moment in the series.
03
Before joining the Straw Hats, Sanji works as a sous chef at a floating restaurant on the ocean. What is the name of this restaurant?
✓ Correct! The Baratie is the ocean-going restaurant run by Chef Zeff, Sanji’s mentor. In the live-action series, it’s one of the most stunning sets — a fully realized ship-restaurant on the open sea.
✗ Overboard! The answer is The Baratie. Run by the legendary pirate-turned-chef “Red Leg” Zeff, this floating restaurant is where Luffy recruits Sanji as the Straw Hats’ cook.
04
Roronoa Zoro is famous for his unique sword-fighting technique. How many swords does he wield in his signature style?
✓ Correct! Zoro uses Three-Sword Style (Santoryu), wielding one sword in each hand and a third in his mouth. His dream is to become the world’s greatest swordsman by defeating Dracule Mihawk.
✗ Overboard! The answer is three. Zoro’s iconic Three-Sword Style places one blade in each hand and a third clenched between his teeth — a fighting technique unique to him in the One Piece world.
05
Each Straw Hat crew member has a personal dream. What is Nami’s ultimate goal that drives her journey?
✓ Correct! Nami’s dream is to draw a map of the entire world. Her cartography skills and navigation talent make her indispensable to the crew, and her passion for mapmaking was nurtured by her adoptive mother Bell-mère.
✗ Overboard! The answer is to draw a complete map of the world. Nami is a gifted cartographer whose dream goes beyond just sailing — she wants to chart every sea and island so no one is ever lost again.
06
A powerful Marine Vice Admiral is revealed to have a surprising family connection to Luffy. Who is this high-ranking Marine?
✓ Correct! Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather. Known as “Garp the Fist,” he’s a Marine hero who wanted Luffy to become a Marine — not a pirate. Their family dynamic is a major subplot in the live-action series.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Vice Admiral Garp. Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather and one of the most legendary Marines alive. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, their bond runs deep.
07
Usopp is recruited into the Straw Hat crew after the pirates help defend his home village from Captain Kuro’s Black Cat Pirates. What is the name of Usopp’s village?
✓ Correct! Syrup Village is Usopp’s peaceful hometown where he was known for telling tall tales. It’s also where Kaya lives, and where the crew acquires the Going Merry from her estate.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Syrup Village. Foosha Village is Luffy’s hometown, Shells Town is where Zoro was held captive, and Coco Village (Cocoyasi) is Nami’s home — but Usopp hails from Syrup Village.
08
The Netflix live-action adaptation was praised for its casting. Which actor plays Monkey D. Luffy?
✓ Correct! Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy won fans over with his infectious energy and earnest portrayal of Luffy. Mackenyu plays Zoro, Taz Skylar is Sanji, and Jacob Romero Gibson plays Usopp.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Iñaki Godoy. The young Mexican actor perfectly captured Luffy’s boundless enthusiasm. The other actors all play Straw Hat crew members — but Luffy is all Iñaki.
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⚕
/ 8
Are you King of the Pirates — or lost at sea?
One Piece Live Action Trivia – How Well Do You Know the Crew?
The Ultimate · Straw Hat ChallengeSet Sail for Trivia“I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”
⚕CrewNakama!
🌊SeasEast Blue
🍋Devil FruitsGomu Gomu!
☠VillainsFear the sea
🏆DreamsOne Piece!
SET SAIL →
01
Monkey D. Luffy accidentally ate a Devil Fruit as a child, giving him rubber-like abilities. What is the name of that fruit?
AFlame-Flame FruitBChop-Chop FruitCGum-Gum FruitDSmoke-Smoke Fruit
✓ Correct! The Gum-Gum Fruit (Gomu Gomu no Mi) turned Luffy’s body into rubber. He ate it from Shanks’ treasure chest as a kid, gaining stretchy powers but losing the ability to swim forever.
✗ Overboard! The answer is the Gum-Gum Fruit. The Chop-Chop Fruit belongs to Buggy, the Flame-Flame Fruit to Ace, and the Smoke-Smoke Fruit to Captain Smoker — but Luffy’s rubber powers come from the Gomu Gomu no Mi.
NEXT →
02
Luffy’s iconic straw hat was given to him as a child by a famous pirate who inspired his dream. Who gave Luffy the hat?
AGold RogerBMonkey D. GarpCDracule MihawkDRed-Haired Shanks
✓ Correct! Red-Haired Shanks entrusted his straw hat to young Luffy in Foosha Village, telling him to return it when he becomes a great pirate. That promise drives Luffy’s entire journey.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Red-Haired Shanks. While Gold Roger originally wore the hat, it was Shanks who passed it down to Luffy after saving his life from a Sea King — a defining moment in the series.
NEXT →
03
Before joining the Straw Hats, Sanji works as a sous chef at a floating restaurant on the ocean. What is the name of this restaurant?
✓ Correct! The Baratie is the ocean-going restaurant run by Chef Zeff, Sanji’s mentor. In the live-action series, it’s one of the most stunning sets — a fully realized ship-restaurant on the open sea.
✗ Overboard! The answer is The Baratie. Run by the legendary pirate-turned-chef “Red Leg” Zeff, this floating restaurant is where Luffy recruits Sanji as the Straw Hats’ cook.
NEXT →
04
Roronoa Zoro is famous for his unique sword-fighting technique. How many swords does he wield in his signature style?
AOneBTwoCThreeDFour
✓ Correct! Zoro uses Three-Sword Style (Santoryu), wielding one sword in each hand and a third in his mouth. His dream is to become the world’s greatest swordsman by defeating Dracule Mihawk.
✗ Overboard! The answer is three. Zoro’s iconic Three-Sword Style places one blade in each hand and a third clenched between his teeth — a fighting technique unique to him in the One Piece world.
NEXT →
05
Each Straw Hat crew member has a personal dream. What is Nami’s ultimate goal that drives her journey?
ATo find the One Piece treasureBTo become the greatest navigatorCTo draw a complete map of the worldDTo defeat every pirate on the Grand Line
✓ Correct! Nami’s dream is to draw a map of the entire world. Her cartography skills and navigation talent make her indispensable to the crew, and her passion for mapmaking was nurtured by her adoptive mother Bell-mère.
✗ Overboard! The answer is to draw a complete map of the world. Nami is a gifted cartographer whose dream goes beyond just sailing — she wants to chart every sea and island so no one is ever lost again.
NEXT →
06
A powerful Marine Vice Admiral is revealed to have a surprising family connection to Luffy. Who is this high-ranking Marine?
✓ Correct! Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather. Known as “Garp the Fist,” he’s a Marine hero who wanted Luffy to become a Marine — not a pirate. Their family dynamic is a major subplot in the live-action series.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Vice Admiral Garp. Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather and one of the most legendary Marines alive. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, their bond runs deep.
NEXT →
07
Usopp is recruited into the Straw Hat crew after the pirates help defend his home village from Captain Kuro’s Black Cat Pirates. What is the name of Usopp’s village?
AFoosha VillageBShells TownCSyrup VillageDCoco Village
✓ Correct! Syrup Village is Usopp’s peaceful hometown where he was known for telling tall tales. It’s also where Kaya lives, and where the crew acquires the Going Merry from her estate.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Syrup Village. Foosha Village is Luffy’s hometown, Shells Town is where Zoro was held captive, and Coco Village (Cocoyasi) is Nami’s home — but Usopp hails from Syrup Village.
NEXT →
08
The Netflix live-action adaptation was praised for its casting. Which actor plays Monkey D. Luffy?
✓ Correct! Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy won fans over with his infectious energy and earnest portrayal of Luffy. Mackenyu plays Zoro, Taz Skylar is Sanji, and Jacob Romero Gibson plays Usopp.
✗ Overboard! The answer is Iñaki Godoy. The young Mexican actor perfectly captured Luffy’s boundless enthusiasm. The other actors all play Straw Hat crew members — but Luffy is all Iñaki.
REVEAL MY SCORE →
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Are you King of the Pirates — or lost at sea?
↻ SET SAIL AGAIN
One Piece‘s most recent arcs have included stunning revelations of mysteries that fans have waited years, even decades, to read. While many of those surprising moments and anticipated battles managed to exceed the hype around them, other moments have happened off-screen or resolved a lot faster than readers hoped.
The One Piece Manga’s Greatest (Or Worst) Ally
A great adaptation does not copy the source material outright but adds its own flair to accentuate what the story was going for. The realm of animation clearly has fewer restraints than a manga’s pages, and Toei has proven with shows like One Piece and Dragon Ball Z that they can often deliver what mangaka are shooting for and then some.
Since Toei shifted gears towards the production of One Piece’s anime, moments like Gear 5 Luffy’s battle against Lucci on Egghead were able to become more than what the manga could present. Because of that potential, there is a chance that the anime encourages Oda to reel in or shorten manga moments so that the anime can later fill out the story’s presentation.
There are several reasons why the author might be shortening battles in One Piece‘s manga, with one of them being the anime’s recent explosion in quality and artistic direction. Since the middle of Wano, Toei’s anime shifted its style and animation staff with great success. While not all episodes are delivered with the same level of quality, several of One Piece‘s greatest episodes managed to trend globally with their artistic and often emotional splendor.
15 Best One Piece Episodes Ranked
There are many to choose from but the best One Piece episodes have fantastic animation, epic villains, and significant events taking place.
In the last couple of years, One Piece‘s anime has elevated the manga in many ways, including being able to flesh out moments that Oda did not have the time or page space to include. Episodes like #1015 became one of One Piece’s greatest episodes because it deviated from the source material to deliver an incredibly emotional series of scenes not in the manga. But anime adaptations of Oda’s work are likely not the only thing that has seen a shift in the beloved manga.
Oda’s Age Could Be A Big Factor In One Piece’s Ending
Another reason why One Piece‘s last arcs are feeling rushed is the cruel reality that a person’s time and health are limited, and not all great artists get to stick around to complete their works. Being a mangaka depletes life energy faster than other careers, with its constant, intense deadlines and the overwhelming pressures that can come with success. And with Oda working on One Piece since 1997, he is unfortunately not immune to these truths.
At the current production rate, One Piece‘s manga normally publishes one new chapter three weeks out of a month. In the last few years, Oda has released fewer and fewer chapters in order to take breaks for several reasons, one being his health. If it hasn’t happened already, there will come a day when Eiichiro Oda no longer wants to draw a Shōnen Jump manga, and he shouldn’t have to for the rest of his life.
Luffy is Secretly Helping One Piece’s Greatest Villain Take Over the World, and Fans Completely Missed It
The Straw Hats and Giants must defeat the Supreme Ruler of the World Government, but Luffy’s actions might have unintended consequences.
One Piece is one of the world’s most successful franchises, but with the continuous deadlines of the manga, its author likely doesn’t get to enjoy his success as much as he deserves. Everyone deserves to enjoy their lives, and with the entertainment he’s brought to fans around the world, Oda deserves to enjoy the fruits of his success, but he can’t fully enjoy that freedom until he is done writing One Piece. With the manga nearing its thirtieth anniversary, it makes sense that Oda would be ready to retire from one of the world’s most taxing jobs.
One Piece’s Rushed Ending Will Be Better Than No Ending
One-Piece-Egghead-Finale-Screenshot
One of the most recent examples of One Piece‘s manga feeling rushed can be seen near the end of the Elbaph arc. Chapter #1177 teased the long-awaited confrontation between the World Government’s secret Supreme Ruler and Luffy, only to have the real clash resolved within half a chapter. Egghead’s incredible last chunk did not feel as rushed, but both are a far cry from Luffy’s epic and long clashes against foes such as Crocodile and Katakuri.
Still, with One Piece‘s popularity growing to unseen levels, that interest and success have granted the franchise the ability to unfold. Since Eiichiro Oda has made it a priority to maintain creative control of adaptations of his work, changes to the source material are not so vast that they risk tainting his vision that has transfixed millions (maybe billions) of fans worldwide.
The last few arcs of the story have seen some storylines cut short, like with the end results of Captain Kidd versus Shanks and Blackbeard’s assault on Law’s crew. Those plot twists helped push the urgency that One Piece is heading towards an end that will bring the entire story, and its massive cast together for confrontations Oda has teased that will make Marineford look small.
It will be fascinating to see how Oda delivers One Piece’s anticipated conclusion with his recent condensed approach and so much still to resolve, but the man has proven his ability to surprise readers time and time again. Those surprises have earned Eiichiro Oda respect and a fan base that wants to see One Piece reach its conclusion almost as much as they want to see the author live a long, healthy, and happy life.
