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A turning point for One Piece production
The One Piece anime has entered a new chapter — behind the scenes as well as on screen. Riuya Kanko, credited as a production producer across many recent episodes, announced on social platform X that she has stepped away from the series after the Egghead arc concluded on December 28–29, 2025. Her departure, after roughly three years working from the end of Wano through Egghead, marks the end of an era and the start of a reshuffle that could shape how fans experience the pirate saga going forward.
Which episodes she worked on
Kanko’s producer credit appears on numerous milestone episodes (including 1030, 1041, 1047, 1053, 1058, 1062, 1068, 1075, 1081, 1087, 1093, 1099, 1106, 1114, 1120, 1131, 1136, 1142 and 1154). In her farewell messages she thanked the production staff and viewers, urging continued support for One Piece as the franchise pivots into its next phase.
A new seasonal approach and adaptation pace
From April 5, 2026, One Piece will shift to a seasonal release centered on the Elbaph arc. Under the new plan, each anime episode will adapt roughly one manga chapter, with production capped at 26 episodes per year. This is a deliberate move toward a steadier, manga-faithful cadence — a response to long-standing fan complaints about slow pacing and filler in modern long-running anime. That tighter approach echoes broader industry trends where studios use seasonal schedules to balance quality, staff workload, and streaming windows.
What this means for fans and the industry
A one-chapter-per-episode rhythm should deliver sharper storytelling and save key moments from being diluted. It also aligns One Piece with recent successful seasonal strategies seen in other major properties, which favor concentrated bursts of high-quality episodes over year-round releases.
Big slate of One Piece projects continues
Production shake-ups won’t slow the franchise’s output. Alongside the seasonal anime plan, multiple projects are in development: a new theatrical film, additional seasons of the live-action adaptation, a WIT Studio anime remake, and the One Piece: Heroines project. Eiichiro Oda has teased major manga revelations to come — from the identity of the burn-scarred man to an island tied to the only Pirate King — suggesting the anime’s renewed pacing will be tested by increasingly consequential beats.
Fans are understandably anxious but excited: change often brings risk, but it also creates space for creative renewal. If the seasonal model and the WIT remake deliver on production values and faithful adaptation, One Piece could enjoy a second wind comparable to other revitalized anime properties.
Overall, Kanko’s exit is less an ending than a signal: One Piece is moving toward a faster, more deliberate future that aims to match the momentum of its manga.
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