Wit Studio's 'One Piece' Remake Could Reshape Long-Form Anime

• One Piece Remake by Wit Studio may get a 2026 debut.
• The studio will adapt East Blue Saga in the beginning with improved pacing and visuals.
• The anime received around 28M hours of Netflix viewership in June 2025.

After more than two decades under Toei Animation, "One Piece" stands alongside "Naruto" and "Dragon Ball" as a pillar of Shonen Jump. Now the manga titan is getting a comprehensive remake from Wit Studio, the animation house behind "Attack on Titan" and "Vinland Saga."

The remake arrives as the franchise experiences a renaissance. The series logged roughly 28 million viewing hours on Netflix in June 2025, while the manga has sold over 578 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling manga of all time. A 2023 live-action Netflix adaptation drew 71.6 million views and topped charts in 84 countries, surpassing hits like "Stranger Things 4."

The remake could establish new standards for adapting long-running manga series, addressing criticisms that have dogged Toei's version for years.

One Piece Remake Release Date and Format

Wit Studio plans to adopt a seasonal format, breaking from Toei's weekly release schedule. The studio will begin with the East Blue Saga, introducing protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his initial crew. Character designer Kyoji Asano said in mid-2025 that work was still underway, though industry chatter suggests a 2026 release.

The original anime has drawn criticism for extending single manga chapters across full episodes, a common practice in weekly anime to avoid overtaking source material. While recent arcs like Wano and Egghead showed marked visual improvements, fans have long advocated for a seasonal structure that would allow for tighter pacing and consistent quality.

Eiichiro Oda has encouraged animators' creative freedom for the remake, signaling ambitions that extend beyond simple replication.

One Piece Netflix Success Drives Remake Interest

The franchise's recent success owes much to Netflix, where the 2023 live-action series captured 18.5 million views in its opening week and reached No. 1 in 46 countries. Season 2 is slated for 2026, with Season 3 reportedly in development.

The live-action adaptation's success has driven renewed interest in the original anime. Netflix reported in 2023 that over 50% of its global subscriber base watches anime, reflecting the medium's growing mainstream appeal in Western markets.

What the Remake Means for Anime Industry

If successful, Wit Studio's approach could influence how studios handle other long-running properties. The challenge lies in condensing more than 1,100 manga chapters into a streamlined series while maintaining fan loyalty, a balancing act that has stumped adaptations before.

The studio has pledged to "continue it for a long time," suggesting a multi-year commitment to the project. Whether Wit can deliver on its promise of movie-quality animation and minimal filler while capturing the essence of Oda's sprawling narrative remains to be seen.

For now, the remake represents a high-stakes bet that quality can trump quantity in the competitive anime marketplace.