One Piece Manga vs Anime: Which Is Better to Set Your Sails?

Apr. 23, 2024

So, you’ve decided you want to embark on the pirate journey in the One Piece world. However, as a newcomer, you are confused about whether to start One Piece with the anime or manga. While the manga offers the author’s original vision and art style with no fillers, the anime features captivating animation and voice acting. I know, it’s a difficult decision, and one that will ultimately depend on personal preference. But as someone who has watched the anime and read the manga innumerable times, I’m here to the rescue. So, let’s find out which is the better medium for you to undertake the One Piece journey.

We have divided our guide into two main sections covering the pros and cons of each medium. We have also included a final verdict, which includes my recommended path to have the greatest One Piece experience. That said, let’s not waste any more time and dive right in!

One Piece Manga (1997 – Ongoing)

Let’s take a look at the manga first as it is the source material for every other medium, including the anime, live-action, and even the upcomingOne Piece remake. Eiichiro Oda is the creator of the One Piece series, and it has been serialized in Shonen Jump since 1997.

The One Piece manga has been going strong for more than 27 years having over 1,100+ chapters as of now. That said, let’s analyze the pros and cons of reading the manga.

After the manga became a sensation, it was later adapted into an anime by Toei Animation. The anime series started its run in the fall of 1999 and is still airing to this day. The anime isclose to celebrating its 25th anniversarylater this year and has accumulated over 1,100 episodes till now. With this in mind, let’s explore the pros and cons of watching the One Piece anime:

By this point, you must have gotten a better look at the best perks and annoying negatives of sailing through the anime or manga. It’s totally up to you now to decide which medium suits your taste and your time requirements. I say this because catching up to the newest chapters or anime episodes is a huge job to pull off irrespective of the medium. However, if you’re still faced with the same dilemma, I have a suggestion for you.

There is a neat way of enjoying the best of both worlds, and I even suggested it to one of our Editors at Beebom. First, begin your One Piece journey with the anime and keep going with it. However, for the arcs that feel unnecessarily dragged out, like the Skypiea arc, Punk Hazard arc, and more, switch to the manga and quickly read the respective arc. This way, you not only get to experience the anime and its visuals but also Oda sensei’s art in its true form. Here is thecomplete list of One Piece arcsin order, which will help you in this journey.

Also, following this approach will easily get through the arcs with significant pacing problems. Also, make sure to watch the thebest arcs of One Piecein the anime as they definitely surpass the source material for many. That said, are you going with the One Piece manga or the anime? Let us know in the comments below.

An entertainment writer with a passion for analyzing and sharing insights on movies, shows, and anime.