There's still a couple of months to go before One Piece returns, which means there's never been a better time to rewatch the hit anime – or even tune in for the very first time. Given that it's been on TV since 1999, though, and spans 22 cours, working out how to watch One Piece in order can be as challenging as climbing Drum Mountain.
Not only are there over 1,100 episodes of the show to track down, there are 15 feature-length films and a bunch of TV specials, too. To put it simply, you might need some help. But trust us, it's worth the effort; fans haven't dubbed it one of the best anime of all time for nothing.
Fortunately for you, we're here to assist. Below, you'll find the best way to follow Monkey D. Luffy's adventures as he tries to find the titular treasure with the help of his Straw Hat Crew. If you don't have time to be a One Piece completionist, our guide on One Piece filler episodes should save some valuable hours. If you need other anime guides, we also break down how to watch Bleach in order and Dragon Ball in order. But for now, let's dive into the high seas.
At this point, there is only a single One Piece anime (though that's set to change in a few years, and the live-action Netflix show also serves as an alternate take). That anime, though, is divided into a long line of sagas and story arcs, and the films and TV specials can be viewed between them or serve as more streamlined adaptations of them. This list will specify if a film or special retells a certain part of the story, just in case you don't feel like getting a refresher.
It will also point out where in the story a film can be most comfortably watched, so as not to spoil any powers or crew dynamics revealed in the anime. That said, most films are not made to neatly settle into the timeline, so their placement will be our best judgment call.
We'll also be defining which story arcs are considered "filler" (Still very fun, but not necessary for understanding the story) and which ones tie in to the movie that came out around the same time (Again, not necessary to the wider show, but are supplementary material for the film).
Sort of. None of them need to be watched in order to comprehend the plot of the series. But certain aspects do tie into the mythology of the story in ways that aren’t necessarily rejected by the show.
For example, the powerful villainous pirate Shiki does exist in the wider One Piece world and has been involved in its backstory. But the present-day events of the film in which he majorly features, One Piece: Strong World, do not intrude upon, nor do they necessarily fit into the anime storyline.
Another example is Uta, a character introduced in One Piece Film: Red that is also canon thanks to her cameos in the manga. However, the events of One Piece Film: Red don’t neatly align with where it would need to fall in the narrative, so the film itself isn’t fully canon. So are the One Piece films canon? About as much as you personally want them to be.
Sadly, this is where it gets tricky. The entirety of the One Piece anime is currently available on Crunchyroll, as are a majority of the TV specials (3D2Y, Episode of Sabo, Adventure of Nebulandia, Heart of Gold, Episode of East Blue, Episode of Skypiea and One Piece Fan Letter.).
However, only a scant selection of the movies (One Piece Film: Gold, One Piece Stampede, and One Piece Film: Red) are currently offered. That said, the recent addition of the complete selection of Dragon Ball films gives us hope that more will be available in the future.
Netflix has picked up the slack in a few places. Along with having the anime and the live action series, they have some of the films that Crunchyroll lacks like The Desert Princess and the Pirates, Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in Winter, Miracle Sakura, One Piece Film: Strong World, and One Piece Film: Z. Still, many of the early films and specials remain unavailable in North America, with no recent hints as to their potential release.
In the UK, the vast majority of episodes are also available on BBC iPlayer.
Luckily, the slim pickings of One Piece films that are legally available won’t hamper your ability to understand or grasp the full potential of One Piece’s story. Though there are certain parts of the movies that tie into discoveries made in the original story, none are truly canon. But nearly all of them are exciting and as you’ll discover when you finish the One Piece anime, having more One Piece, canon or otherwise, is never a bad time. Enjoy the journey!
Set sail with the continuing adventures of the Straw Hats with the One Piece Egghead Island release schedule. Then dive into more new anime releases with our guides to Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2.
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2025-04-04T17:24:44Z