There are many to choose from but the best One Piece episodes have fantastic animation, epic villains, and significant events taking place.
Given that One Piece has 1000+ episodes and has become one of the most well-known and adored anime series in the world over the course of 23 years, it undoubtedly has a fair proportion of episodes that are significantly better than the others. One Piece‘s single ongoing storyline makes it a bit harder to highlight outstanding episodes, but there are a few that stick in fans’ memories and represent the pirate adventure story at its best.
Unsurprisingly, many of these episode feature fights against the Straw Hats’ most formidable foes. Some One Piece episodes are just noticeably superior to others, whether it’s because they have fantastic animation, showcase epic villains, or have significant events taking place.
10. Episode 1000: Overwhelming Strength! The Straw Hats Come Together
One Piece is one of the few series in any medium to reach 1000 episodes, and it celebrated this milestone in style. The plot of the episode deals with the Minks battling Kaido and Jack, while the Straw Hats and their allies gather together to take on the Beast Pirates’ Tobiroppo. However, this episode is truly memorable for a nostalgic montage celebrating all the adventures that the Straw Hats have been on for the past thousand episodes, complete with an updated version of the original One Piece opening, “We Are.” Episode 1000 was the perfect moment of celebration for long-standing fans of One Piece.
9. Episode 37: Luffy Stands Up! End of a Broken Promise
The early episodes of One Piece are often somewhat dated in terms of animation but contain some classical emotional moments. Episode 37, “Luffy Stands Up!” was one of the first times viewers saw how dark One Piece could get, as well as how emotionally resonant. The episode features Nami realizing the depths of Arlong’s cruelty as he steals the money she had saved up, sparking a village rebellion and forcing Nami to realize that she needs Luffy. It’s one of the highlights of the early episodes of One Piece and created a plot structure that the series would return to again and again.
8. Epsode 786: Totto Land! Emperor Big Mom Appears
While One Piece‘s anime moves at a slower pace than Eichiiro Oda’s original manga, sometimes this allows the adaptation to work in things that could never be done on the printed page. Case in point is the introduction of Big Mom’s kingdom at the beginning of the Whole Cake Island arc, which comes complete with a twisted musical number that could be right out of a Tim Burton movie. This episode perfectly highlights how the seemingly comical Big Mom was a major threat, and is one example of the animators behind One Piece really getting to flex their creativity.
7. Episode 405: Disappearing Crew – The Final Day of the Straw Hat Crew
The Straw Hats are horrified as Kuma, who has one of the strongest Devil Fruit, makes Zoro teleport somewhere. Meanwhile, Rayleigh and Kizaru are still engaged in combat. The Straw Hats are forced to flee from the Warlord since they have no other option. To Luffy’s horror, Kuma is able to swat away each one of them.
Despite this episode not seeing a character’s death, it was extremely sad for fans to watch. This is the episode where the Straw Hats, particularly Luffy, realize just how weak they actually are. Fortunately, they aren’t killed by the Warlord, but are given the chance to escape somewhere, beginning the two-year gap where the Straw Hats train to become stronger. This episode perfectly sets the stage for the second half of One Piece and the powerful foes the Straw Hats would encounter in the future.
6. Episode 808: A Heartbreaking Duel – Luffy vs. Sanji – Part 2
In this episode, Sanji is forced to accept his arranged marriage and act aggressively toward the Straw Hats due to Judge’s threats. Sanji beats Luffy mercilessly while he tries to talk with him, but Luffy is unable to do so and is eventually knocked out. Sanji then started crying after Luffy said that they needed him.
This is among the saddest episodes in the series where no deaths occurred due to the Straw Hats’ infighting. It is particularly sad as Sanji has no choice but to stray away from his crewmates due to his father’s threats. “A Heartbreaking Duel” was the emotional crux of the Whole Cake Island arc and showed just how much mileage One Piece can still get out of pitting the Straw Hats against each other.
5. Episode 1017: Barrage of Powerful Techniques! The Fierce Attacks of the Worst Generation!
With 52 episodes a year, One Piece‘s animation quality isn’t always consistent, but recent story arcs have seen the series feature some world-class visuals that have changed fan perceptions of One Piece‘s style. There’s no better example of this than episode 1017, where five members of the Worst Generation (Luffy, Zoro, Kid, Law, and Killer) continue their assault against Big Mom and Kaido. Each of them then shows some of their strongest skills together to help truly hurt Kaido for the first time.
For a lot of fans, this episode currently has the best-animated fight scene in the entire series, when the five pirates unleash their attacks one by one. While it may not be the most momentous episode plot-wise, “Barrage of Powerful Techniques” is perfect for fans of great action.
4. Episode 312: Thank You Merry! The Sea Of Separation In The Snow
As the Straw Hats crew’s first real ship, the Going Merry was a big part of One Piece‘s early years, and its sinking was one of the most memorable and emotional moments in the series. Coming at the end of the Water Seven arc, the Going Merry’s sacrifice represents the end of the crew’s innocence and foreshadows the harrowing events of Marineford. One Piece manages to conjure more tragedy and self-sacrifice in the sinking of a ship than most series are capable of with a slew of character deaths.
3. Episode 968: The Pirate King is Born- Arriving at the Last Island!
This flashback episode is one of the most distinctive and best One Piece episodes. After Oden dropped his family in Wano, he and the rest of the Roger Pirates continue to sail to Laugh Tale. Unfortunately, Buggy gets sick, so he, together with Shanks, has to be left somewhere. Meanwhile, people around the world see the news of Roger reaching Laugh Tale and being declared “Pirate King”.
As it is the most crucial moment in the journey of the King of Pirates, the episode was particularly exciting for long-running fans. In addition to providing crucial narrative stakes to the Wano arc, “The Pirate King is Born” made Luffy’s goal of reaching the One Piece and being crowned Pirate King so much more tangible by featuring the only man in history to have done it.
2. Episode 483: Looking for the Answer – Fire Fist Ace Dies on the Battlefield
One Piece has always been a show in which fan-favorite characters typically live to see another day, which is part of what made this episode so shocking. Luffy, as well as the pirates and marines, are shocked when Akainu punches through Ace’s stomach. Ace thanks Luffy and the Whitebeard Pirates for everything they have done in his final words as he passes away, smiling.
The death of a fan-favorite character, who was none other than Luffy’s adoptive brother, reminded fans that this series is not all sunshine and rainbows. Even people close to Luffy can die horrifyingly like this. Ace’s death continues to resonate in One Piece even 500+ episodes afterward.
1. Episode 278: Say You Want to Live! We Are Friends!!
While Ace’s death may be the most tragic moment in One Piece, the most uplifting comes in episode 278. Nico Robin, after being taken into custody by the World Government and having accepted a resigned attitude towards her own life, is finally touched by the Straw Hats’ persistent attempts to rescue her. Her defiant, tear-streaked cry of “I want to live!” has been quoted and re-posted by One Piece fans countless times and perfectly sums up the series’ themes of friendship and hope. There would be better-animated and more action-packed episodes to come, but nothing embodies the heart of One Piece like Nico Robin’s story of redemption.
Src: screenrant.com
