After a historic run in its Sunday morning slot for nearly two decades, One Piece is making a major schedule shift. Starting April 6, 2025, the anime will air late at night, from 11:15 PM to 11:45 PM JST, marking a significant change in its broadcast strategy.
This decision, announced during Jump Festa 2025, coincides with the anime’s hiatus, which began in October 2024, and has drawn attention for several reasons.
Why the Hiatus?
The hiatus was implemented to address a critical concern: One Piece was getting dangerously close to its source material, Eiichiro Oda’s manga.
With the “Egghead Arc” ramping up in both mediums, Toei Animation took a six-month break to ensure the anime wouldn’t overtake the manga, maintaining a healthy gap between the two. This also provided the production team time to enhance the show’s animation quality and pacing.
During this period, Fuji TV aired a remastered version of the Fishman Island arc, titled One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga. This move kept the show on air while giving fans something to revisit during the break. The remaster condensed the original story into 21 episodes, complete with updated visuals.
Why the Time Slot Change?
The shift to late-night television isn’t arbitrary. Fuji TV is reallocating its Sunday morning slot for a new animation block co-produced by Aniplex and Chinese streaming platform bilibili. The first series to occupy this coveted spot will be To Be Hero X, a superhero-themed anime.
For One Piece, this late-night slot opens up opportunities for exploring darker, more mature themes with reduced censorship. This could be especially important for arcs like Egghead, which delve deeper into morally complex narratives.
It also aligns with Toei’s strategy to cater to its growing global adult fanbase, many of whom engage with the series during non-traditional hours via streaming platforms.
What to Expect in April?
Toei Animation has already started building excitement for the return. A new key visual and promotional video for the Egghead Arc have been released, showcasing the sci-fi aesthetic and character drama that fans can anticipate.
夜はまさに #大海賊時間──！！
— ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official (@Eiichiro_Staff) December 22, 2024
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2025年4月6日(日)
TVアニメ『ONE PIECE』
エッグヘッド編、再開🏴☠️
再開時より、アニメの放送枠は
毎週日曜よる11:15放送に変更となります。
▼特報PVをみるhttps://t.co/bdWuHdnB8d#ONEPIECE pic.twitter.com/4C8N8UYl7N
The arc, which began in the manga in 2022, explores themes of advanced technology, political intrigue, and personal identity, making it one of the most anticipated storylines in recent memory.
April will also mark the debut of Subaru Kimura as the voice of Franky. The announcement comes after a farewell ceremony at Jump Festa 2025 for Kazuki Yao, who voiced the character for nearly 19 years.
