I was recently asked by multiple people this same question, but a verbal answer never seemed to do One Piece justice. Instead, I will attempt to explain why One Piece is the most popular anime ever and you can decide whether it is a fit for you. Before that though, there are a few things you must know about this series.

  1. To begin to enjoy One Piece, it is recommended to get over its initial goofy surface. This anime has so much to offer but getting over what some would consider its shortcomings is the first step to tapping into the joy that is One Piece. Once you see everything it offers, then come back to the goofiness.
  2. Committing to watching this series is a big undertaking. There are nearly 1100 episodes in the series so far, therefore, it could take months or even years to catch up. Also, some people find why they enjoy One Piece within the first few episodes, others don’t find that it until several dozen or even hundreds of episodes in but give this series enough time, and there is truly something for everyone.
  3. Finally, One Piece is still very much a story in progress. Despite there being over 1000 episodes that all connect to each other with a clear goal and story throughout, this series has no end in sight. There very well could be 1000 or more episodes of One Piece before the end goal is finally reached.

Without further ado, let’s get into why you may want to consider watching One Piece.

One Piece has story development like no other animation or live action movie/show. With a clear goal from the start, the characters and narrative set the scene for all the twists and turns that happen in trying to reach that goal. The story and world of One Piece is so in-depth that it has a full millennia long history that makes sense, as well as holds vital importance to the end goal and creates a potential second end goal. As for the characters, each has their own well-told pasts that culminate into each character’s unique persona, which also makes each character vitally important to the story. Each character also has clear cut strengths and weaknesses, something other anime and even Hollywood movies have huge issues with portraying. While every episode of One Piece is not exactly a hit, every episode works toward furthering a specific character’s history and/or the over story of One Piece – even the filler episodes add to the overall story. Words do not do the story of One Piece justice, anyone who has a soft spot for a good story will love One Piece.

One Piece is deeply emotional and sensitive to real world, human values. Looking through the goofy surface of this show, the core of One Piece is one that evokes emotions from its audience like few other shows can do successfully. The highs and lows of the show are truly unmatched, covering positive values/topics like friendship, family, willpower, perseverance, etc., as well as negative values/topics like death, corruption, discrimination, and more – all on a meaningful, yet sensitive level. When a character(s) achieves part of their goal or does something meaningful in their own way, we, the audience, feel that joy projected onto us as if we were a part of it. On the other hand, when a character(s) experiences a profound loss or major setback, we can feel that as well. Because of the masterful storytelling in One Piece, the amount of people who have cried tears of happiness and sadness for the characters in this show must number in the millions. Fans of One Piece are invested in this series out of both interest and emotion, and I would argue that we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Finally, once you have found appreciation for the story and emotion that One Piece brings to the table, enjoy the goofy surface of the show for what it is – a timeless and ageless masterpiece about life. Everyone experiences highs and lows in life, this is part of what gives our lives meaning, but there is also the in between, where there is time to be goofy and have fun, and these times give our lives just as much meaning. At the end of the day, One Piece is an amazing show if you are willing to get into it, but it is also a good reminder that life should be lived in your own vision, no matter what that may be. And with that, I hope to see you around the ever-growing One Piece community!