One Piece
A Japanese manga and multimedia entertainment franchise created by Eiichiro Oda, centered on Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew.
Last updated October 5, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
One Piece is a Japanese manga and multimedia entertainment franchise created and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate whose body gains rubber-like properties after eating a mysterious Devil Fruit, as he assembles the Straw Hat Pirates and searches for the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. Luffy’s broader ambition is to become the Pirate King, a title associated with the greatest freedom on the seas and with the hidden history of the world. The manga began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump in July 1997. It belongs to the shōnen adventure tradition but combines pirate fiction, comedy, martial arts, fantasy, political allegory, mystery and long-form serialized storytelling. Its world is structured around competing pirate crews, the World Government, the Marines, revolutionary forces and numerous island societies. Recurring themes include friendship, inherited will, discrimination, state power, historical memory, liberation and resistance to oppression. The narrative is organized into major sagas and island arcs, allowing the franchise to sustain both episodic adventures and a progressively larger mythology. The brand expanded rapidly beyond the original comic. Toei Animation began the television anime adaptation in 1999, helping establish One Piece as a major international animation property. The franchise has also produced theatrical animated films, television specials, video games, trading cards, apparel, collectibles, restaurant and event promotions, theme-park attractions, books and other licensed merchandise. Its characters, iconography and story arcs have been used in collaborations with consumer, food, apparel and entertainment companies in Japan and overseas. One Piece is published internationally in translated editions and has been distributed through licensed anime broadcasters, home-video companies and digital platforms. The manga’s continuing serialization, the anime’s long-running broadcast history and the popularity of its characters have made the property one of Japan’s most commercially significant and globally recognizable manga franchises. In 2023, Netflix released a live-action series adaptation produced with involvement from Tomorrow Studios and Shueisha, introducing the property to another broad international audience. The anime and manga remain active, while earlier films, games and merchandise continue to support the wider franchise.
History
One Piece was created by Eiichiro Oda and began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1997. Oda had previously developed pirate-themed ideas, including the short manga Romance Dawn, which provided an early foundation for the eventual series. The published story introduced Monkey D. Luffy and his goal of finding the legendary One Piece treasure and becoming Pirate King. Luffy’s crew, later known as the Straw Hat Pirates, became the central ensemble of the franchise. The manga developed its identity through a combination of comedy, adventure, combat and detailed fictional geography. Each major island or sea introduces new cultures, political conflicts and antagonists while adding information about the world’s hidden history. This structure allowed the series to move from relatively self-contained adventures toward a broad narrative involving the World Government, the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, the Four Emperors and the historical mystery known as the Void Century. The story’s recurring emphasis on loyalty, freedom and inherited ideals helped it appeal across age groups and national markets. Toei Animation produced the television adaptation, which premiered in Japan in 1999. The anime made the property more accessible to viewers who had not encountered the manga and became a long-running broadcast series. Animated feature films, specials and crossover projects extended the screen presence of the characters. The franchise also became a substantial licensing platform, with games, figures, apparel, food promotions, books and other products developed by different commercial partners. International growth accelerated through translated manga editions, dubbed and subtitled anime releases, digital distribution and local licensing. One Piece became particularly prominent in Asian markets while also building large fan communities in Europe, North America and Latin America. Its long serialization and extensive cast created a deep catalog suitable for collectibles, games and promotional collaborations. The property entered a new adaptation phase with Netflix’s live-action series, released in 2023. The production presented the opening East Blue portion of the story in a format designed for a global streaming audience. Its release demonstrated the continuing value of the original characters and setting while also illustrating the challenges of adapting a highly stylized manga and anime into live action. As of the current reference period, One Piece remains an active franchise. The manga and television anime continue to serve as its narrative foundations, while animation films, games, trading cards, merchandise and live-action production broaden its commercial and cultural reach. Shueisha remains associated with the original manga publishing business, Eiichiro Oda remains the creator, and Toei Animation remains central to the television anime lineage.
- 2023
Netflix live-action series premieres
[2]A live-action adaptation premieres globally on Netflix.
- 2022
Worldwide circulation exceeds 500 million copies
[1]The franchise’s manga is reported to have exceeded 500 million copies in circulation worldwide.
- 2022
One Piece Card Game launches
[4]Bandai launches a collectible trading card game based on the franchise.
- 2019
Manga reaches 900 chapters
[1]The manga passes the 900-chapter mark during its continuing serialization.
- 2000
First theatrical animated film
[5]The franchise receives its first theatrical animated feature, beginning a continuing film series.
- 1999
Television anime premieres
[2]Toei Animation’s television adaptation begins broadcasting in Japan.
- 1997
Manga serialization begins
[1]One Piece begins publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump under creator Eiichiro Oda.
Products and positioning
A premium, long-running Japanese adventure franchise positioned around expansive world-building, memorable characters, humor, emotional storytelling and collectible entertainment across publishing, animation, games and licensed merchandise.
Manga · 1997
One Piece manga
The original serialized comic created and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It follows Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates through a succession of island adventures that gradually reveal the political structure and lost history of the fictional world. Tankōbon volumes, translated editions and digital releases form the publishing foundation of the wider brand.
Television anime · 1999
One Piece
Toei Animation’s long-running animated adaptation translates the manga’s major story arcs into serialized television episodes. It is a principal gateway for international audiences and has supported extensive dubbing, subtitling, home video, streaming and merchandise activity.
Animated films · 2000
One Piece animated films
A series of theatrical and related animated films expands the franchise beyond the weekly television format. Some films present original stories, while others use major characters and musical or action-driven concepts to create event releases for domestic and international audiences.
Trading card game · 2022
One Piece Card Game
A collectible card game produced by Bandai that uses characters, crews, factions and scenes from the One Piece universe. It extends the property into organized play, collecting and competitive tabletop entertainment, with distribution in Japan and overseas markets.
Live-action television · 2023
One Piece
The Netflix live-action adaptation presents the early East Blue storyline with a new cast and physical production approach. It reinterprets the manga’s characters and setting for a global streaming audience while retaining the central premise of Luffy’s voyage and his search for a crew.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Netflix global live-action launch
Global
Netflix promoted the live-action adaptation as a worldwide streaming release, using the established recognition of the manga and anime to introduce the property to viewers outside the traditional anime audience.
Outcome. The series became a major international release and broadened the franchise’s visibility in the live-action streaming market.
Brand decisions
2023
Release of the Netflix live-action adaptationProduct launchBackground
The adaptation sought to bring a highly stylized manga and anime property to mainstream global streaming audiences.
Action taken
Netflix released a live-action serialized adaptation produced with Tomorrow Studios and Shueisha involvement.
Aftermath
The franchise received expanded exposure among general streaming audiences and entered a new adaptation format.
2022
Launch of the One Piece Card GameProduct launchBackground
The franchise’s large character roster and established collector base provided a foundation for a dedicated trading card product.
Action taken
Bandai introduced the One Piece Card Game and subsequently expanded distribution beyond Japan.
Aftermath
The property gained a dedicated tabletop and organized-play product line.
1999
Launch of the television animeProduct launchBackground
The manga had established the characters and premise, creating an opportunity to expand the story through recurring television animation.
Action taken
Toei Animation produced and premiered a television anime adaptation.
Aftermath
The anime became a central pillar of the international franchise and supported later films, licensing and distribution.
Recent events
- 2023
Netflix releases live-action One Piece adaptation[2]
Product launch
Netflix premiered a live-action adaptation of One Piece, expanding the franchise into a globally distributed serialized format.
- 2022
One Piece manga reaches a major publication milestone[1]
Other
The manga surpassed 500 million copies in circulation worldwide, according to announcements reported by major media and franchise reference sources.
- 2022
One Piece Card Game launches internationally[4]
Product launch
Bandai introduced a trading card game based on the franchise, later distributing it in multiple overseas markets.
- 1999
Television anime adaptation begins[2]
Product launch
Toei Animation launched the television anime adaptation, which became one of the franchise’s principal international distribution channels.
- 1997
One Piece manga begins serialization[1]
Product launch
Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump, establishing the core manga property.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/航海王 · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled