This list contains spoilers up to the One Piece Egghead arc
It’s astonishing that One Piece is a series that seems to only get better the longer it goes on, and considering it’s now well past the 1000-episode mark, it’s fair to say that those who have stuck with Luffy and the gang from the beginning have been on quite the adventure. While the One Piece anime is considered a very high-quality adaptation of the original source material, over the two decades that it’s been running, there have definitely been a select few episodes which many fans look back on most fondly, and there are a few reasons why this could be the case.
While the story and character moments of an episode can help it stand out from the rest, the animation, music, and even the voice acting can also all contribute to a particular section of the story becoming memorable and impactful for fans. A great place to determine how fans have felt about a particular episode is MyAnimeList, and when it comes to the average rankings, the episodes below are among the most beloved by those who decided to make their opinions known on the popular anime website.
Episode 236: Luffy VS Usopp
MyAnimeList Average Rating: 4.8
When the Straw Hats finally arrive at Water Seven, they quickly realize their ship, the Going Merry, is in no condition to continue sailing, considering how worn down it was by this point in the journey. While most of the crew were in agreement that the best way forward was to find a new mode of transport, Usopp, who had personally worked on building the ship and established a close connection to it, was completely opposed to the idea of scrapping it, resulting in one of the most intense and emotional fights in all of One Piece.
Luffy, who must assume the responsibility of being a captain, decides to try and set Usopp straight by accepting his invitation to a duel. While Usopp put up a pretty admirable fight by using his arsenal of gadgets and gizmos to counter Luffy as best he could, in the end, he would stand no chance of taking down the immensely powerful Straw Hat captain. This is one of those rare episodes that focuses entirely on the interactions between the Straw Hats, but because the episode made it seem like Usopp was going to be leaving for good, it’s one that had many fans pulling out the box of tissues by the time it ended.
Episode 272: Luffy Is In Sight
MyAnimeList Average Rating: 4.8
The Enies Lobby story arc is packed full of intense action scenes, but one particular fight that really stands out is Luffy’s epic clash with Blueno. Up to this point, while Luffy had gotten a lot stronger due to his intense physical training, he had yet to receive a typical anime power-up that could enhance his strength and speed, but in this episode, he finally unleashed Gear 2, and to say that this reveal was epic would be putting it mildly.
After pumping his fist into the ground, Luffy’s skin starts to turn red with steam flowing off of his entire body while he charges up, allowing him to outmaneuver Blueno with ease thanks to his overwhelming power. At the same time, the other Straw Hats are all desperately racing to the courtroom to save Robin from the clutches of CP-0, making this an exhilarating portion of the story, and an episode which never lets its foot off the gas for the entire runtime.
Episode 405: The Final Day Of The Straw Hat Crew
MyAnimeList Average Rating: 4.8
By the time the Straw Hat crew reached Sabaody, it felt as though they had all become strong enough to take down anyone who dared to stand in their way, but little did they know they would soon be running into an enemy who would simply be too much for any of them to handle. After Kuma, who was a Warlord of the Sea at the time, randomly appears to confront them on the island, he uses his Paw Paw Fruit ability to transport each member of the Straw Hats to a different destination in the blink of an eye.
What makes the episode so impactful is the way that each of Luffy’s crewmates gets zapped away one by one. Some, such as Sanji and Zoro, tried to bravely step up to Kuma in order to stop his advance, meanwhile others, like Nami and Robin, attempted to reach out to Luffy to help them in their last moments. Seeing the Straw Hat captain break down in an emotional frenzy is a moment that lingers in the mind long after the episode ends, and while the journey up to that point had been fairly straightforward, this was the episode that entirely changed the course of the story forever.
Episode 312: Thank You Merry
MyAnimeList Average Rating: 4.9
No One Piece fan will ever be able to forget the episode where the crew are forced to say goodbye to their beloved ship, the Going Merry. Considering Luffy and the crew had been riding aboard the Merry since the very beginning of the story, it makes sense why they would have such a tough time bidding farewell to their bruised and battered friend. In the end though, despite Usopp trying to convince the others to keep the Merry for just a little longer, they eventually decided that it was time to say goodbye, but not before delivering a heartfelt send-off.
The most striking shot of this episode is of the Straw Hats watching the Merry burn in the middle of the sea, reflecting on all the memories and moments they’ve had together up to that point in the journey. There’s also just a very nostalgic feeling to this episode, especially when the crew starts to admire the Merry one final time before saying goodbye, resulting in one of the most emotional moments in the entire series.
Episode 982: Kaido’s Trump Card
MyAnimeList Average Rating: 4.9
It’s honestly kind of astonishing just how much content from the manga Toei managed to pack into a single episode, without making it ever feel rushed or hard to keep up with. Not only does this episode show the Pirate-Mink-Samurai alliance’s entrance into Onigashima, which has been built up since the very beginning of the story arc, it also introduces the quirky Yonko commander known as Queen, who is in the middle of performing a flashy dance routine on their performance floor.
It doesn’t stop there though, as this episode would also introduce the Tobiroppo – Kaido’s fearsome batch of pirates who are all more than willing to follow his every command in order to win some brownie points from their new master. Pair all of this with some of the best animation ever seen in the series, and episode 982 really did an excellent job at getting fans excited for the final act of the Wano saga.
Episode 968: The Pirate King Is Born
MyAnimeList Average Rating: 4.9
When Oden’s flashback first begins during the Wano arc, many fans presumed that this would simply chronicle the story of how he was killed by Kaido, but as it went on, it would eventually start to explore the samurai’s many travels across the vast open seas. This episode specifically focuses on Oden’s last days as a member of the Roger crew, showcasing him and his crewmates landing at Zou, where they feast their eyes upon the very last Road Poneglyph.
Because the infamous batch of pirates was already so close to reaching the One Piece treasure, the entire episode is filled with bubbling anticipation, until, eventually, it ends with Roger and his crew finally arriving on the legendary island of Laugh Tale. Though the One Piece treasure itself isn’t shown on screen, what can be seen is Roger laughing hysterically, along with the rest of his crew, who all seem in high spirits after finding the treasure for themselves. It’s an episode full of joy, mystery, and incredible animation, which is complemented by a truly emotional soundtrack to emphasize the importance of the key moments.
Episode 1136: Kuma’s Life
MyAnimeList Average Rating: 4.9
Kuma’s tragic flashback is already emotional enough in the manga, but the anime has taken this to a whole new level thanks to the heartbreaking voice acting from both Bonnie and Kuma, along with the delicate soundtrack that always accompanies their scenes together. This episode specifically focuses on the end of the flashback when Kuma is ready to give up his own free will to cure Bonnie’s disease. The animation studio went above and beyond to emphasize the importance of this truly heartbreaking moment, especially the scene that shows Kuma running through a field while images of his friends and family show up behind him.
On the other hand, it’s also an episode which provides a good look at Bonnie herself, and more specifically, her rise to prominence when she first became a pirate, alongside the Straw Hats, who also get a big focus due to their past interactions with Kuma. There are tons of One Piece episodes out there that are full of sad moments, but this one might just be the hardest to get through without shedding a few tears throughout its runtime, which is why it’s clearly had such a profound impact on so many viewers.
One Piece
- Release Date
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October 20, 1999
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
- Writers
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Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
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Mayumi Tanaka
Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
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Kazuya Nakai
Roronoa Zoro (voice)
