Watching One Piece episodes after a long, tiring day is one of the best feelings in the world for shonen anime fans who grew up alongside Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates. The best part is that even after hundreds of episodes, One Piece consistently finds new ways to delight, surprise, and inspire fans around the world.
One Piece Theory: Luffy’s New Dream After Finding The One Piece
Luffy might be obsessed with finding the One Piece now, but what does he do once he finally does?
Over time, One Piece has built an impressive catalog of remarkable episodes that fans should either rewatch or not miss. Skipping these 10/10 episodes would mean missing out on some of the best moments that make Luffy’s Pirate King journey legendary. From tear-jerking farewells to unforgettable speeches, these 10/10 One Piece episodes are so good and satisfying you wish they could go on forever.
One Piece Episode 377
- Title: My Crewmate's Pain is My Pain, Zoro Fights Prepared to Die
The unconditional brotherhood of the Straw Hat Pirates is one of the best things that ever happened in One Piece. Episode 377 gave fans the true meaning of loyalty and sacrifice through Roronoa Zoro’s selfless decision to offer not just his life but also his dream of becoming the best swordsman in the world in exchange for Luffy’s life.
Sanji was also willing to give up his life for his eccentric captain, but Zoro’s choice carried an unmatched weight, so the line, “Nothing happened,” has become one of the most iconic quotes in the history of One Piece. Covered in blood and bruises, Zoro remained standing, refusing to let Luffy’s pain break or defeat his spirit.
One Piece Episode 489
- Title: Enter Shanks! The Ultimate War Ends at Last
No episode comes close to One Piece episode 489 when it comes to hyping Shanks of the Red Hair Pirates. This episode glorified Shanks to the fullest, so much so that fans couldn’t help but wonder if he has the strength to stop the Marineford war with his crew without lifting a finger.
Shanks’ arrival on the battlefield immediately changed the course of events, as even the strongest marines and pirates couldn’t ignore his intimidating presence. This episode served as a turning point, exposing Shanks as more than just a friendly face but a fearsome Yonko not to be messed around with.
One Piece Episode 312
- Title: Thank You Merry! The Sea of Separation in the Snow
Never watch One Piece episode 312 without tissues, as even the most stoic fans will struggle to hold back tears while the Straw Hat Pirates bid a heartfelt farewell to the Going Merry. Who could have imagined that a humble ship would make fans cry and have such a lasting impact?
The Going Merry had served its purpose, bearing Luffy and his crew through storms and victories like a real companion. The ship witnessed every adventure they had but saying goodbye to it felt like losing a member of the crew.
One Piece Episode 278
- Title: Say You Want to Live! We Are Friends!!
It’s rare for Nico Robin to display her most vulnerable side to anyone, including Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates. She always has her guard up, making it difficult for Luffy and the others to see her scars. However, One Piece episode 278 changes that completely, as this particular episode lets out Robin’s real emotions for the first time.
The quote, “I want to live,” has become so iconic because it marks the moment that Robin finally chooses hope over fear and despair. In addition, the episode was also crucial for the Straw Hat Pirates, as they officially became enemies of the World Government, showing the lengths they’ll go to protect one of their own.
One Piece Episode 1136
- Title: Kuma’s Life
Saying goodbye to the Going Merry is heartbreaking, but Kuma wishing his adoptive daughter Jewelry Bonney a happy tenth birthday is too much for anyone to handle. It is an emotional punch straight to the heart, making it nearly impossible to shed tears while One Piece episode 1136 is playing.
Kuma truly deserves the best father of the year award after everything he’s done, from protecting his daughter to quietly putting the needs of others above his own. He deserves better treatment, as he has given so much without ever asking for anything in return.
One Piece Episode 485
- Title: Settling the Score—Whitebeard vs. The Blackbeard Pirates
Whitebeard is an absolute force of nature, a true beast that fans still respect and idolize to this day even after his untimely death in One Piece. Putting a good man like Whitebeard down is never easy, as his very existence embodies the ideals of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice that only a few can match.
One Piece episode 485 became iconic mostly because of the bravery that Whitebeard showed to his allies and enemies. His final speech about the One Piece treasure and its future owner is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine. It’s also a foreshadowing of the future that awaits the world of pirates, hinting at the rise of Monkey D. Luffy.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
One Piece Episode 1015
- Title: Straw Hat Luffy—The Man Who Will Become the Pirate King
One Piece episode 1015 is one of the most beautifully animated episodes of the entire series, leaving so many fans in awe of Yamato’s flashback scene, where it combined Oden’s memories with Gol D. Roger and Ace’s childhood memories with Luffy and Sabo before they went their separate ways.
On top of that, the same episode also reaffirms Luffy’s dream of becoming the next Pirate King while up against Kaidou and Big Mom. If that wasn’t enough, the episode played the iconic “We Are” theme at just the right moment, turning an already epic moment into a legendary scene that fans will never forget.
One Piece Episode 1062
- Title: The Three-Sword Style of the Supreme King! Zoro vs. King
One Piece rarely disappoints in animation quality, but episode 1062 takes it to the next level with Zoro and King’s epic battle. Every frame bursts with intensity, from the lightning sword strikes to the earth-shattering impacts that highlight Zoro and King’s immense power.
The two characters pour their blood, sweat, and tears into fighting each other, never failing to give fans an unforgettable confrontation. While Zoro reigned supreme in the end, King managed to earn the respect of the fans not only because of his handsome looks and loyalty to Kaido, but also because of his overwhelming power.
One Piece Episode 483
- Title: Looking for the Answer—Fire Fist Ace Dies in the Battlefield
It’s not unusual for One Piece to air a well-crafted episode like the 483rd, making it easy for fans to say that the series doesn’t peak; it just keeps peaking. This is a heartbreaking episode for fans of Portgas D. Ace, who saw him jump before his sworn brother and take Akainu’s fist like a true hero.
It’s a very emotional episode, so new fans should prepare in advance before hitting that play button. This episode also contributes greatly to the Marineford arc, making it a league of its own.
- Release Date
- October 20, 1999
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- 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
Cast
-
Mayumi TanakaMonkey D. Luffy (voice) -
Kazuya NakaiRoronoa Zoro (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- 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
- Franchise(s)
- One Piece
- Creator(s)
- Eiichiro Oda
