Eiichiro Oda’s Prediction Proven Wrong as One Piece Continues Beyond 2025

Over the years, Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece has cemented itself as a groundbreaking shonen franchise that has transformed the landscape of pop culture. The manga first appeared in 1997 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, and was soon followed by a highly successful anime adaptation produced by Toei Animation.

For almost thirty years, One Piece has gained a cult-like following among millions of fans globally. Through his expert fusion of grandiose journeys, surreal comedy, and enthralling mythology, Oda’s narrative has played a crucial role in legitimizing and broadening the international impact of anime and manga.

Despite its seemingly endless run, One Piece continues to captivate audiences with no signs of slowing down. However, there has been some debate over its longevity, with Oda stating in 2019 that the manga would have four to five more years of serialization, potentially ending before 2025. But as we approach the end of 2020, it is clear that Oda’s prediction was off the mark, as One Piece is still far from its conclusion.

Please note: The following article includes significant spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1125 and reflects the author’s personal views.

Despite Eiichiro Oda’s own claims, One Piece won’t conclude anytime soon

The story is only approaching its climax

The Straw Hat Pirates then and now (Image via Toei Animation)

As of writing this article, One Piece has a total of 1125 chapters, which have been published over a period of 27 years. This is a testament to Eiichiro Oda’s exceptional storytelling abilities, as he has successfully kept the story engaging and fresh throughout, creating a vast and interconnected fictional world in a state of constant turmoil.

The Straw Hat crew’s quest to find Gol D. Roger’s fabled treasure highlights the values of bravery, companionship, and determination, and the length of their journey only adds to the excitement. Despite Monkey D. Luffy and his friends nearing the end of their journey, the series still holds many secrets yet to be uncovered.

The first five members of the crew (Image via Toei Animation)

As the franchise’s final saga begins, fans eagerly anticipate the revelation of long-established characters’ motivations and the resolution of plot threads, adding to the already complex narrative. The stakes of freedom and ambition have never been higher.

After the defeat of Kaido and Big Mom in Wano, causing Luffy to gain the status of a Yonko, the Straw Hat Pirates traveled to Egghead. There, they found themselves embroiled in a dangerous plot with unforeseen repercussions. The events of the Egghead Incident, where Dr. Vegapunk revealed the fate of the world, set off a chain of events.

The leaders of the World Government will now be occupied with monitoring the population, and the Navy will undergo significant changes. It is inevitable that a large-scale battle will occur in the near future in pursuit of Laugh Tale and Roger’s treasure, particularly with the actions of the Four Emperors and the Revolutionary Army.

The adventure of Luffy and the others is far from over (Image via Toei Animation)

After being astonished by Vegapunk’s revelations about the Void Century and Joy Boy’s story, the Straw Hat Pirates are making their way towards Elbaf, a highly anticipated stop on their voyage through the Grand Line. With this in mind, it can be assumed that Egghead was only a small preview of the epic finale that Eiichiro Oda has in store for the series.

During a 1999 interview, Oda revealed that he had already determined the events of the final chapter of One Piece and envisioned the appearance of the last page. This shows that the mangaka had a clear vision for the conclusion of his story. Interestingly, he does not appear to have the same level of certainty regarding the length of the story itself.

The franchise’s future perspectives

Some of the most important characters in the series (Image via Toei Animation)

Despite making multiple statements over the years about the serialization of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda has consistently disregarded them. One notable example is when he told his wife in 2004 that he would complete the story within ten years. However, the manga has now been running for over 25 years and its conclusion is still far from sight, despite originally being intended to last only five years.

In a 2019 interview, Oda expressed his desire to end the serialization of his work within five years, by 2024 at the latest. However, as of the second half of 2024, it is evident that this goal will not be achievable. In all honesty, it will take a few more years to properly conclude the story.

For decades, Eiichiro Oda has been meticulously revealing the fascinating backgrounds of numerous characters and carefully crafting compelling subplots. It would be illogical for him to suddenly rush and jeopardize the captivating story that has held fans’ attention for so long, considering the dedication he has poured into it over the years.

Apart from the Elbaf Arc, which is yet to be initiated, it is likely that there will be multiple other story arcs. The concluding saga will see the Straw Hats inching towards Laugh Tale, triggering a catastrophic clash between the main characters, their supporters, and the remaining enemies.

The conclusion of the story is guaranteed to be incredibly exciting. It will involve the discovery of the last Road Poneglyph, the revelation of the One Piece treasure, and the epic showdown with the World Government. Along with unraveling the mysteries of the Void Century, it will also showcase the journey of the Straw Hat Pirates as they strive to achieve their dreams.

Fans have high expectations to not only gain knowledge about popular characters such as Marshall D. Teach, also known as “Blackbeard,””Red Hair”Shanks, Dracule Mihawk, Monkey D. Dragon, and Sakazuki “Akainu,”but also witness their epic battles. With the numerous unresolved mysteries and storylines yet to unfold, it is impossible for One Piece to conclude everything in a short period of time.

The futuristic environment of Egghead (Image via Toei Animation)

Additionally, the constant breaks between chapters would only further delay the serialization, which is already hindered by Eiichiro Oda’s tendency to drag out certain parts of the story. With this in mind, it is difficult to imagine the highly anticipated climax of One Piece coming to a quick conclusion.

Despite the possibility of Oda choosing to rush the ending, fans would be extremely disappointed after investing so many years into the series. The story deserves to reach its full narrative potential, and Oda is aware of this. It has taken hundreds of chapters for secondary characters to be defeated and minor subplots to be resolved. It would be a disservice to suddenly speed up the narrative when every detail holds significant importance.

As of now, One Piece’s cultural significance has surpassed Japan and has reached a global scale. The show has captured the hearts of millions across the world, spanning generations with its inspiration and entertainment. Major international media outlets, including the BBC, have recognized the impact of Oda’s masterpiece, solidifying it as one of the most beloved and iconic works of fiction in history.

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