One Piece’s creator teases Laugh Tale will appear in 2026

One Piece was the final franchise to get on stage throughout Leap Festa 2026, as regular. The annual occasion, sponsored by Shueisha, is the largest celebration of anime and manga in Japan, and it is also the place the most well liked information concerning the upcoming yr is shared, normally. One Piece will get the largest highlight yearly, and whereas Leap Festa 2026 was missing large bulletins for the franchise, it was revealed that the following story arc might present the ultimate vacation spot on this lengthy journey: Giggle Story, the island the place the One Piece waits.

The Leap Festa lineup was packed, and it included a spectacular trailer for JoJo’s Weird Journey: Metal Ball Run, and the announcement of a special anime episode for My Hero Academia, which is able to adapt the additional ultimate chapter printed within the final quantity of the manga. One Piece opened with a retrospective on Tony Tony Chopper, the Straw Hats’ pretty physician, which spotlighted his finest moments from the manga, earlier than the anime voice actors took turns in a mock competitors to see who would voice Chopper within the dwell motion. Clearly, Ikue Otani, who voices Chopper within the anime, gained, and it was confirmed she may even give her voice to the character within the Japanese dub for Netflix’s present. Then, a teaser for the brand new season of the anime, the Elbaph Arc, was proven, revealing it would start on April 5, 2026.

Yearly, followers maintain their eyes on the announcement shared throughout the occasion by One Piece‘s creator Eiichiro Oda. Whereas his phrases are all the time a bit cryptic, it is a nice teaser of what is to come back subsequent yr for the best-selling manga. This yr, Oda’s message was as follows (translated by @sandmap_AP on X):

“Relating to anime movie, I’ve not been instructed that I’m allowed to say this, however this can’t actually be known as easy progress. Nonetheless, this would possibly make folks say, “Oda really stated it, hurry up!” haha. It’s positively a subject lots of you’re interested in, so please wait very patiently.

Since it’s Leap Festa, let me speak concerning the manga itself.

After a really lengthy flashback, or reasonably after letting you be taught a little bit of historical past about Elbad, we return to the current. As we come again to the current, the best way Elbaf seems ought to turn into clear, after which **increase**, we finish it in a flashy method. From right here on, issues turn into very robust.

We’re heading to **that island** which solely the Pirate King was ever capable of attain!!? The person marked by flame may even seem. Characters who by no means had the possibility to satisfy will lastly encounter one another. These two will meet, and people two will meet as properly.

Subsequent yr could be an encounter competition. The story will transfer at excessive velocity, however with out realizing it I’ve grown older, so whereas additionally caring for my very own life and well being, I’ll proceed crusing on the highest velocity One Piece has ever had, regular and highly effective, once more subsequent yr. What lies forward is a competition. Please stay up for it very a lot.”

Essentially the most fascinating a part of the message is definitely the point out of the island that was solely reached by the Pirate King. Oda could possibly be referring to Giggle Story, the legendary resting place of the One Piece treasure, which may solely be discovered by gathering the 4 Street Poneglyphs. The final folks to set foot on that island have been Gol D. Roger and his crew, in order that signifies that followers might lastly get their first glimpse on the One Piece, or at the least at its location, in 2026.

2026 will likely be an enormous yr for the One Piece franchise. The anime will switch to a seasonal production model, specializing in guaranteeing the best high quality attainable to followers, even when it signifies that solely 26 episodes will come out. An anime remake, produced by Studio WIT, can be in manufacturing, however there isn’t any information about its launch. Season 2 of the live-action present will premiere in March, and a 3rd season has already been confirmed. The manga additionally retains marching towards its epic conclusion, however that is nonetheless just a few years away, fortunately.