Joanna Mutton
❘ Published: 2023-12-27T10:15:36 ❘ Updated: 2023-12-27T10:15:42
There have been a lot of gifts for One Piece fans lately! But the first glimpse of the new anime style might dampen their enthusiasm.
New year, new storyline for the animated adaptation of the famous manga One Piece. But that's not the only news: between the remake of the anime by the Wit studio and Netflix or the release of another prequel series, the original anime must also have been discussed.
One Piece will begin its new story arc with a series of new designs for its iconic characters. This is a reliable account Twitter/X, a fan of spoilers for the work, who published the information with supporting images. While many viewers are intrigued or even excited by this redesign, not everyone shares that enthusiasm.
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The first images of the Egghead arc of the One Piece anime
On December 24, 2023, the Twitter account @Soul_StormOP, dedicated to One Piece anime news, released the first images for the upcoming storyline.
“The new art style of the One Piece anime is amazing, I love the softer look, especially on Luffy.”
Could 2024 finally be the year One Piece establishes itself as the most popular animated series? With a brand new art style and the exciting Egghead Island arc on the horizon, some fans on social media seem to think so.
In just under two weeks, on January 7, 2024, fans will see the pirates of the famous Mugiwara arrive on the mysterious and futuristic Egghead Island, where the brilliant and evil Dr. Vegapunk is alive.
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As can be seen from the revealed images, while the plot may be futuristic and full of fantastic new technology, the art style changes drastically. As a tribute to the episodes before the famous time jump, the new design has a softer and more classic touch.
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Fans are divided over the style change of One Piece anime
Many fans are praising these changes and expecting that “this new art style will make Sakura look great.” for some peopleor that it is “allowed [la série] even more fluid movements” for others.
Other also compared it to the “old Oda art style,” reminiscent of elongated bodies and rounded joints. A similarity that nevertheless remains controversial.
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But changes inevitably also run the risk of disappointing people. Because if one part of the community appreciates the new, another part regrets the old design, which ended up in the trash despite years of good and loyal service.
Not me. I was looking forward to it, but I won't watch it now. This looks worse than the character designs from 1999. This isn't supposed to be Studio Ghibli.
— Eric W (@Ericis_Grumpy) December 25, 2023
“I don't agree. I was excited, but ultimately I won't watch. It looks worse than the character designs from 1999. It's not supposed to be from Studio Ghibli.”
Another debate was initiated by Internet users : that of Usopp, who seems to be “glossed over”: “I will never support that. They just hired a cheaper animation studio because they couldn't get full rights or something. The art direction is terrible and they also whitewashed Usopp. No thanks. The original is and remains much better. What a sad day for the fans.”
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Between viewers who believe Toei Animation's “bleached” Usopp and those who dislike the rounder lines, there's clearly not unanimous agreement about the pirate crew's transformation.
To see the arrival of this new style in the One Piece anime, you'll officially have to wait until January 7, 2024, the date the Egghead arc hits theaters.