To announce the official start of the live-action One Piece season 2 production, Netflix recorded a touching reunion clip featuring every major member of the current Straw Hat crew. The show is an adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga and follows a crew of pirates as they attempt to traverse the Grand Line to claim the legendary treasure, the One Piece. With danger around every corner, the crew managed to take down Buggy the Clown (Jeff Ward) and Arlong (McKinley Belcher III). They will need to begin their journey into the far more dangerous Grand Line in season 2.

While the wait for season 2 has been long and treacherous, the journey has already begun. In a video released by Netflix and TUDUM, the Straw Hats reunite and announce that season 2 production is underway. Check it out below:

In the touching clip, Iñaki Godoy (Luffy), Mackenyu Arata (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero Gibson (Usopp), and Taz Skylar (Sanji) all take flights from around the world to return to South Africa. Once there, the Straw Hats embrace and cheer on their reunion, before promising to sail on to the Grand Line. Afterward, a clip announces that “production has started“.

When Will One Piece Season 2 Be Released?

When the sun sets in the west and rises in the east

Production began for season 1 on January 31, 2022 and continued through August 22 of that same year. If the two seasons share the same schedule, production for season 2 should end sometime in mid-to-late January 2025, around 200 days later. There may also be more episodes to film, however, given that the official episode count has not yet been announced. There were eight episodes of season 1, and any changes in that count would play a significant role in shortening or lengthening the overall length of production.

Even setting aside the production’s scheduling, there may be another significant delay before the next season is available for viewers. Though principal production ended on August 22, 2022, the season was released on August 31, 2023, meaning that there was an entire year of editing, reshoots, and VFX work. That would mean that it is unlikely that the show releases new episodes before 2026. Considering the extensive VFX required to produce an episode, the editors and artists will be incredibly busy. If it is anything like the One Piece season 1 ending, it would be an extreme challenge for artists.

Netflix may still attempt to push through post-production faster than before. Developing VFX for a show’s first season can be a daunting endeavor, especially without any filler episodes, as artists need to ensure that every piece of CGI matches the reality of the world. Luffy’s powers, in particular, can be a troublesome aspect to get right. After a full season to learn the best tricks and strategies, artists may be prepared for season 2. With One Piece season 2 already filming, the next season is beginning a crucial step in its journey to both release and the Grand Line.

Source: TUDUM and Netflix / YouTube