With over 1,000 episodes produced since 1999, Eiichiro Oda’s iconic and hugely influential manga series One Piece is often hailed as one of the best anime series of all time. Yet, given the owehelming number of episodes, completing the entire series can be quite an intimidating prospect. At its core, the story tells of the seafaring adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, who leads his gallant crew of Straw Hat Pirates in pursuit of the lost “One Piece” treasure to become the next Pirate King.
Thanks to several entertaining standalone episodes, filler arcs, and non-plot-spoiling events, One Piece novices shouldn’t fret over delving into these excellent jump-offs and starting places to check out the beloved anime.
Pilot Episode
As obvious as it may seem, the pilot episode of One Piece is an ideal place for beginners to dive into the series. Essentially an introductory piece that isn’t too complex or full of confusing spoilers, episode 1 is the perfect place to get acquainted with Luffy, Nami, Koby, Alvida, Zoro, and other popular mainstays.
In addition to witnessing Luffy’s prowess as a fighter who manages to escape Alvida and knock her down with his Devil Fruit. The episode explains how Luffy’s Gomu Gomu no Mi Devil Fruit turns him into rubber and gives him special superpowers. Without knowing what Devil Fruit is, and how Luffy uses it to protect his pirates, beginners will be lost.
Episode 4
Still early enough in the series to avoid confounding spoilers and nonsensical storylines, Episode 4 offers a fascinating glimpse into Luffy’s past in ways sure to appeal to One Piece neophytes. In specific, the episode involves Shanks and his crew, the man who gave Luffy his signature straw hat. The episode also marks the first appearance of Haki, the mystical power moves each character possesses in addition to their Devil Fruit.
Once Luffy recounts his time with Shanks, the awesome flashback sequence comes with riveting combat action that is sure to capture the imagination of new viewers. In addition to learning about Shanks, Haki, and Luffy’s past, the episode also features compelling arcs for Lucky, Benn, and Nami.
Episode 18
Another early and fairly self-contained storyline that is bound to appeal to One Piece beginners is episode 18. Under the new command of Usopp, Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates are dispatched to Legendary Treasure Island where are they must locate long-storied loot.
Alas, once they arrive, the crew is rudely met by Gaimon, a hilariously hostile pirate with a uni-brow who protects the island and its rare animals as treasure. After thwarting his attack, Luffy shows what a great guy he is by asking Gaimon to join the Straw Hat crew. The standalone episode is ideal for beginners because, in addition to the fun treasure hunting plotline, it proves that Luffy can bury differences and have a big enough heart to befriend enemies.
Episode 20
Primarily to meet Sanji for the first time, one of the show’s best main characters, Episode 20 is an ideal starting place for One Piece newbies. The Baratie Arc has long been considered one of the most important, and it comes early enough in the series that fans shouldn’t feel too disoriented.
The Baratie Arc begins in episode 19, one before Sanji’s intro as the fifth member and resident chef of the Straw Hat Pirates. Beyond his importance to the Baratie, Sanji’s long-term storyline will pay dividends for beginners by investing in his character early. After all, with 330,000,000 berries, only Luffy and Jinbe have higher bounties. It’d be wise for beginners to find out why.
Episode 24
According to Redditor Shadows4, “Episode 24 is really good, and pretty much has no more spoilers than the opening theme does.” Indeed, episode 24 deals less with Luffy and more with Nami’s brazen attempt to steal the Going Merry as Zoro fights the almighty Dracule Mihawk.
As such, the episode feels more like an unrelated addendum than a substantial part of the One Piece canon. For beginners, the consequence of losing battle is crystallized by Zoro’s clash with Hawk Eyes, who defeats Zoro’s almighty three-sword attack with a paltry pocket knife. After nearly losing his life, Zoro vows to Luffy to never lose a battle again.
Episode 31
Many One Piece fans consider the Arlong Park Arc one of the most instrumental in the popular, decades-long anime series. The arc begins in episode 31, a perfect place for beginners to sink their teeth into the meat of the beloved anime. After properly introducing the key characters, the arc provides high emotional peaks that were lacking earlier on.
The arc involves Luffy and Zorro chasing Nami after she steals the Going Merry, tracking her to her home island of Cocoyasi Village, ruled by the ruthless Fish-Man Arlong. In addition to learning about Yami’s storied past, the episode marks Nojiko’s first appearance in the anime and the first time an episode ends with RUN! RUN! RUN!, now an iconic staple of the show.
Episode 119
Arguably boasting the most mesmerizing swordfight of the entire series, Episode 119 finds Zoro facing off with the ancillary antagonist Mr. 1, who learns he has the power to turn his body to steel. This episode will no doubt capture the hearts and minds of anime fight fans that favor visceral action, tension, and suspense over exposition and characterization.
With no larger cannon fodder to speak of, the episode is focused on one long, protracted battle in which must Zoro must learn how to cut through steel to defeat Mr. 1. It’s one of the most awesome and jaw-dropping displays of acrobatic fisticuffs and one of the main character’s most iconic scenes in One Piece.
Episode 199
Aside from the appeal of introducing Shepherd (aka Condoriano), the basic premise finds Usopp and Zoro thrown into a brig with Luffy and Sanji mounting a daring escape plan. Without spoiling past events or pushing the main narrative too far forward, the episode is a great way for beginners to witness the awesome teamwork, the plight of the Marines, and the badass nature of Luffy as a nonviolent problem solver.
Episode 457
While delving into the middle of a series isn’t always the wisest idea, the Mineford Arc in One Piece is hailed as one of the absolute best. Since it comes on the heels of about 100 filler episodes, the arc’s start at episode 457 is a solid place for newbies to launch into.
First of all, much of the episode is a flashback to Luffy’s childhood, where he recalls his time with Ace before reuniting with him in Arabasta. When Luffy learns Ace is set to be executed by the almighty Blackbeard, he must take swift action to rescue his old pal. The episode is ideal for beginners since it not only provided a backstory to Luffy’s formative years with Ace, but it will also introduce them to Blackbeard, the evil pirate and third-most powerful villain behind Big Mom and Kaidou.
Episode 907
Marketed as the 20th-Anniversary One Piece event, beginners may want to celebrate the “Romance Dawn” (907) episode and all its splendor. Featuring just four characters to prevent mass confusion, the episode recounts Luffy’s early pirate years before rescuing his friend Ann and her pet Balloon from the supernatural warlord Spiel.
The basic one-note plotline distills the entire show down to its essence. Luffy is a lovable friend and dedicated protector who overcomes the odds to defeat a mighty foe and deliver his friends from evil. If viewers never watched an episode before, they’ll learn all they need to know about what makes the show tick without being lost in the grand scheme of things.
