The One Piece anime has surpassed a 26-year run. Toei Animation is changing the way One Piece will be produced and presented. After concluding with the Egghead arc, the weekly episodic release format that has been in production since 1999 will end.In 2026, the One Piece anime will transition into a seasonal style, with both production time and viewership of up to 26 episodes per year. During the first quarter of 2026, the anime will take a three-month break from January until March, returning in April to being the Elbaf arc with this new two-cour format.First image of Luffy in Elbaf (Image Source: Toei Animation)During a special livestreaming event, series producer Ryūta Koike shared that the One Piece anime will be split up into two cours of 12-13 episodes every year. This is a big change considering the show has been in production throughout the year for decades, with uninterrupted weekly episodes since the show began.With this new format, the One Piece anime will be released seasonally rather than through year-round weekly episodes. Expect about 13 episodes per cour, making it around 26 anime episodes per calendar year.Improved Pacing and Production Quality in the One Piece AnimeZoro's Elbaf arc outfit design (Image Source: Toei Animation)The decision is motivated by Toei's interest in enhancing the quality of the story. As characterized by the studio, they are doing this to create an updated episodic schedule that allows for more quantity, speed, and tempo derived from Eichiiro Oda's serialized manga, while still retaining the advantages of the narrative being animated.The One Piece anime will move to a "one-to-one adaptation" speed, in which each subsequent episode will adapt a single chapter from the manga. This is a major shift from the series's pacing history, in which a 20-minute episode often adapted less than one manga chapter.Strategic Production BreakNami's outfit design from the Elbaf arc (Image Source: Toei Animation)The conclusion of the Egghead arc is anticipated to occur later this year, ahead of a break in production for the anime. This three-month hiatus allows the animation staff to recharge before the Elbaf arc debuts.According to Toei Animation, it is a reasonable decision for production, intended to stimulate and utilize opportunities to continue the series. The studio even stated the fans will have the ability to embrace the wider "World of One Piece" throughout the break, and with other franchise projects.During the announcement livestream, character designs of the Straw Hat Pirates in the Elbaf arc were revealed. Additionally, there is new teaser art for the upcoming storyline to build excitement ahead of the series' return!The Elbaf arc has a special meaning for long-time fans. The land of giants has been honed and planned as a destination for over two decades in the manga story, so it has spent years in the making to wind life into the first adaptation of the arc to animation (one of, if not the largest, strides in the history of the franchise).Looking Forward to the One Piece AnimeToei Animation has made adjustments to its One Piece anime production schedule, indicating its focus on maintaining consistent, high-quality production. The animated remake of One Piece currently being developed at Wit Studio will not be affected by these scheduling changes. Wit Studio's project will continue developing independently of the mainline series that is being restructured into seasons.With this transition, the One Piece enters a new stage in its historic run. So, instead of weekly delivery, now fans will await each new batch, crafted with care. With the return in April 2026, viewers will get a refined experience of the quality of production values and pacing of storytelling.