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The biggest obstacle deterring many potentialOne Piecefans is the staggering episode count, but what if it was possible to skip ahead without being left clueless about what’s going on? Fortunately, the show’s creators anticipated this, and made a few movies to catch viewers up before they jump into the thick of it. Many might wonder, however, if this is the right way to go about watching this highly regarded anime. HardcoreOne Piecefans will often preach the importance of watching every episode, but not everyone has that kind of time or dedication.With the popularity of this tale of piratesand friendship growing by the day, more and more people are looking to hop aboard. The problem is, a lot of them jump right back off once they realize how many hours are ahead of them. With that in mind, it might be beneficial to consider some alternate routes.
For context,One Piececurrently runs at 1024 episodes, and that’s excluding the movies and specials. Considering that the show has been on the air since 1999, the total is unsurprising, even if it is somewhat intimidating. Anyone who’s recommended the show to a friend or coworker hasundoubtedly heard the refusal of “it’s too long"before being dismissed entirely. Those reading this article looking for an easier way to get into the series themselves may have even spoken those words themselves. This reaction isn’t necessarily unwarranted. WhileOne Pieceis undoubtedly one of the greatest pieces of media of all time, catching up is a huge undertaking. It’s not unreasonable to want to get through the early grind in order to watch the newest episodes with the rest of the world as they air.The spoilers run rampant, after all.
Is it About the Journey or the Destination?
Travelling the Shortest Path
Those looking for a shorter path are in luck.Thanks to a handful of moviesthat each present abridged versions of important story arcs, getting through the first legs of the series can be done in as little as a day for those willing to binge. Will the catch-up be a comprehensive one? Absolutely not. These films are abridgments of sometimes nearly one hundred episodes.
It’s only natural that a lot of content would be glossed over if not entirely skipped. That said, the important plot points will be covered, allowing anyone with a lack of time or patience to get a jump start intothe world Eiichiro Oda created. With that destination in mind, it’s time to set sail.
1 hour, 46 minutes
Streaming
Crunchyroll, Netflix
The first entry on the list combines the entirety of the East Blue saga into one film. It covers four arcs, including Romance Dawn, Syrup Village, Baratie, and Arlong Park. Noticeably, Orange Town is missing from the recap, depriving viewers ofthe infamous Buggy the Clown’sfirst appearance, but otherwise, the stories of the first five Strawhats and their backgrounds are summed up well enough to give viewers an idea of who these pirates are as well as their goals.
Fans of the live-actionwill note that these are roughly the same events covered in the Netflix adaptation, so those who’ve already watched that could skip this one if they so choose.
1 hour, 44 minutes
N/A
This one may seem a little redundant, but there’s also a movie titled: Episode of Nami, and it goes over the navigator’s past as well asthe story of Arlong Parkin a bit more detail than the previous entry. There’s just one problem; it’s not available on any streaming services at the moment. For certain resourceful internet sleuths, it may be possible to track it down from a less-than-legitimate source, but the rest will have to settle for the summation inEpisode of East Blue.
1 hour, 53 minutes
Netflix
The next arc that was trimmed into a movie is Drum Island, the birthplace ofthe crew’s adorable doctor, Tony Tony Chopper. This film covers everything from the introduction of the devil-fruit-powered reindeer to the defeat of Wapol, the tyrannical king. Get a quick rundown of Chopper’s debut and his relationship with Dr. Hiriluk and Kureha in this tearful retelling.
1 hour, 30 minutes
The next movie on this list concisely tells the story of what occurred in the desert kingdom of Alabasta.Meet Nerfertari Vivi and the restof the colorful cast starring in the Alabasta arc, condensed down to an hour and a half. The Strawhats pummel their way through the ranks of Baroque Works, not only freeing a country, but meeting the enigmatic Nico Robin, as well.
1 hour, 47 minutes
It’s not uncommon to hear someone mention skipping the Sky Island arc, while more thorough fans will insist it’s not only worth watching, butincredibly significant to the greater plot. Fret no more, because this, too, has been converted into a movie. Sit back and relax as the gang makes their way into the clouds to confront “God Enel”, the thunder-wielding Eminem look-a-like who is terrorizing the sky.
Unfortunately, this walk down memory lane is also missing from western streaming sites. For those who are able to track it down, this movie not only recounts the adventures that the crew shared withtheir first ship, the Going Merry, but also tells the highlights of theWater 7 and Enies Lobby arcs. Keep some tissues ready for this nearly two-hour emotional endeavor.
Completing the Pirate Primer Course
With so much of the story distilled down to just a handful of hours, it’s hard to argue out of getting started. While watching these won’t give a lot of the deeper insight and development that is depicted in the original episodes, they will get viewers caught up to roughly episode 312. That’s more than the current count for the first quarter of the series. As mentioned before, there will be quite a bit of material missing from these abridged versions of the story, but armed with the most vital knowledge, viewers can confidently start the main series from 313 without being entirely in the dark.
The best thing about taking this approach to the series is the fact thatwhen fans eventually do get up to date, they’ll have even more motivation to start again from the beginning, this time being able to appreciate the foreshadowing hidden within the early phases of this epic. With that in mind, feel free to set sail from whatever port feels right. The important part is just taking that first step. Just remember that rushing to the end isn’t always the best option.Waiting every week (or six months)for new episodes is a form of torture many aren’t ready to endure.
