BBC viewers are finally going to be able to watch more than 1,000 episodes of what’s been called ‘one of the best series ever’.
The broadcaster has acquired the UK rights to the English dubbed versions of legendary anime series One Piece.
Thefantasy series, which was also recently adapted into a live-action Netflix programme, follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew.
They set off exploring the Grand Line in search of the mythical treasure known as the ‘One Piece’ in order to become the next King of the Pirates.
Fans will soon be able to watch episodes, from sagas including East Blue and Land of Wano, on BBC iPlayer.
The first three sagas, of which there are 206 episodes, will be released on September 1.
The remaining seven sagas will be released by the end of the year, marking the first time that dubbed versions of the show have been available in the UK.
Fiona Campbell, Controller of Youth Audiences, iPlayer and BBC Three, said: ‘It’s a really exciting move to bring the One Piece franchise to UK audiences in the coming months.
‘With its captivating storytelling, rich characters and global fanbase, One Piece has become a cultural phenomenon and we’re so excited to see how the fanbase will enjoy this huge canon of episodes available in English only on iPlayer.’
The animated show has been widely praised by fans since it first launched in 1999.
One viewer, Annie, wrote on X: ‘Now that I’ve caught up with OP (anime), I can say the following: One Piece is the absolute undisputed king of worldbuilding. It’s the adventure of a lifetime, the most romantic journey ever and definitely one of the best stories I’ve ever experienced.
‘While I do have a few issues with it, I can definitely look past them, as the positives are overwhelming. I can’t be more happy and thankful to myself for deciding to start this brilliant story which will definitely stick with me forever.’
Mora added: ‘one piece is so peak i actually cried, i’m so fortunate to exist at the same time than this masterpiece. the characters, the writing, the art, the worldbuilding, everything is PERFECT i’m about to say thank you oda sensei unironically.’
@crimsonrossa said: ‘I’m 500 chapters in and this series has become one of the best pieces of media I’ve ever consumed! Almost every arc is an absolute banger and I’m genuinely excited to continue reading! Oda really created a masterpiece with this work.’
One Piece was developed into a Netflix live-action series in 2023, starring Inaki Godoy, Emily Rudd and Taz Skylar.
Episodes of One Piece arrive on BBC iPlayer from September 1.
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