Fuji Television sets a new PM time slot for Toei Animation's One Piece anime, which started with Episode 1083, also affecting its overseas release.
Starting on Nov. 12, One Piece episodes have begun airing during a different time slot when they premiere in Japan.
According to a post from One Piece's official English-language X (formerly Twitter) account, One Piece Episode 1083, in addition to all subsequent episodes of the beloved shonen title, will air at 6 p.m. PT. Recently, the hit series concluded its famous "Wano Country" arc and is now sailing into its long-awaited "Final Saga" storyline. Although the post does not specify the reason for the time change, many One Piece viewers support the change because it makes it easier to follow programs that air earlier in the evening in various time zones.
Many One Piece fans seem pleased with the earlier time slot, as these time zone differences equaled late watch nights for many viewers. As one X user wrote, "one hour earlier is great for old ppl like me who go to bed by 11 pm EST." Others voiced similar opinions, saying that they were "fighting sleep" on some nights in order to watch the latest episodes. Another user stated that it would be much better for One Piece's European viewership especially, as the original release schedule was set during a time when most viewers there would be sleeping.
Toei Animation's long-running One Piece series premiered just two years after the manga's 1997 launch, meaning the series has now been on air for over 25 years. The studio recently commemorated this broadcast milestone -- and the "Wano" arc's completion -- with a major in-office party. One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda attended the celebration, which featured live performances of classic One Piece theme songs. Henry Thurlow, an American-born staff animator at Toei, showcased the large statues of Zoro, Sanji and Jinbe that served as decor for the venue.
