After more than two and a half decades of uninterrupted weekly broadcasts, One Piece has officially aired its final weekly episode. Episode 1155, released on December 28, marked the end of an era not just for the series, but for anime television as a whole.
For 26 years, One Piece has been a fixed part of fans’ lives—anchoring weekends, inspiring new generations of anime viewers, and redefining long-form storytelling. Now, as the series prepares for a new release model and a fresh production era, it does so in the middle of one of its most ambitious storylines ever: the God Valley arc.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
The decision to close out the weekly format during the God Valley flashback feels anything but accidental.
The God Valley Incident, once only a cryptic line in the series’ lore, has evolved into one of the most gripping storylines in One Piece history. Eiichiro Oda’s deep dive into this legendary event has united icons like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the shadowy figure Imu on a single stage, turning what was teased as a “flashback” into something closer to a full-scale historical saga.
Rather than a simple exposition arc, God Valley has become a cinematic retelling of the power struggles that shaped the modern world of One Piece. The storyline peels back the curtain on:
- The brutal reality of the Celestial Dragons
- The early days of pirating at its most chaotic
- The secret foundations of the current world order
For many fans, this is the closest the series has ever come to revealing the “true history” that has been teased since the earliest chapters. Each episode feels like a long-awaited puzzle piece snapping into place, recontextualizing everything from Garp’s decisions to Roger’s final journey.
It’s no surprise then that Episode 1155 — arriving at the height of this arc — felt less like “just another episode” and more like a historic turning point for the franchise.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
In a twist no one expected a decade ago, a big chunk of the fandom is actually not ready to go back to Luffy and the Straw Hats.
Across social media, fans keep saying the same thing: the God Valley storyline is so intense, so lore-heavy, and so emotionally dense that going back to present-day adventures might feel like a comedown. The flashback has taken on a life of its own, operating almost like a standalone prequel series inside the main story.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) captured the mood perfectly:
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
The comment reflects a unique moment in the series’ history where:
- The past feels more gripping than the present,
- Legendary figures like Rocks and Roger are commanding as much attention as Luffy,
- And fans are savoring every second of this rare, all-access look at the “generation of monsters” that once ruled the seas.
Of course, the Straw Hats remain the emotional core of One Piece. But God Valley offers something fans rarely get in long-running shonen: sustained time with the legends who shaped the world before the main story began. It’s a viewpoint shift that has made every revelation hit harder—and it’s part of why Episode 1155 feels like the end of one era and the bridge to another.
A Historic Farewell to Weekly One Piece
Episode 1155 didn’t just continue the God Valley narrative—it doubled as a quiet farewell to a broadcasting tradition.
For 26 years, One Piece has been part of the weekly anime rhythm, surviving schedule changes, production challenges, and generational shifts in how people watch TV. Entire childhoods have begun and ended with new One Piece episodes dropping like clockwork.
The final weekly episode was packed with:
- High-tension confrontations between the titans of the old era
- Emotional beats that hint at the personal sacrifices behind the legend of God Valley
- Carefully placed callbacks to earlier arcs, reminding fans how deeply this flashback is woven into the series’ core mysteries
There was no loud “goodbye” banner splashed across the screen, but longtime viewers felt the weight of the moment. For many, it wasn’t just “Episode 1155” — it was the last time they’d sit down for a new weekly One Piece broadcast, something they’ve done for most of their lives.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Legacy
The overwhelming response to the God Valley arc and to Episode 1155 in particular highlights what fans have been saying for years: Eiichiro Oda’s ability to reinvent his own story this deep into the series is almost unmatched.
After more than two decades, Oda is still:
- Revealing previously unseen layers of history
- Connecting multiple generations of pirates, marines, and rulers
- Keeping fans guessing about the true shape of the world and its hidden powers
The God Valley storyline has reminded many readers and viewers of what they consider the “golden eras” of One Piece: arcs where mystery, world-building, and emotional stakes all collide at once. Even fans who are nervous about leaving the flashback behind admit that this balance between past and present is exactly what makes One Piece feel timeless.
Whether the God Valley saga wraps up soon or stretches a little longer, it has already secured its place as one of the most defining chapters in the franchise’s history—on the page and on screen.
What Comes Next for the Anime?
With weekly broadcasts now over, the big question is: what happens from here?
While official details about the future of the anime’s release schedule are still being framed within the in-universe context of this article, the timing suggests a few things:
- The production team may pivot toward higher-quality, less frequent episodes, aligning more with seasonal models.
- The God Valley arc’s conclusion could serve as a natural launchpad into a new visual era of the anime.
- The shift away from weekly episodes might give the staff more time per episode—something fans have been requesting for years.
For now, Episode 1155 stands as a symbolic line in the sand. It closes out 26 years of unbroken weekly storytelling at a moment when the series is arguably more ambitious than ever.
A Bittersweet but Fitting Milestone
One Piece Episode 1155 isn’t just another entry in a long list—it’s a milestone that captures everything the series has become:
- A sprawling, interconnected epic that treats its history with the same care as its present.
- A story willing to slow down and explore the past, even at the height of its main adventure.
- A franchise that can end a 26-year weekly run not with a whimper, but in the middle of one of its boldest arcs yet.
For fans, the feeling is bittersweet. The ritual of weekly One Piece is gone—but if Episode 1155 and the God Valley arc are any indication, the story itself is far from finished. The world is larger, the past is clearer, and the future of the anime—no longer chained to weekly deadlines—might be more exciting than ever.
