ONE PIECE Elbaf Arc Begins Today: Episode 1156 Preview Released as 2026 Shifts to 26 Episodes Without Recaps

The popular TV anime ONE PIECE will start its highly anticipated Elbaf Arc on April 5 at 11:15 PM JST on Fuji TV and its affiliated networks. Following the broadcast in Japan, the episode will be gradually released on streaming platforms worldwide.

Alongside the announcement, preview stills and a synopsis for Episode 1156 have been revealed.

In this episode, Luffy and his crew enjoy a lively banquet while heading toward Elbaf. At the same time, a new incident unfolds elsewhere in the world, setting the stage for a broader narrative development.

Major Production Shift in 2026

Starting in 2026, the anime will eliminate recap episodes and instead adopt a new structure with a maximum of 26 episodes per year.

According to Toei Animation, this change aims to strengthen the production system as the story moves deeper into the core of the One Piece world. The studio also plans to deliver a more condensed narrative by adapting one chapter of the original manga per episode.

About ONE PIECE

One Piece is based on the manga of the same name, which began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump on July 22, 1997. The story follows Monkey D Luffy, a boy who gains rubber like abilities after eating the Gum Gum Fruit, as he forms the Straw Hat Pirates and sets out to become the Pirate King.

The series revolves around the legendary treasure known as One Piece, left behind by the Pirate King Gol D Roger, and depicts a grand ocean adventure.

With over 600 million copies of the manga in circulation worldwide, the franchise has achieved global success. The TV anime has been airing since 1999, while the 2022 film One Piece Film Red became a massive hit in Japan, surpassing 20.34 billion yen in box office revenue. In 2023, the series was also adapted into a live action drama on Netflix.

Source : ORICON NEWS