One Piece has been on the air for over 20 years, and, man, so many epic moments! From emotional scenes to super intense ones, each episode left its mark. And look, in recent years, animation has taken a leap in quality. Who didn’t get goosebumps at the debut of Luffy’s Gear Five, right? It was awesome!
But, hey, even with this evolution in animation, there are some parts where the anime failed to capture the same intense and detailed vibe as the manga. It could be due to the direction or the subtlety, but the “One Piece” manga sometimes delivered these moments better.
Shanks Arriving in Wano (Chapter 1055)
Shanks, that mystery character who doesn’t appear much, but when he does, my friend, it’s just hype. He was Luffy’s inspiration to become a pirate. Then, he appears at the end of the Wano arc, and it was a moment that people thought the anime didn’t capture as well as the manga. On paper, his and the Red-Haired Pirates’ arrival was much more impactful.
Hiyori Feeling Wano’s Pain (Chapter 1044)
The Wano arc showed the cruelty of guys like Orochi, and how the people there suffered at the hands of these villains. But when the Straw Hats arrived and defeated Kaido and Orochi, it was a relief. Before Orochi was defeated, there was an emotional scene in the manga of Hiyori crying for what she and the people went through for over 20 years.
Luffy’s First Confrontation with Doflamingo (Chapter 782)
The Dressrosa arc is one of our favorites, and one of the best parts was Luffy facing Doflamingo. The fight was tense, and the manga showed this in a way that the anime couldn’t match. That look from Luffy to Doflamingo was chilling!
Luffy vs. Katakuri (Chapter 878)
Luffy has caught several heavy villains, but Katakuri was one of the most sinister. Their duel was brutal, full of blood and injuries. The anime kind of softened this fight, making it less impactful than in the manga.
Sogeking Taking Down the World Government Flag (Chapter 398)
In Enies Lobby, the story revolves around Robin’s past, and the Straw Hats do everything they can to save her. When Luffy orders Sogeking to burn the World Government flag, it was an epic moment that the anime couldn’t convey with the same intensity as the manga.
Luffy and Blackbeard (Chapter 225)
When Luffy and Teach (Blackbeard) met in Mock Town, there was that memorable quote from Teach: “People’s dreams… never end!!”. The manga did a great job of showing the contrast between them, foreshadowing a future confrontation. At that time, it was just future pirates, but today, as Emperors of the Sea, everyone is eager to see this battle happen.
Death of Whitebeard (Chapter 576)
The Marineford War was a festival of sorrows, culminating in the death of Whitebeard. The guy, even though he was old and full of wounds, still held back the tide for his crew to escape. And then came Blackbeard and his gang to deliver the final blow. Whitebeard died standing up, bloodied, but with honor. The manga showed this in a chilling way, marking the end of an era.
The Last Voyage of the Going Merry (Chapter 430)
In both the manga and the anime, Going Merry’s farewell was heartbreaking. But the manga was stronger in this regard, perhaps because of the panel layouts that connected fans more to the scene. Merry’s farewell was a blow, especially for Usopp, who even fought with Luffy over the ship. The moment of Merry’s final “miracle” was super emotional.
Ace’s Death (Chapter 574)
Ace’s death is, without a doubt, one of the most shocking moments in “One Piece”. Despite all the efforts of Luffy, Whitebeard’s pirates and other allies, Ace ends up being killed by Akainu. The manga captured this despair with incredible detail, showing Ace dying in Luffy’s arms. In the anime, this scene was also strong, but it lacked that extra something that the manga delivered.
