The BBC has secured the rights to the iconic anime series One Piece, following the remarkable success of its live-action adaptation on Netflix. The anime, based on Eiichiro Oda’s legendary manga, will be available exclusively on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, marking a significant expansion of the series’ presence in the UK.
In a major acquisition, the BBC will release ten sagas of the anime in English-language dubbed versions this year, making it the exclusive UK home for One Piece. The first wave, comprising over 200 episodes from the East Blue, Alabasta, and Skypiea sagas, will be released on iPlayer on September 1. By the end of the year, all 1,085 episodes of the anime will be accessible to UK viewers.
Fiona Campbell, BBC Three and iPlayer Controller of Youth Audiences, expressed excitement over the acquisition, stating, “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 thrilled to offer this extensive canon of episodes exclusively on iPlayer.”
The full list of sagas arriving on iPlayer includes East Blue, Alabasta, Sky Island (Skypiea), Water Seven, Thriller Bark, Summit War, Fishman Island, Dressrosa, Whole Cake Island, and Land of Wano.
Originally premiering in 1999, One Piece has earned its place as one of the most influential anime series of all time. Meanwhile, the live-action adaptation continues to make waves, with production of the second season already underway. Notably, Bridgerton star Charithra Chandran has joined the cast as Miss Wednesday, adding to the excitement.
Netflix’s live-action One Piece ranked as the streaming giant’s most-watched original series in the latter half of 2023, starring Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy and Emily Rudd as Nami. The second season is set to introduce Sons of Anarchy’s Katey Sagal as the iconic Dr. Kureha, further fueling anticipation among fans.