In an exciting development for anime fans, Netflix has launched the highest-rated anime episode of 2024, One Piece Fan Letter. This special marks the 25th anniversary of the beloved One Piece series produced by Toei Animation and is now available for streaming on the platform.
The announcement came from Netflix’s official account on X (formerly Twitter), where they confirmed the special’s availability to subscribers. Just one week after its premiere on October 20, 2024, One Piece Fan Letter has quickly ascended the ranks on the fan-based platform MyAnimeList, currently holding the second spot with an impressive score of 9.22. This places it just behind Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which, although it premiered in 2023, concluded its first season in early 2024 with a higher rating of 9.32. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, once the top-rated anime, now sits in third place with a score of 9.09.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which debuted on September 29, 2023, received accolades for its innovative approach to the fantasy genre, diverging from the typical isekai narratives. The story centers on Frieren, a mage reflecting on her past adventures with her aging companions following the defeat of the Demon King. After the death of her party leader, Himmel, she embarks on a journey to understand humans better by revisiting his past exploits.
In contrast, One Piece Fan Letter celebrates the franchise and its vibrant fandom. Loosely based on Tomohito Osaki’s Straw Hat Stories, this anniversary special depicts the experiences of everyday fans and their affection for the Straw Hat Pirates as they prepare to reunite at the Sabaody Archipelago after two years apart. The narrative follows a young girl determined to deliver her fan letter to her idol, Nami, who inadvertently becomes embroiled in a Marine plot to eliminate the Straw Hat Pirates with a new secret weapon.
Directed by the acclaimed Megumi Ishitani, known for her stunning work on Episode 1015, One Piece Fan Letter boasts a talented lineup of animators.
Following this release, the One Piece anime will take a six-month hiatus from the ongoing “Egghead” story arc to remaster a fan-favorite segment, the “Fish-Man Island” arc. Toei Animation promises that this remaster will feature new visuals that rival those of contemporary hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.
One Piece episodes can be streamed on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu, while new and previous chapters of Eiichiro Oda’s ongoing manga are available through Viz Media and the Manga Plus app.
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