One of the most enduring and beloved anime series of all time is One Piece, a pirate adventure that has captured the hearts of fans around the world. As the series continues to grow, so does its reach—particularly in terms of dubbed versions for international audiences. But how many episodes of One Piece have been dubbed, and what is the history behind the English dub? In this article, we will delve into the extensive process behind the dubbing of One Piece, exploring its history, key milestones, and the number of dubbed episodes that have been made available for fans.
The Beginning of One Piece
One Piece began its journey in 1997, when it was first serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump. Created by Eiichiro Oda, the manga series quickly became a massive success. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of pirates as they journey across the seas in search of the legendary treasure known as the “One Piece.” In 1999, the manga was adapted into an anime by Toei Animation, and it wasn’t long before international fans were clamoring for the opportunity to watch it in their native languages.
The anime debuted in Japan on October 20, 1999, and since then, One Piece has become the longest-running anime series of all time, with over 1,000 episodes. As of 2024, the series is still ongoing, with new episodes regularly airing in Japan.
The English Dub of One Piece
The English dubbed version of One Piece was first introduced to North American audiences in 2004. 4Kids Entertainment initially acquired the licensing rights to the anime, and the English adaptation premiered on the FoxBox (later known as 4Kids TV) on September 18, 2004. However, the 4Kids version of the series was highly criticized for its significant changes to the original content. These changes included heavily edited episodes, localized character names, and censorship, which made the series feel disconnected from its original form.
The Transition to FUNimation
In 2007, FUNimation Entertainment took over the production and distribution of the One Piece English dub. Unlike 4Kids, FUNimation remained faithful to the original material, providing a more authentic experience for fans. The transition to FUNimation also marked a turning point for the series in terms of its production quality and its alignment with the original Japanese voice acting. FUNimation began dubbing the series from Episode 104 onward, picking up from where 4Kids had left off.
The new English dub from FUNimation was widely praised for its more mature and true-to-original voice acting, as well as the inclusion of the original Japanese music score, which had been replaced by generic music in the 4Kids version. This allowed the English dub to remain closer to the anime’s intended atmosphere.
How Many Dubbed One Piece Episodes Are There?
As of 2024, One Piece has over 1,000 episodes in Japan, but not all of these episodes have been dubbed into English. The number of dubbed episodes is constantly growing, as new episodes of the anime are still being produced. Let’s break down the number of dubbed episodes based on different phases of the English adaptation.
Episodes 1–104 (4Kids Version)
The first 104 episodes of One Piece were dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment. These episodes aired in the U.S. on the FoxBox network, but as mentioned earlier, they were heavily edited, with significant localization and censorship. The 4Kids dub stopped at Episode 104, which corresponds to the end of the “Alabasta” arc.
Episodes 104–130 (FUNimation Version)
After FUNimation took over the rights, they began dubbing from Episode 104 onward, starting with Episode 130. These episodes were far more faithful to the original Japanese anime, including less editing and more accurate translations. This marked the beginning of a new era for the English dub of One Piece.
Episodes 130–263
FUNimation continued dubbing the series, releasing episodes from 130 to 263. These episodes covered arcs such as the “Sky Island” arc and “Water 7” arc, and each episode was met with positive reception from fans for its higher quality translation and voice acting.
Episodes 263–516
FUNimation continued the dub through to Episode 516, which concluded the “Marineford” arc and started the “Fish-Man Island” arc. By this point, One Piece was becoming more widely recognized, and the English dub continued to gain a dedicated fan base.
Episodes 516–750
FUNimation continued to release dubbed episodes, eventually catching up with the Japanese anime in terms of content. By the time Episode 750 aired in the U.S., One Piece had firmly established its place as one of the most popular anime franchises in North America.
Episodes 750–900
From Episode 750 to Episode 900, the English dub continued to follow the Japanese anime, covering significant arcs like the “Whole Cake Island” arc and beginning the “Wano Country” arc.
Episodes 900–Current
As of 2024, FUNimation (now known as Crunchyroll, which acquired FUNimation) is continuing to dub episodes of One Piece. The series is currently airing new episodes in Japan, and Crunchyroll is working to keep pace with the Japanese releases, adding English dubs as quickly as possible. Currently, over 1,000 episodes have been aired in Japan, but only a portion of those have been dubbed into English.
Subsequent Dubbing Efforts
As One Piece progresses, Crunchyroll (which now manages the English dub distribution after merging with FUNimation) has continued to dub new episodes, often releasing dubbed episodes within a few weeks of the Japanese release. However, as of now, the English dub is still far behind the Japanese episodes, with the latest dubbed episodes covering arcs that are several years behind the latest Japanese releases.
Why Are There Gaps in the Dubbed Episodes?
There are several reasons why the dubbed episodes of One Piece have not kept pace with the Japanese episodes. The most notable reason is the sheer length and complexity of the series. Each new arc requires significant time to localize, dub, and release, especially considering the vast number of episodes. Additionally, the financial and logistical challenges of dubbing an anime of this scale mean that the dubbed episodes are typically released at a slower rate.
Another factor that contributes to the delay is the changing nature of anime localization. In the early days of One Piece’s English release, episodes were dubbed and aired more sporadically, with long gaps between new episodes. However, with the increasing popularity of the series, Crunchyroll is now working to release dubbed episodes at a faster rate, although it is still a few years behind the Japanese version.
With One Piece continuing to run in Japan and gaining more international attention than ever, there are no signs that the series will be slowing down anytime soon. This means that the number of dubbed episodes will continue to grow, with Crunchyroll working to keep up with the demand for English-language content. Fans can expect more episodes to be dubbed and released as One Piece moves toward its conclusion.
Conclusion
As of 2024, the English-dubbed version of One Piece has reached well over 700 episodes, with more being dubbed and released regularly. The series has come a long way since its early days under 4Kids Entertainment, evolving into a more faithful and high-quality dub that has earned the admiration of fans worldwide. While the English dub still lags behind the Japanese version in terms of total episodes, the effort to keep pace is ongoing, and fans can expect to see more dubbed episodes as One Piece continues its journey.
The history of One Piece’s English dub is a testament to the show’s enduring popularity and the dedication of those working to bring this beloved anime to fans around the world. Whether you’re a longtime viewer or a newcomer to the series, the English dub of One Piece remains an important way for international audiences to experience Luffy’s epic adventure.
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