“Let’s just stop thinking about that now”: Eiichiro Oda’s Response When Asked about How One Piece Ends Proves Even He’s Winging it as They Come

With over 1100 chapters for One Piece, Eiichiro Oda’s work has surely grown to be an ultra-hit series. Over the years, the series has taken its fans on a rollercoaster of emotions, where the mangaka has featured several epic plots that have grown immensely close to the fans.

The title masters the art of inspiration and has been serving as the beacon of hope and pursuing one’s dreams. The traits of Monkey D. Luffy have deeply resonated with fans of multiple generations, but the idea of not showcasing one character in the limelight is what makes the Shonen series so special.

The show has evolved into a timeless masterpiece and is the only show from The Big Three that has been running even in 2024. However, the thought of the series’ conclusion haunts the viewers as Oda-Sensei has commented on the title’s ending and it feels that he is trying to wrap up his stellar show.

Eiichiro Oda is Rushing the Story of One Piece to Conclude His Magnum Opus

Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus has been narrating the tale of Monkey D. Luffy, and his Straw Hat Pirate Crew, who want to achieve their respective dreams in the Grand Line. The title excels in featuring relatable characters with creatively alluring series that would keep them sitting at the edge of their seats.

Since 1999, the anime adaptation has been growing strong, with its viewership only increasing with each passing day. Moreover, the show thrives on featuring countless fan theories, which even include Brook’s Yomi Yomi no Mi having a mythical power but what makes the show so far apart from its rival is that it never shows any signs of slowing down anytime soon.

However, this notion might be proven wrong because Eiichiro Oda’s comments about the show’s conclusion might just send fans into a frenzy.

During an exclusive interview with Manga Tengoku via The Grandline, the interviewer asked, “How much longer do you think it will be until the conclusion?” The manga artist replied,

That’s just too much to think about so that’s a question I wish you didn’t ask but. Hmmmm, I’d like to think it’s gone about half-way. …..Nah, let’s just stop thinking about that now.

Well, the series has come a long way, and some fans claim that the Grand Adventure of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates will reach its endpoint by 2032. However, the author has an interesting belief that would make his show so iconic despite racing towards the end.

Eiichiro Oda Knows How To End One Piece Without Ruining Its Conclusion

There’s no denying that Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece has raised the standards of a Shonen series, and fans are not in the wrong here. The mangaka is arguably the most consistent artist who has been tirelessly working to meet the hype and buzz that follows the title.

As a result, fans have high expectations from the show, and they hope that after emotionally investing in the storyline for so many years, they deserve an ending that will satisfy their souls. The fans’ worry is justified but Oda-Sensei has assured that he had thought about the ending long ago, before he even began his magnum opus.

In a separate interview via The Grandline, the mangaka mentioned that “anything’s possible” and he had set up the show to “do whatever I want.” However, he mentioned that he “didn’t have much” to begin with and he had planned “just the ending.”

The interviewer was taken aback by the response of the author and asked, “You know the ending?” The mangaka replied,

I don’t want to push too hard so I won’t ask anything beyond this but do you think it would be safe to consider the ending a long way off?

He stated that a part of him wants to “hurry up,” but he believes there’s a lot more work for him because he wants to handle “each of my characters appropriately.”

However, he ensured that he would not rush toward the conclusion because he believes in “writing in the moment,” which will make the story deeper and more meaningful.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.