One Piece's Ending Proves Why It's Still The Undisputed King Of Shonen

_

By

Merlyn De Souza

Published Apr 28, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT

Merlyn De Souza is a freelance writer and anime enthusiast based in Goa, India, with a Bachelor's in English Literature. When she isn't writing, she can be found exploring various realms of entertainment, including, but not limited to, K-dramas, novels, and even the occasional manhwa. She also enjoys all things creative, like sewing and makeup.

Sign in to your ScreenRant account

With My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen_, and Chainsaw Man all wrapping up in the last year or so, Shonen Jump has definitely been a tough spot for the last year or so. Newer series like _Ichi the Witch _and Kagurabachi have yet to truly find their footing despite their popularity, and in this moment of transition, One Piece has remained a sturdy pillar with its ever-expanding franchise only drawing more eyes to the manga.

That said, while One Piece and Shonen Jump have been going steady for nearly thirty years, as of the Egghead Arc, One Piece has decidedly entered the final leg of its story. Even if the ending isn't in sight just yet, the Final Saga has sent the series into overdrive, with the Elbaph Arc even revealing the series' most mysterious final villain, Imu. That said, while multiple shonen endings have left fans wanting so far, One Piece may just stick the landing.

Shonen Manga Endings Continue to Disappoint One After Another

_ Deku from My Hero Academia in the middle with other shonen jump characters behind himCustom image by Rohit Jaiswar

The exposure and readership that being published in Shonen Jump brings is usually also accompanied by quite a bit of scrutiny, especially when a series ends. Regardless of how well-written a series is or how much of a creator's blood, sweat, and tears have been poured into it over the years, fans are inevitably bound to be divided when the finale drops, often even going as far as to thrash the series and demand a new ending be rewritten.

This takes place nearly every time a major Shonen Jump series ends, with examples going as far back as Dr. Stone_ which ended back in March 2022 and, most infamously, Attack on Titan, which left a good chunk of fans permanently bitter when its finale dropped in November 2023._ _Most recently, three of Shonen Jump's biggest manga caused a stir with their endings, namely _My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, _and Chainsaw Man.

_

Related

Oda Has a Heart Breaking Reason For Approving One Piece's Big Remake

Eiichiro Oda reveals the real reason behind his desire to have an entire One Piece anime remake, and it is one that every fan will agree with.

Posts

By Hannah Diffey

My Hero Academia__ _and Jujutsu Kaisen both ended within about a month of each other back in 2024, and while the former was arguably well-rounded, Deku's fate as a quirkless professor was unacceptable to many. Meanwhile, in Jujutsu Kaisen's case, the ending came across as generally unsatisfying to many, leaving many loose ends unaddressed.

Granted, in _Jujutsu Kaisen's _defense, the sequel, _Modulo _did attempt to address some of these unfulfilled plotlines.

Lastly, Chainsaw Man, the latest Shonen Jump series to join the "controversial ending" club, simply failed in terms of its execution. All that to say, despite all the promise a series may show, there are seemingly a thousand things that can go wrong when it comes to wrapping it up. But, One Piece may just have a good ending in the bag, and the Final Saga is already proving it.

One Piece May Succeed Where Most Shonen Manga Have Failed

_ Luffy grinning in Gear 5 form.

Given how long One Piece_ has been running, the expectations surrounding its ending are definitely a lot higher than usual. And, as the live-action and anime remake draw in more readers, these stakes will only continue to rise. In some ways, _One Piece _will face even harder challenges than its peers. For one, One Piece will certainly find it much harder to not leave any loose ends like _Jujutsu Kaisen, _as due to the vast nature of the series, there are simply too many minor plot threads and mysteries to address than one can even count.

In fact, as seen through Vegapunk's message back on Egghead, every time One Piece addresses one mystery, it sets up three others in its place. However, it's very likely that an extended epilogue could neatly wrap these up and check in on various characters much like the cover stories often do. If anything, Vegapunk's broadcast and the countless cameos throughout it prove Eiichiro Oda has not forgotten about even the most minor of characters.

_ Roger laughing after arriving at Laugh Tale and seeing the treasure Joyboy left on the island.

As for the ending itself, One Piece's_ creator has already assured fans that the final treasure is indeed something tangible instead of "the friends made along the way" as many worried. While many theories have popped up about the One Piece over the years, it is still very likely that the series' ending will take fans completely by surprise. The Egghead Arc, with all its exposition through Vegapunk's message, has proved that the truth about the Void Century and its full lore is much more vast and complicated than fans might be able to comprehend, at least for now.

__ Subscribe to the newsletter for One Piece analysis

_ Explore more: subscribe to the newsletter for detailed analysis, theory breakdowns, and character check-ins covering One Piece's Final Saga and other major shonen endings, providing focused coverage to enrich your perspective.

**_Get Updates

_ By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Even with newer revelations such as the Harley texts and the Jewel Tree Adam mural, fans are still nowhere close to deciphering the truth about the Void Century. But, it seems like Eiichiro Oda is building up towards quite the reveal, and fans trust him for now. One Piece's_ Final Saga has been well-received in general so far, at least in terms of its newest character designs.

_

ScreenRant.com | GL Grand Line Gazette

Interactive Quiz

ScreenRant/ Streaming/ One Piece/ Trivia

The Ultimate · Straw Hat Challenge Set Sail for Trivia “I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”

⚕CrewNakama! 🌊SeasEast Blue 🍋Devil FruitsGomu Gomu! ☠VillainsFear the sea 🏆DreamsOne Piece!

SET SAIL →

QUESTION 1 / 8DEVIL FRUITS

01 Monkey D. Luffy accidentally ate a Devil Fruit as a child, giving him rubber-like abilities. What is the name of that fruit?

AFlame-Flame Fruit BChop-Chop Fruit CGum-Gum Fruit DSmoke-Smoke Fruit

✓ Correct! The Gum-Gum Fruit (Gomu Gomu no Mi) turned Luffy’s body into rubber. He ate it from Shanks’ treasure chest as a kid, gaining stretchy powers but losing the ability to swim forever. ✗ Overboard! The answer is the Gum-Gum Fruit. The Chop-Chop Fruit belongs to Buggy, the Flame-Flame Fruit to Ace, and the Smoke-Smoke Fruit to Captain Smoker — but Luffy’s rubber powers come from the Gomu Gomu no Mi.

NEXT →

QUESTION 2 / 8CHARACTERS

02 Luffy’s iconic straw hat was given to him as a child by a famous pirate who inspired his dream. Who gave Luffy the hat?

AGold Roger BMonkey D. Garp CDracule Mihawk DRed-Haired Shanks

✓ Correct! Red-Haired Shanks entrusted his straw hat to young Luffy in Foosha Village, telling him to return it when he becomes a great pirate. That promise drives Luffy’s entire journey. ✗ Overboard! The answer is Red-Haired Shanks. While Gold Roger originally wore the hat, it was Shanks who passed it down to Luffy after saving his life from a Sea King — a defining moment in the series.

NEXT →

QUESTION 3 / 8LOCATIONS

03 Before joining the Straw Hats, Sanji works as a sous chef at a floating restaurant on the ocean. What is the name of this restaurant?

AThe Galley-La BThe Baratie CThe Sea Rat DMakino’s Tavern

✓ Correct! The Baratie is the ocean-going restaurant run by Chef Zeff, Sanji’s mentor. In the live-action series, it’s one of the most stunning sets — a fully realized ship-restaurant on the open sea. ✗ Overboard! The answer is The Baratie. Run by the legendary pirate-turned-chef “Red Leg” Zeff, this floating restaurant is where Luffy recruits Sanji as the Straw Hats’ cook.

NEXT →

QUESTION 4 / 8COMBAT STYLE

04 Roronoa Zoro is famous for his unique sword-fighting technique. How many swords does he wield in his signature style?

AOne BTwo CThree DFour

✓ Correct! Zoro uses Three-Sword Style (Santoryu), wielding one sword in each hand and a third in his mouth. His dream is to become the world’s greatest swordsman by defeating Dracule Mihawk. ✗ Overboard! The answer is three. Zoro’s iconic Three-Sword Style places one blade in each hand and a third clenched between his teeth — a fighting technique unique to him in the One Piece world.

NEXT →

QUESTION 5 / 8DREAMS & GOALS

05 Each Straw Hat crew member has a personal dream. What is Nami’s ultimate goal that drives her journey?

ATo find the One Piece treasure BTo become the greatest navigator CTo draw a complete map of the world DTo defeat every pirate on the Grand Line

✓ Correct! Nami’s dream is to draw a map of the entire world. Her cartography skills and navigation talent make her indispensable to the crew, and her passion for mapmaking was nurtured by her adoptive mother Bell-mère. ✗ Overboard! The answer is to draw a complete map of the world. Nami is a gifted cartographer whose dream goes beyond just sailing — she wants to chart every sea and island so no one is ever lost again.

NEXT →

QUESTION 6 / 8THE MARINES

06 A powerful Marine Vice Admiral is revealed to have a surprising family connection to Luffy. Who is this high-ranking Marine?

ACaptain Smoker BAdmiral Akainu CCaptain Morgan DVice Admiral Garp

✓ Correct! Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather. Known as “Garp the Fist,” he’s a Marine hero who wanted Luffy to become a Marine — not a pirate. Their family dynamic is a major subplot in the live-action series. ✗ Overboard! The answer is Vice Admiral Garp. Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather and one of the most legendary Marines alive. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, their bond runs deep.

NEXT →

QUESTION 7 / 8EAST BLUE SAGA

07 Usopp is recruited into the Straw Hat crew after the pirates help defend his home village from Captain Kuro’s Black Cat Pirates. What is the name of Usopp’s village?

AFoosha Village BShells Town CSyrup Village DCoco Village

✓ Correct! Syrup Village is Usopp’s peaceful hometown where he was known for telling tall tales. It’s also where Kaya lives, and where the crew acquires the Going Merry from her estate. ✗ Overboard! The answer is Syrup Village. Foosha Village is Luffy’s hometown, Shells Town is where Zoro was held captive, and Coco Village (Cocoyasi) is Nami’s home — but Usopp hails from Syrup Village.

NEXT →

QUESTION 8 / 8LIVE-ACTION CAST

08 The Netflix live-action adaptation was praised for its casting. Which actor plays Monkey D. Luffy?

AMackenyu BTaz Skylar CIñaki Godoy DJacob Romero Gibson

✓ Correct! Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy won fans over with his infectious energy and earnest portrayal of Luffy. Mackenyu plays Zoro, Taz Skylar is Sanji, and Jacob Romero Gibson plays Usopp. ✗ Overboard! The answer is Iñaki Godoy. The young Mexican actor perfectly captured Luffy’s boundless enthusiasm. The other actors all play Straw Hat crew members — but Luffy is all Iñaki.

REVEAL MY SCORE →

Voyage Complete Your Pirate Record

⚕

/ 8

Are you King of the Pirates — or lost at sea?

↻ SET SAIL AGAIN

Legendary characters such as Rocks D. Xebec have more than lived up to the hype, and even the big reveal of the series' final villain has been met with plenty of excitement, which bodes well for the series' ending. As such, even though the Final Saga still has many big names like Joyboy left to reveal, it seems like fans have nothing to worry about, at least as far as characterization goes.​

One Piece_ has also stepped up its pacing since the Egghead Arc, and with the Straw Hats only one Road Poneglyph away from heading to Laugh Tale, it won't be long till the series' ending is outlined. So far, Eiichiro Oda has handled the series with extreme care, and fans can certainly trust him to do the same for its grand conclusion. And, let's face it, with nearly three decades of planning and writing, and passing through multiple editors over the years, it would be nearly impossible for One Piece's ending to miss the mark.