5 reasons to read the One Piece manga (& 5 to watch One Pace instead)

One Piece, crafted by Eiichiro Oda, has enthralled audiences globally for many years with its grand storytelling and immense universe. Viewers join Monkey D. Luffy and his companions as they journey to find the legendary One Piece treasure. Both the anime adaptation and the original manga series of One Piece have their merits.

The anime has grown a sizable fanbase in recent years, yet the manga offers some advantages for those wanting to experience the full story. For one, the manga moves at a brisk pace without filler episodes interrupting the plot.

Additionally, One Pace presents another viewing option by striving to trim unnecessary scenes and tighten the anime's pacing. Whether through the manga or One Pace project, fans can enjoy One Piece in a streamlined form if an expedited viewing experience appeals most.

Disclaimer: Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda.

5 reasons to read the One Piece manga

1) Better pacing

Gol D. Roger reaches Laugh Tale (Image via Shueisha)

When exploring One Piece, the manga offers a smoother ride than the anime. Compared to the weekly show's tendency to drag, each comic chapter efficiently progresses the plot. Readers constantly learn new details and witness important twists, staying hooked on Luffy and the Straw Hats' journey.

Whether it's revelations, battles, or character growth, the manga packs meaningful moments into bite-sized portions. This consistent pace engages fans issue after issue as the story smoothly unfolds. While the anime stretches certain scenes, the original work keeps readers absorbed with a steady stream of development.

2) More immersive experience

Luffy and Blackbeard's first meeting (Image via Shueisha)

Oda's One Piece manga invites readers to envision its vibrant world through their own imagination. Thanks to the author's intricate artwork, fans can lose themselves in richly crafted settings, distinct character designs, and pulse-pounding action scenes. The visual component enhances storytelling's emotional resonance, creating an absorbing journey.

Varied paneling keeps pages lively, mirroring life's unpredictable nature. Descriptive imagery brings the seas, islands, and characters to life before readers' eyes and fluid illustrations carry readers scene to scene like a film. This marriage of art and words results in a narrative that engages minds and touches hearts.

3) No filler arcs

Going Merry's final moments (Image via Shueisha)

Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga tells a cohesive tale without filler arcs like the anime adaptation sometimes includes. Every scene advances the core narrative in a streamlined way. Readers remain invested in the hero's journey and key plot points since nothing extraneous gets in the way.

This focused approach lets the compelling story unfold smoothly without unnecessary diversions that could disrupt the flow. Viewers follow Luffy and the Straw Hat crew from one crucial storyline event to the next in a consistent manner.

4) Author's original vision

Portgas D. Ace's final moments (Image via Shueisha)

Fans can truly experience Eiichiro Oda's story vision by reading the One Piece manga. The anime strives to stay faithful, but the manga allows readers to see Oda's pure, unaltered work.

Without any changes from adaptation teams or TV networks, the manga shares Oda's authentic ideas and narration choices. It provides a more genuine experience that's untouched by outside influences.

5) Stay up-to-date

Luffy against the three Admirals (Image via Shueisha)

Staying up-to-date with the One Piece manga has its benefits. As a weekly comic, it continually releases new chapters for fans to enjoy. This lets readers keep up with how the story progresses and lets them look forward to discovering what secrets and surprises the author has in store.

The manga's regular schedule means there's always something new to dive into satisfies curiosity about the latest developments unfolding. Being timely informed about the latest events unfolding grants a thrill in awaiting what mysteries and plot twists may arise.

5 reasons to watch One Pace

What is One Pace?

Koby as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One Pace seeks to offer fans of One Piece a more streamlined viewing experience by reworking anime episodes to better match the pacing and storytelling of the original manga. The project removes unnecessary additions like extended reaction shots and filler scenes that pad out the length of episodes.

By trimming this extra content, One Pace aims to create a more concise adaptation focused squarely on faithfully translating Eiichiro Oda's compelling story to animation.

For viewers who prefer watching the anime but want the tightly-plotted narrative of the manga, One Pace provides a viable viewing option. This retains the visuals while prioritizing a smoother story flow and closer alignment with the source material.

1) Improved pacing

Silvers Rayleigh as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One Pace aims to address one of the major criticisms of the One Piece anime by notably enhancing its pacing. It accomplishes this by trimming filler material and shortening extended scenes, generating a more lively and swift viewing experience.

This permits audiences to appreciate the narrative without annoyance from needless interruptions or overlong sequences, bringing about a more involving and absorbing anime rendition.

2) Consistent adaptation

Vinsmoke Sanji as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One Pace aims to faithfully portray the manga by remaining loyal to its source material. By removing filler storylines and streamlining the narrative, it offers a more cohesive and consistent telling of the tale. This permits viewers to follow the key plot twists and turns without interruption from non-canonical or unrelated plots, crafting a more fulfilling and concentrated anime-viewing experience.

3) Condensed storytelling

Smoker during the Summit War (Image via Toei Animation)

One Pace streamlines the anime episodes to highlight vital plot details and character growth. By removing extra scenes and fluff that don't advance the plot, it shares the core tale in a tighter, more potent way.

This trimmed-down style lets One Piece fans immerse in the heart of the story without getting sidetracked by drawn-out side stories. It makes the plot easier to experience and enjoy thanks to the singular focus on what's essential to understand the narrative.

4) Maintains canon material

The Mink Tribe as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One Pace focuses on keeping all included scenes consistent with the official story, carefully changing the anime to match the plot in the manga. Filler episodes in the regular show sometimes feel separate from the main tale, but One Pace stays true to the initial creation, providing a more real and linked way of narrating the story.

This dedication to staying true to the first work attracts followers who like when adjustments stick carefully to the first version.

5) Time-saving option

Imu as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

If fans wish to experience the One Piece story without as much time commitment, One Pace provides a time-efficient option. It cuts out extra content that doesn’t contribute to the main plot and reduces the total episode number. As a result, fans can get through the story more quickly while still following all the key events.

This alternative makes sense for those looking to catch up on the series or rewatch favorite story arcs without devoting endless hours to watching everything. Fans won’t miss any crucial details despite seeing it in less time than the full anime.

Final thoughts

Fujitora and Sabo as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Whether the One Piece manga or One Pace is chosen, each has its own benefits. The manga tells an immersive story at the readers' own tempo, letting them explore the One Piece world. One Pace offers a trimmed, better anime version by cutting filler and quickening the pace for engaging viewing.

Fans' choice depends on preferences, time, and wanting either a detailed visual experience (manga) or a streamlined faithful version (One Pace). Regardless of the preference, One Piece's world awaits adventure, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams.

Edited by Meenakshi Ajith