'The One Piece' remake hits major milestone as WIT Studio perfects Eiichiro Oda’s iconic art style
Courtesy: Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha; Toei Animation
Fans eagerly waiting for The One Piece just got a major update, and it proves WIT Studio is taking the responsibility very seriously.
According to Chief Animation Director and Character Designer Kyoji Asano, the studio spent nearly two months studying and repeatedly tracing Eiichiro Oda’s original artwork to faithfully recreate the legendary visual style that made One Piece one of the most recognizable manga series in the world.
Asano revealed that the team dedicated extensive time to understanding every detail of Oda’s illustrations before finalizing the remake’s character designs. From exaggerated facial expressions to dynamic proportions and chaotic action scenes, the studio reportedly wanted every frame to feel authentic to the source material while still benefiting from modern animation techniques.
'THE ONE PIECE' Anime Remake Chief Animation Director and Character Designer Kyoji Asano at WIT Studio:
"We repeatedly traced Oda-sensei's art. After two full months of thoroughly studying his style, we finally achieved a level of quality that even the director was very… pic.twitter.com/wSvlGTVD1LThe effort appears to have paid off. According to Asano, the production team eventually reached a level that satisfied both the artists and the project’s director, marking a major milestone for the highly anticipated remake.
Recreating Oda’s style has been considered one of the biggest challenges surrounding the project, especially since the creator’s artwork has evolved dramatically over the manga’s decades-long run. Fans have remained curious about whether the remake could preserve the energy and charm of the original series without losing its identity.
Officially titled The One Piece, the upcoming anime will retell the story from the very beginning rather than continue the current adaptation. The remake is expected to introduce updated visuals, smoother pacing, and a fresh production approach aimed at both longtime fans and newcomers.
The project is being handled by WIT Studio, the acclaimed studio behind early seasons of Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, and Spy x Family, which has only raised expectations even higher.
With months already spent mastering Oda’s iconic style, fans are now eagerly waiting for a closer look at the final animation and an official release window for the remake.