Since debuting in 1997, the One Piece manga has sold over 500 million units, making it one of the best-selling fictional works of all time. The series’ anime has experienced similar acclaim, but one thing has remained largely absent from the adaptation — cover stories.
On the first page of many One Piece chapters, there are illustrations that tell stories parallel to the events of the series’ main adventure. These narratives are known as cover stories, and unfortunately, the majority of them aren’t adapted into episodes in the One Piece anime. While these cover stories range in nature, many of them provide insight into some of the most important events happening around the Grand Line.
10 Jango’s Dance Paradise
Volumes 14-19
Jango, the first mate of the Black Cat Pirates, plays a major role as an antagonist in the Syrup Village Arc. However, in the One Piece anime, he isn’t seen again until the end of the Alabasta Arc, whereas the series’ manga follows his narrative in the form of the cover story, “Jango’s Dance Paradise.”
“Jango’s Dance Paradise” picks up immediately after Jango’s defeat in Syrup Village, depicting his escape from the island and subsequent adventures. The hypnotist befriends Lieutenant Fullbody, who eventually vouches for Jango and saves the pirate during his trial. The pair then encounter Captain Hina, enlisting under her command as members of the Marines.
9 Hatchan’s Sea-Floor Stroll
Volumes 20-25
Many of One Piece‘s cover stories feature individuals that readers are familiar with, but in some cases, they introduce significant characters to the series. This is the case for “Hatchan’s Sea-Floor Stroll,” which debuts both Camie and Pappag well before they appear in the Sabaody Archipelago Arc.
The One Piece anime instead chooses to introduce Camie and Pappag immediately after the Straw Hat Pirates leave Thriller Bark. While the show rarely includes extended scenes without the Straw Hat Pirates, a brief adventure involving Camie, Pappag, and Hatchan would have been a welcome change of pace.
8 Ace’s Great Blackbeard Search
Volumes 29-32
Portgas D. Ace’s hunt for Blackbeard takes place almost entirely off-screen in the One Piece anime, making “Ace’s Great Blackbeard Search” a fun, exclusive treat for manga readers. Set between the events of the Jaya and Post-Enies Lobby Arcs, the cover story provides a brief glimpse into Ace’s journey with a notable focus on his time in Lulusia Kingdom and the G-2 Marine Base.
Minus his appearance during the Alabasta and Marineford Arcs, most of Portgas D. Ace’s scenes in One Piece stem from flashbacks or when he is mentioned by his brother, Monkey D. Luffy. Including the “Ace’s Great Blackbeard Search” cover story in the series’ anime would have been a fantastic way of fleshing out the Whitebeard pirate’s personality before his execution at Marineford.
7 Miss Goldenweek’s “Operation: Meet Baroque Works”
Volumes 38-43
The Straw Hat Pirates battle against Baroque Works is one of the highlights of pre-timeskip One Piece. Crocodile and his underlings are some of the most memorable antagonists in the series, so it’s not surprising that they were made the focus of the cover story, “Miss Goldenweek’s ‘Operation: Meet Baroque Works.'”
In the One Piece anime, all the major Baroque Works members disappear after their defeat, only returning when several of them play major roles in the Impel Down Arc. However, “Miss Goldenweek’s ‘Operation: Meet Baroque Works'” fills in the gap by explaining their actions post-Alabasta, such as Crocodile, Daz Bones, Bon Clay, and Galdino’s capture by the Marines and the other members’ revival of the Spiders Cafe.
6 Enel’s Great Space Operations
Volumes 44-49
Several of the One Piece cover stories address significant off-screen events, yet none have larger implications than “Enel’s Great Space Operations.” Following his defeat at the hands of Monkey D. Luffy, Enel travels to space, encountering space pirates and evidence of a highly-advanced, ancient civilization on the Moon.
It’s difficult to understand why “Enel’s Great Space Operations” hasn’t been adapted into its own mini-arc in the One Piece anime, especially given what it could mean for the show’s world-building. The civilization that Enel finds on the Moon seems to be related to the Void Century, so perhaps it still has a role to play before the end of the series.
5 CP9’s Independent Report
Volumes 50-54
During the events of the Enies Lobby Arc, Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates square off against CP9 — a secretive group of assassins that works directly under the supervision of the World Government’s highest-ranking members. However, after their defeat at the hands of One Piece‘s protagonists, they are forced to pick up the pieces, resulting in the events of “CP9’s Independent Report.”
“CP9’s Independent Report” is a cover story that spans parts of the Thriller Bark and Sabaody Archipelago Arcs, and it depicts the agency’s members as they heal up and return to their homeland. The micro-narrative could have provided some much-needed depth to the members of CP9 and laid the seeds for the groups’ eventual transition into CP0.
4 From The Decks Of The World
Volumes 62-68
Monkey D. Luffy and his crew send shockwaves throughout the Grand Line on multiple occasions, but in most cases, fans don’t get to see other characters’ reactions to these events. That is what makes the “From the Decks of the World” cover story so entertaining — it’s effectively a compilation of reactions from around the world to the news of the Straw Hat Pirates’ return post-timeskip.
As the longest cover story in the manga, “From the Decks of the World” contains more than enough material to warrant its inclusion in the anime. It features beloved characters like Nefertari Vivi, Zeff, and Dr. Kureha, provides updates on former opponents such as Perona, Hannyabal, and Mr. 2, and even hints at future characters like Sabo.
3 Solo Journey Of Jinbe, Knight Of The Sea
Volumes 75-78
Of all the Straw Hat Pirates, none are more well-traveled than Jinbe, the First Son of the Sea. He appears in numerous arcs before officially joining Monkey D. Luffy’s crew, and while the majority of these appearances are included in the One Piece anime, his cover story, “Solo Journey of Jinbe, Knight of the Sea,” is notably absent.
“Solo Journey of Jinbe, Knight of the Sea” picks up immediately after Jinbe turns Caribou into the Marines. His journey is fairly innocuous until he stumbles upon a poneglyph — an object that plays a minor role in the events of the Whole Cake Island Arc. This, along with the cover story’s characterization of Jinbe, could have made for a great addition to the series’ anime.
2 From The Decks Of The World: The 500,000,000-Man Arc
Volumes 80-83
Few events in One Piece have larger ramifications than the Straw Hat Pirates’ defeat of the Donquixote Pirates. Donquixote Doflamingo is the linchpin of the Grand Line’s criminal operations, so when he is defeated by Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, they all garner significant notoriety. “From the Decks of the World: The 500,000,000-Man Arc” shows the news of their victory spread throughout the world, and it features several individuals that previously appeared in the series.
Incorporating “From the Decks of the World: The 500,000,000-Man Arc” into the One Piece anime might be a bit difficult given the number of characters that it features. That being said, even a brief allusion to their reactions would be a welcome addition to the end of the Dressrosa Arc.
1 The Stories Of The Self-Proclaimed Straw Hat Grand Fleet
Volumes 86-91
As an Emperor of the Sea, Monkey D. Luffy commands immense influence in the New World. With each island that he visits, the number of pirates that have pledged themselves to the Straw Hat flag grows, and by the end of the Dressrosa Arc, a group of individuals known as the Straw Hat Grand Fleet has formed. Consisting of characters like Cavendish, Bartolomeo, and Hajrudin, this alliance serves as the protagonists of the cover story, “The Stories of the Self-Proclaimed Straw Hat Grand Fleet.”
“The Stories of the Self-Proclaimed Straw Hat Grand Fleet” helps establish the Straw Hat Grand Fleet as a legitimate presence in the New World, making their absence from the anime fairly notable. Bartolomeo even burns the Jolly Roger of the Red Hair Pirates, potentially foreshadowing a conflict between the two crews later in One Piece.