This marks the conclusion of an iconic period for long-running series, with the production studio announcing a revised release plan for the beloved series, which has run continuously for more than 25 years and included dozens of non-canon storylines. Starting in January, after the current storyline concludes, the anime will go on a three-month hiatus until spring, when the next major arc kicks off.
Updated Production Plan
From now on, the series will produce a pair of cours every annually for a cap of two dozen installments. The studio states this will enable the anime to “explore further into the heart of the universe — including more material, tempo, and pacing of the original manga.” Yet, Toei end by promising “exciting surprises” during the hiatus period, which means more related projects, such as the upcoming live-action adaptation, scheduled to debut during this gap.
Previous Hiatus Benefits
The series anime had a six-month pause that began in late 2024 and ended in April 2025. The intermission was for the animators to enhance the animation quality and allow the manga to build a lead to prevent a faster anime pace and lengthy recap episodes. The anime couldn't benefit more from this break, and it has been able to deliver fans with countless action sequences, high-quality animation, and less filler than previously.
Embracing Seasonal Format
Although some recap episodes appeared during the recent run, the benefits of this updated approach far surpass the odd pause in the action. This also gives the original work, which is presently in the thick of the Elbaph arc, to gain more ground on the anime. Per the news, this may result in one episode of the series covering one chapter, with others instead handling more material or more to make up for scheduling.
It's the end of a generation for Japanese animation, as the epic saga is the last big series to abandon the old-school way of production, which prioritized being on air for most of the calendar. This explains why iconic series such as Bleach, and naturally One Piece have numerous side stories, and the quality of the animation can change drastically between installments and the following. Nowadays, series creation is structured in cours, with one or two at most coming out each year, allowing for better quality and greater accuracy to the source material.
