Wondering about the best anime shows to watch after Netflix's One Piece season 2? Well, you aren't alone. For some people, One Piece might be the biggest time commitment they've ever had to face in their entire lives. That's definitely true if you came to the anime late and have been trying to catch up on all 1000+ episodes (plus the films). And that's also true if you're scouring the Four Blues in search of the secrets behind One Piece, which creator Eiichiro Oda recently hid somewhere in the ocean.
But for people who need time to eat and sleep as well, Netflix's live-action One Piece show has provided a much-welcome alternative to the original anime. As entry points go, this series has proved itself to be extremely faithful to the original's madcap tone, by and large capturing the essence of One Piece in ways that few other live-action adaptations could hope to manage.
The best anime shows to watch after Netflix's One Piece season 2
10. Vinland Saga
Imagine a world where Luffy wasn't the go-lucky pirate we know today. Now picture a world where he's actually been heavily traumatized by his life out at sea, doing all he can to just survive and reclaim justice against those who wronged him. Ok, that doesn't sound particularly fun, per se, but Vinland Saga is a must-watch regardless.
Taking place in 11th century Europe, this Viking epic is extraordinarily gripping, drawn from real Norse sagas that are just as thoughtful as they are violent. This might be one to watch in short bursts, however, unless you want to binge it all at once and get into therapy right after.
If you've watched all of Vinland Saga already, look ahead with our guide on everything you need to know about Vinland Saga season 3.
9. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Oh, you thought Luffy's adventure in One Piece is bizarre? Wait until you get a load of Jojo's bizarre adventure in… wait for it… Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. The long-running series follows multiple generations of the Joestar family who fight off supernatural forces across different timelines.
At times, it feels like there are as many Jojo's as there are Straw Hats in One Piece, but that never holds you back from enjoying the show. Some similarities between these two off the wall adventures make this a must-watch for One Piece fans, although it's safe to say that the story itself is entirely unique still, unlike anything you've seen before.
Want the full JoJo experience? Check out our guide on how to watch JoJo's Bizarre Adventure in order.
8. Dragon Ball
If you haven't been in a coma for the past four decades, I would heartily recommend you get into a classic show called Dragon Ball. Like One Piece, this long-running masterpiece also plays with action and comedy via its loveable globe-trotting cast of weirdos.
The story follows a young martial artist named Son Goku who goes on a quest, not unlike One Piece, and makes a ton of friends along the way. Of course, there's more to it than that, so just know you'll be leaping into another expansive, decade-spanning world that's all kinds of freaky and adorable. Plus, One Piece and Dragon Ball even crossed over once with a team-up between Luffy and Goku, so you can see why it might make a strong follow-up.
For more Goku in your life, we also have a guide on how to watch Dragon Ball in order.
7. Black Lagoon
Oh, you want more pirate action? Black Lagoon might not be as famous as One Piece, but it's a swashbuckling yarn regardless, even if its tone hews closer to the severity of Vinland Saga at points.
Across two seasons, this noughties hit follows a young Japanese office worker after he's kidnapped by pirates. Rokuro Okajima struggles to assimilate at first, what with the crew being hardened criminals and all, but he gets the hang of it eventually, even when things get a bit hairy. Think of this as an earthbound — or seabound — Cowboy Bebop, another anime classic I've recommended for One Piece fans in this list.
6. One-Punch Man
"What is One-Punch Man about?" I hear you ask. It's pretty much what you might expect. Saitama possesses the unique ability to defeat every enemy with just one punch. It's almost a bit too easy, though, which means the poor guy is pretty bored and dissatisfied with life in general.
What does this have to do with One Piece? Aside from an affinity for the loneliest number, both shows revel in goofy weirdness with an outlandish cast of characters who possess strange powers that you could never come up with yourself. Just stop watching before you get to season three, because the dip in quality of these latest episodes will have you punching the screen in no time.
5. My Hero Academia
Superpowers are a lot more common in My Hero Academia than One Piece. The protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, was born into a society where 80% of the population possesses 'quirks'. When he, in turn, receives a special gift from the world's greatest hero, All Might, Midoriya does his best to live up to that title with his fellow classmates fighting by his side.
Like Luffy, Midoriya is the most optimistic guy you'll ever meet, even when everyone's trying to kill him. And in both shows, weirdo gifts drive their quest to become the greatest hero or pirate of them all. Funky hair aside, you could take almost any character out of U.A. High School, pop them in One Piece, and no one would be any wiser. Don't tell me that strange Meatball guy wouldn't fit in with the Straw Hats, for example.
Once you are done with MHA, I've also made a handy list of the best anime shows to watch after My Hero Academia for you!
4. Hunter x Hunter
An optimistic kid travelling with friends to fulfil his quest and obtain the one thing that means the most to him in this whole damn world? I could be talking about One Piece, but I could also be referring to Hunter x Hunter, another beloved series whose hero inspires friends and viewers alike.
The adorable scamp in this case, Gon, is searching for his missing father. Oddball misfits get in the way of his goals here, too, although Hunter x Hunter ends up far darker than its cutesy beginnings might lead you to expect. With so many episodes to get through, this is one of the best anime you could watch to fill that One Piece-shaped hole in your life.
3. Toriko
Luffy is real greedy, and that's ok. He works hard, after all. But few other gluttons in anime can give him a run for his money, except perhaps for Toriko, who stars in his own show of the same name.
While Luffy searches for the One Piece, Toriko is a "gourmet hunter" in search of the rarest food ingredients. It's not easy finding the best food in the world, though. Cue a host of ridiculous, over-the-top adventures that fans of One Piece will love. It's no coincidence that the two stories have crossed over with each other multiple times, after all.
2. Cowboy Bebop
At the time of writing, One Piece has around 1100+ more episodes than Cowboy Bebop, which ran for just 26, but the two are far more equal when it comes to quality. In fact, Cowboy Bebop remains one of the greatest shows of all time, with few hoping to beat it in the three decades since it first aired.
This futuristic spacebound story draws on elements of sci-fi and noir that are mostly absent from One Piece, but they share a love of unlikely heroes who band together outside of society's constraints. These misfits have no qualms about being weird, and it's their differences that actually pull them closer together. Substitute pirates for bounty hunters, and the two shows share more in common than you might think.
1. Gintama
Oh, you thought One Piece was strange? Wait until you get a load of Gintama. Based on one of the most successful manga ever written, this historical sci-fi reimagines the Edo period under alien rule. It's here that we meet samurai Gintoki Sakata, who works as a freelancer to handle odd jobs which pit him against the aliens who have taken over.
Stylistically, Gintama shares plenty in common with One Piece, and you can even see the influence of Eiichiro Oda directly in some episodes. There are also a few hundred episodes to get through, which means you'll have plenty to keep yourself busy with until Netflix's One Piece eventually returns for season three.
For more Straw Hat fun check out our guides on how to watch all of One Piece in order and all of the One Piece filler to avoid in your next marathon.
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