One Piece fans will be waiting for three months, as the legendary anime series is scheduled to take a break from January to March 2026. The switch from a weekly episode to a seasonal release will take some getting used to, as Eiichiro Oda's magnum opus will now only see a maximum of 26 episodes per year for quality control and to give the production team a little bit of a little bit of a feel. Starting to pick up again in April 2026 with the Elbaph arc, those who have stuck with the over 1150 episodes of One Piece is having a tough winter waiting for Luffy and crew to return to the small screen.
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Few anime match both the length and sense of adventure that One Piece are coming to the table, but many include aspects of the series that could make the upcoming wait less painful. Whether it's a long road trip, a gathering of close companions, or similar humor, these nine adventure series are worth checking out in the first few months of 2026.
All anime series on this list are available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Magic: The Labyrinth of Magic
Largely inspired by the folktales found in One thousand and one nights, Magic follows Aladdin as he embarks on a series of epic dungeon-conquering adventures. Each dungeon is controlled by a Djinn, and upon conquering each of these mystical locations, the mysterious creatures offer a powerful and useful trinket. The fantasy series takes a sudden turn when Aladdin discovers his true identity and that of his friend Alibaba. Soon the pair find themselves embarking on even longer journeys, meeting new friends and making new enemies along the way.
When it was released in 2012, Magic was exceptionally popular, with 50 episodes released over two seasons. The treasure hunt and journey in the series, along with the close relationships formed by the characters, could make this very appealing to One Piece fans going through withdrawals.
To your eternity
To your eternity has, in the minds of many, one of the most unforgettable and powerful first episodes of anime in history. Fushi, an immortal orb with no emotions, can change into any creature it wants, taking on the likenesses and abilities of others. Over time, it begins to understand what it means to be human, to form relationships, learn the details of written language and speech, and develop a unique sense of self.
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While the mysterious white-haired creature Fushi embarks on a series of physical journeys, a lot of To your eternity focuses on his character's mentality and growth. For viewers who prefer something more introspective, this character-driven drama series has plenty to offer To your eternitythe third season ends on December 20.
Yona of the dawn
The world has taken a turn for the worse, where people have turned their backs on the divine and chosen greed instead. An ancient king, along with four powerful warriors, cleanses the nation of Kouka of evil, and the five go on to form five tribes. Princess Yona lives a simple life in the Sky Tribe, but one day a terrible tragedy leads to a coup that forces Yona to embark on a difficult mission to seek out ancient warriors and save her kingdom.
This 2014 epic fantasy has been a mainstay of shoujo for years and has recently found its way back into the news as the long-running Yona of the dawn the manga series will end soon. One Piece fans looking for a high-powered adventure should give the 24-episode series a try, and if there are enough slots, the manga, which remains one of the longest-running of all time, can offer some extra excitement.
Distant Paladin
Will is a human child who lives in a dead city far away from others of his kind. Instead, he is raised by three undead creatures: a skeletal warrior, a mummified priestess, and a ghostly sorcerer. They strive to teach Will everything they know, and while he lives a happy life with them, the desire to meet other people eventually becomes too strong to ignore. Embarking on an epic quest to understand both himself and his surroundings, the young man strives to become a paladin and makes many odd friends along the way.
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As the main character, Will quickly won the hearts of viewers, as his chivalrous spirit and quiet strength made him an instant role model for many. There's plenty of character growth in this heartfelt adventure series, and The Faraway Paladin eschews many of the clichés and tropes often found in isekai anime for a more fresh experience.
The Twelve Kingdoms
A 45-episode epic fantasy series released in 2002, The Twelve Kingdoms was inspired by a series of fantasy novels written by Fuyumi Ono. The story follows depressed high school student Youko Nakajima, who is suddenly attacked by terrifying monsters and approached by a bizarre man who swears his allegiance to her. Swept away to another world, Youko and her classmates must find out why they are there. Although Youko receives special treatment, the same cannot be said for her classmates, who are hunted because of their connection to Earth.
Said to be one of the best isekai anime series of all time, The Twelve Kingdoms remains the very definition of the word “epic”. Youko is one of the more realistic and relatable protagonists out there, and the world she's brought into is filled with mystery and intrigue, sure to appease those looking for an adventure to get lost in.
Reborn!
Shy and talentless Tsunayoshi Sawada is next in line to become head of the Vongola crime family. Timoteo, the current boss, decides the boy needs some training before taking on the difficult position and sends Reborn, a gun-toting baby, to show him the ropes. Not everything will go smoothly, and before all is said and done, Tsunayoshi will have to deal with impromptu time travel, awkward curses, and the emergence of some unexpected abilities.
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Reborn remains a mainstay of the shonen genre and is packed with plenty of action, memorable characters and unique fantasy elements. Its humor is also something that One Piece fans might appreciate, and it's the longest anime on this list, with 203 episodes. While the anime series turns 20 in 2026, Reborn may make a comeback soon, as a remake is rumored to be announced soon.
Record of the Lodoss War
Inspired by a series of RPG inspired fantasy novels written by Ryo Mizuno, the original 13 episode Record of the Lodoss War The OVA released in 1990 is still a fantasy epic. Evil begins to stir in Lodoss due to the actions of an ancient witch, and six champions must embark on a mission to stop it, led by the warrior Parn. The female High Elf Deedlit is one of the series' more recognizable characters, along with the older dwarf, Ghim.
While the 90s series may not be familiar to younger anime fans, the title may still ring a bell due to its inclusion in the gaming world. Year 2021, Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth became the first game inspired by the series to make it to the West in two decades, with the 2D Metroidvania becoming a huge hit with gamers. Perhaps bingeing this short series will lead to even more distraction in the form of the action RPG title.
Gargantia on the hard planet
In the sci-fi anime series Gargantia on the hard planethumanity has reached the dark depths of space and forms the Galactic Alliance of Humankind. Unfortunately, there is no peace to be found in the great beyond, as the collective is constantly at war with the Hideauze, a squid-like alien species. Ledo is a soldier fighting back against these beasts, but one day he is sucked into a wormhole and wakes up somewhere he could never have predicted: Earth. Having never been to the birthplace of humanity, Ledo must adjust to his new life, while also finding something new to live for.
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A journey from the depths of space to Earth certainly qualifies as an epic adventure, and Gargantia on the hard planet is one of the more underrated series on this list. Although short at only 13 episodes, the animation and characters do not disappoint, and those looking to embark on a new journey away from the high seas may find some value in this Production IG release.
One Piece
- Release date
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October 20, 1999
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Ma Shihi Endo, Toshihiro Ma Shihi Endo, Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
- Author
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Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
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Mayumi Tanaka
Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
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Kazuya Nakai
Roronoa Zoro (voice)
