In the early 2000s, three anime and manga series stood out from the rest in the Shonen genre, and fans know that they are One Piece, Naruto and Bleach. These three shaped the industry around them so much that fans gave them an iconic title – The Big Three. During the 2000s, these three ran together. But everything started to fall apart when the first anime series of the three ended, and fans know it to be Bleach. Naruto then followed in 2017, and that too ended. As a result, One Piece was left alone, but now, in 2026, the trio will come back together.
It's official: One Piece Anime is going on a long hiatus
The One Piece anime is leaving, and it's been quite a while.
One Piece will kick-start its Elbaf arc in the anime, while Bleach will air the final part of the Thousand-Year Blood War. Naruto also surprised many when its big return was set for 2026, with 4 new episodes in the worksy. 2026 is clearly going to be huge for these three anime, but it may also be the last time these three unite.
The Big Three Anime disbanded in 2012
The Big Three is an unofficial title that Shonen anime fans gave to the three biggest series of the 2000s, they are One Piece, Naruto and Bleach. These three got the most hype, and since the breakup of this trio, nothing has really been able to replace it.
“The Big Three” first fell in 2012. In this year, the first of the big three in Bleach ended. What's surprising is that Bleach actually ended before adapting its final arc back then, which upset many fans.
With Bleach down, Naruto and One Piece were left standing, but even this duo wouldn't last forever. A a few years after Bleach's anime ended, so did Naruto: Shippuden, as its last episode aired in 2017. Fans could say that Boruto aired not too long after that and brought back the Naruto franchise, but it obviously doesn't offer the same level of quality. In addition, even Boruto is on hiatus at the moment.
With both Whiten and Naruto over, One Piece were left on their own. One Piece is still going strong and releases new episodes every year consistently. One Piece might slow down a bit with more breaks, but it's far from over.
One Piece, Naruto and Bleach will return in 2026 after 14 years
Although it's surprising to some to even believe, the Big Three will indeed all be returning in the year 2026. All three series have now been confirmed to receive new content this year. The three series airing together hasn't happened since 2012, which was 14 years ago.
One Piece will return with the Elbaf arc in April 2026
One Piece's final episode of 2025 aired a few weeks ago. One Piece episode 1156 marked the end of the Egghead arc. With Egghead coming to an end, fans are in for a major breakthrough. While One Piece was established as a weekly anime for decades, the era is now changing and it is becoming seasonal. One Piece will now go on hiatus for 6 months every year.
Needless to say, some fans hate the yearly breaks of One Piece, but at least One Piece will have content for years to come this way. In both cases, One Piece's return in 2026 has already been confirmed. The series is set to return with its Elbaf arc in about 3 months, in April 2026.
Bleach is back with the Millennium Blood War: The Calamity
Bleach's anime adaptation ended rather disappointingly in 2012. The anime adaptation decided to ignore the ongoing manga arc and put an end to the story. This was heartbreaking for many fans, but luckily, Bleach made a comeback 10 years later. In 2022, the Bleach anime returned to adapt the Thousand-Year Blood War. This was exciting for many fans, especially as the quality and pace were upgraded, without more filler added.
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The Thousand-Year Blood War is not being adapted into a weekly anime like the original Bleach series. The series has become completely seasonal. Every year a new part is released and 2026 will be the year of The Calamity.
The Calamity is the final part of the Millennium Blood Warand fans are excited to see the story wrap up properly this time.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 – The Calamity is scheduled for release in July 2026.
Naruto returns with four special episodes, reportedly in late 2026
While fans were waiting for the return of One Piece and Bleach in 2026, what shocked many was actually the return of Naruto. For its 20th anniversary, Naruto had four special episodes scheduled to air in 2023. But due to quality issues, they were never sent.
However, Studio Pierrot has now determined that these episodes are up to standard and finished. This means that Naruto will finally return with the other two in 2026. While the exact release date is not confirmed, it is said to be scheduled for release in late 2026. Fans are excited to see Naruto's adventures before the time jump and the events of Shippuden again.
2026 could be the last time The Big 3 Air Together
2026 is going to be absolutely huge for the Big Threebut it may very well be the last time they all air together. One Piece is far from over, so there is no worry that it will stop airing. But when it comes to Bleach, Calamity is the last part of the story's final arc. In other words, there is nothing to adapt to. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 — The Calamity will end the series for good this year.
Meanwhile, for Naruto, there are only four episodes that have been produced, as far as fans know. They will air in 2026, and that will be the end of the story, unless something else is in store for fans. The only way the Naruto series could return in the long term is a new series or a Boruto return.
Bleach and Naruto Getting a remake could revive the big three for a long time
The Big Three will break up again in 2026, but a true revival of the trio could happen if Bleach and Naruto get new remakes. One Piece, which is still ongoing, is already getting a remake by WIT Studio. It would definitely be a dream for fans of Naruto and Bleach for their series to get the same treatment.
Naruto ended almost 10 years ago now, and a remake would be great. Many parts of the series are outdated, and while some episodes had great animation, the majority of the series was mediocre.
Bleach suffers from the same problem. It already ended before Naruto, in 2012, and its early parts are quite outdated. One also has to consider the outrageous amount of filler in both Naruto and Bleach. Naruto was eventually able to get a remake for himself. For Bleach, this seems a bit more difficult, especially since its Final Arc was just adapted.
