This article includes spoilers from One Piece’s Final Saga.
Overview
- Eiichiro Oda faces challenges in condensing his ideas into a strict 17-page limit due to publication constraints.
- He focuses primarily on the most significant battles in One Piece, prioritizing impactful storytelling.
- While fans are often critical of off-screen battles, Oda has expressed a desire for a more expansive narrative if given the opportunity.
One Piece, a titan in the manga world, captivates readers with its thrilling developments and epic battles each week. As a notable shonen series, it frequently showcases intense confrontations that fans eagerly anticipate.
Yet, a common criticism arises: many fans feel frustrated that Oda often skips over smaller battles, opting instead to depict their aftermath. While some point fingers at Oda for these omissions, the reasons behind this choice are rooted in logistical constraints he has previously discussed.
Oda’s Challenge with Page Limits
- Oda has a wealth of ideas per scene
- Ultimately, prioritization is key for him
One reason Oda often resorts to off-screening battles lies in the strict 17-page limit imposed by Jump each week. The publisher enforces a cap on chapter length, leaving little room for extended narratives. Oda strives to encapsulate his vision within this constraint, leading to moments where he must summarize events rather than depict them in detail. In his words, reflecting on this limitation in 2021:
If I’m allowed to draw 30 pages each week, I’ll soon finish submitting my manuscript. — Eiichiro Oda
Oda’s aspiration is clear: he would prefer to draft longer, more richly detailed chapters. The current format both frustrates him and inhibits his creative expression. As he meticulously determines how to fit his concepts within 17 pages, the prospect of submitting 30-page chapters is appealing, not just for him but also for readers who crave depth. Unfortunately, due to Jump’s policies, Oda continues to navigate these constraints.
Oda’s Focus on Major Conflicts
Necessary Cuts in Storytelling
In his creative process, Oda typically drafts lengthy manuscripts, which necessitates editing to conform to the 17-page limit. He prioritizes critical plot developments, which is why less significant battles may be glossed over in favor of the climactic confrontations, such as those that occurred in the Wano arc.
As Luffy once stated, As long as I’m alive, there are infinite chances.
This philosophy reflects Oda’s approach—making strategic cuts that serve the narrative as a whole rather than every minor encounter. Fans may critique this practice, yet many remain unaware of the constraints Oda operates under. With fuller context, supporters might appreciate that Oda desires a more detailed depiction of One Piece’s world than is currently achievable.
The anticipation for One Piece chapter 1146 builds as the next installment is set to release this week. Readers in Japan can expect the new chapter to drop at 12 AM JST on Monday, with international availability on April 20. Fans are encouraged to catch the latest chapter for free on Manga Plus.