So I always think this is an important discussion to be had about the series because it is by far the most important topic. "What is left" can make or break how the series pans out or unfolds. It can entirely save or ruin past adventures. So I've talked about this on other forums (with other usernames) to some degree but feel like I'd gain the most discussion here.
So we got this advert in the news thread, but it hasn't been shown around much:
Essentially what its saying is that with volumes 97, 98, and 99, (in 3 of 4 different sections), they are releasing 9 boxes altogether that encompass the past arcs of one piece through next year to One Piece's 24th anniversary. The first 3 are with 97, the 2nd 3 with 98, etc. The boxes are comprised as followed:
Box 1: 12 Volumes (East Blue)
Box 2: 11 Volumes (Boroque Works)
Box 3: 9 Volumes (Jaya, Skypiea, LRLL)
Box 4: 13 Volumes (Water 7, Enies Lobby)
Box 5: 8 Volumes (Thriller Bark, Sabaody, Amazon Lily)
Box 6: 8 Volumes (Impel Down, Marineford)
Box 7: 9 Volumes (Fishman Island, Punk Hazard)
Box 8: 10 Volumes (Dressrosa)
Box 9: 10 Volumes (Zou, Whole Cake Island)
So what is interesting is that with Volume 100, which falls in "section" 4 on this diagram, it just talks about Wano arc being comprised of 91~present (we currently are sitting in the middle of volume 98). This most certainly means the Wano "arc" will very likely comprise the entirety of Box 10 (this is not mentioned, but likely Shueisha compiles Wano this way to match the others eventually), which will be well over 10 volumes by the time it is over I'm sure. Now the big question revolves around these boxes themselves. As you can see, they were very clearly separated into small, digestible boxes that cover "mostly" related plot threads or tangential arcs. Compare to the US boxes so far, which are 20+ volume boxes for western collectors. So why 9 (so far) boxes? Why does it seem like Box 10 is starting another "Quarter" with Wano? I think thats exactly what its doing.
For people who consistently make jokes about the Anime or Advertising being privy to knowing more info than we give them credit for, I think they are right on the money. Wano being the start of the last "quarter" of the One Piece collection makes sense. It makes sense with Oda's admissions to wanting to finish in a finite number of years. It makes sense with the "80%" progress comments.
Now, does this mean One Piece is looking to end "exactly" on 120 volumes because Quarter 3 finished on an even 90 volumes? While signs seem to point to this I'm personally not sure that "needs" to be the case. If you look closely, you can see that each quarter seems to roughly end around the 30 volume mark, but they aren't perfect. Wano covering Box 10 very likely won't be a clean 10 volumes like Box 8 and Box 9 were. It can, and will, likely will go significantly past that to 12-15 volumes judging by the current pacing. If thats the case, it leaves less than 20 volumes to cover the remaining 2 boxes (again, assuming there will be 12 boxes total for an even collection).
So where does that leave us with Box's 11 and 12? Well, Wano still doesn't resolve the fact that Elbaf hasn't been seen, nor Laugh Tale, or any other "extraneous island" or plot point before the Final war. So my guesses would be that:
- Box 11 covers everything Post-Wano but prior to Laugh Tale/The Final War. Things like Elbaf, Lodestar and the possible Vegapunk arc could fall here.
- Box 12 covers Laugh Tale and the Final War.
Like any other Box collection outlined above, Boxes 11 and 12 (like Box 10) do not have to fall at an even 10 volumes. They can be longer or shorter depending on what Oda does. For example, Wano/Box 10 may be 13/14 volumes long by the end. Box 11 could be another 8-13 volumes (just judging by the smallest box being 8 and the largest so far being 13). Box 12 could be the largest one in the series at 14+ volumes, considering what it needs to achieve.
So while this doesn't actually answer "how much" is actually left, it puts into perspective on where we probably are in the story, and possibly "why" 80% or "about" 5 years is a conscious statement by the Author. It does not mean it will be perfect, but I just figured I bring this up since it seems like Shueisha will eventually market One Piece as an "Epic 12 Part Saga" one day.
Tl;dr: Signs and advertising seem to point to OP being a marketed 12 part/boxed series, based on the previous 9 parts/boxes (90 volumes total) separated by 3 "Quarters", with 1 quarter remaining. Wano is Part/Box 10, starting the 4th Quarter. There will be a Part/Box 11 that connects us from Wano to Part/Box 12, which will be the final arc/war/etc. This should at least net the series to 120 volumes, but it could be more or less depending on how Oda ends the series.
So we got this advert in the news thread, but it hasn't been shown around much:
Essentially what its saying is that with volumes 97, 98, and 99, (in 3 of 4 different sections), they are releasing 9 boxes altogether that encompass the past arcs of one piece through next year to One Piece's 24th anniversary. The first 3 are with 97, the 2nd 3 with 98, etc. The boxes are comprised as followed:
Box 1: 12 Volumes (East Blue)
Box 2: 11 Volumes (Boroque Works)
Box 3: 9 Volumes (Jaya, Skypiea, LRLL)
Box 4: 13 Volumes (Water 7, Enies Lobby)
Box 5: 8 Volumes (Thriller Bark, Sabaody, Amazon Lily)
Box 6: 8 Volumes (Impel Down, Marineford)
Box 7: 9 Volumes (Fishman Island, Punk Hazard)
Box 8: 10 Volumes (Dressrosa)
Box 9: 10 Volumes (Zou, Whole Cake Island)
So what is interesting is that with Volume 100, which falls in "section" 4 on this diagram, it just talks about Wano arc being comprised of 91~present (we currently are sitting in the middle of volume 98). This most certainly means the Wano "arc" will very likely comprise the entirety of Box 10 (this is not mentioned, but likely Shueisha compiles Wano this way to match the others eventually), which will be well over 10 volumes by the time it is over I'm sure. Now the big question revolves around these boxes themselves. As you can see, they were very clearly separated into small, digestible boxes that cover "mostly" related plot threads or tangential arcs. Compare to the US boxes so far, which are 20+ volume boxes for western collectors. So why 9 (so far) boxes? Why does it seem like Box 10 is starting another "Quarter" with Wano? I think thats exactly what its doing.
For people who consistently make jokes about the Anime or Advertising being privy to knowing more info than we give them credit for, I think they are right on the money. Wano being the start of the last "quarter" of the One Piece collection makes sense. It makes sense with Oda's admissions to wanting to finish in a finite number of years. It makes sense with the "80%" progress comments.
Now, does this mean One Piece is looking to end "exactly" on 120 volumes because Quarter 3 finished on an even 90 volumes? While signs seem to point to this I'm personally not sure that "needs" to be the case. If you look closely, you can see that each quarter seems to roughly end around the 30 volume mark, but they aren't perfect. Wano covering Box 10 very likely won't be a clean 10 volumes like Box 8 and Box 9 were. It can, and will, likely will go significantly past that to 12-15 volumes judging by the current pacing. If thats the case, it leaves less than 20 volumes to cover the remaining 2 boxes (again, assuming there will be 12 boxes total for an even collection).
So where does that leave us with Box's 11 and 12? Well, Wano still doesn't resolve the fact that Elbaf hasn't been seen, nor Laugh Tale, or any other "extraneous island" or plot point before the Final war. So my guesses would be that:
- Box 11 covers everything Post-Wano but prior to Laugh Tale/The Final War. Things like Elbaf, Lodestar and the possible Vegapunk arc could fall here.
- Box 12 covers Laugh Tale and the Final War.
Like any other Box collection outlined above, Boxes 11 and 12 (like Box 10) do not have to fall at an even 10 volumes. They can be longer or shorter depending on what Oda does. For example, Wano/Box 10 may be 13/14 volumes long by the end. Box 11 could be another 8-13 volumes (just judging by the smallest box being 8 and the largest so far being 13). Box 12 could be the largest one in the series at 14+ volumes, considering what it needs to achieve.
So while this doesn't actually answer "how much" is actually left, it puts into perspective on where we probably are in the story, and possibly "why" 80% or "about" 5 years is a conscious statement by the Author. It does not mean it will be perfect, but I just figured I bring this up since it seems like Shueisha will eventually market One Piece as an "Epic 12 Part Saga" one day.
Tl;dr: Signs and advertising seem to point to OP being a marketed 12 part/boxed series, based on the previous 9 parts/boxes (90 volumes total) separated by 3 "Quarters", with 1 quarter remaining. Wano is Part/Box 10, starting the 4th Quarter. There will be a Part/Box 11 that connects us from Wano to Part/Box 12, which will be the final arc/war/etc. This should at least net the series to 120 volumes, but it could be more or less depending on how Oda ends the series.
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