One Piece: 6 Epic Fights That Are Superior in the Manga

Essential Insights

The One Piece anime faces criticism for its sluggish pacing, constant flashbacks, and unnecessary filler during significant combat scenes.
Several memorable battles, such as Luffy versus Doflamingo and Luffy versus Kaido, suffer in impact due to unwarranted lengthening in the animated series.
Toei Animation’s portrayal of Luffy’s fights does not measure up to the manga, resulting in diminished character moments.

The One Piece anime can be quite polarizing; many fans enjoy seeing Eiichiro Oda’s fantastic narrative come to life, yet Toei Animation has made several choices some deem questionable, leading to the perception that the anime is the lesser format of this extensive pirate saga.

Major battles constitute a significant aspect of One Piece. Unfortunately, the anime’s flaws—including poor pacing, overly long durations, excessive flashbacks, and more—have detracted from these experiences, causing many fans to gravitate towards the manga for these fights, particularly the following examples.

6 Luffy Versus Foxy

The Filler Makes It Much More Frustrating

Afro Luffy battling Foxy in Volume 33 of the manga.

Chapters 314 to 317 (Manga) Episodes 217 to 219 (Anime)

The Long Ring Long Land Arc tends to be contentious among fans, and the anime adaptation doesn’t help its reputation. By incorporating filler episodes and omitting crucial sequences (such as Admiral Aokiji’s unexpected appearance towards the end), the anime version becomes tedious to watch, culminating in a lackluster showdown between Monkey D. Luffy and Foxy.

In contrast, the manga delivers a much cleaner narrative devoid of unnecessary filler, allowing Oda’s comedic style to shine through more effectively. Additionally, Foxy’s absence for over two decades following his defeat in the manga contrasted sharply with the anime, which kept bringing him back in forgettable filler arcs soon after the Long Ring Long Land Arc concluded.

5 Luffy Versus Doflamingo

The Grand Finale of This Epic Encounter Was Diminished in the Anime

Luffy overwhelms Doflamingo with a formidable King Kong Gun.

Chapters 780 to 791 (Manga) Episodes 721 to 734 (Anime)

The adaptation of the Dressrosa Arc is notorious for its drawn-out scenes and languid pacing, which has led many viewers to abandon the anime for the manga. The climactic clash between Luffy and Donquixote Doflamingo suffered notably from these shortcomings.

This encounter is marred by drawn-out sequences, annoying repetition of flashbacks, and subpar animation, with the climax—the execution of Luffy’s King Kong Gun—being transformed into an awkward, unnecessary power struggle in the anime. What was meant to showcase Luffy’s superiority over Doflamingo was diminished, rendering the finale considerably less thrilling.

4 Luffy Vs Charlotte Katakuri

The Anime Adaptation Drags On Way Too Much

Luffy and Katakuri's battle on the cover of Volume 89 of the manga.

Chapters 878 to 896 (Manga) Episodes 850 to 871 (Anime)

The battle of Luffy versus Charlotte Katakuri is undeniably one of the most iconic conflicts within the One Piece series. While both the manga and anime versions hold excitement, Toei’s habitual flaws slightly lessen the animated clash’s impact.

Although the animation and musical score are commendable, the extended duration acts as a hindrance. This confrontation feels unnecessarily prolonged due to excessive flashbacks, filler scenes, and languid pacing. Though the manga version was already extensive, Toei opted to drag it out further without need.

3 Luffy Versus Kaido (Evil)

The Intense Showdown Lost Its Emotional Weight

Kaido swiftly takes down Luffy with a single Raimei Hakke.

Chapters 922 and 923 (Manga) Episodes 912 to 914 (Anime)

The initial conflict between Luffy and Kaido during the Wano Country Arc was a moment packed with emotional resonance in the manga. After an extensive buildup, the world’s Strongest Creature swiftly struck down Luffy with a singular, brutal Raimei Hakke, starkly illustrating the disparity in their powers and setting the stage for Luffy’s subsequent character growth.

However, the anime grossly mishandled this pivotal moment by drawing out the fight’s duration. This included depicting Luffy’s approach toward Kaido, which obscured the shock of his unexpected assault, as well as prolonging the Raimei Hakke to give the false impression that Luffy could somehow withstand it, undermining the significance of their clash in the overarching storyline.

2 Luffy vs. Kaido (Onigashima)

A Crucial Moment for Luffy Was Obscured by Overdone Visual Effects

Luffy unleashes an advanced Conqueror's Haki attack against Kaido.

Chapters 1010 to 1013 (Manga) Episodes 1028 to 1033 (Anime)

Throughout the Wano Country Arc, Luffy and Kaido fought multiple times, some clashes shining while others disappointingly missed the mark. One significant battle showcased a pivotal moment in Luffy’s character development: after rigorous training throughout the arc, Luffy finally mastered infusing his attacks with Conqueror’s Haki, allowing him to inflict substantial damage on Kaido.

Regrettably, the anime marred this iconic scene by obscuring Luffy’s Haki visuals with needless particle effects that drowned out the action. This led to a frustrating viewing experience, and even the nostalgic resonance of “We Are” beneath the fight did not redeem the moment.

1 Kozuki Momonosuke vs Kaido

A Stunning Battle Between Two Dragons Suffered from Poor CGI Animation

The confrontation between Dragon Kaido and Luffy on Dragon Momonosuke.

Chapters 1025 to 1042 (Manga) Episodes 1049 to 1069 (Anime)

Kaido’s dragon form exudes a majestic yet fearsome presence, making it challenging to animate convincingly. Consequently, Toei sometimes resorted to using 3D models in the Wano Country Arc. While this technique can work in moderation, it fell short when used to depict entire fights.

Unfortunately, this was the case with the combat involving Kaido and Kozuki Momonosuke in their dragon forms. The reliance on unsatisfactory 3D renditions failed to effectively express the emotional stakes tied to the fierce rivalry, ultimately disappointing viewers.

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