Published Feb 23, 2026, 6:30 PM EST
Merlyn De Souza is a freelance writer and anime enthusiast based in Goa, India, with a Bachelor's in English Literature. When she isn't writing, she can be found exploring various realms of entertainment, including, but not limited to, K-dramas, novels, and even the occasional manhwa. She also enjoys all things creative, like sewing and makeup.
It's been well over two years since One Piece first announced its Wit Studio remake, and despite the lack of updates, fans of the series are still on the edge of their seats waiting for it to drop. Coming at a time when One Piece's anime is looking better and better with every new arc, and the Netflix live-action is reeling in an all-new audience, the Wit Studio remake is set to propel One Piece even further into the mainstream.
From solving pacing issues to remastering the old animation for modern audiences, the One Piece remake is poised to make the series more approachable than ever. Having said all that, there's arguably one anime that truly needs an upgrade more than One Piece at the moment.
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Forget One Piece, Naruto Desperately Needs A Remake
Custom image created by Evan D. MullicaneReleased within just three years of each other, both Naruto and One Piece's anime undeniably look like products of the era. While the animation of both series may not hold up to modern standards two decades later, both anime possess unmistakable charm, and the fact that they were able to reel in millions of viewers around the world is proof enough.
That said, of the two, One Piece is still marginally easier to get into, with the East Blue Saga's animation being just a bit more refined and cleaner than Naruto. Even in terms of adapting the source material, Naruto's anime leaves much to be desired with the Land of Waves Arc, which is, truthfully, a pretty good, compelling introduction to the series in the manga.
From the censorship to the character designs and the animation itself, Naruto's earliest anime arcs pose a huge hurdle to anyone looking to dive into the series all these years later. While the animation does get far better going into the Chunin Exams, there's no denying that the entire original Naruto series could desperately use a remaster, if at least to bring it up to the same mark as Shippuden.
Naruto Can Still Stand Toe-To-Toe With One Piece and Bleach
While One Piece's franchise continues to expand with spin-offs like One Piece Heroines, the live-action, and the Wit-Studio remake, Naruto has somewhat faded into the background, especially with no new updates on Boruto's anime. Even Bleach has re-emerged into the spotlight with Thousand-Year Blood War, while Naruto fans indefinitely wait for the four new episodes promised for the series' 20th anniversary.
Even so, Naruto can most definitely still make a comeback, be it with a remake or even a new and improved Boruto anime. Boruto Two Blue Vortex's manga continues to garner considerable readership, and with an anime adaptation that does it justice, Naruto could once again stand toe-to-toe with its Big Three contemporaries.
There's no denying that Naruto's fan base is still alive and kicking, and if Studio Pierrot could bring back both Bleach and Black Clover after all these years, there's no reason why the same isn't possible with Naruto, which could just as easily become a worldwide sensation once more.
Created by Eiichiro Oda
First Film One Piece: The Movie
Cast Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi
English (US) ·