The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has led to myriads of cancellations and delays in a plethora of visual media industries. The Chinese and Japanese anime communities, in particular, have had their fair share of disappointing setbacks. Eiichiro Oda, the legendary mind behind the expansive world of One Piece, released a heartfelt statement in response to the current state of the Coronavirus scare in his author comment from Weekly Shonen Jump 2020 Issue #17.
"It's hard to write about anything with the world like this," Oda says. "I'm praying for everyone from the bottom of my heart."
One Piece is known for its extensive lore and sprawling character arcs. With almost 1000 manga chapters and over 1000 television episodes, it continues to be one of the longest running and most beloved anime sagas.
One Piece chronicles the action-packed adventures of aspiring pirate Monkey D. Luffy. After eating the mystical Gum-Gum Fruit, his body takes on the properties of rubber. Alongside an ensemble of companions, including fan-favorites like Roronoa Zoro and Vinsmoke Sanji, Luffy scours the endless seas for the legendary and elusive One Piece treasure.