One Piece anime rights and licensing: who owns what
One Piece now has two parallel anime productions with different rights structures: the long-running Toei series and Netflix's upcoming THE ONE PIECE from WIT Studio.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: One Piece originates with manga creator Eiichiro Oda and publisher Shueisha, and the long-running television anime has been produced by Toei Animation since 1999 with Fuji Television as the broadcast partner. A separate new adaptation, THE ONE PIECE, is being produced by WIT Studio in collaboration with Shueisha, Fuji TV, and Toei Animation, and premieres in February 2027 only on Netflix. In English-language markets, VIZ Media publishes the manga. No single company owns the franchise outright; rights are layered by medium and territory.
Who owns the One Piece property?
The foundation is the manga. VIZ Media's official One Piece page credits Eiichiro Oda as creator and notes the series debuted in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997. Oda and Shueisha therefore sit at the base of every anime, film, game, and merchandise license: adaptations require their approval, and anime credits consistently name Oda and Shueisha alongside the anime producers.
Netflix's announcement for THE ONE PIECE states the manga had sold more than 600 million copies globally as of March 2026. A property of that scale is managed through layered licenses rather than a single owner, which is why the question of who owns One Piece has different answers for manga, the Toei anime, the new WIT Studio anime, and the live-action series.
The Toei Animation series and its partners
Toei Animation's official US catalog lists the One Piece television anime as a 1999 production that is still in production, with more than 1,156 episodes, alongside 14 theatrical films from the 2000 original through 2022's One Piece Film Red and a run of television specials. Toei Animation is the animation producer and handles international licensing of the series through its overseas subsidiaries.
The television anime has always been a joint production with Fuji Television, which broadcasts the series in Japan. Netflix's THE ONE PIECE announcement names Shueisha, Fuji Television Network, and Toei Animation as collaborators on the new project as well, confirming that the original rights triangle remains intact for the new adaptation.
Publicly documented One Piece rights structure.| Party | Role | Rights layer |
|---|
| Eiichiro Oda / Shueisha | Manga creator and publisher | Underlying work and approval rights |
| Toei Animation | Animation producer since 1999 | TV series, films, international licensing |
| Fuji Television | Japanese broadcaster and co-producer | Broadcast and production participation |
| WIT Studio | Animation producer of THE ONE PIECE | New adaptation production |
| Netflix | Distributor of THE ONE PIECE | Global streaming, February 2027 premiere |
| VIZ Media | English-language manga publisher | Manga publication in English |
THE ONE PIECE: a second anime with its own deal
THE ONE PIECE is a new adaptation starting from the manga's East Blue Saga, produced by WIT Studio with Shueisha, Fuji TV, and Toei Animation collaborating. Netflix says the first season covers the first 50 chapters across seven episodes and premieres in February 2027, only on Netflix, with all episodes released at once.
This is a distinct rights arrangement from the Toei series, which continues in production. The franchise now runs two anime adaptations in parallel under different studios and distributors, an unusual structure that only works because the underlying rights holders approved both.
How licensing works across territories
Toei Animation licenses the One Piece anime internationally through its own subsidiaries in the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong, which is why the series appears on different platforms in different regions. Home video, streaming, broadcast, and merchandise rights are licensed separately by territory and window.
VIZ Media publishes the English-language manga, per its official series page. Platform carriage can change as licenses expire or are renegotiated, so the presence of One Piece on a given streaming service reflects a time-limited license, not ownership.
Ownership uncertainty note: Public sources confirm Oda and Shueisha as manga rights holders and Toei Animation, Fuji TV, WIT Studio, and Netflix in their stated roles. The exact contract terms, per-territory streaming windows, and revenue splits among these parties are private and not disclosed.
Why the structure matters
Because no single company controls everything, One Piece business news only makes sense in layers. A box office record for a Toei film, a Netflix premiere for THE ONE PIECE, and a VIZ manga milestone each belong to different rights holders with different economics.
For anyone tracking the franchise commercially, the practical map is: Shueisha and Oda at the base, Toei Animation running the ongoing anime and its licensing, Fuji TV on broadcast, Netflix on the new adaptation, and regional licensees such as VIZ filling in publishing and distribution by territory.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the anime rights to One Piece?
The underlying rights belong to creator Eiichiro Oda and publisher Shueisha. The television anime is produced by Toei Animation with Fuji Television, and the new THE ONE PIECE adaptation is produced by WIT Studio with Netflix as its global streaming home.
Who licenses One Piece anime internationally?
Toei Animation licenses the long-running series internationally through its US, European, and Hong Kong subsidiaries. Netflix is the exclusive streaming home of THE ONE PIECE from February 2027, and VIZ Media publishes the manga in English.
Is the One Piece anime leaving Toei Animation?
No. Toei Animation's catalog lists the television series as still in production with more than 1,156 episodes. THE ONE PIECE is a separate, parallel adaptation by WIT Studio, not a replacement.
Does Netflix own One Piece?
No. Netflix is the distributor of the new THE ONE PIECE adaptation and the live-action series. The property remains with Oda, Shueisha, Toei Animation, and their licensed partners.
Sources and methodology
- One Piece catalog page, Toei Animation (US). Official Toei Animation US catalog: One Piece television series in production since 1999 with 1,156+ episodes, plus the complete theatrical film list through One Piece Film Red.
- THE ONE PIECE: Everything to Know About the Upcoming Anime Series, Netflix Tudum. June 24, 2026: WIT Studio production with Shueisha, Fuji TV, and Toei Animation; February 2027 Netflix-only premiere; manga sales above 600 million copies as of March 2026.
- One Piece manga page, VIZ Media. Official English-language publisher page: Eiichiro Oda as creator and the series' 1997 debut in Weekly Shonen Jump.