Discover which legendary manga will succeed One Piece on Crunchyroll in 2026!

The temporary departure of One Piece from Crunchyroll at the beginning of 2026 paves the way for a major new development that will captivate manga and anime fans. Several titles are competing for the position of successor to complete the catalog, but it is undoubtedly an already well-established series that will take over. Here is what we can expect from this transition with a list of key points that structure this change:

• The scheduled break of One Piece from January to March 2026 with a newly imposed broadcast rhythm
• The imminent arrival of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3, set for early January, to fill the gap left
• A packed schedule including other anticipated series such as Frieren, Fire Force, and Oshi no Ko
• The driving role played by Crunchyroll to maintain the attention and engagement of communities
• The challenges for fans in managing expectations and follow-ups

These elements paint a rich and varied landscape, where the legendary manga One Piece temporarily yields its place but remains king. Let’s explore together the details of this transition and the impact on the online anime scene.

The temporary pause of One Piece and its impact on Crunchyroll in 2026

One Piece, one of Crunchyroll’s essential pillars, enters a pause phase between January and March 2026. This interruption is strategic and responds to the need to adopt a lighter broadcast format: 26 episodes per year as opposed to a more sustained pace previously. This refocus aims to preserve narrative quality and ensure a calmer follow-up for fans in the long term.

This decision has an immediate impact on programming. The absence of such a legendary anime directly affects the viewing habits of Crunchyroll users, accustomed to weekly releases of One Piece. In terms of numbers, One Piece has historically generated more than 10 million monthly views on the platform, illustrating its weight in the catalog.

For Crunchyroll, this pause creates what could be called a “strategic gap” to fill. With the goal of maintaining strong editorial tension on the platform during the winter, calendar management becomes crucial. The challenge is twofold:

1. Maintain subscriber traffic, because the temporary departure of such a license can lead to a significant audience drop.
2. Balance the offer of new releases and sequels to avoid an editorial lull that would harm loyalty.

It is in this context that the arrival of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 appears as a brilliant strategy. We will see how this work, strong with its recent popularity, imposes itself as the natural candidate to become the successor to One Piece on Crunchyroll.

Jujutsu Kaisen season 3: the obvious successor on Crunchyroll

Scheduled to start on January 8, 2026, the launch of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 corresponds to a perfect start to take over during the One Piece pause. This almost perfect timing makes it possible to maintain a strong presence on the platform.

Jujutsu Kaisen, with its well-established universe and spectacular fights, has managed to conquer a wide audience mixing amateurs and devoted fans. Season 3 promises to continue the series’ meteoric rise thanks to rich narrative arcs and high-quality animation signed by MAPPA, a studio renowned notably for its work on other successful anime.

Crunchyroll’s role is to capitalize on fan enthusiasm by offering a weekly appointment that will become the new community pillar. The Jujutsu Kaisen phenomenon is not just a simple anime: it is a catalyst for discussions, theories, and massive livestreams where viewers analyze every detail. This interactive dimension is essential to maintaining excitement online.

Why does Jujutsu Kaisen fit so well the role of replacement?

Firstly, the worldwide notoriety of the series thanks to its first two seasons and the film “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” creates a solid base of acquired fans. This limits the risk of fading even without One Piece.

Secondly, season 3 is eagerly awaited especially for the development of highly appreciated manga arcs that promise strong moments, both dramatic and spectacular.

Finally, the different narrative positioning — a supernatural universe combining intensity and depth — also attracts an audience complementary to that of One Piece. This complementarity allows Crunchyroll to broaden its reach without cannibalizing attention.

In this role, it is noted that Jujutsu Kaisen does not settle for being a “simple novelty” but fully plays its locomotive role. This dynamic ensures that the temporary absence of One Piece is not perceived as an editorial desert but as an opening to other thrilling horizons.

A dense 2026 winter season: other animations to follow on Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll’s winter programming does not rely solely on Jujutsu Kaisen to fill this gap. Several other flagship series are awaited, each bringing its own narrative flavor and universe. These titles enrich the catalog and multiply weekly appointments, thus enhancing the notion of a bustling animated winter.

Here is a concise list of strong confirmed or expected titles:

• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Season 2: a series that explores the end of an epic adventure through an emotional lens, captivating fans of contemplative fantasy.
• Fire Force – Season 3 Part 2: combining explosive action and supernatural intrigues, Fire Force continues its evolution to keep its audience engaged.
• Oshi no Ko – Season 3: unique with its realistic and dramatic approach to the entertainment world, this series attracts many fans thanks to its twists and deep characters.

These series, combined with the return of Jujutsu Kaisen, create a balance allowing Crunchyroll to cater to a wide variety of tastes while ensuring consistency in programming. This multifaceted strategy encourages the community to stay active, offering varied discussions around each broadcast.

Series	Season/Part	Release Date (expected)	Main Genre
One Piece	Pause then Elbaf Arc	Resumes April 5, 2026	Adventure, Pirate
Jujutsu Kaisen	Season 3	January 8, 2026	Action, Supernatural
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End	Season 2	Winter 2026	Fantasy, Drama
Fire Force	Season 3 Part 2	Winter 2026	Action, Supernatural
Oshi no Ko	Season 3	Winter 2026	Drama, Realistic

This diversity reflects Crunchyroll’s ability to build the 2026 winter as a true showcase for contemporary manga and anime, offering fans a varied range of sensations and emotions.

The challenges and benefits of this transition for legendary manga fans

For long-time One Piece fans, the pause can be a challenge. Such an emblematic series rhythms its viewers’ cultural life, with a dense universe and familiar characters. Not having One Piece on screen for several weeks creates a difficult-to-fill void.

However, the arrival of Jujutsu Kaisen and the winter line-up strengthen alternatives and stimulate interest. Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 offers a new breath, while other awaited series allow exploring different universes and taking sometimes necessary breaks between narrative arcs of the same manga.

This transition also raises the question of managing fans’ time and availability, who will now be able to spread their attention across several series. The many debates and analyses online testify to an active and passionate community that welcomes these novelties as interesting compensations for One Piece’s absence.

• Facilitate tracking by alternating universes to avoid weariness
• Encourage richer discussions thanks to the plurality of series
• Allow newcomers to discover major titles without waiting for One Piece to end
• Preserve a community dynamic despite the interruption of a flagship series

We also recommend consulting this article dedicated to the succession of One Piece on Crunchyroll to deepen the editorial choices and impact on the manga scene.

How Crunchyroll prepares the future of the legendary manga after One Piece?

Beyond the winter season, Crunchyroll anticipates a future where the diversity of titles will ensure a permanent and dynamic catalog. The platform’s work aims to build bridges between generations of anime, blending legacies like One Piece with the modernity embodied by series like Jujutsu Kaisen.

The editorial strategy focuses on quality and renewal, avoiding dependence on a single series even of legendary size. This approach also allows new talents to emerge and lesser-known universes to be discovered. This mix of stability and innovation builds the much-awaited cultural sustainability.

A concrete example: the current planning clearly distinguishes the highlights for each series, avoiding overlaps that would harm audience attention. Digital success is also claimed thanks to a user-friendly interface and enhanced social features, pushing fans to extend their experience beyond simple broadcasting.

All these initiatives illustrate Crunchyroll’s vision as an international leader in the manga and anime market, with an ever-growing footprint among a passionate audience.