One Piece

What’s it about?

With his Straw Hat Pirate crew, Monkey D. Luffy sets off on an adventure in the hope of finding the greatest treasure ever, the “One Piece,” and becoming the King of the Pirates.

The facts 

• Created by Eiichirô Oda
• Japanese and English languages
• Runtime: 24-minute episodes on average
• 32 seasons spanning from 1999 to 2025
• Anime series

Why did it get this rating? 

Earlier seasons were cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here. Later seasons were self-rated by streaming providers. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

One Piece consists of hundreds of episodes, many of which maintain different ratings and watching ages. Most seasons are rated M (mature audiences) for violence, some are rated PG (parental guidance) for coarse language and violence. Because season “Whole Cake Island 2” is rated 13 for bullying and violence, we recommend a viewing age of at least 13-years-old, to ensure your rangatahi are ready for the kind of content in the show as they progress through the seasons.

Note: this show is different to the Netflix live-action series of One Piece in both content and recommended watching age.

Violence

The animated show contains fight sequences where some blood is shown, and characters are often injured. Death is not common, and when it does occur, it is rarely shown onscreen.

Various forms of violence are depicted during intense fights that can get brutal, though plenty of cartoonish slapstick comedy is spread throughout which can lighten the feel.

There are scenes that contain some brutal violence, with bones breaking, characters shot by guns and cannons, and violence with various melee weapons.

Content that may disturb

One Piece contains some strong and intense themes, such as slavery, child abuse, PTSD, natural disaster, and war, which can be quite intense for some viewers. Scenes involving bullying may also upset younger viewers.

Many minor and major characters die in very tragic events, with some family and friends having devastating emotional breakdowns as a result.

There are villains who have no empathy who sadistically kill and torment anyone they want. 

Characters are shown in excruciating agony, and some even executed.

Sexual references

Some characters are depicted with minimal or revealing clothing at times. The season “Island of Women” depicts numerous female characters in revealing clothing. There are scenes where the camera pans slowly up the legs of female characters in their underwear and bras, and some female characters are depicted with exaggerated breast sizes.

Offensive language

Words like “f*ck” “bastard,” “son of a b*tch,” and “sh*t” are used. Various insulting terms are used in the context of bullying, such as “moron,” “dumbass” and “stupid.”

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters
• One Piece Fan Letter | Classification Office