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Why One Piece is not releasing on Netflix?

One Piece is one of the most popular and longest running anime series of all time. Based on the manga by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew as they search for the legendary treasure, the “One Piece,” in order to become the next Pirate King. With over 1000 episodes and counting, One Piece has cultivated a massive global fanbase over its 24 year run.

Given its popularity, many fans have wondered why One Piece is not available to stream on Netflix. Netflix has invested heavily in anime content recently, snapping up rights to popular shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Death Note, Bleach, Naruto, and Demon Slayer. However, One Piece remains conspicuously absent from their offerings. Let’s break down some of the key reasons why One Piece has yet to make its debut on Netflix.

Licensing Issues

The main reason preventing One Piece from streaming on Netflix comes down to licensing. The North American streaming rights to One Piece are currently held by Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll, which focuses specifically on anime content, has had the exclusive rights to stream new episodes of One Piece since 2013. These streaming rights are license agreements made between the platform and the anime production committee in Japan. Anime production committees hold the rights to series, not the studios themselves, which is why negotiations must be made on a show-by-show basis.

Crunchyroll recently renewed its licensing agreement to continue streaming new episodes of One Piece up until at least 2025. This precludes Netflix from being able to stream the newest episodes simultaneously with their Japanese airing. Many anime licenses are exclusive, meaning Crunchyroll has the sole rights to new episodes. Unless Netflix could convince the production committee to void their contract with Crunchyroll prematurely, they cannot legally stream new episodes despite their interest.

Netflix could potentially negotiate for the streaming rights to older episodes of One Piece that are not covered under Crunchyroll’s recent agreement. However, the older back catalog comes with its own licensing complications. The rights are fractured between different companies based on past business deals. This makes acquiring the streaming rights to the full 1000+ episode run of One Piece a major challenge.

One Piece’s Kid-Friendly Status

Another factor working against One Piece landing on Netflix is its orientation as a kid/family friendly series. Though popular with teens and adults too, much of One Piece’s branded merchandise and content focuses on younger viewers. As a long-running shounen series, One Piece airs in child-friendly programming blocks and time slots in Japan.

Netflix, on the other hand, brandishes a reputation for adult oriented content. Besides a handful of all ages animated series, most of Netflix’s offerings skew towards mature audiences. One Piece’s youthful essence clashes with Netflix’s edgier identity. It does not fit seamlessly into Netflix’s content strategy and brand image. If Netflix pursued One Piece, it would mainly be as a high profile exception to court its existing massive audience.

Additionally, the kid focus has implications for advertising. Brands that market towards children sponsor One Piece heavily in Japan. The series generates revenue through partnerships with toy manufacturers and food brands. These company’s ad buys target young viewers specifically. If One Piece was exclusive to Netflix, those lucrative ad deals would likely end. This loss of sponsorship money factored into the production committee’s hesitance to license One Piece to Netflix.

Offer Refusal

According to insider sources, Netflix did make an offer for exclusive international streaming rights to One Piece in 2017. At that time, only about half of the current total episodes had been produced. However, the production committee turned down Netflix’s bid. They chose to go with a smaller deal from Crunchyroll instead.

There are a few reasons the committee may have favored Crunchyroll’s offer. Firstly, Crunchyroll’s brand is built on anime, whereas Netflix airs all types of content. One Piece may get lost in the shuffle of Netflix’s algorithmically driven recommendations. Secondly, Crunchyroll caters to diehard anime fans willing to watch ads or subscribe to their premium service. One Piece viewership and fandom could weaken if made easily accessible to the mainstream masses. Lastly, Crunchyroll likely made concessions to allow the Japanese producers to retain more licensing control.

Nonetheless, Netflix usually gets what it wants thanks to its open pocketbook. Their offer rejection highlights that money was likely not the lone factor. The producers had other reservations about handing the reins fully over to Netflix.

Weighing Pros and Cons

Looking at it from the production committee’s perspective, there are pros and cons to licensing One Piece to Netflix. Here is a comparison table outlining some of the key considerations:

Pros of Netflix Licensing Deal Cons of Netflix Licensing Deal
– Massive upfront payment from Netflix – Loss of lucrative ad sponsorship deals in Japan
– Increased exposure from Netflix’s 187 million members – Possibility of “burying” One Piece in sea of Netflix content
– Mainstreaming piques interest of casual viewers – Less control over streaming distribution
– New merchandise sales from wider audience – Diminished sense of community for hardcore fans

This comparison makes it easy to see the advantages and risks involved. While Netflix would expand One Piece’s audience reach tremendously, there are trade-offs to consider. Namely, how the existing fanbase and promotional structure would be impacted. The production committee has to balance both sides of the equation.

Looking Ahead

For now, One Piece remains securely nestled under Crunchyroll’s umbrella. But Netflix likely has not given up on courting this popular anime franchise. If Netflix offers favorable enough terms, while providing assurances about maintaining the core fanbase, then the producers could change their stance. Especially if Crunchyroll ever lets their licensing lapse without renewal.

Live action adaptations are also potential opportunities to build synergy. Netflix is producing their own live action One Piece series slated for 2023. A coordinated anime streaming deal would allow Netflix to cross promote their new show. Fans eager for the live action may discover or revisit the anime via Netflix just to prepare. Regardless, Crunchyroll has the anime streaming rights locked up for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion

One Piece’s absence on Netflix boils down to licensing hurdles and brands mismatching. Netflix would benefit from having One Piece to boost its anime credibility. Meanwhile, the One Piece production committee values distribution control and promotional consistency with its youthful image. Unless both sides’ interests align more, One Piece will continue sailing solo as a Crunchyroll exclusive. But its diverse, passionate fanbase will follow Luffy wherever his adventures take him.