Toei Confirms January Premiere for 'CHOPPER's' Spinoff; Main One Piece Anime Hiatus Set for Early 2026

Toei Animation used Jump Festa '26 to announce a brand-new short-form anime spinoff centered on Tony Tony Chopper. Titled CHOPPER's, the series is set to debut on January 5, 2026, and will air weekday mornings at 7:36 a.m. on Mezamashi TV.

This spinoff is designed to serve as crucial bridge content during a planned hiatus for the main One Piece television anime. Producer Ryūta Koike previously confirmed that starting in 2026, the main series will cap its annual output at 26 episodes, a move intended to focus on improving production quality and pacing.

Ikue Ōtani is confirmed to reprise her role as the Straw Hat doctor for the new series. The premise takes a sharp comedic turn, establishing a non-canon setting where Chopper lives among regular humans in the real world, moving the character entirely out of the Grand Line.

The main One Piece anime will enter its planned hiatus covering January through March 2026, immediately following the conclusion of the Egghead Arc. CHOPPER's will keep the franchise visible during those winter months.

The main show is scheduled to return on April 5, 2026, kicking off the highly anticipated Elbaph Arc. That return date places it in a crowded field alongside several other major spring debuts, including Kill Blue and Akane-banashi.

Jump Festa '26 also provided updates on the live-action front: Season 2 of the Netflix adaptation is set for March 10, 2026, and a new feature film is currently in development.