With the Straw Hat Pirates lastly out of Wano, it seems like they’ve a while left earlier than they attain their next vacation spot. Toei Animation could make the most of this time to inform some unconventional tales. Nonetheless, it’s tough to think about the exact content material of those tales. After Wano, there may be the ultimate saga of One Piece. Filling was one factor when the series was close to its midpoint, however issues are completely different now. The Straw Hats ought to get nearer to Giggle Story, and the one actual challenges left for them are the good forces of the world. If Toei desires to bridge the time between main arcs sooner or later, they’re going to must get artistic.
The ability of the Straw Hats will make it tough to craft a post-Wano storyline. Prior to now, it was fairly simple to pit them in opposition to a anonymous pirate crew as a result of they weren’t that large themselves. Now that they’re positively one of many strongest crews round, there aren’t many individuals left who can fairly problem them.
Filler antagonists should have the ability to fulfill a number of fundamental standards. They don’t must pose the identical risk because the antagonists within the canon. They have to, nonetheless, be formidable sufficient to offer the Straw Hats chilly sweats, particularly the more durable members like Luffy and Zoro. A superb antagonist also needs to have a very good purpose to remain within the shadows regardless of being sturdy sufficient to problem an Emperor stage crew. On prime of that, he’ll seemingly have to be surrounded by equally highly effective allies who can preserve the remainder of the Straw Hats busy. Additionally, it’s not needed, however sturdy motivations and feelings are extremely really helpful; a background story may additionally assist.
One possibility for the Straw Hats is to battle veteran pirates. These can be pirates who’ve been crusing because the days of Gol D Roger, however are now not related within the fashionable period; a very good instance can be Shiki the Golden Lion. There needs to be loads of such pirates who nonetheless have lots of energy. The fascinating factor about this sort of filler pirates is that there have been loads of them prior to now. Nonetheless, regardless of being from Roger’s time, Luffy and firm have been sturdy sufficient to take them on. Leaving Wano, it was the Straw Hats that ultimately grew to become a logical and affordable problem for these legendary pirates.
Previous pirates can come from lots of locations. A few of them could be former candidates for the title of Grand Corsairs. The that means of a Corsair has had a humorous means of maintaining with Luffy’s speedy progress within the series. Now that the title entails pirates who’re price billions of berries, a candidate for this place will surely give the Straw Hats a tough time.
Different veteran pirates could be discovered among the many many Impel Down stage 6 escapees. Reality be advised, this plot level could most likely generate sufficient filler for the remainder of the series. The concept that so lots of historical past’s most evil pirates roam free is way scarier than most individuals care to consider. Moreover half of Blackbeard’s crew, she additionally produced formidable enemies like Byrnndi World and Douglas Bullet. There’s no means of figuring out who else was being saved there.

Some older pirates would possibly simply sit back on their very own little patch of land like Crocus. In the event that they want an excuse to battle the Straw Hats, it could be one thing as fundamental as invading their territory. Wherever the previous enemies come from, they could be individuals who have been biding their time and the appropriate second to make a comeback.
After all, the Straw Hats don’t essentially must be challenged by older pirates. With their newfound notoriety, they is likely to be challenged by newer hackers seeking to make a reputation for themselves, particularly Supernovas. If the battle between the Emperors and the Worst Era has confirmed something, it’s that the brand new period of pirates will ultimately surpass the previous.
The Marines won’t ever be in need of vice admirals both. The Straw Hats could discover themselves up in opposition to candidate admirals or experimental pacifist position fashions. Furthermore, taking up Marines in open waters has all the time been more than simply bare-knuckle fight; it’s a tough enterprise the place the planning and experience of your entire crew can probably come in useful.
Talking of difficult enterprise, that is one other technique to problem the Straw Hats. There are every kind of Satan Fruit customers with darkish powers that make them tough to grasp in direct fight; Uta is a reasonably latest instance. Moderately than leaning on their muscle tissues, Luffy and his group could must make do with such opponents.

Alternatively, Luffy could use the Gear 5 to entry cartoon physics and defeat his opponents that means. Whereas this way can technically overcome most issues via brute drive, the power to actually bend actuality permits for much more distinctive options. This versatility is what makes the shape, regardless of its ineffective overwhelming energy, more seemingly for use even in comparatively low-stakes filler fights.
It’s essential to keep in mind that not each filler must have an enormous battle at their middle. Some could be Straw Hats on an island, having enjoyable interacting with the locals and possibly even becoming a member of within the festivities. If a battle breaks out in the midst of all this to spice issues up, that’s nice too. That means, although, it received’t matter if the Straw Hats outplay the dangerous guys, as a result of that received’t be the purpose of the story.
Moreover the Straw Hats’ adventures, there could be episodes devoted to different features of One Piece’s world and historical past. An affordable and simple repair for Toei can be to revisit previous Straw Hat occasions. They could showcase a few of their biggest moments reanimated within the new model.
Talking of One Piece’s new model, it’s going to be wonderful on filler content material. You could see all of the dynamic digicam angles, fluid actions, punchy shocks and cinematic showmanship which have turn out to be staples of anime because the begin of the Wano arc. The thought of non-canon episodes getting this high quality remedy is sort of unimaginable, but it surely could occur.

The anime could additionally use the time between Wano and the Straw Hats’ next vacation spot to inform aspect tales. There are many aspect tales that Oda has cooked up that could simply be expanded into episodes or mini-arcs. For instance, Germa 66 is presently attempting to flee from Entire Cake Island; this story could simply be expanded into one or two episodes. None of that is filler, per se, however contemplating what Toei ought to convey to the story on his aspect, it would as effectively be.
With all of that in thoughts, One Piece has loads of methods to take its time getting again to the canonical story. Hopefully, nonetheless, the anime might be well-paced sufficient that it received’t must resort to non-canon parts to fill within the time between arcs; such gadgets needs to be used sparingly. At a minimal, viewers ought to expect a mean stage of high quality from these aspect tales whereas patiently ready for the principle story to choose up.