Nami to Lead New One Piece Anime, Set for July 2026 Premiere

When the Straw Hat Pirates’ most daring navigator steps into the spotlight, fans of Eiichiro Oda’s epic saga will receive a fresh lens on the world that has captivated millions for almost three decades.

The new anime, titled One Piece: Heroines, will air on Japanese television on July 5 2026 and become available worldwide on Netflix on July 11 2026. The 24‑minute episode adapts the first chapter of a light‑novel series written by Jun Esaka and illustrated by Sayaka Suwa, and it follows Nami as she enters a high‑stakes fashion show organized by a pompous businessman and an underappreciated designer.

One Piece has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump since 1997 and, as of March 2026, has released 114 volumes. The manga has sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, making it the best‑selling manga in volume format. Over the years the franchise has expanded into anime, live‑action television, films, video games, and merchandise. The Heroines special represents the next chapter in that expansion.

The light‑novel series One Piece: Heroines launched in June 2021 under Shueisha’s Jump J‑Books imprint. It contains four stand‑alone short stories that spotlight female characters from the main series. By adapting the first novel, the anime brings Nami’s cunning cartography and meteorological prowess into a new setting—one that tests her tactical skills against the cutthroat world of haute couture.

Nami first appeared in chapter 8 of the manga in September 1997. As the Straw Hat Pirates’ navigator and former thief, she is renowned for her ambition to map the entire world. The new episode will explore her relationship with the fashion industry, offering a fresh angle on a character who has appeared in every major arc of the series.

This marks the first time a member of the Straw Hat crew has received a solo anime. Previous spin‑offs include the One Piece live‑action series on Netflix (first season released in 2023, second season in 2026) and a 2027 anime series produced by Wit Studio. The Heroines project underscores the franchise’s willingness to experiment with new formats and to spotlight characters who have not yet been the focus of a dedicated series.

The announcement was made during One Piece Day ‘25, and the anime will be broadcast in Japan’s standard One Piece time slot. After the Japanese premiere, the episode will be available on Netflix worldwide, extending the franchise’s reach to a global streaming audience.

Industry observers note that the Heroines special could pave the way for future adaptations of the other stories in the light‑novel series, which feature characters such as Vivi, Robin, and Perona. The success of the Nami episode will determine whether the franchise will invest in additional spin‑offs.

At present, the One Piece: Heroines episode is confirmed for a July 5 2026 broadcast in Japan and a July 11 2026 release on Netflix. No further dates have been announced for additional episodes or related projects.