Fans of Naruto and One Piece might still argue which is the best but this one striking difference will always make Naruto easier to watch.
SUMMARY
Naruto and One Piece fans have always argued over which anime is the best.
While One Piece has great character development, the story is trying too hard to set the story up whereas Naruto progresses much faster.
The differences between Naruto and One Piece show that fans can appreciate both shows at the same time.
The big three of anime have always had an intense rivalry but the fanbases for Naruto and One Piece are always arguing about which one of the two is at the top. The arguments can get out of hand and both fandoms are notorious for being completely chaotic about their sides of the story. Naruto and One Piece are very different stories within the Shonen genre and are popular for well-deserved reasons.
Neither anime is without its faults, however, and those that might tip the scales in favor of either. True fans of either Naruto or One Piece can only recognize why the other is so popular and celebrate their differences. Sometimes the expansive world of One Piece can get overwhelming and Naruto fills that gap for them.
The protagonist of One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy. [Credit: Toei Animation]
While One Piece relies on repeating patterns to create the basis of the intricate setup for its expansive world, the story of Naruto keeps moving forward. It’s understandable when fans prefer one over the other depending on their preferences, but still acknowledge their individual strengths.
Why Naruto might appeal to fans more than One Piece does
Naruto vs Sasuke in Naruto: Shippuden. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]While the story of Naruto and the protagonist isn’t without its flaws, it’s a story that knows how to move forward and progress. Naruto Uzumaki’s journey is very focused on his one and only goal: becoming the next Hokage and earning Konohagakure’s respect after years of isolation. The small universe of Naruto allows the story to progress naturally, focusing on different villains and building the already established relationships Naruto has with others. His rivalry with Sasuke develops into a camaraderie.
Fans of Naruto also have the satisfaction of seeing the protagonist achieve his goal and move onto the next chapter of the series with Boruto Uzumaki taking the reigns. Despite how messy the episode of his Hokage ceremony is, it’s a satisfying ending for him. One Piece, on the other hand, is only just entering the Final Saga and we’re still far from Luffy becoming the Pirate King. Both series have their own charms but Naruto undeniably has better pacing, despite having more filler episodes than One Piece.
The Redditor opened a respectful discussion of how anyone can appreciate both anime, despite their differences. One Piece and Naruto have different audiences where a decision doesn’t have to be made about which series is better. Masashi Kishimoto is just better at one aspect better than Eiichiro Oda.
Naruto vs One Piece doesn’t have to exist
Luffy vs Kaido in One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]
Naruto and One Piece have their individual strengths and differences that can make or break it for fans. Some fans might love the intense, serious fights that Kishimoto writes with a focused world building that never strays from its purpose. Meanwhile, some might get more excited by a goofier style and love the character development that Oda prioritizes.
The big three will always remain at the top, undefeated by the likes of popular new anime like Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer. It’s a big feat for Naruto and One Piece, that have 720 and 1122 episodes respectively, to have such a dedicated fanbase that know each intricate detail of their storylines.
