8.4/1031,543 votes#1 - I'm Luffy! The Man Who Will Become the Pirate King!
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/20/1999
A group of pirates lead by Alvida plunder a ship, only to find a barrel which contains a strange boy named Luffy. Luffy is on a mission to find the legendary treasure "One Piece" and he befriends the ship's cabin-boy, Coby, who actually wants to become a marine officer. Luffy defeats Alvida and the two journey on in search of crewmates.
Director: Konosuke Uda
Writer: Junki Takegami
8.3/1016,455 votes#2 - The Great Swordsman Appears! Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/17/1999
Luffy and Coby arrive at Shell Island, a Marine base. They meet the bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro, held under arrest by the infamous marine, Captain Morgan, and his son Helmeppo.
Director: Tetsuharu Nakamura
Writer: Michiru Shimada
8.0/106,200 votes#3 - Morgan VS Luffy! Who's This Beautiful Young Girl?
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/24/1999
Luffy convinces Zoro to join his crew, but they must first defeat Captain Morgan. After freeing the island from Morgan's oppressive rule, Coby is accepted as a marine while the other two continue on their journey.
Director: Hidehiko Kadota
Writer: Michiru Shimada
8.3/105,056 votes#4 - Luffy's Past! The Red-haired Shanks appears
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 12/8/1999
Out on the sea, Luffy almost loses his hat and reflects on his past, and how a pirate named Shanks influenced him. Afterwards, Luffy meets Nami, and Buggy the Clown's men.
Director: Munehisa Sakai
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.4/103,371 votes#5 - Fear, Mysterious Power! Pirate Clown Captain Buggy!
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 12/15/1999
In order to save herself and steal a map to the Grand Line, Nami tricks Luffy into allowing her to turn him over to Buggy.
Director: Junichi Fujise
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.6/103,280 votes#6 - Desperate Situation! Beast Tamer Mohji vs Luffy!
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/29/1999
Mohji and Richie show up for revenge after Buggy's humiliating defeat in the previous episode, and Luffy meets a small dog guarding his master's store, even though he knows that he is long dead.
Director: Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Writer: Michiru Shimada
7.5/103,055 votes#7 - Grand Duel! Zoro the Swordsman vs Cabaji the Acrobat!
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/29/1999
Enraged by the actions of Buggy's crew, the city's mayor rushes to fight Buggy himself, but the Straw Hat Pirates come to his rescue. Zoro fights Cabaji, despite still being wounded from his previous encounter with Buggy, while Luffy faces the clown pirate himself and Nami searches for the map to the Grand Line.
Director: N/A
Writer: Michiru Shimada
7.7/102,908 votes#8 - Who Will Win? Showdown Between the True Powers of the Devil!
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/29/1999
Buggy's link to Shanks is revealed, and when he rips the straw hat Shanks gave Luffy, his rage knows no bounds. Who will win in this clash between Devil Fruit users?
Director: N/A
Writer: Michiru Shimada
7.1/102,513 votes#9 - The Honorable Liar? Captain Usopp!
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 1/12/2000
Nami form an alliance becoming the navigator of the crew, but not a full member yet. They arrive in Syrup Village looking for a suitable ship. On this island they know the liar Usopp, who also has ties to the Shanx.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.3/102,388 votes#10 - The Weirdest Guy Ever! Jango the Hypnotist!
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/19/2000
When trying to convince his rich friend, Kaya, to give the Straw Hats a ship, Usopp is told to stay away from her by her caretaker, Klahadore. However, when Usopp and Luffy later see him conversing with a strange man, they learn of a plot to kill Kaya.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.3/102,284 votes#11 - Expose the Plot! Pirate Butler, Captain Kuro!
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/26/2000
After learning of Captain Kuro's evil plan, Usopp runs back to the village to warn Kaya, only to find that after all his years of lying no one believes him.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.6/102,238 votes#12 - Clash with the Black Cat Pirates! The Great Battle on the Slope!
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/2/2000
Usopp resolves to keep his story of pirates attacking the town a lie by making sure none reach it. Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp then try to keep the Black Cat Pirates at bay.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.5/102,190 votes#13 - The Terrifying Duo! Meowban Brothers vs. Zoro!
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 2/9/2000
The Straw Hats manage to take out most of the opposing Black Cat Pirates, so Jango orders the Nyaban Brothers to attack. Meanwhile, after getting hypnotized by Jango, Luffy gets himself stuck under the collapsed mast of the Black Cat Pirates' ship.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.6/102,138 votes#14 - Luffy Back in Action! Miss Kaya's Desperate Resistance!
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/16/2000
Captain Kuro himself arrives at the scene, and with Zoro too injured to fight, Luffy being incapacitated, and the other two being too weak to handle him, things seem hopeless. However, Kaya herself appears to bargain with Kuro.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.4/102,093 votes#15 - Beat Kuro! Usopp the Man's Tearful Resolve!
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/23/2000
Zoro and Buchi (of the Nyaban Brothers) face off once again as Luffy and Kuro begin their fight. Usopp orders the Usopp Pirates to run away with Kaya, but Jango goes after them. A flashback reveals how Captain Kuro faked his death with Captain Morgan and how he became Kaya's butler.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.6/102,080 votes#16 - Protect Kaya! The Usopp Pirates' Great Efforts!
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/1/2000
As the fight between Luffy and Kuro is close to an end, the Usopp Pirates do their best to avoid Jango.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
8.0/102,260 votes#17 - Anger Explosion! Kuro vs. Luffy! How it Ends!
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/8/2000
Kuro's ultimate attack, "Shakushi", attacks everything in the area, whether friend or foe, and Luffy becomes enraged by his lack of regard for his crew. Will Luffy's determination overcome Kuro's sheer speed?
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
6.8/102,094 votes#18 - You're the Weird Creature! Gaimon and His Strange Friends!
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/15/2000
With Usopp now in the crew and a new ship, the Going Merry, under their command, the Straw Hats head to an island said to hold a fabled treasure, only to encounter a strange man stuck in a treasure box that has also been looking for this treasure.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.9/104,174 votes#19 - The Three-Sword Style's Past! Zoro and Kuina's Vow!
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/22/2000
While Usopp & Luffy fool around with the ship's cannon one day, Zoro dreams about his childhood and the promise he made to Kuina.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.6/102,013 votes#20 - Famous Cook! Sanji of the Sea Restaurant!
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/12/2000
The crew meets Johnny and Yosaku, Zoro's former companions, and they set sail for the Baratie restaurant in search of a cook.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.6/101,930 votes#21 - Unwelcome Customer! Sanji's Food and Ghin's Debt!
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 4/12/2000
Sanji, a cook at the Baratie, helps a starving pirate named Gin. Luffy begins his job as a waiter to pay for the damage he did to the Baratie, and tries to convince Sanji to join his crew.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.5/101,881 votes#22 - The Strongest Pirate Fleet! Commodore Don Krieg!
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 4/26/2000
Gin returns to the Baratie with his also-starving captain, Don Krieg, to whom Sanji once more gives food, but Don Krieg betrays the cook once he regains his energy.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.8/101,981 votes#23 - Protect Baratie! The Great Pirate, Red Foot Zeff!
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/3/2000
It is revealed that Chef Zeff was a great pirate known as Red Leg Zeff. Gin explains the catastrophe the fleet met in Grand Line when they encountered Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, and Krieg attempts to take control of the Baratie.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
9.1/105,008 votes#24 - Hawk-Eye Mihawk! The Great Swordsman Zoro Falls At Sea!
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/2000
As Nami steals the Going Merry, Mihawk has returned to finish the job, but Zoro challenges him to a duel in order to achieve his dream.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/101,877 votes#25 - The Deadly Foot Technique Bursts Forth! Sanji vs. The Invincible Pearl!
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 5/17/2000
Mihawk leaves after defeating Zoro, so Krieg continues his invasion and has Pearl, one of his stronger crewmates, attack, and Sanji reveals his fighting skills. Meanwhile Johnny and Yosaku leave with Usopp and the wounded Zoro to go after Nami.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of One Piece Season 1
Every episode of One Piece Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of One Piece Season 1!
Years ago, the fearsome Pirate King, Gol D. Roger was executed leaving a huge pile of treasure and the famous "One Piece" behind. Whoever claims...
Genres:Action & AdventureComedyAnimation
Network:Fuji TV
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"I'm Luffy! The Man Who Will Become the Pirate King!" is the best rated episode of "One Piece" season 1. It scored 8.4/10 based on 31543 votes. Directed by Konosuke Uda and written by Junki Takegami, it aired on 10/20/1999. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Great Swordsman Appears! Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro".