Ask John: How Long Are Naruto & One Piece?

Question:
I’m wondering how many episodes of Naruto and One Piece there are? As well as how soon I can get my hands on the remaining episodes I don’t have on subbed DVD. For Naruto I’ve seen up to episode 54. One Piece I’m recieving volume 15. I hear 16 will be out in two weeks.

Answer:
I’m often asked about the present status of both One Piece and Naruto. According to a report from the Anime Expo New York convention held in August 2002, FUNimation is the official American licensor for One Piece. At the present time, Naruto has not been officially licensed for release on home video anywhere outside of Japan.

Naruto TV episode 57 is scheduled for broadcast on Japanese television on November 5th. The first Naruto theatrical movie is scheduled for Japanese release next summer. As of the end of October 2003 there are 10 Naruto DVDs available in Japan, containing episodes 1-30. Each of these official Japanese Naruto DVDs retails at the American equivalent of about $36 (3,900 yen each). And none of the official Japanese Naruto DVDs include any English translation. There are no existing Studio Pierrot authorized official Naruto DVDs available outside of Japan.

One Piece episode 172 is scheduled for broadcast on November 9th. The fifth One Piece theatrical movie is scheuled for Japanese premier on March 6, 2004. As of October 2003 there are 34 One Piece TV series DVDs available in Japan containing episodes 1-118. These official Japanese One Piece TV series DVDs cost roughly $41 to $45 each (4,500 to 4,800 yen each) in Japan and contain no English translation options. Again, there are no existing official One Piece DVDs available outside of Japan. There are no legitimate, Toei Studios authorized Chinese, Thai or Korean One Piece DVDs.

If you own Naruto or One Piece DVDs with optional Chinese and English subtitles, they’re illegal, unlicensed DVDs made by Chinese video pirates. Now whether or not you buy or collect these DVDs is a matter of your own personal ethics.