In the early 2000s, three anime and manga series stood out from the rest in the Shonen genre, and fans know them to be One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. These three shaped the industry around them so much that fans gave them an iconic title — The Big Three. During the 2000s, these three ran together. But, it all started falling apart when the first anime series of the three ended, and fans know that to be Bleach. Naruto then followed suit in 2017, and it ended as well. As a result, One Piece was left standing alone, but now, in 2026, the trio is going to come back together.
It's Official: The One Piece Anime Is Going On A Long Break
The One Piece anime is leaving, and for quite some time.
One Piece will kickstart its Elbaf arc in the anime, while Bleach will air the final part of the Thousand-Year Blood War. Naruto also surprised many when its big return was set for 2026, with 4 new episodes on the wa y. 2026 will clearly be huge for these three anime, but it could also be the last time these three are united.
The Big Three Anime Dissolved In 2012
The Big Three is an unofficial title fans of Shonen anime gave to the three biggest series of the 2000s, those being One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. These three garnered the most hype, and since the dissolution of this trio, nothing has truly been able to replace it.
“The Big Three” first really fell apart in 2012. During this year, the first of the Big Three ended in Bleach. What's surprising is that Bleach actually ended before adapting its final arc back then, something that left many fans upset.
With Bleach down, Naruto and One Piece were left standing, but even this duo wouldn’t last forever. A few years after Bleach’s anime ended, Naruto: Shippuden concluded as well, as its last episode aired in 2017. Fans could say that Boruto aired not too long after that and brought the Naruto franchise back, but it obviously doesn't offer the same level of quality. Furthermore, even Boruto is on a hiatus at the moment.
With both Bleach and Naruto over, One Piece was left on its own. One Piece is still going strong, releasing new episodes every year consistently. One Piece may be slowing down a bit with more breaks, but it is nowhere near over.
One Piece, Naruto, And Bleach Are Returning In 2026 After 14 Years
While it’s surprising for some to even believe, the Big Three are indeed all coming back together this year in 2026. All three series have now been confirmed to be getting new content this year. The three series airing together hasn’t happened since 2012, which was 14 years ago.
One Piece Is Returning With the Elbaf Arc In April 2026
One Piece’s last episode of 2025 aired a few weeks ago. One Piece episode 1156 marked the end of the Egghead arc. With Egghead having ended, fans are faced with a big break ahead. While One Piece was established as a weekly anime for decades, the era is now changing and it is going seasonal. One Piece will now go on break for 6 months every year.
Needless to say, some fans hate the yearly breaks of One Piece, but, at the very least, One Piece will have content for years to come this way. In either case, One Piece’s 2026 return has already been confirmed. The series is set for its return with its Elbaf arc in about 3 months, in April 2026.
Bleach Is Returning With The Thousand-Year Blood War: The Calamity
Bleach’s anime adaptation ended in a rather disappointing manner in 2012. The anime adaptation decided to disregard the ongoing manga arc, and put an end to the story. This was heartbreaking for many fans, but luckily, Bleach did make a comeback 10 years later. In 2022, the Bleach anime returned to adapt the Thousand-Year Blood War. This was exciting to many fans, especially as the quality and pacing were upgraded, with no more filler being added.
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The Thousand-Year Blood War isn't being adapted into a weekly anime like the original Bleach series. The series has gone fully seasonal. Every year, a new part is released, and 2026 will be the year of The Calamity.
The Calamity is the final stretch of the Thousand-Year Blood War, and fans are excited to see the story properly conclude this time.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 - The Calamity is scheduled to release in July 2026.
Naruto Is Returning With 4 Special Episodes, Reportedly in Late 2026
While fans were anticipating the 2026 return of One Piece and Bleach, what shocked many was actually the return of Naruto. For its 20th anniversary, Naruto had 4 special episodes scheduled to air in 2023. However, due to quality issues, they never aired.
Studio Pierrot has, however, now stated that these episodes are up to the standard and completed. This means that Naruto will finally be returning with the other two in 2026. While the exact release date isn’t confirmed, it’s said to be scheduled for release in late 2026. Fans are excited to see Naruto’s adventures before the timeskip and the events of Shippuden once again.
2026 Might Be The Last Time The Big 3 Air Together
2026 will be absolutely massive for the Big Three, but it could very well be the last time they all air together. One Piece is nowhere near its end, so there’s no worry for it to stop airing. However, when it comes to Bleach, Calamity is the final part of the story’s last arc. In other words, there isn’t anything to adapt after. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 — The Calamity will conclude the series for good this year.
Meanwhile, for Naruto, there are only four episodes that have been produced, as far as fans know. They will air in 2026, and that will be the end of the story, unless something else is in store for the fans. The only way the Naruto franchise could potentially return for a longer run is a new series or a Boruto return.
Bleach And Naruto Getting A Remake Could Revive The Big Three For A Long Time
The Big Three trio will break apart again in 2026, but a true revival of the trio could happen if Bleach and Naruto get new remakes. One Piece, which is still ongoing, is already getting a remake by WIT Studio. It would definitely be a dream for fans of Naruto and Bleach for their series to get the same treatment.
Naruto ended almost 10 years ago now, and a remake would be great. Many parts of the series are outdated, and while some episodes had amazing animation, the majority of the series was average.
Bleach suffers from the same issues. It ended even before Naruto, in 2012, and its early parts are quite outdated. One also needs to take into account the outrageous amount of filler in both Naruto and Bleach. Naruto could eventually get a remake for itself. For Bleach, this seems a bit harder, especially since its Final Arc was just adapted.