Most Expensive Anime in the World: Is it One Piece or Naruto?
The fandom of Naruto and One Piece have been going at it for years. The battle between the two fandoms is seemingly endless, and the latest debate seems to be centered around the expenses of the two anime series.
The anime industry is expanding at a tremendous rate, thanks to the rise of its fan base. Anyone who even has a passing interest in the genre can probably tell how expensive anime production is. This cost increases with the length of the show and the longer the show runs. The shonen genre specifically devoted a significant portion of its hard-earned cash to intricate storylines and grand battle sequences.
Spending a large sum of money is totally justified if the anime is able to make up for all of its losses and then some. Anime franchises such as One Piece and Dragon Ball have managed to maintain their popularity and high production values, but which anime series has the highest animation cost per episode- Naruto or One Piece?
Naruto Has A Higher Animation Cost Per Episode Than One Piece
One Piece, with its epic journey, is one of the longest-running anime series ever, having aired over a thousand episodes since 1999. Of course, each episode’s budget has changed significantly over time. Today, creating a single episode of One Piece demands a whopping $90,000 (via Screen Rant).
You may be wondering why a show with a reputation for whimsical, cartoonish animation would cost so much money. That’s exactly what makes it unique, though, and it also happens to make it one of the most expensive anime ever made. Not to mention that One Piece‘s animation is masterfully done by industry titans, thus it’s hardly surprising that it has such a massive budget.
However, One Piece has a mighty contender when it comes to high budget, and it is none other than Naruto: Shippuden. Seeing Naruto: Shippuden is sure to pique readers’ interest and for good reason. This anime, which ran from 2007 to 2017, does a great job of holding its own in the face of a plethora of more recent programs with flashier animation. The astounding thing is that Naruto: Shippuden continues to rule the anime world despite an outrageous budget of about $100,000 (via Screen Rant) for every episode.
Despite its propensity to become mired in filler scenes that don’t advance the plot, the anime, which comes after the smash hit Naruto, is packed with amazing action scenes that rival its predecessor. Whatever the case, both Studio Pierrot and fans appear to be adamant that Naruto: Shippuden is well worth the money.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Is The Most Expensive Anime Series
The revolutionary animation of the first Bleach series, which aired on television from 2002 to 2012, was impressive. Though the series has a captivating plot, it might not do as well if the same animation were shown in the modern period. Considering this, Studio Pierrot took the lead on the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War arc, producing an animation that had longtime fans of the series wonder if they were still in the same Bleach universe.
This adaption was very different from the Bleach that we have been familiar with for years, with its grim scenes, gore, and violent action. It should come as no surprise that each episode costs an average of $160,000 (via Dual Shockers) given the makeover.
The third installment of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is set to be the culmination of the Thousand-Year Blood War storyline, indicating an exceptional manga translation. The final two episodes of part 2 surpassed all expectations in terms of quality, ranking among the greatest of the entire Bleach series. Fans have every reason to be thrilled about what’s in store for them in part three with this caliber of storytelling and animation.
