The Long-Running Anime Adventure That's Crushing It On Netflix

A lot of the talk about Netflix these days revolves around its original content, and how focused the streamer seems to be on putting out as many new TV shows and films as it can on a fairly regular basis. But it's always worth remembering just how wide-ranging the streamer's library of older titles is, as well. Just because the strategy of the moment seems to center around pushing originals, doesn't mean the streamer has abandoned the licensed media game — far from it. The service has, in particular, a pretty impressive licensed anime selection — one filled with both obscure titles and some of the most iconic anime shows of all time, like "Naruto," "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood," and "One-Punch Man."

One of the streamer's legacy anime shows is doing particularly well on the platform right now, too. The series in question happens to be "One-Piece," the long-running anime series that first began airing in Japan all the way back in 1999. The first four seasons of "One Piece" — totaling 130 episodes — are available to stream right now on Netflix in the U.S., and it's not hard to see why so many of the streaming service's subscribers are taking advantage of the show's availability.

Based on Eiichiro Oda's manga series of the same name, "One Piece" is an anime adventure that focuses on the life and adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a boy whose accidental consumption of a Devil Fruit resulted in his body gaining the properties of rubber. The series follows Monkey as he works with his crew — known officially as the "Straw Hat Pirates" — in order to try and claim the world's greatest treasure. Finding the elusive bounty (known as "One Piece") will in turn result in Monkey being granted the title of the new Pirate King.

As its central premise suggests, "One Piece" is an exuberantly made high-seas adventure series. Its combination of traditional pirate clichés and motifs with tried-and-true anime storytelling techniques and visual tricks makes it a unique and enjoyable entry in the genre. The series also frequently features action sequences that are both memorably stylish and adrenaline-pumping, and it boasts its fair share of lovable characters, as well — including its delightfully fearless lead and the various members of his ragtag pirate crew.

All of which is to say that, while getting into "One Piece" certainly requires dedicating a large amount of time, the series is ultimately worth the investment it demands.