New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2024, held from October 17-20, welcomed a stellar lineup of anime industry professionals, with Toei Animation taking center stage to celebrate its iconic franchises: One Piece and Digimon. The studio brought key producers, directors, and voice actors to engage with fans, offering insights into current successes and glimpses into the future of their beloved series.
One Piece Panel Anchors Toei Animation’s Presence
Fans of the Straw Hat Pirates flocked to the Empire Stage on Day Two, October 18, for the highly anticipated One Piece Panel. Toei Animation proudly presented a formidable team from Japan, including producer Ryuta Koike, series director Satoshi Ito, and creative director Masayuki Takagi. They were joined by the English dub voice actors for two of the series’ most prominent characters: Colleen Clinkenbeard, the voice of Monkey D. Luffy, and Christopher Sabat, the voice of Roronoa Zoro. The panel, hosted by Jacki Jing, delved into the intricacies of the anime’s animation, behind-the-scenes stories, and exciting future developments.
Insights into One Piece‘s Animation and Future Arcs
During the panel, director Satoshi Ito and producer Ryuta Koike expressed their profound connection to One Piece, highlighting the joy of bringing its world to life. They discussed the series’ stunning animation improvements, with Ito citing the revamped visuals in the Luffy vs. Lucci fight in the Egghead arc as a standout moment. Koike also praised the powerful animation in key sequences, including Garp’s, Koby’s, and Shanks’ attacks. The creative team acknowledged a brief production break the series undertook, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining the high-quality animation that fans have come to expect, while also aiming to expand their audience. Looking ahead, fans were teased with the promise of more intense battles, particularly between the Straw Hats and the Marines, and further developments of Luffy’s powerful Gear Five form. A thrilling surprise for long-time fans was a sneak peek of an upcoming complete refresh of the Fish-Man Island saga, featuring enhanced visuals, sound design, and effects.
Exclusive Merchandise and Fan Experiences
Beyond the panel, Toei Animation enhanced the One Piece experience at NYCC 2024 with dedicated pop-up shops. The Mugiwara Store Pop-Up Shop, a recreation of Japan’s largest official One Piece store, made its debut at NYCC, offering exclusive merchandise previously only available in Japan. Additionally, the Toei Animation X Dim Mak Pop-Up Shop featured a curated selection of One Piece merchandise, including NYCC-exclusive releases.
Digimon Adventure Panel Explores Franchise’s Legacy
Toei Animation also hosted a “Digimon Adventure Panel” on Day One, Thursday, October 17, in Room 409. The event featured Hiromi Seki, a luminary in the Digimon franchise and producer of the original Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02 episodic series, often referred to as the “Mother of Sunday Morning Anime.” Hosted by Justin Rojas, the discussion centered on the franchise’s rich history and explored the exciting future that awaits Digimon Adventure.
Glimpse into the Future: Digimon Beatbreak Anime Set for 2025
While the NYCC 2024 Digimon panel focused on the Adventure series, the broader Digimon franchise continues to expand with new projects. An upcoming anime television series, Digimon Beatbreak, is scheduled to premiere on October 5, 2025, on Fuji TV and other channels.
Digimon Beatbreak Production and Cast
Digimon Beatbreak is produced by Toei Animation and directed by Hiroaki Miyamoto, known for his work on One Piece and Star Twinkle Precure. Ryota Yamaguchi is in charge of series composition, with Takahiro Kojima handling character designs and Kenji Watanabe credited for Digimon designs. The anime’s story revolves around “e-Pulse,” generated by human thoughts and emotions, which powers AI support devices called “Sapotama.” The narrative follows Tomoro Tenma, voiced by Miyu Irino, as he encounters the Digimon Gekkomon, voiced by Megumi Han. Together with the bounty hunting team “Glowing Dawn,” Tomoro navigates a world where terrifying monsters emerge and Digimon evolve by consuming e-Pulse. An early preview of the first episode was held during the Digimon Expo event on September 20, 2025.
The strong presence of Toei Animation at NYCC 2024 underscored the enduring popularity and ongoing evolution of its anime powerhouses, promising fans continued excitement across the One Piece and Digimon universes.
