When a live-action adaptation of the iconic manga and anime saga One Piece was first announced, longtime fans were understandably skeptical. Eiichiro Oda's magnum opus has been running for nearly thirty years, building a deeply emotional story filled with cartoonish proportions, elastic physics, and eccentric characters. Recreating the stretchiness of lead protagonist Monkey D. Luffy (played with infectious charm by Iñaki Godoy) in realistic CGI and live action seemed like an impossible task. Yet, the show shattered all doubts, landing on Netflix as a vibrant, fast-paced, and highly entertaining fantasy adventure. The story follows Luffy, the optimistic young leader of the Straw Hat Pirates, as he sails across dangerous oceans in search of the legendary One Piece treasure to claim the title of Pirate King.
The magic of the series lies in its colorful world-building, high-stakes action, and the powerful theme of found family. If you have already binged the first season and are looking for other shows that capture that same sense of wonder, camaraderie, and swashbuckling fun, you are in luck. From space-faring outlaws to historical pirate comedies and intense survival games, we have compiled a list of ten exceptional series that you should watch next.
Our Flag Means Death
If you loved the humorous, slightly absurd, and deeply touching portrayal of piracy in One Piece, then this historical comedy is your perfect next watch. Set during the Golden Age of Piracy, the series is very loosely based on the real-life exploits of Stede Bonnet, played with incredible comedic timing by Rhys Darby. Bonnet is an aristocrat who undergoes a major midlife crisis, abandons his wealthy life, and decides to become a pirate despite having absolutely no experience at sea. He commissions a ship called the Revenge and recruits a dysfunctional crew, trying to lead them with empathy, book-reading, and mutual respect rather than fear.
The show reaches spectacular heights when Bonnet crosses paths with the legendary and feared pirate Blackbeard, portrayed by Taika Waititi. Blackbeard, bored of his own terrifying reputation, becomes fascinated by Bonnet's gentlemanly approach to piracy. What follows is a brilliant workplace comedy that develops into one of the most genuine and heartwarming romances on television. The found-family dynamic of the crew perfectly mirrors the Straw Hat Pirates. Although HBO Max unfortunately canceled the series after two seasons, both seasons remain an incredibly rewarding and heartwarming journey of self-discovery and high-seas adventure. You can stream both seasons of Our Flag Means Death on HBO Max.
Firefly
For those who appreciate the outlaw spirit and found-family dynamic of One Piece but want a science-fiction twist, this space western is a must-watch. The series follows the crew of the Serenity, a small, outdated spacecraft of the Firefly class. The crew is led by Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his loyal second-in-command Zoe Washburne (Gina Torres). Both are disillusioned former soldiers who fought on the losing side of a galactic civil war against the Alliance, a highly conformist central government.
To survive in the outer rims of the galaxy, Mal and his crew take on whatever jobs they can find, many of which hover on the wrong side of the law. Much like Luffy's crew, the passengers and crew of the Serenity are a ragtag bunch of misfits, including a pilot, a mercenary, a mechanic, a companion, a preacher, a young doctor, and his highly gifted but traumatized sister. The chemistry between the characters is the beating heart of the series, filled with sharp wit and genuine affection. Although the network infamously canceled the show after airing only a few episodes, it quickly gained a massive cult following. The story was eventually wrapped up in the spectacular 2005 sequel film Serenity, which forced the crew to make a stand to protect one of their own. You can stream the complete series of Firefly on Hulu.
Cowboy Bebop
No list of classic adventure series is complete without mentioning this anime masterpiece. Released in the late 1990s, the show is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated television series of all time. It effortlessly blends elements of American westerns, classic film noir, and gritty crime dramas, all set to an iconic, high-energy jazz soundtrack composed by Yoko Kanno. The story takes place in a near-future setting where Earth has become completely uninhabitable, forcing humanity to colonize the rocky planets and moons of the Solar System.
The narrative centers on a group of bounty hunters, known as cowboys, who travel through space on their ship, the Bebop. The team is led by Spike Spiegel, a laid-back former syndicate hitman with a dark past, and Jet Black, a cynical former police officer. Over time, they are joined by Faye Valentine, an enigmatic con artist with amnesia, Ed, an eccentric young computer hacker, and Ein, a highly intelligent genetically engineered dog. The series structure consists of episodic, standalone adventures that gradually reveal the tragic backstories of the main characters, leading to one of the most memorable and emotionally devastating climaxes in television history. For fans of One Piece who want to see how anime can deliver mature, cool, and beautifully stylized storytelling, this is essential viewing. You can stream the original series on Crunchyroll or purchase it on Prime Video.
Delicious in Dungeon
If the whimsical, food-loving nature of Monkey D. Luffy and the lighthearted camaraderie of his crew are what kept you hooked on One Piece, then this animated series is a perfect fit. Produced by the renowned Japanese animation studio Trigger, the show is a brilliant adaptation of a popular manga series that puts a comedic and culinary spin on the traditional fantasy dungeon crawl. The story begins when a group of brave adventurers ventures deep into a dangerous dungeon, only for the leader's sister to be swallowed whole by a massive red dragon.
Faced with a ticking clock to rescue her before she is fully digested, the party must return to the lower levels of the dungeon immediately. However, they are completely out of supplies and money. The leader, Laios, suggests a radical idea: they will survive by hunting, cooking, and eating the monsters they encounter along the way. While his companions are initially horrified, they meet Senshi, a dwarf master chef who has spent decades studying the culinary potential of dungeon ecology. Under Senshi's guidance, the party discovers that monsters like giant basilisks, walking mushrooms, and living armor can be transformed into delicious, high-quality gourmet meals. The series balances thrilling action, clever survival mechanics, and an incredibly lovable cast of characters who form an tight-knit bond over shared meals. You can stream Delicious in Dungeon on Netflix.
Black Sails
While One Piece presents a highly stylized, colorful, and romanticized vision of piracy, this historical drama offers a gritty, realistic, and brutally honest look at the high seas. If you want a more mature and politically complex take on the pirate genre, this series is unmatched. Set during the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century, the show serves as a gritty prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel Treasure Island. The narrative takes place on New Providence Island, a lawless pirate haven in Nassau that is constantly threatened by European empires seeking to reclaim control.
The series stars Toby Stephens as the brilliant and terrifying Captain Flint, a former British navy officer who has turned to a life of piracy. Flint joins forces with Eleanor Guthrie, the daughter of a local black-market kingpin, to protect their lawless paradise from the British Empire. Along the way, they cross paths with historical figures like Charles Vane, Anne Bonny, and Jack Rackham, as well as a young John Silver, who begins his journey as a clever, self-serving opportunist. The show is celebrated for its incredible production design, intense naval battles, and deep exploration of the moral gray areas of piracy. It does not shy away from the violence and ruthlessness of its characters, yet it makes their fight for freedom deeply compelling. You can stream all four seasons of Black Sails on Starz, or watch the pilot episode on Prime Video.
Alice in Borderland
For viewers who loved how One Piece successfully translated the bizarre, highly stylized rules of a Japanese manga into a gripping live-action format, this thrilling survival drama is a fantastic choice. Based on the popular manga series, the show follows Arisu, a young man obsessed with video games who feels completely alienated from his family and society. While hanging out in Tokyo with his two best friends, they suddenly find themselves transported to an alternate, completely abandoned version of the city known as the Borderland.
They quickly discover that they are trapped in a deadly, dystopian game world where they must compete in sadistic, high-stakes challenges to survive. Each game is represented by a playing card that dictates its difficulty and type, ranging from physical trials and intellectual puzzles to psychological betrayals. If they refuse to play or fail to win, they are immediately executed by a laser fired from the sky. The visual effects and green-screen work used to create the empty streets of Tokyo are breathtaking, and the suspense is unrelenting. While the tone is significantly darker, more violent, and more intense than One Piece, it shares the same spirit of a meticulously constructed, highly imaginative world where a group of unlikely allies must rely on each other's unique strengths to survive. You can stream Alice in Borderland on Netflix.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
After a couple of feature film adaptations that left fans disappointed, Rick Riordan's beloved fantasy book series finally received the faithful, high-budget, and incredibly fun adaptation it deserved. The series stars Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, a young boy who discovers that his difficult life is actually the result of his divine heritage. Following a series of strange incidents at his school, Percy learns that his father is none other than Poseidon, the Greek god of the seas, and that his mother has been hiding his true identity to protect him from the wrath of other gods and mythical monsters.
Percy is sent to Camp Half-Blood, a secure training ground hidden in the woods of New York where other demigod children learn to survive and harness their unique abilities. There, he forms a close bond with Annabeth Chase, a daughter of Athena, and Grover Underwood, a young satyr. Together, they embark on a series of dangerous quests across modern-day America to prevent a catastrophic war among the Olympian gods. The series shares a lot of DNA with One Piece, particularly in its second season, where the trio must board a ship and venture into the treacherous Sea of Monsters to rescue a friend. The chemistry, humor, and sense of mythic wonder make this a perfect watch for the entire family. You can stream Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Another highly successful transition from animation to live-action, this fantasy series brings one of the most acclaimed animated shows of the 21st century to life. The story is set in a beautiful, Asian-inspired world divided into four nations, each corresponding to one of the classical elements: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. In each nation, certain individuals known as benders have the magical ability to manipulate their native element. However, only one person, known as the Avatar, can master all four elements and maintain peace across the world.
The series follows Aang (Gordon Cormier), a 12-year-old Air Nomad who is revealed to be the latest incarnation of the Avatar. After being frozen in ice for a century, Aang awakens to find that the militaristic Fire Nation has launched a brutal war of global conquest, completely wiping out the Air Nomads. With the help of Katara, a young waterbender, and her brother Sokka, Aang must travel across the world to master the other three elements and defeat the Fire Lord before it is too late. The live-action adaptation features stunning visual effects, martial arts choreography, and a deep respect for the source material's themes of friendship, responsibility, and the devastating impact of war. It captures the same grand, world-traveling adventure vibe that makes One Piece so beloved. You can stream Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
Shadow and Bone
Based on the bestselling Grishaverse novels written by Leigh Bardugo, this epic fantasy series offers an incredibly rich, immersive, and visually stunning world to explore. The story is set in the war-torn nation of Ravka, which is physically divided in half by the Shadow Fold, a massive, permanent barrier of near-impenetrable darkness filled with terrifying, flesh-eating monsters known as Volcra. The nation's only hope lies with Alina Starkov, a humble orphan and cartographer in the first army, who unexpectedly discovers that she possesses a incredibly rare and powerful magical ability to summon light.
Alina is immediately drafted into the Grisha, an elite military order of magical practitioners led by the enigmatic General Kirigan. As she struggles to master her powers, she must navigate a dangerous web of political intrigue, royal court drama, and ancient secrets. Parallel to Alina's journey, the series also follows a beloved gang of charismatic outlaws and mercenaries known as the Crows, who operate in the dangerous streets of Ketterdam. The Crows' high-stakes heists and found-family dynamic provide a fantastic counterpoint to the main story. With its dense world-building, dark fantasy elements, and exceptionally talented cast, the series became a massive hit among fantasy lovers, even though a passionate fan campaign to secure a third season was ultimately unsuccessful. You can stream the complete series of Shadow and Bone on Netflix.
One Piece (Anime)
Finally, if you have finished the live-action series and are completely obsessed with the world created by Eiichiro Oda, there is no better place to go than the source of it all. The original animated series has been running since 1999 and has produced well over 1,000 episodes, making it one of the longest-running and most successful anime in history. The animated version allows for a level of visual creativity, epic action scale, and emotional depth that even a high-budget live-action series cannot fully replicate.
Watching the anime gives you the chance to see the full, unedited journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they travel through the Grand Line. You will get to meet legendary characters, experience iconic story arcs, and witness the incredible evolution of the animation style over the past twenty-five years. While the sheer number of episodes might seem intimidating at first, the incredibly rich world-building, unforgettable character growth, and deep emotional stakes make it a deeply rewarding journey that you can enjoy at your own pace. If you are ready to take the ultimate pirate plunge, you can stream the One Piece anime series on platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and Crunchyroll.
