One Piece animator, Henry Thurlow, who left Toei Animation last year, has recently expressed regret for his decision because of the upcoming episode. According to the recent developments in the Egghead Island arc, Luffy is most likely going to face all of the Five Elders, and this will definitely be one of the greatest moments for the anime series. Thus, Toei is expected to go full throttle for the battle and bring out the best.
Thurlow’s post revealed that he wished he could have been involved in animating the One Piece episode, mentioning that it would have been “fun” to draw such an iconic moment. He expressed enthusiasm about the scene, as their intense clash with Luffy’s Nika transformation would undoubtedly generate massive excitement and hype among fans.
Henry Thurlow’s Post Hints at the Hype For Luffy vs. Gorosei in the Next Episode
Thurlow was one of the biggest names in Toei because not only was he the first American but also the first non-Japanese staff member to direct an episode at the animation studio. His epic work was especially witnessed during the Wano arc, but sadly, last year, he announced through his official X account that he is leaving One Piece’s
However, his recent post confirms that he finally regrets his decision because he will not get a chance to work on the biggest clash of Egghead. Luffy’s battle with the World Government has been the center of the story for a long time, and the Egghead Island arc finally brings this long-anticipated confrontation to its peak by focusing on the fight between Gear 5 Luffy vs. the full might of the Gorosei.
Next week's One Piece episode is the one time it's gonna sting not being on the staff.
I've had no regrets leaving, & have since gotten to work on some amazing projects with amazing directors.
But the monsters appearing in the next episode would have been *so* much fun to draw.
It is certainly one of the biggest moments in the history of One Piece anime, and Thurlow’s tweet confirms it. It also puts a lot of pressure on Toei Animation to deliver top-quality animation style and storytelling, which will ensure that this monumental clash lives up to the sky-high expectations of One Piece fans all over the world.
What To Expect From One Piece Episode 1144
One Piece Episode 1144 is scheduled to release on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 11:15 PM in Japan. Following that, the Episode will be available for an international audience according to their individual time zones. The installment will be available on Crunchyroll globally, and Netflix also offers a streaming service for One Piece in certain regions.
As mentioned above, the Episode will be highly focused on Luffy battling with the Five Elders on Egghead. However, there might be other developments as Vegapunk has also started his broadcast about the truth of the whole world, which puts the World Government in a difficult spot. Thus, some members of the Five Elders might also try to stop this broadcast.
By the looks of it, the battle of Egghead has entered its final stage. This means that every single episode from here on will be incredibly important for the story, and thus, One Piece fans need to pay close attention to each development as the arc races toward its climax. Do you think Toei will do justice to the Five Elders’ battle against Gear 5 Luffy? Let us know below!
One Piece is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.