One Piece Episode 1168 Preview: Franky Uncovers a Crucial Ancient Mural on Elbaph

As the Straw Hat Pirates venture deeper into the legendary land of giants, the anime adaptation of One Piece is gearing up for a major lore revelation. The preview for the upcoming Episode 1168 has officially teased a massive discovery by the crew's shipwright, Franky, which could hold the key to unlocking some of the Void Century's most closely guarded secrets preserved on Elbaph.

Quick summary

• A Historic Discovery: Episode 1168, titled “Ancient History – The Harley Passed Down by Elbaph,” features Franky locating a perfectly intact ancient mural on the island of the giants.
• Powerhouse Voice Cast Additions: The anime recently welcomed high-profile talent, including Yuichi Nakamura as Prince Loki, Kenjiro Tsuda as Shamrock of the Holy Knights, and Sumire Uesaka as Gunko.
• Multi-Year Franchise Roadmap: Alongside the current anime arc, a massive lineup of projects has been confirmed, including Netflix's live-action Season 3 (2027), a LEGO animation special, and a brand-new video game.

Why it matters

Elbaph has been teased since the early days of the Little Garden arc, making it one of the longest-anticipated destinations in Eiichiro Oda's masterwork. Murals in the One Piece universe are never mere decoration; from the ruins of Shandora to the lunar city of Bilka, they have historically served as the primary medium for preserving forbidden history.

For Franky to be the one to locate this artifact is narratively profound. As a disciple of the legendary shipwright Tom and the man who once held the blueprints to the ancient weapon Pluton, Franky possesses a unique understanding of ancient technology and historical engineering. His interpretation of the Elbaph mural could bridge the gap between Vegapunk’s recent global broadcast and the physical realities of the Void Century.

Background

The road to Elbaph has been a long one for anime viewers. Following a scheduled three-month hiatus, the anime returned to screens on April 5, transitioning the Straw Hat crew from the high-tech chaos of Egghead Island to the mythological, Norse-inspired shores of Elbaph. This transition marks the official entry of the anime into the series' highly anticipated endgame.

Eiichiro Oda’s original manga first serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump back in July 1997. Over the course of nearly three decades, the property has shattered global publishing records, crossing the monumental milestone of 500 million copies in circulation worldwide as of August 2022. The Toei Animation television adaptation, which made its debut in October 1999, remains a dominant force in the global streaming landscape, currently elevated by its fresh Elbaph Arc aesthetic and music. The current phase of the anime features the opening theme “Luminous” by AiNA THE END and the closing theme “That Future” by Jisoku 36km.

Key Voice Cast Updates

To match the narrative weight of the Elbaph Arc, Toei Animation has recruited an elite roster of voice actors to bring the island's key players to life:

• Loki: Voiced by the acclaimed Yuichi Nakamura, the eccentric and powerful prince of Elbaph is poised to play a central role in the unfolding saga.
• Shamrock: A prominent member of the formidable Holy Knights of God, brought to life by the distinctively gravelly tones of Kenjiro Tsuda.
• Gunko: Another newly introduced figure in this high-stakes faction, voiced by Sumire Uesaka.

Expanding the One Piece Multimedia Universe

The momentum of the anime is closely mirrored by Shueisha, Netflix, and Bandai Namco's aggressive multi-platform expansion. The franchise is currently managing several massive spin-off projects designed to keep fans engaged across different media formats:

1. The Netflix Live-Action Continuation

Following the massive critical and commercial success of its debut, Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piece is looking far into the future. Showrunners have officially slate Season 3 for a global release in 2027, promising to bring the grand scale of the Alabasta Saga and beyond to life with a massive budget and high-fidelity special effects.

2. High-Profile Animation Spinoffs and Remakes

Toei is not the only studio working on the brand. WIT Studio is currently developing a highly anticipated remake titled The One Piece, aimed at modernizing the pacing and visual style of the early East Blue episodes for contemporary audiences. Additionally, the spin-off novel series One Piece: Heroines, which dives into the personal histories and adventures of the franchise’s prominent female characters, is officially receiving its own anime adaptation.

3. LEGO and Gaming Partnerships

In an unexpected crossover, a two-part LEGO One Piece animation special project is scheduled to drop on Netflix on September 29. On the gaming front, fans of culinary-themed action can look forward to the release of ONE PIECE: Grand Gourmet, a brand-new video game title launching on October 23, 2026.

Qnews24h insight

The discovery of the Elbaph mural represents a pivotal turning point in how the final saga of One Piece will be paced. For years, Oda has utilized ancient writing and physical structures to trickle out lore. With the anime fast approaching the manga's current narrative boundary, Toei Animation's production strategy is shifting toward highly cinematic, lore-heavy episodes that maximize the impact of every chapter adaptation.

By focusing on Franky—rather than Robin, who traditionally translates these historical markers—the story highlights the mechanical and physical legacy of the Ancient Kingdom. Elbaph is not just a sanctuary of books saved from the burning of Ohara; it is a physical fortress that survived the Great War of the Void Century. Franky’s technical eye may detect structural secrets about the ancient weapons or Noah's Ark that a traditional archaeologist might overlook. This clever narrative positioning keeps the crew's secondary characters deeply relevant to the main plot as we head toward the final war.

Sources

This report is based on official promotional materials and episode previews released via the official One Piece YouTube channel, with additional franchise scheduling and casting data sourced from Anime Corner.