Did One Piece Copy Naruto Shippuden? Fans Debate Over Episode 1144 Similarities

Anime has always been a medium of inspiration, creativity, and influence. Over the years, we have seen different shows take inspiration from one another—sometimes as tributes, sometimes as parallels, and sometimes purely coincidental. But when One Piece Episode 1144 aired, an uproar began within the anime community. Many Naruto fans immediately pointed out that the intense battle of Luffy vs the Five Elders looked strikingly similar to Madara Uchiha vs the Tailed Beasts in Naruto Shippuden.

The debate quickly escalated, with fans accusing One Piece of “copying” Naruto, while others defended it as nothing more than shared shōnen tropes. So, is it really plagiarism, or just another case of anime similarities being blown out of proportion? Let’s dive deep into the controversy.

⚔️ The Scene in Question – One Piece Episode 1144

The controversial episode shows Luffy, awakened in his Gear 5 state, going head-to-head with the Five Elders. These five mysterious figures, who had long stayed in the shadows of the story, finally reveal their monstrous powers. Each elder embodies a terrifying beastly form, creating a chaotic and large-scale battlefield against Luffy’s cartoonish-yet-godlike Gear 5 abilities.

Fans immediately drew comparisons to Naruto Shippuden’s iconic sequence: Madara Uchiha vs the Tailed Beasts. In that battle, Madara single-handedly faces off against multiple giant creatures, showcasing his dominance and the sheer scale of his powers.

The imagery of one powerful character battling against multiple monstrous entities in an explosive clash of powers is what triggered the accusations of “copying.”

🔥 Naruto Shippuden – Madara vs The Tailed Beasts

To understand the comparison, let’s recall Naruto Shippuden’s legendary battle:

Madara Uchiha, revived during the Fourth Great Ninja War, faces off against the Tailed Beasts, creatures of immense chakra and destructive force.
The fight is filled with overwhelming visuals—Madara’s Susanoo armor, massive scale battles, and the sheer dominance of one man against an army of monsters.
This battle is not only one of the most famous scenes in Naruto Shippuden, but it also set a benchmark for large-scale anime battles.

For many Naruto fans, One Piece Episode 1144 felt like déjà vu.

🌀 Similarities Noticed by Fans

Here are the main similarities that fans pointed out between the two battles:

One vs Many Setup – Both fights feature one overpowered character (Luffy/Madara) against multiple monster-like beings.
Beast Designs – The Five Elders’ monstrous forms reminded fans of the Tailed Beasts’ unique, animalistic appearances.
Cinematic Chaos – Explosive, large-scale action scenes filled with destruction and world-shaking power.
Dominance Factor – Just as Madara effortlessly toyed with the Tailed Beasts, Luffy shows confidence and control against the seemingly overwhelming Five Elders.
Symbolism – Both scenes highlight a pivotal turning point in their respective series, showcasing the peak power of the central antagonist/protagonist.

🏴‍☠️ Differences That Defend One Piece

While the similarities are undeniable, there are also key differences that prove One Piece is not simply copying Naruto:

Context of the Fight – Madara vs Tailed Beasts was about domination and foreshadowing his godlike threat. Luffy vs Five Elders is about resistance, rebellion, and protecting the world from tyrannical rulers.
Tone & Style – Gear 5 brings a cartoonish, almost comical animation style compared to Naruto’s darker, more grounded fight choreography.
Story Placement – Madara’s battle happens near the climax of Naruto Shippuden, while Luffy’s fight with the Five Elders is part of the late-stage revelations of One Piece’s endgame.
Visual Language – Ufotable (Naruto’s studio for the war arc) focused on fluid, realistic battle animation, while Toei Animation exaggerated Gear 5’s slapstick yet godlike abilities.

🎭 Anime Tropes or Copying?

It’s important to remember that anime shares common shōnen battle tropes. Battles where one character takes on multiple giant enemies are not unique to Naruto or One Piece. Series like Dragon Ball Z, Bleach, and Attack on Titan have used similar ideas:

Goku vs. Multiple Enemies in DBZ.
Ichigo vs Espada Armies in Bleach.
Eren vs Titans in AOT.

These are not cases of copying, but rather recurring narrative and visual devices within the genre.

🌏 Fan Reactions – A Divided Community

When the episode aired, social media platforms like Twitter/X, Reddit, and YouTube were flooded with discussions.

Naruto Fans – Many claimed that One Piece had “borrowed” too heavily from Naruto Shippuden’s iconic scene.
One Piece Fans – Defended it, arguing that Oda has been building the Five Elders’ reveal for years, and that Luffy’s Gear 5 is nothing like Madara’s cold-blooded dominance.
Neutral Fans – Believed both battles can coexist as epic moments, with similarities being coincidental rather than intentional plagiarism.

📚 Why These Comparisons Will Never End

The Naruto vs One Piece debate has been alive for nearly two decades. Both are among the “Big 3” of shōnen anime (Naruto, One Piece, Bleach), and comparisons are inevitable:

Both feature world-building with unique powers (Chakra vs Devil Fruits).
Both follow a long journey of a young hero (Naruto & Luffy).
Both deliver grand-scale battles with emotional stakes.

Episode 1144 just reignited an age-old rivalry between fandoms.

🔗 What This Means for the Future of One Piece

The controversy might just highlight how impactful One Piece’s final saga is becoming. If its latest battles are being compared to Naruto’s greatest moments, it means One Piece is delivering equally legendary sequences.

And for fans who want to dive deeper into the One Piece journey, there’s no better time than now to start reading arc-by-arc explanations to fully grasp the brilliance of Eiichiro Oda’s storytelling.

👉 If you want to read the complete arc-by-arc explanation of One Piece, check here: [example.com]

⚔️ Final Thoughts

Did One Piece Episode 1144 copy Naruto Shippuden’s Madara vs Tailed Beasts battle? The answer lies in perspective. The similarities are real and noticeable, but the context, style, and execution remain uniquely One Piece.

Instead of fighting over who copied whom, fans should appreciate how both series pushed the boundaries of anime battles in their own ways. After all, both Naruto and One Piece have defined generations of anime fans—and Episode 1144 will go down as another unforgettable moment in anime history.