New One Piece opening may have quietly teased the series’ biggest mystery (and fans almost missed it)

One Piece has taken a completely new direction with the Egghead Arc. Along with this major shift in the story, marked by the buster call, the anime has also introduced a new opening theme that fans are already obsessed with. At first glance, it looks like a colorful montage previewing what’s to come, but it might also have something else to say.

Upon closer look, fans might find a subtle reference to the series' biggest mystery, something they almost missed. With Joy Boy now more prominent than ever, it seems possible that the new opening has dropped a hint that could change how fans interpret the story moving forward.

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The latest One Piece opening may have quietly shown Joy Boy

The straw hats with Emet could be Joy Boy in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

The new One Piece opening for the Egghead Arc may have quietly given fans their first look at the most mysterious character in the story, Joy Boy. After months of passionate storytelling about Kuma and Bonney, the anime has shifted pace, building toward the arc's conclusion with the introduction of the Buster Call.

To mark this turning point, Toei released a brand-new opening full of symbolic imagery and hints about what’s coming. Among these teasers is what could be the first real depiction of Joy Boy, a character who has remained in the shadows since his first mention.

The key moment happens in a sudden shot during the title card sequence. A straw-hatted figure materializes out of the background against a blue sky before the scene switches to the Iron Giant, later identified as Emet. At first glance, everyone thought it was Luffy due to his prominence and signature hat. But close inspection shows otherwise. The shadow doesn't have Luffy's distinctive spiky hair, and the surrounding imagery suggests this isn't a modern setting at all.

The condition of the Iron Giant provides the biggest clue. In the intro, Emet appears clean, with no rust or moss, and importantly, both horns are still intact. In contrast, the version seen on Egghead is clearly weathered and has a missing horn.

Joy Boy as seen in One Piece manga (Image via Shueisha)

This aligns well with fans' understanding of Emet's history and clearly indicates that the shot is part of a flashback scene, not recent events. This, in turn, suggests that the straw-hatted character is Joy Boy, who appears in a crucial flashback revealed in manga chapter 1122.

The minimalist blue sky in the scene reinforces this interpretation, as it echoes the background of Joy Boy's silhouette scene in the manga. With these clues, it's highly likely that Toei intentionally included Joy Boy in the opening, offering a subtle yet significant hint at the character's first real anime appearance.

Although the anime will eventually retell his flashback in its entirety, this brief shot has already created excitement among longtime fans eager for clues about the Void Century.

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Final thoughts

The new One Piece opening does more than just signal that fans are about to reach the climax of the Egghead Arc; it also subtly begins to introduce the series' biggest mystery.

The quick shot of the straw-hatted character and the shiny Iron Giant might be the anime's first credible reference to Joy Boy, a figure fans have speculated about for a while. While the reveal hasn't happened yet, this subtle tease has increased the suspense and kept fans eager as they wait for the mystery to unfold.

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