Spoiler Alert !!!This article contains minor spoilers from One Piece manga.
One of the most mysterious groups in One Piece is finally making its first anime appearance in the ongoing Elbaf arc, and Toei Animation is doing its best to ensure its viewers realize just how threatening these new characters are. Ahead of the release of episode 1164, the anime studio recently released a trailer dedicated entirely to the Holy Knights and their anime reveal, highlighting their power, personality, and status as some of the World Government’s most elite enforcers.
After years of buildup surrounding Imu and the hidden rulers of the world, the Holy Knights are shaping up to be the kind of villains that could push even the Straw Hat Pirates beyond their limits. The new trailer further hints that with its cinematic animation, a high-class voice cast, and several important revelations, the Elbaf arc could become one of One Piece‘s most ambitious anime arcs yet.
Series TitleOne PieceEpisode 1164 Release Date (on Crunchyroll)May 31, 2026Manga AuthorEiichiro OdaCurrent ArcElbaf ArcAnime Rating (IMDb)- as of May 29, 20269.0 / 10Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Netflix
The Holy Knights Already Feel Like One Piece‘s Most Dangerous Villains
The trailer immediately establishes how intimidating the Holy Knights are. While Shamrock grabbed most of the attention in the new trailer, it gives a proper look at the other Holy Knights, such as Gunko, Sommers, and Killingham, and Toei Animation is presenting them as a major threat from the very beginning.
The trailer confirmed that Shamrock will be voiced by Kenjiro Tsuda, whose deep and commanding performances have already made him one of anime’s most recognizable voice actors. Gunko, Sommers, and Killingham are also receiving major talent behind them, with Sumire Uesaka, Hiroki Yasumoto, and Shinnosuke Tachibana voicing Gunko, Sommers, and Killingham, respectively.
TVアニメ『#ONEPIECE』エルバフ編 最新PVを公開！さらに神の騎士団のメンバー軍子宮、ソマーズ聖、キリンガム聖のキャストを解禁!!＜神の騎士団＞シャムロック聖： #津田健次郎軍子宮： #上坂すみれソマーズ聖： #安元洋貴キリンガム聖： #立花慎之介#関戸谷と夜あそび pic.twitter.com/DnTeo6IpFK— ONE PIECE.com(ワンピース) (@OPcom_info) May 29, 2026
The casting already makes the Holy Knights feel more imposing than most recent One Piece villains.
What truly elevates the trailer, however, is the presentation itself. Scenes like Shamrock summoning Cerberus and the arrival of Sommers and Killingham in Elbaf are packed with fluid compositing, dramatic lighting, and highly polished visual effects. The Holy Knights represent the direct military force of the Celestial Dragons and Imu, making them narratively different from the Yonko or Marines.
One Piece‘s Trailer May Have Quietly Revealed Bigger Plans For The Anime
Beyond the action itself, the trailer also sparked major discussion about the anime’s future pacing. One Piece‘s current scheduling approach has led many fans to speculate about a split-cour style structure, with reports suggesting the anime would air in shorter seasonal batches instead of running continuously throughout the year.
Monkey D Luffy from One Piece. | Credit: Toei Animation
That originally led many fans to believe the first Elbaf cour would end around manga Chapter 1138. However, the trailer prominently features Sommers and Killingham, characters who do not properly appear until Chapter 1140. Their inclusion strongly suggests that Toei may adapt more material than expected before the break.
If that ends up happening, then the first cour of Elbaf could run longer than anticipated, giving the anime more room to fully establish the Holy Knights before the story reaches its inevitable large-scale conflict. Meanwhile, the recent Episode 1163 of the One Piece anime adapted the events of manga Chapter 1133.
Considering how much effort the production team is already putting into their introduction alone, it would not be surprising if the Holy Knights become the centerpiece of some of the best animated fights in modern One Piece.
With the Final Saga escalating faster than ever and the World Government finally revealing its strongest monsters, the Straw Hats may be heading into one of their most dangerous battles yet. And if this trailer is any indication, are the Holy Knights about to become the greatest villains in One Piece history? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
The One Piece anime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
