Both hailed as founding pillars of Japanese manga, One Piece and Detective Conan boast massive global fanbases. One debuted in 1997 (29 years ago), while the other is even older, launching in 1994 (32 years ago). For years, millions of readers have wondered: “Between Luffy and Conan, who will reach the ending first?”
To find the answer, let’s weigh these two series based on their story progress and the work ethic of their creators.
1. Story Progress: One is nearing the finale, the other still meandering
In terms of plot, One Piece is clearly accelerating toward its conclusion. The story has fully entered its final arc with the reveal of the ultimate antagonist Im-sama, alongside earth-shattering secrets about the Void Century gradually coming to light. Especially in the Elbaf arc, crucial information is rapidly unveiled through ancient murals, a classic sign the author is piecing together the final puzzle to close the journey.
Meanwhile, Detective Conan’s progress remains painfully slow. After decades, the story has only reached the stage of uncovering Rum, the second-in-command of the Black Organization. Although the mastermind Renya Karasuma has been mentioned, the path for the shrunken detective to find the organization’s headquarters remains an uncertain mystery.
Conan operates more as a series of standalone cases rather than a continuous main storyline like One Piece. Whether the plot advances depends largely on the mood of creator Gosho Aoyama.
2. Creator Work Ethic: Oda’s diligence versus Gosho’s laid-back style
A key factor in when a series ends is the creator’s work habits. Here, Eiichiro Oda stands far ahead of his peer. Oda is famously a “workaholic” who rarely delays chapters unless seriously ill. He has a strict principle of focusing all energy on the main storyline rather than wasting time on side projects for easy money.
In contrast, Gosho Aoyama often takes indefinite breaks to “find inspiration” or play games. Loyal fans joke that his procrastination knows no bounds. Sometimes, Gosho only releases a few short chapters to promote upcoming movies, which frustratingly have little connection to the main Black Organization plot.
Conclusion
Considering both story development and the professionalism of their creators, Oda will almost certainly finish One Piece first.
As for Detective Conan, the steady release of movies each year has become a massive cash machine. Gosho Aoyama likely has no intention of ending this golden goose anytime soon. With his talent for stretching the story through hundreds of random cases, the day Conan returns to his original Shinichi form still feels very far away!