Anime Filler Guide: Which Episodes to Skip in Naruto, One Piece, Bleach
Long shonen ruin binge momentum with filler. Here are the canon-only skip lists for Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach so you can watch the story and skip the padding.
Anime Filler Guide: Skip the Padding, Keep the Story
You're 80 episodes into a shonen and suddenly the cast is in a hot-spring race that never gets mentioned again. That's filler — and it's why people quit long anime. The fix is a skip list. Sites like isitfiller track it per episode across 360+ series, and the numbers explain the rage.
What filler actually is
Filler episodes aren't in the manga. Studios insert them to keep a weekly slot full while the source material catches up. Some are fun; most stall the plot. Deciding up front whether you're a "canon only" or "watch everything" viewer saves you from mid-binge whiplash.
The filler percentages that matter
| Series | Filler share |
|---|---|
| Bleach | ~44.5% |
| Naruto Shippuden | ~40.6% |
| Pokémon | ~20.6% |
| One Piece | ~8.1% |
| Gintama | ~6.2% |
Bleach and Naruto are the worst offenders. Skipping filler in those two alone saves you well over 200 hours.
Naruto / Naruto Shippuden skip list
- Original Naruto: skip 26, 97, 99, 101–106, 137–140, and the entire 220 finale arc (141–219 is mostly filler)
- Shippuden: skip 57–71, 91–112, 127–128, 144–151, 170–171, 176–196, 223–242, 257–260, 271, 279–281, 284–295, 303–320, 347–361, 376–377, 385–386, 389–390, 394–413, 416, 418–420, 422–423, 427–450, 464–468, 480–483
- Watch: everything else, especially the Pain, War, and Kazekage rescue arcs
One Piece skip list
One Piece is light on filler (~8%), so most of it is worth watching. Skip the standalone arcs: Warship Island (54–61), Post-Alabasta (131–135), the "Boss Luffy" specials (291–292), and Silver Mine (747–750). The "filler" tag on some early episodes is loose — when in doubt, watch.
Bleach skip list
Bleach is brutal: skip 33, 50, 64–108, 128–137, 147–149, 168–189, 204–205, 213–214, 227–266, 287, 298–299, 303–305, 311–316, 320–341, 355. The Bount, Arrancar filler, and Zanpakuto Unknown Tales arcs are the big cuts.
Tools that do the work for you
- isitfiller.com — episode-by-episode, with a "hours saved" calculator
- watchorder.one — combines filler and movie order in one view
- Anime fillers apps — mark episodes as you go
The bottom line
Filler isn't evil, but it kills momentum on 200+ episode runs. For Naruto and Bleach, skip aggressively. For One Piece, barely touch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a filler episode?
Filler is anime content not based on the manga, inserted to keep a weekly slot full while the source material catches up. Some add character moments; most stall the main plot. Sites like isitfiller tag each episode so you can skip confidently.
How much of Naruto and Bleach is filler?
Naruto Shippuden is about 41% filler and Bleach about 45% — the two worst offenders among major shonen. Skipping filler in both saves well over 200 hours of watching. One Piece is only ~8%, so most of it is worth keeping.
Will I miss important story if I skip filler?
In Naruto and Bleach, the flagged filler arcs rarely touch canon, so skipping is safe. A few filler episodes tease later characters, but none are required. When unsure, check isitfiller or watchorder.one before skipping.
Is there a tool that tracks filler automatically?
Yes. isitfiller.com lists episodes per series with a "hours saved" calculator, and watchorder.one combines filler and movie order in one view. There are also mobile "anime filler" apps that let you mark episodes as you go.
Should a first-time viewer watch filler at all?
If you're bingeing for the story, skip it — filler breaks momentum and you'll quit. If you love the cast and want every minute, watch it. Most fans do a canon-first run, then sample filler later if they're still hungry.