No, you're not imagining it: One Piece's logo changes with each Netflix episode

We know that it’s tempting, but don’t skip the credits for Netflix’s new live action One Piece show — or, at least, don’t avoid the title cards for each episode. If you do, you’ll miss out on the fact that each episode’s logo looks just a little bit different.

Although the initial logo released for the Netflix adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s beloved manga was a version of the original manga logo — down to the color scheme and the skull wearing Luffy’s hat — that’s not true of every episode of the series. In fact, the logo changes depending on the episode, with only three constants: the font, the subtle presence of the show’s original Japanese title (it’s in the letterforms, sometimes more obvious than others), and the fact that there’s a skull wearing a hat in each of the “O”s. Everything else is up for grabs.

Maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised at the change; after all, it’s not the only difference compared to the anime series, which picks up the pace, and underscores how weird stretching powers would look in real life, amongst other things. Perhaps new title cards are something fans should have expected — although new title cards for each episode…?

What does this mean? Well, nothing and everything at the same time. In the grand scheme of things, it’s simply a fun exercise in graphic design -- nothing that significantly impacts the story of each episode, or the series as a whole. For those who don’t notice the change, there’s no real loss. On the other hand, those who do notice can unpack each of the new logos for clues to the episode: why is the skull wearing a red nose? What does it mean that the “I” in “Piece” has been replaced by a shovel, or a sword…?

Take a look at some of the different title cards below — and try and decode what they mean as you watch the series, which is currently streaming.

Catch up with all of our One Piece coverage — and then make plans to watch more shows, after.