One Piece at a Time

Manga: Chapter 651 (SPOILERS)

2012-01-24T19:23:00.000-06:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

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Hey guys! We got quite a bit of exposition last time regarding the ancient weapons, the Marines, the Blackbeard Pirates, Big Mom, et cetera! Let's dive right back in.

The chapter starts with a depiction of the end of the banquet; the Straw Hats are excited at the prospect of getting treasure as a reward, while Luffy, Zoro and Sanji manage to track down Caribou again only to find him unconscious. They gather up all the treasure Caribou had stolen and head back to Ryuuguu Palace. Meanwhile at the Candy Factory, the Minister of the Left is attempting to appease someone, but Pekoms (who is a member of the Big Mom Pirates and a lion) won't accept this and says that they're all doomed because of Big Mom’s coming anger.

Luffy and the others spot the factory and decide to go and check it out. They announce themselves and thank the Minister of the Left for the candy they ate. Pekoms figures out Luffy's identity and gets angry, but another Big Mom Pirates crew member appears to assuage Pekoms. A member of the long leg tribe called Baron Tamago tries to settle things peacefully by saying they can send the candy tomorrow morning. Luffy says he'd love to eat more candy but of course there isn't any more. As a result, Tamago explains Big Mom’s arrangement to Luffy, and Luffy says he really wants to meet her.

You know what Zoro needs? A GPS, wait no. That still wouldn't help

Sure enough, in the New World we see that there is an island full of cake. I think you can all see where this is going. A loud, creepy voice is excited for an upcoming tea party, because there will be so many sweets to eat, and this person is so excited that she eats her crew! Someone called Bobbin arrives and seems to have returned from burning down a country because they couldn't give all the sweets that they promised.

When told that the payment from Fishman Island may not arrive, the loud voice becomes furious. This is when we finally get a glimpse of Charlotte Linlin AKA Big Mom herself and she is the creepiest character in One Piece EVER. Seriously, she is horrifying. Big Mom demands a Den Den Mushi to contact Fishman Island immediately.

Prepare to have nightmares folks...

Back at Fishman Island, it’s established that it’s impossible to get enough candy made in time because the machines in the factory are broken. When asked by Sanji what happens if the candy is late (while imagining Big Mom as a sexy lady), Tamago says the pact will be dissolved and Fishman Island will be destroyed. Luffy is furious because they just saved the island, when the Den Den Mushi starts to ring. Everyone realizes that it's Big Mom and no-one answers until Luffy steps in. Luffy introduces himself to her and she seems to know him. Luffy flat out says that there’s no candy and even shouts that he ate all of it, man Luffy you've got guts.

Luffy says that he didn't know that the candy was supposed to be for her and offers all of the treasure that they got rewarded with in exchange for the candy that was eaten. Tamago notices all of it and tries to convince Big Mom to take it because Captain Kidd sunk 2 of their ships and they need repairing. He also promises the finest sweets ever if Big Mom is patient. Big Mom doesn't accept this, but says she’s interested in Luffy. In fact she’s so interested that shes shifting her attack from Fishman Island to Luffy. The chapter ends with Luffy accepting Big Mom's challenge and that once he gets to the New World, he'll kick her ass and make Fishman Island his turf.

*adds to list of awesome Luffy moments*

The stakes are raised high yet again, with the promise of a battle against one of the Four Emperors as if we didn't get enough news about the Marines and the Blackbeard Pirates in the previous chapter. Whether this means the Straw Hats are going to fight the Big Mom Pirates as soon as they get to the New World, or later, I have no idea. I would love this sooner to be honest.

Other than that, the chapter was great with Luffy standing out with his mature decisions of telling the truth and trying to negotiate. As well as the fact that Big Mom is officially the scariest thing Oda has ever drawn. How will things wrap up for this arc, we'll see next time. Until then, live long and prosper!

Oh Sanji you poor, poor man.

Manga: Jump into the New World with Shonen Jump Alpha!

2012-01-20T23:36:00.000-06:00

Prepare for the New World! Pre-Order Shonen Jump Alpha now!

The end of this month will premiere the debut issue of Shonen Jump Alpha. This will be the best (legal) way to read the latest manga chapters of One Piece and several other Weekly Shonen Jump titles from Japan.

A weekly internet publication is something that One Piece fans have been asking after for years. Shonen Jump Alpha will contain a reliable and accurate translation done by long time One Piece fan and translator, Stephan Paul (Regular contributor on The One Piece Podcast). You get to read a year’s worth of manga from six popular series including One Piece straight from Japan for only $25 dollars a year.

The best part is that you will be going to the New World the right way.

Oda announced at Jump Festa that the Straw Hats will be entering the New World within the year. Even if the Fishman Island arc looks to last a little longer than expected, we still won't have any more unexpected detours similar to what happened with Thriller Bark and Sabaody. Even though Volume 61 and 63 both have the phrase 'New World' as their subtitle, it doesn't mean we are or have been in the New World. Why go into the New World with a translation that is shoddy when you can have a translation that is done by a real professional that has experience with the series.

Viz wants to make sure that this goes well. They are putting everything on the line by making Shonen Jump go digital and eliminating the print edition. It is sad to see the print edition go away because it is always nice to have a physical form for reading something as great as One Piece. Instead, we are going to get something that is prompt, legal and of high quality. Viz could have just continued from where they left off in the printed edition. Instead, they are going to release new chapters straight from Japan. It may be two weeks behind the Japanese release but this is a big privilege considering Japanese companies have a tendency to be tight about distribution of their material, but there is hope that the release may become more simultaneous. There is even a possibility we may receive more titles from Weekly Shonen Jump such as Sket Dance and Gintama.

Viz has already started to hasten the upload of digital manga for most of the titles that will be in Shonen Jump Alpha. If you have only been following the Shonen Jump One Piece release then you can purchase Volumes 1 through 63 right now with Volume 64 coming soon to start catching up.

There is no excuse for anybody living in the United States who loves One Piece to avoid subscribing to Shonen Jump Alpha. We are going to enter a new era of the series with the best possible way to read it. Viz is a big player in the English manga industry which offers some of the biggest titles from Japan for a cheap price. We have to support this, which is why starting with Chapter 652 we are going to follow the Shonen Jump Alpha release. So make sure to subscribe to Shonen Jump Alpha to be part of this and get all the extras that come with it.

We are truly entering the New World of manga.

Manga: Chapter 650 (SPOILERS)

2012-01-15T18:41:00.000-06:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Buy One Piece from Viz and JManga now!

Hey everyone. If you recall last time, the ball was dropped as Robin explained that Shirahoshi is actually the ancient weapon Posiedon. Neptune says to Robin how it would be terrible if anyone from the World Government or any other pirates would learn of this.

Coincidently, our favorite mud-ball Caribou has been eavesdropping on them and cackles at the thought of the princess being a weapon. Where has he been anyway? Back at the obligitory end-of-arc party, Jinbei asks Luffy to speak privately over an important matter. Some of the drunken/exhausted Straw Hats are already there as they begin the private talk.

It turns out that the admirals Aokiji and Akainu got into a fight over the position of Fleet Admiral. Even though Aokiji was the recommendation of Sengoku, Akainu was favored higher up in the World Government. Aokiji wouldn't allow this, so they decided to settle things once and for all on a remote island. This match went on for 10 days but in the end, Akainu won the battle and officially became the new Fleet Admiral. DAMN YOU POLITICS!

Damn Luffy is pissed and I can't blame him

Apparently the 2 had never fought before and even Akainu showed some mercy. Aokiji was so ashamed that he left the Marines (which may lead to him being a possible ally?) and no-one knows where he is or what he is doing.

The Marines have now become more powerful due to Akainu's leadership, but they aren't the only dangers in the New World. The Blackbeard Pirates are also rampaging across the New World; they are so dangerous that Blackbeard has been recognized across the world as one of the Four Emperors alongside Shanks, Kaidou and Big Mom. So he's replacing the guy that he killed, which is quite an accomplishment. He's been a Warlord of the Sea, so what’s next? There are rumors that they are hunting other people's Devil Fruit abilities by killing them which is actually a cool thing that could make them more dangerous.

Luffy isn't listening though because he is focusing on eating of course, but the other Straw Hats are cool with it because they heard it for him and Luffy says he likes to fight without plans anyway. Luffy asks Keimi where Shirahoshi is and is told she went to her room since she felt dizzy from alcohol. Luffy, Zoro and Sanji all get a strange feeling all of a sudden as we see in the Koukaku Tower that Shirahoshi is being kidnapped by Caribou!

Again, I don't blame Jinbei for being pissed. Yet I am hyped

Caribou becomes animated as he says he will no longer steal treasure and mermaids and that with Shirahoshi's powers and his crew (who are somehow alive or are possibly previously unseen allies), he'll conquer the New World. Luffy, Zoro and Sanji however show up in the nick of time to, uh, swat Caribou away. Well, that was easy. Good thing we won't see him again right? Oh well. The Minister of the Right shows up and thanks them for saving Shirahoshi as the princess herself cries tears of joy.

They talk about Caribou the thief when our favorite thief and miser Nami arrives and finds out about the missing treasure. Naturally, she asks why they don't get the treasure back but when King Neptune explains their unimportance to him, Nami immediately asks if they can have they treasure if they got it back. Neptune accepts and Nami pretty much swats the Dangerous 3 into getting the treasure from Caribou again, priorities ladies.

Remember kids, THIS COULD BE YOU!

In the Prison Tower we revisit our arc villains who have regained consciousness. They have become wrinkly old men. See this is the effect of steroids, you become old, shriveled and can't get it up, um, ignore that last one.

Turns out the pills belonged to the Royal Family and were stolen. Neptune has had enough of Hody's ramblings about the humans and decides to "reconsider his punishment". I'd totally fist bump Neptune right now. The chapter ends with a guard tells the Minister of the Left that Big Mom can't get a candy offering this month due to Hody's actions and all the candy that is left has been eaten by the Straw Hats. This is a problem since Big Mom won't hesitate to attack an entire country just for candy.

*Cue the DUN DUN DUUUUUN music*

Well we certainly got a lot of exposition in this chapter? All I can say is that we've got a lot of potentially awesome battles and storylines with our heroes in the New World and that I am bloody excited for them. I'm guessing we'll finally see Big Mom next chapter or soon after as well as the Straw Hats departing from Fishman Island.

So we'll either see this one last time this year or at the beginning of next year. Either way, the future is continuing to looking great for One Piece. Catch you all later!

So Uranus is a deadly ancient weapon also....*snickers*

One Piece More: Closing Out 2011

2011-12-29T01:06:00.000-06:00

One of the worst things about a year ending is trying to remember everything that has happened in the last 364 days. So much has happened in a year that it feels like not much has happened. Then you try to remember it all and things get even more confusing. Why do people even try to remember everything that has happened in the last year when it is hard enough to do that in our own life?

Whatever, let’s get into this.

-Mikey

Best of 2011

Mikey: One Piece had a phenomenal year as it kept on breaking manga volume records in Japan. You would think that eventually One Piece would stop breaking its’ own record but that didn't seem to be the case. Here in the United States, things have been somewhat quiet as Funimation released the Log Collection sets and Viz kept on publishing the volumes and chapters in Shonen Jump. It sounds as if One Piece was quiet but there were a few things that you could call our top 3 One Piece moments.

3. Time Skip in Living Color

After two years of being separated, the Straw Hat Pirates have been reunited with each other. The crew has been together for a year in the manga but I love to see things animated. You can hear how excited each Japanese voice actor was to reprise their roles.

The reunion of the crew also marked the return of the comedic chemistry of the Straw Hats. All of them have great chemistry with each other. It felt as if they were never separated. The time skip had only serve to make him even more ridiculous and zany than ever. The Straw Hats didn't just improve their power.

2. Shonen Jump Alpha

The announcement of Shonen Jump Alpha was one of the biggest manga related announcements this year. The fact that one of the biggest manga companies in Japan was willing to allow an American company to publish its’ content online almost simultaneously was amazing to hear. Of course, this does mean that print magazine will be discontinued in March 2012 which is sad to hear.

What this means for One Piece fans? It means that we will be able to read the newest One Piece chapters legally which I have waited for a long time. There may be a two week delay but it will be worth waiting for a translation that is accurate. It is great to have a legal option to read One Piece.

One Piece fans will be literally thrown into the New World as Shonen Jump Alpha is going to show us what it has to offer.

1. One Piece: Season 4

US One Piece anime fans have been waiting for this announcement for a long time. Fans of the Funimation release have been asking relentlessly if Funimation was going to acquire the rights to continue dubbing One Piece. It should have been obvious that Funimation was going to dub more episodes, the question was when?

The announcement of Season 4 will keep One Piece dub fans abuzz about what Funimation will do to cast several new characters. Then there is the question over which voice actors will retain their roles from One Piece: Unlimited Adventure. Hopefully Patrick Seitz will retain his role as Franky because we didn't get to hear enough of him from the video game.

What I am looking forward to though is watching Water 7 animated for the first time. I have heard many good things about it and can't wait to see it.

SuperNeku:

3. The Fishman Island Arc

For a little over a year now, we've seen the Straw Hats endure battles and obstacles since they reunited at Sabaody Archipelago. Now that the arc is nearing its’ conclusion I can say that although it was a little hit and miss, I enjoyed what we were given. In my opinion it’s a little similar to the Skypiea arc where we got good stuff, then a bit of padding then back to the good again. Like I keep saying, even when the story slows down, I still enjoy it even if others don't.

You all cannot deny that the crowning achievement of the arc were the fight scenes. I'm still amazed every time I see them and I'm hoping for more of this in future arcs now that we know what the Marines and the Blackbeard Pirates are up to in the New World. Also the anime is just starting to depict the arc and it is looking great so far. Keep watching and reading guys.

2. Animated Timeskip!

Last year I placed the time skip as part of my joint number one spot and one of my immediate questions of it is "How is this going to be handled in the anime?" Once Toei officially began depicting the time skip in October and I saw "We Go!" for the first time, I could already tell that I was going to love the animation of the Return to Saboady arc and that One Piece was going to be a better anime than ever before.

The extra scenes they did and choices of voice actors for each of the brand new characters were great decisions, and I'm looking forward to seeing the later fight scenes animated.

1. Experiencing One Piece in English

This one is more personal for me. As I keep saying, One Piece isn't as popular here in the UK as it is in the US and Japan. Sure we have the manga which is fine, but the anime is nowhere to be seen here. With my limited understanding of expensive licensing, I've pretty much accepted that the anime is never coming here.

When I heard about the releases of the One Piece collections by Funimation, I knew now that there was no excuse for me not to own it now and finally bought a US copy. Once I had sat through the Morgan, Buggy, Kuro and a bit of the Baratie arcs in English I knew instantly that I had experienced the anime in such a different way that it felt almost like a different show. The voice acting is superb and the dubbed dialogue feels much stronger to me in my own language than it does watching subtitled versions on a computer. I still love the Japanese version, but Funimation has opened the gateway for me and I am going to continue buying these collections as they come out as well as the Season 4 DVDs once they get released. I encourage fellow UK and US One Piece fans to do the same.

Sora:
3. The Announcement of Season 4 Dub

What an unexpected surprise! I have been waiting a while to hear Franky and the whole Water 7 cast in English, ever since the thought crossed my mind a year ago. Waiting for FUNimation without any news was concerning, but with this announcement, all my fears were erased.

2. Seeing the Straw Hats Post-Timeskip

As at this point I was officially free from spoiled information, the excitement of seeing the older crew! I get a thrill every time I sit down for a new episode! Though their bodies have changed, their personalities haven’t. As it has been 2 years in actual time since they have been together on the big screen, seeing the whole crew together after so long really got to me. It is the longest stretch of time Luffy has been without his crew beside him, and it feels that way.

Three particular things which I had been looking forward to seeing: Franky’s new-and-improved body and hair, Man-sopp, Sanji’s reaction upon seeing Nami, Robin, and receiving the news that Luffy was sent to Amazon Lily. All three of which were excellent.

Just seeing the chemistry of the assembled crew reminded me of how much I have missed their interaction these past 2 years.

1.No Longer Spoiled

This seems like a silly thing to get excited about for those of you who read the manga then watch the action animated in color, but because my traditional method of taking in One Piece is to watch the anime then read the manga. My cruel friend tortured me by revealing many major plot events which ruined my enjoyment of most of the episodes this year.

Since episode 505, I have been spoiler-free and have been enjoying every shock and unexpected twist that has come off of the screen! Without spoilers, my enjoyment of the series has increased exponentially, and proved why One Piece is my number 1 ranked anime in terms of original plot, character design, and everything else that One Piece is made of.

2012 Wish List
A few things that we want to see for One Piece in 2012.

Sora:

I only have a few things that I am looking forward to this coming year, but they are very important to me. Hearing Season 4 in English will be a treat, and I plan on catching up from where I left off on episode 136. I am very eager to hear Franky’s humor in English and each CP9’s odd speech in English as well. I believe it will be very well done.

The other event I am excited for is seeing the Fishman Island arc animated, as I have been hearing little tidbits about it now for a year while following the Unofficial One Piece Podcast and seeing my colleagues talk about it on the blog. It seems to be a pretty good arc, and I am very curious as to the actual capabilities of the Straw Hats now. Other than that, just seeing a whole year of plot I know little of will be a joy, something I haven’t had since about 3 years ago. So here’s to a great new year of One Piece!

SuperNeku:
Now that the Fishman Island arc is on the verge of ending, I'm expecting an encounter with either someone familiar to the Straw Hats or someone entirely different. Of course there should also be inevitable battles with Big Mom, the Blackbeard Pirates, the Supernovas, and of course the Marines. I would also like to know more about the ancient weapon Uranus but other than that; it’s hard to know where the Straw Hats are going to go so I'll have to cut this one short.

Mikey:
One of the first things I am expecting from One Piece is finally watching all of Water 7 in a language that I can understand. Of course, Funimation most likely won't release Water 7 arc in 2012 but the fact that we will get to it eventually makes me excited to own the first Season 4 sets by this time next year.

Another thing I hope to see is a successful launch for Shonen Jump Alpha. The ability to have a clean translation to follow along with the Japanese release is a dream come true. The best part is that it looks to be right at the beginning of a new story arc, and this makes for a reader friendly story arc. There are so many things to look forward to as we enter the New World and it nice to have Shonen Jump to help lead the way.

What a year! 2011 was an interesting year to be a One Piece fan. We witnessed the death of Ace in the anime while we explored the dangers of Fishman Island in the manga. It is going to be amazing what 2012 will bring to us. If you want to know where One Piece is going, take a look at where we are now because there is nowhere to go but amazing.

We are going to keep doing what we do best and provide you coverage of the series. There are several ideas for articles that you will see in the future. This year was a great year for us and 2012 will be even better!

Good bye 2011, and hello 2012.

Written by: Mikey, Neku, Sora
Edited By: Dsaftler

Review Piece: Haibane Renmei (Secret Santa)

2011-12-27T03:54:00.000-06:00

In the Beginning…

…There were angels born from giant cocoons. Imagine my surprise when the series Haibane Renmei begins with no apparent conflict. Mystery and secrets abound, but they aren’t serious plot devices, and so the viewer begins to wonder where the conflict lies. This is the central idea of the series: it has no larger conflict; the conflict is only revealed in the concluding episode of the series. A few minor conflicts occur, which deeply affect the plot and drastically change the tone of the anime in a short period of time, but the tender message of the story does not change as a result, but is rather strengthened as more truth comes to light.

This series is Haibane Renmei, an anime based on a doujinshi comic series created by Abe Yoshitoshi in 1998. The series débuted and ended in 2002 with 13 episodes, categorized as drama/fantasy. For the Reverse Thieves’ annual ‘Secret Santa’ project, this is the anime I chose to review for the end of the year.

The Appeal

In this series, you grow alongside the protagonist, and learn as she does about this small world she was reborn into. The short, spoiler-free review of this anime I read beforehand was precise and charming; pithy in describing how touching and easy this anime was for the heart, with no big complications or psychological issues to scare the viewer. The mystery and intrigue are there, but the rare serenity of the overall series is wonderful, and a welcome sight for sore eyes.

The Story

A town enveloped by a mysterious wall, with no knowledge of the outside world; a seeming utopia where the citizens live in peace with the mysterious creatures the Haibane, Charcoal Feathers, and the only people allowed to leave the confines of the city are the cloaked Toga, of the mysterious Haibane Renmei, the Charcoal Feather Federation. Seems like your average protagonist and antagonist-led story, right? Wrong.

The main character, who takes on the name Rakka, has no extraordinary features, and no special powers or abilities. The only real change which marks her as a bit different from the other Haibane are the fact that she later becomes a Sin-Bound, but then recovers when another Sin-Bound cannot. Her intrigue and curiosity toward the outside world offers a possible element to drive the series towards a serious conflict – until it becomes apparent that there is no hostility.

The Haibane Renmei, mysterious old men in dark cloaks and masks which hide their faces, do not reveal their activities outside of the walls, dictate what Haibane may do in the town, and do not communicate with others, appearing quite maleficent. Though limiting the Haibane to only using second hand items from humans and lacking accountability, no one seems to have any issue with their rules, and the governance of the town results in a sense of peace and serenity for all citizens.

The townspeople are always friendly and kind to the Haibane, and the angel-people themselves seem to be in constant good spirits, creating a surreal effect to the anime. It truly is a regulated, strictly-run, utopia; a situation not possible in real life and rarely seen outside of a malicious plot or dictatorial schemes.

The Characters

From simple to ambiguous, hyper to heavenly, humble to mischievous, the characters warm your heart and grow on you like the sprout-like cocoons they are born from. Whether Haibane or townsfolk, each person reaches out to you in their own way. The main Haibane are Rakka, Reki, Kuu, Nemu, Kana, and Hikari, who live at Old Home with younger Haibane called Young Feathers and a ‘house mother’ from the village.

Other Haibane live at Abandoned Factory, which is co-ed but cannot support the Young Feathers as easily as Old Home, including Hyohko and Midori. Other important groups in the series include the mysterious leaders of the town, the Haibane Renmei, whose motives are unknown for most of the series. These include the Toga, the only ones allowed to exit and enter The Wall, and the Communicator, who seems to lead the Haibane Renmei. Many townsfolk play significant roles in the lives and decisions of the Haibane as well, mainly interacting at places where each Haibane works or at the used-clothing store where they shop.

There is, however, a lack of male Haibane, and a distinct separation between the denizens of Abandoned Factory from the main characters in Old Home, the main stage of the show. The separation is never explained properly and the two groups seem to rarely interact. The lack of men is only commented on once or twice in the anime, and is not taken very seriously by the characters when discussed. Another issue is the weakness of the main character. Though her lack of self confidence is part of her character as she learns to believe in herself, it can be overbearing.

The Sound and Animation

Opening – Gentle, calm, peaceful, sincere, graceful, peaceful, light-hearted, warm.

Ending – Haunting, mysterious, questioning, calming, soothing, intriguing, satisfying.

These are the words which describe my feelings about the opening and ending themes for the series. Though an instrumental piece, the opening song is peaceful and soft, yet enticing. The opening is a good reflection of each Haibane character, showing off their personalities and some humor. The ending theme includes lyrics and displays opposite qualities. They complement each other nicely.

The Conclusion

Haibane Renmei is a delightful series which keeps you on your toes waiting for a violent conflict which doesn’t occur until the series climax, and still manages to surprise you with a happy ending, and a sweet reminder that not all anime needs to be cutthroat and explosive in order for the story to succeed. The opening and ending songs are wistful and melodic, and the series is short enough to buy and re-watch a few times a month. It’s like sipping a soothing cup of green tea after a day of Red Bull and Coca-Cola. For its simplicity and elegance, I would definitely award this anime an 8 out of 10 star rating. Rakka’s anxieties detracted somewhat from the plot, but these were minor problems in comparison to the excellent quality of this strange, small world.

Manga: Chapter 649 (SPOILERS)

2011-12-18T13:36:00.001-06:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Get ready to party! Get Viz's One Piece or read online at Jmanga.com!

Summary

Jimbei declines Luffy's invitation to join the crew now, but promises to join later on.

King Neptune closes the Fishman District and moves the residents to the main island.

Hodi and his officers are imprisoned.

The Straw Hats have a party at the palace.

Robin reveals what she read on the poneglyph located at Fishmand Island.

Thoughts

I am happy Jimbei refused to join the crew. He doesn't serve a purpose except as Luffy's blood donor. Even that sounds lame because blood transfusions weren't a big deal in the past. That’s considering that they were needed because of all the blood Zoro loses in every fight.

If a new crew member was to join then I would rather it be somebody from the New World. That person would most likely be a woman strong enough to be on par with the current Straw Hats, and have firsthand knowledge about the New World. There are already enough men on the Sunny.

It will be interesting to see how Jimbei will rejoin the Straw Hats later on in the story. Then again he could join within the next two chapters, what do I know? It all depends on what Jimbei has to do. It must have been something big if he has been avoiding it for two years.

So they didn't live in the boat?

The plot thickens in the kingdom as Neptune closes off the Fishman District. This will provide interesting cover stories in the future.

In retrospect, I found it strange that the fishmen were segregated to live in the slums while the mermaids were allowed to live in the better part of the kingdom. Prior to this arc, you would think that they both lived together in one spot but that wasn't true. It could have had something to do with how beastly the fishmen looked compared to the more human-like mermaids. This then eventually led to them being segregated to the Fishman District.

Of course, this is all a theory. It would be interesting to get more back-story on this area then what we got.

Isn’t it kind of strange to see where Hodi and his crew end up immediately after their defeat? Maybe Oda doesn't have plans to reintroduce them later in the series.

The end of this arc is coming as per usual seen with the party in this chapter. It is always great to see things end on a happy note especially with the last arc where we didn't see a formal celebration. It was great to see the Straw Hats and their friends raising their glasses. You can feel the joy in each scene as the Straw Hats drink, sing, and dance to their heart's content.

The two page spread that kicked off the celebration at the palace was marvelous. You had the beautifully designed dancers from Mermaid Cafe swimming above. In the background, you can see the Neptune family along with the Straw Hats spread out in the page. You can stare at it for hours trying to catch every detail and still won't be able to spot it all. You have to appreciate the work that Oda puts into the art in this series.

WOW! That is an awesome drawing of Shirahoshi. It's very innocent, but menacing.

The biggest revelation from this chapter is that Shirahoshi is the ancient weapon Poseidon .The poneglyphs are shrouded in mystery and this is the first time we have been told what is actually in the writing. As Robin mentioned, the poneglyph in Skypeia revealed that the location of Poseidon was in Fishmen Island. It is fitting that the God of the Sea would be located deep within the kingdom of the sea. Hopefully she will tell us what the one in Alabasta said about Pluton. Shirahoshi being an ancient weapon sounds very cryptic so I am looking forward to hear what Robin has to say about this.

Until next time true believers!

Manga: Chapter 648 (SPOILERS)

2011-12-09T20:44:00.002-06:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

You too can be cool like Jinbei! Buy One Piece from Viz or JManga! :D

Hey pals, we've reached the climax of the battle between the Straw Hats and the New Fishman Pirates, Princess Shirahoshi has just summoned the Sea Kings. What's going to happen? Let's find out right now.

This week's chapter starts off with the Sea Kings explaining to Shirahoshi that they've been waiting for her for a very long time and that they were told to pull the ark Noah for Reverie, and explain why it’s so big. They claim that Shirahoshi has been "their queen" from the moment she was born. Everyone around them gazes awfully at this event including King Neptune and the 3 princes.

The bubble surrounding the ark comes into the island bubble; Shirahoshi quickly rescues Luffy and the Sea Kings drag Noah back into the ocean. As they're swimming away, they suggest Luffy was able to understand them but that is impossible for humans to do.

However they recall that another human was able to understand them, through flashback we learn that human happened to be Gol D. Roger himself. The Sea Kings place Noah close to the Sea Forest so that it can be repaired easily. They leave but intend to return when the time comes.

I'm glad to find joy after all the fighting.

Back at Ryuuguu Palace, the Minister of the Right has an urgent message for the citizens. The kidnapped mermaids have been found within the palace itself, but they cannot clearly remember their kidnapper. Additionally, every bit of treasure has been stolen. I'm just wondering if this will be resolved sooner or if we'll have to wait a while before we see Caribou again. King Neptune tells the Ministers to forget about the treasure because the people’s safety is more important, he also declares the Straw Hat Pirates innocent of all crimes.

In the Gyoncorde Plaza, the citizens are ecstatic to hear this news while pirates who participated in the battle try escaping, but Jinbei stops them saying they are under judgment from the king and he'll shoot anyone who tries to escape. On the Thousand Sunny, Chopper recovers from his Monster form, stating he won't be able to move for two or three hours but he can still treat people's wounds. That is dedication.

As the king and princes approach the plaza, the unconscious Hody and Vander Decken are found chained. Prince Fukaboshi proclaims that they shall never be free. Shirahoshi and Luffy also approach the plaza much to everyone's delight but there is now another problem, Shirahoshi cries out for help as Luffy bleeds profusely.

It's amazing how one operation manages to change so much.

Chopper examines Luffy, with help from Robin moving body. Chopper manages to stop the bleeding but Luffy has lost enough that he needs a blood transfusion. Luffy's blood-type is F but the only available people who have type F are the fishpeople. Remember this plot point? This is where it gets resolved. In Fishman Island there is a law against cross species transfusions, the citizens are reluctant to help. Shirahoshi offers her blood even if it’s a different type, which is so sweet of her.

Finally, someone steps forward to donate, its Jinbei! He offers as much of his F Type blood as is needed, Chopper warns that it’s against the law, but Jinbei reminds him that he is also a pirate. Everyone is in shock but Neptune just calls that law a curse. The blood transfusion is performed. Through this one operation, all of blood spilt has all been cleansed. Finally, the prejudice of the humans and the fishmen has come to an end.

Is Jimbei the possible 10th member of the crew? I hope so personally

The chapter ends with Luffy regaining consciousness and everyone is overjoyed that the battle is over and the past is erased. Also in one of my most desired moments of this arc, Luffy asks Jinbei to join the Straw Hat Pirates.

Now what did I think of this chapter? It’s a brilliant end to a battle everyone wanted since the timeskip happened and if Jinbei accepts Luffy's offer, then we should think of this chapter (if not the whole one, then at least the end) as one of the most important moments in One Piece history.

Now some people have been against Jinbei joining the Straw Hats, but personally I'm all for it because he's one of my favorite characters. It’s a better suggestion than Shirahoshi anyway, but that is just my opinion. So will Jinbei choose to join the Straw Hats? Where will our next adventure take place? We'll hopefully get our answers next week. I look forward to then and if you'll excuse me, I've got Gigant Battle 2 to play. I’ll catch you all next time!

Written by Superneku

Edited by Dsaftler

Anime: Straw Hat Reunion Arc- Episode 521

2011-12-04T03:43:00.001-06:00

The face of the next King of the pirates is only on OnePieceOfficial.com.

First Thoughts

One of the most enjoyable parts of the episode is the Marines. Though they brought Pacifistas, which I do not support; this was one of the few times the Marines fight truly “bad” pirates. Another memorable scene I enjoyed was of Sentomaru’s speech about Luffy. I didn’t expect that he would defend Luffy’s honor as he did, because he is Luffy’s foe. Because of this action, Sentomaru reminds me of Smoker.

The idiocy of the fake Straw Hats is frustrating, and I am certainly glad to be rid of them. Another excellent scene of the episode was when Sentomaru called out the imposter, and everyone was shocked. Sentomaru is no fool, and I should have expected no less from his sharp mind. He has fought Luffy before.

Summary

Once given Rayleigh’s vivre card, the crew decides to rendezvous with Brook at Grove 47 so that they can leave Sabaody as soon as Luffy arrives. With the captain still absent, Chopper thinks of a way to find the rubber man.

Meanwhile at Grove 46, the fake Straw Hats and their new crew are waiting for Luffy’s execution, when the Marines arrive.

One furious imposter, a psychotic Caribou, and a dead Marine later, and evil pirates battle good Marines. Meanwhile Luffy watches on in confusion, offering occasional comments which Sanji’s imposter cannot understand.

Pacifistas arrive on the scene and turn the tide of battle to the Marine’s favor, quickly decimating the pirates’ ranks as the captains go down one-by-one.

Terrified for his own life, the fake Luffy flees with his crew trailing behind, leaving his assembled team of vicious pirates to deal with the Marines. However, he runs into Sentomaru, who is not susceptible to the ruse. Keeping up the lie, fake Luffy goes down for the count with a one hit K-O from the blunt side of Sentomaru’s battle axe, ending his tirade of empty threats.

Thoughts

The picture chosen as backdrop for the episode’s title compares Luffy’s emotional states. This creates an atmosphere of tension as the viewers wonder what causes Luffy to transition so drastically. On another thought the dual comparison could be between himself as he was and as he is now. None of his crew has seen the change in him, and their reactions could be mixed.

Planning and Thinking

I would like to see the Marines try and arrest every devoted fan at Brook’s farewell concert. Those Marines are in for it now. A riot has broken out, and this angry mob of fans is very intent on keeping their favorite superstar from being locked up.

I am pleased Brook has received recognition as a musician and a pirate. I knew he would become a rock star, but the Marines connecting the dots on Brook’s true identity took me by surprise.

There are no better insults than “third-class swordsman” and “worsened cooking skills” to be thrown at your old crewmate. These new jabs are refreshing as alternatives to “dartboard brow” or “moss head”.

Oh no, you did not just say that.

Sanji is insulting Zoro’s meager intelligence by speaking in monosyllable. Zoro retorts with his own attempt. The faces they are each making are very comical.

This is not an attractive pose. Sanji looks like a drug addict.

Zoro pauses and contemplates the ruckus coming from Grove 46. His contemplation shows maturity.

Rousing the Rabble

As long as Luffy does not make a scene, he ought to get out of this fight relatively unscathed. Then again, this is Luffy, and I do not believe I have heard of a time in which he has not been pulled into the conflict in one way or another.

I don’t think it is going to work out. Luckily, Luffy has not exposed himself yet; he is following Hancock’s advice and staying out of conflict so he will not be recognized. He is not impulsive as he was 2 years ago.

Caribou is a psychopath. I also believe he is more intelligent than the other pirates, as he remains undisturbed by the Marines and doesn’t care about talking back to “Luffy.” Though it looks like all he enjoys is killing.

The Marines fighting pirates who are actually bad is a good change. They are supposed to be heroes now and again.

I am intrigued that Caribou describes how the Marines are hypocrites after they announce their battle cry, “Fight for justice!” On another note, I cannot tell if Lip “Service” Doughty is a woman or a man.

Now a pirate who resembles a mummy has joined the fray, “Gashed” Albion. I can’t say that I am impressed by him or any of these pirates really. I haven’t found a single pirate in this fight that I like, so I am hoping the Marines win this round.

Now I see why Caribou has such an uncaring attitude: he doesn’t need to worry about being killed or hurt because he is a fruit user. He feels invincible, so his psychotic tendencies can run rampant. He can turn into a viscous liquid, so perhaps he has a Logia-based ability? That could be very deadly.

The arrival of the Pacifistas, though good for the Marines, is not a good thing in my eyes. Not only because Sentomaru is with them and he knows the real Luffy, but because the Pacifistas are also inhumane and destructive. I dislike them severely for this reason, and it certainly does not help that they are just robotic copies of Kuma.

I like how Sanji’s imposter keeps yelling at Luffy whenever the boy makes remarks about the fight, and how Zoro’s imposter panics behind them. It adds a nice sense of comic relief seeing how well these two work together. They are both such cowards, it is unbelievable.

It is disturbing to hear Kuma’s voice coming from those things. On a side note, this is a stroke of mixed luck for the charlatan, as he has, by bringing the real Straw Hat Luffy on the platform with him, unknowingly fooled the robots into verifying that he is the “real” Luffy.

I know I hoped that the Marines would win today, but not like this. Now I just want the pirates to get arrested, not to have such awful killing machines sick upon them. What the Marines are doing to Kuma’s image is despicable. I just cannot be happy that anyone should win in such a violent, unsympathetic way.

I agree with Albion that this is a very interesting situation, but I probably think this for different reasons than he does. The followers want to see “Straw Hat Luffy” take on a high-ranking Marine official, and I want to see Sentomaru call-out the imposter’s bluff. Sentomaru isn’t stupid enough to fall for the trick, as he fought Luffy. Unfortunately, the real Luffy is there on the stone platform, and is sure to be recognized.

The Shocking Truth Comes To Light (Finally)

This is the first time I can and say that I like Sentomaru. He finally got this loser to shut up. Sentomaru is no fool; he knows Luffy. The situation is odd, but in his own way, Sentomaru is sticking up for Luffy’s honor. That is impressive, even if he is about to go arrest the real Luffy, which is bad.

The overall reaction of everyone’s upon Sentomaru’s announcement was priceless. This was easily my favorite part of the episode so far.

I was curious about the imposter’s true identity, but he is just a small-time con artist, so I am rather disappointed. It is amusing so many of these high-bounty captains fell for the act so easily. They aren’t taking it well either. Not showing Caribou’s reaction worries me, as I believe he had either suspected the fact already, or just didn’t care whether he was working under the real Straw Hat Luffy or not.

Luffy’s patience is rewarded in the form of a chance to quietly slip away in the ruckus. Of course, things are never that easy when Luffy is involved.

Luffy’s disguise is gone now, so chaos is sure to ensue. I like now l casually Luffy is acting about this whole thing. The horrified look of realization that the fake Sanji and the other imposters have on their faces is hilarious. Sanji’s imposter just realized that he had been yelling at the real Straw Hat Luffy.

Return of the True Straw Hat Luffy

The opening theme song playing in the background accentuates Luffy’s power difference in two years, as the music is exciting and Sentomaru begins to lose his composure.

The change in tone is obvious as Luffy dodged the laser beams. This was a good display of his improvement, setting him against his foe on the Archipelago two years ago.

This is the first time I have ever seen a look of fear on Sentomaru’s face.

I didn’t realize Luffy had gained that much of an increase in power.

The other pirate’s eyes just pop out more and more, much to my enjoyment.

The ability to tell that Luffy can control his use of Haki is impressive on Sentomaru’s part. The man can accurately rate his opponent’s strength level, which is a good test-run for Luffy to showcase his progress and improvements.

I am glad that Zoro is the first voice he heard from his crew, and that Sanji was with him to pick up Luffy. This is a good reunion, a collection of the original three superhuman Straw Hats.

I love how well Sanji and Zoro’s combinations work after all this time. They even remembered to fight over who performed the better attack!

Final Thoughts

A final appearance by Rayleigh is appropriate.. I’m glad to see things come together at long last. The quick reunion of the three fighters was really sweet; I saw what I wanted to see in this episode, especially the look on the Marine’s faces when they see “Dark King” Rayleigh.

This was a very good episode because it set a course for the New World at long last.

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Author: Sora
Editor: Dsaftler
Thanks for everyone who supports the blog and the series! Come back next week for more discussion of your favorite anime, One Piece, and watch it free and legal on OnePieceOfficial.com! Thanks again!

Manga: Chapter 645, 646, and 647 (SPOILERS)

2011-11-28T01:23:00.011-06:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Read Viz's One Piece or read online at JManga.com

Introduction:

I have been editing this site since August and I have yet to contribute an article of my own. Though I am running late, I’d like to give you my review of the last three serialized chapters of One Piece. One Piece up to this point has been a wonderful Odyssey through the imagination of Eiichiro Oda. I have found it to be an inspirational work of fiction since I’ve discovered it in the later months of 2007. It has remained a constant reminder to me that friendship and adventure will always exist in this world.

I cannot give an entirely unbiased review of this work of fiction as a whole, but I can take it apart and reevaluate my feelings about each particular chapter as an individual work of art. With two chapters having been released since I came upon this assignment, I decided to analyze the three together over common themes. The common theme that is most obvious to me is that the Straw Hat Crew has overwhelmed their previous super humanity for bolder abilities required in the New World.

My Review, Recapitulation, and Analysis:

The 645^thissued chapter of One Piece, leading directly from the last panel of the previous chapter, featured a climatic and very apparent conclusion to the fight between our protagonist, the pirate Monkey D. Luffy and the villainous zealot Hody Jones. With his upper body wounded and temporarily rendered incapacitated by Luffy’s Gomu Gomu no Red Hawk, Hody flies into the bubble now surrounding Noah and crashes into the upper deck. Having sustained what appear to be severe internal injuries, Hody throws up the steroids he had been taking and attempts to shove them back down his throat.

This was depicted in a long number of panels without sustained conversation. The pictures of the wild eyed Hody losing control over his body are at once well crafted, startling, frightening, and emboldening. The lack of dialogue forces the reader to contemplate the simultaneous nature of the actions we see and the very incredible danger the characters have found themselves in. It all ends as Hody desperately throws sharks made of water at Luffy, and Luffy prepares the inspiration for my poem entitled Elephant Gun : the Gomu Gomu no Elephant Gun.

Elephant Gun

Massive like a magnum

In one hand

An elephant gun shoots

Hits it's prey

Like a brick-wall explosion destroying the innards

Of the animal that bears its name

More than easily it could

Put a man to sleep

Quicker than a rear naked choke

And worse than a right cross to the jaw

They say a .44 Magnum could blow a man's

Head clean off his body.

After Hody’s final pronouncement, and trust me he has been completely crippled and defeated. If he can’t control his bodily functions, then what can he offer Luffy? The Noah ark is the only decent challenge Luffy faces right now. With Hody defeated, Luffy’s challenge is to redirect or destroy a ship the size of an island. With the destruction of such a mass, Luffy would conceivably display a feat of strength equal to Whitebeard or a deity in scale.

The feats and abilities of Whitebeard provide a high water mark that Luffy must reach, not only in terms of strength and leadership, but also in heroism over friendship. Some Fishmen and probably some readers are reminded of similar display of friendship by Whitebeard. Luffy’s Elephant Gatling Gun certainly reaches for the godlike scale of power attained and displayed by Whitebeard. Luffy however is not equal to Whitebeard yet, and the Deus ex Machina like appearance of sea monsters/sea kings brought by his and Shirahoshi’s shared determination underscores that reality.

Luffy’s conquest of Hody and Hody’s goals were reproved by the genuine overwhelming victory of his comrades in arms. All of these easy victories for the Straw Hat Pirates are genuinely surprising to the reader familiar with their history, though they make sense from a thematic context. The thematic context is the genuine impregnability of the New World, and the need to conquer all that has come before it. By surpassing their challenges with remarkable ease, the Straw Hats each prove their invaluable power, resourcefulness, and endless potential that earns them their place on the crew.

Brook, the wildest card in the Straw Hat Pack, displayed a chilling cut that would put Aokiji to shame. Usopp expertly controlled Daruma, and manipulated him into an impacted cerebrum. Franky, even in use of a cumbersome robot figure that may be more trouble than it is worth, is able to fry the agile Giant Squid man Ikaros Much with laser-like precision. Chopper shows impressive control over his most monstrous form with his excessive thrashing of Dosun. Sanji and Jinbe make use of water and fire to knock out the Onyuudou. Finally, Zoro received no injury or poisoning in his defeat of Hyouzou, using an enhanced Onigiri from Purgatory to incapacitate him.

Though there has been very little to discuss about the women of the crew, their recorded acts and the acts of the rest of the crew more than suffice as displays of unfathomable might. Jinbe is likely to join the crew whatever any misgivings one may have, and he is already at a level of superhuman ability that few in the One Piece world can reckon with. If the crew can be compared to him such that he would best serve them as a member and not as a captain, then they have past the first test with honors.

The real question I have now is whether all truly is well in the Kyojin Kingdom. Will the Deus ex Machina fail and lead to the destruction of Fishman Island? Are the celebrations going to continue for days, or are they premature? Caribou, for example, may simply be left behind as an unintended consequence of the Straw Hats’ departure or he may become a greater danger then any reader could have expected. Madam Sharley's predictions continue to loom over our collective heads

This arc has displayed situations where the Straw Hats have been threatened on multiple fronts, and were expected to rise to the occasion. Either the Straw Hats are truly ready to leave Fishman Island and Caribou represents either a background nuisance, or they must steel themselves for further tests under the Red Line. I just hope to watch and wait with bated breath, just as Madam Sharley instructs the fish children to watch and judge humanity for themselves at Gyoncorde Plaza.

All the best,

Dsaftler.

Anime: Straw Hat Reunion Arc- Episode 520

2011-11-15T21:53:00.001-06:00

Cool down with a new episode of One Piece! Watch it on OnePieceOfficial.com!

First Thoughts
Brook has really been playing up the rock star personality. I guess that when you are a rock star, dumping a bottle of water on yourself is normal. This must have been portrayed in a different show but I can't remember where. Either way, this was clearly a Brook episode.

This episode had other noteworthy moments but Brook was the focal point. You did see a scene featuring Caribou’s brutality and some awesome moments with Franky but those moments weren’t the first things I remembered about this episode.

Whatever the reason, Brook the Rock Star was the reason why we watched this episode.

Summary
The Marines disrupt Brook's concert and reveal that he is a pirate working for Luffy. Brook is able to escape after announcing that Luffy lives.

Caribou attacks a Marine officer who was scouting at Grove 43.

Fake Luffy does a speech to rally his followers. Luffy is lead to the location of the fakes.

Chopper, Nami and Usopp reunited with Franky and Robin on the Sunny. Rayleigh and Shakky eventually join them.

Thoughts

Rocking Out with Brook
The crowd love Brook and as you saw towards the end of the episode that Brook really knew how to move them. They eat up everything Brook says. He may have been show-boating a bit too much with his 45 Degrees gag, but they loved it. Brook may have not mastered 40 Degrees during the last two years, but you can see that 45 Degrees is good enough for these people. You can feel the energy as Brook parades around the stage before his fans.

Do the Marines have an archive of old wanted posters for the last 60 years?

Itseemed that Brook had an advantage over his fellow Straw Hats. Nobody wouldhave believed that a musical walking skeleton would be a pirate who died overfifty years ago. You must remember Luffy has been known to house an assortmentof freaks in his crew such as a raccoon-dog/human reindeer or a cyborg. Awalking, talking skeleton would have been just another in a long line of freaks.

Itwill be interesting to see how Brook's fame as the Soul King will influence hispiracy. You see his fans continue accepting him. Will the Straw Hats get hurtbecause of Brook's fame or will it open new doors for them? A rock star beingpart of a group of wanted criminals is unheard of for me.

Brookmust have trusted his managers because he told them a lot about himself. He revealedhis history with the Rumbar Pirates and his current allegiances. Brook hasalways been trusting of strangers, which must have lead to a close relationshipwith his captors. The men may have exploited him but they did treat him withsome respect.

Theflashback was a nice touch. It helped tosee the relationship between Brook and his captors. It is something you wouldexpect from Brook. He values the memories he has and the people around him.Even though he has changed a lot in the last two years, the Brook that values friendshipis still there.

The song that Brook sang is about Luffy and his journey. The visuals at the beginning are kind of corny, but fit well with what was being said. It was a nice way to finish the episode. It would have been fine if the episode had ended with Brook finishing his song and flying into the air.

You can expect that this song will be on the Character CD for Brook in the next three months.

Caribou and his Yodeling Kabuki
IfOda and the writers at Toei were going for crazy psychopath with Caribou, thenthey succeeded. The guy acts as if he is a religious zealot, but he is actuallya hypocrite to the very core. Caribou didn't even think twice when he attackedthe Marine scout. Then when he does kill, Caribou prays to God to forgive theMarine for thinking such violent thoughts. He has some screws loose.

Caribou's crew is just as insane as him based on the appearance of Caribou's brother. Coribou is obedient to his brother and follows orders without question. That can be scary, because you never know what Caribou is plotting. Caribou and Coribou are pirates that shouldn’t be taken lightly given the size of their bounties.

Overall, Caribou seem to have gained fame among pirates during the last two years. Fake Luffy spoke highly of him in a previous episode and the pirates had no problem following Caribou when he was attacking the Marines. I wonder if this is a reflects the new generation of pirates after Whitebeard's death.

Keeping It Real Fake
Fake Luffy is gambling dangerously on his impersonation of Luffy. The man clearly wants to use the strength of the pirates he has gathered to rise to power. This may mean that he is weak, merely human, and that he relies on manipulation to obtain power. He is smart to be able to concoct a plan to grow a large crew with 4 bounty heads in a short time. The question is if he can subdue anybody who may rebel against him. All of his followers are declaring loyalty to him blindly, so they may not notice the imperfections in the Fake Straw Hats, much less how different they look from their wanted posters.

The problem Fake Luffy has is that Luffy is here. How long do you think it will take before he catches on to what is happening? Luffy had already encountered Fake Luffy, but we weren't sure if he knew what was going on. Luffy is pretty dense talking to Fake Sanji and Fake Zoro.

Fake Luffy and Luffy are going to meet again. I wonder how this will turn out because Luffy looks clueless and Fake Luffy is cocky.

The Gang Is Almost All Here
Most of the Straw Hats have finally arrived at the Thousand Sunny and you can feel the chemistry between them come back. Chopper and Usopp are already acting out their brotherly routine. Franky is demonstrating while you have Nami and Robin on the side reacting to what they are seeing.

It is very refreshing to see the crew coming back together. We have been missing this type of interaction for two years and it is great to have it back.

Things are different, however. Robin is friendlier with her fellow crewmates; she goes along with Franky's antics and smiles a lot more. The last two years must have made her more expressive. Prior to the time skip, Robin was just beginning to open up to her friends but now she is acting much closer. The distance must have made her heart grow fonder of her friends.

Nami on the other hand acts just the same. I liked her reaction to what Franky was doing. It is as if she doesn't believe that Franky strengthened himself because of how silly he is acting.

Final Thoughts

The episode had many great scenes such as Brook rocking out and making his grand declaration about Luffy. In between all of the humorous moments though was a serious undertone. Caribou could be a powerful foe depending on whether Fake Luffy can control the mass of pirates under his command. Then don't forget that the Marines are coming.

Anime: Straw Hat Reunion Arc- Episode 519

2011-11-13T22:27:00.000-06:00

Franky is a pretty good model. I am in full support of him getting onto the cover of “Mega Men Monthly”. See this (and more?) on OnePieceOfficial.com.

First Thoughts

Although not sure as to what I should suspect for this episode, the return of the familiar bickering between Zoro and Sanji is a welcome relief. As for Chopper, well, I just hope he will not get himself in too far over his little furry head. He is so innocent, the only Straw Hat in no real danger and it made him even more trusting which in this case, could be disastrous. Chopper should have let the secret agents go, as they would provide a nice distraction for Robin, even if she didn’t particularly need it. I just worry for Chopper’s safety, and hope that he will find his real friends soon. Now, the only thing left to do is to watch the episode. That shouldn’t be too hard.

Summary

Robin returns to the Sunny Go, the eighth member to arrive, and Franky greets her affectionately. Robin learns the condition of the crew, and the seeming stability of Brooke’s career brings a feeling of unease to the table.

Horrified by “Luffy’s” decision to abandon “Robin”, Chopper runs off in a fit. Luckily, he runs into the real Nami and Usopp, who explain situation with the fakes and calm the teenage reindeer down. Chopper is also much furrier, as noted by Nami.

Zoro and Sanji are still at each other’s throats, as Sanji can’t stand to babysit the directionally challenged man and cannot resist swooning over every woman he sees, while poor Zoro just wants to go fishing for some unexplained reason.

Nami gets a discount on clothing (how unusual), Chopper’s voice has changed due to reindeer puberty, and Luffy dons a fake nose/mustache to hide his identity by the end of this episode.

Thoughts

They changed the opening to show a scene of the Straw Hats fighting on a Marine ship. That is a fun addition, and I am glad I caught it. I don’t think I have mentioned it before, but I like seeing Gol D. Roger as a kid in the opening. I would like to hear more about the Pirate King when he was that age, but that is more a hopeful fantasy than a realistic possibility.

Franky Hits on a Fine Woman

The episode began where I hoped it would: following Robin’s return to Shakky’s bar. As she continues to be my favorite female Straw Hat, I am glad to see that she is doing well, and I am hopeful that nothing bad will come because of her time with the revolutionary army, namely secret agents tailing her.

On another note, I like the tropical wrap she is wearing. It is stylish and sophisticated, and it looks like something I would wear to the beach. The score is also pretty; almost elegiac. It highlights the joy Robin must feel after coming home again.

Franky’s first remark upon seeing Robin again was amazing.

The moment is ruined: I just saw Franky’s new body, and it is weird. Well, I cannot say that the whole moment was ruined. I don’t mind “Freaky Franky” quite so much now. It will depend on how much I see of him, and I may get used to his new body. It sounds like he is hitting on Robin, which, though disturbing, is also mildly amusing.

There is a long, awkward, pause while Franky poses. Glad to see Robin is taking it all in stride, as she does so well. That is why Robin and Franky are my favorite Straw Hats. They are just interact so professionally with one another, no matter if the matter is silly or serious.

At Franky’s next line, and this I must quote for it is hard to wrap my mind around fully without solidly stating it, “Look at my body, it’s full of romantic masculinity!” Franky has not lost his place in my heart as my favorite male member of the Straw Hats. If anything he has gotten even more amusing, strange as the thought may be.

Franky's description of his new robot body reminds me of his failed "Tactic Fifteen" back on Thriller Bark, when he attempted to have them all join together to create one fighting force, similar to the Power Rangers with their machines merging to create a giant fighting robot.

Franky is a ladies’ man. How much more can you compliment a woman? Now of course he is praising her for calling him a pervert. How incredible can Franky possibly be?

Did he always have such magnificent sideburns? I never noticed the sideburns when his glorious hair was on his head. I remain vexed that he shaved it all off.

On a more important note, I wish I could feel the ship's coating. It appears very amusing to touch. I suppose it would feel like jelly, but elastic enough to retain its shape.

It is a good sign that two of the most mature members of the crew got to the ship first, not counting Sanji and Zoro, of course. Sanji and Zoro both saw the ship, spoke with Rayleigh, and then decided to travel Sabaody for goods and recreation. Robin and Franky are hanging out on the ship, and Nami and Usopp have found each other and are catching up on old times. The peaceful mood is rather charming for this long-awaited get together.

Gangsta Franky

I’m glad to see those on the Sunny are discussing Brooke’s rise to fame, something I believe he deserved as he needed time to adapt to the modern world after being isolated for 50 years. He had been lonely for so long, it is important that he had this chance to see more of the world, and be loved. Even if it was the superficial love afforded to fame.

Fakes and “Friendships”

Poor Chopper is tagging along with the fake Straw Hats now. His naiveté is overwhelming. I am quite worried for the little fellow. He reacts to the whole “crew” as an excited little kid acts around a superhero, which is alarming considering how nasty this particular group of imposters is. Who knows, maybe this will come back to bite the group. I should not worry so much about Chopper, as he has most likely grown much stronger as well over the last few years, so he could probably handle them himself.

It was blatantly apparent that Chopper would get hurt in this manner.This situation could be remedied, if only a real crew member finds Chopper and briefs him to the situation. The secret government agents take care of Robin’s impostor for a while, and the Marines take the fake Straw Hats for a long ride. If left alone, things would work out for the crew. Unfortunately, Straw Hats are renown for screwing up even the best laid plans.

I look forward to seeing these fakes captured now, along with all of the brutes they recruited.

Bargains and Fishing with Zoro

Ah, Nami and her demands for discounts. Usopp is much calmer than he has been in the past, so that is a great sign. Nami isn’t as shrill either; she is just plainly demanding lower prices. The signs of maturity are abundant, and I appreciate them.

It’s just like old times, except that now over half the crew bares their midriff excessively, much to the opposite gender’s excitement. Zoro and Sanji are still at it, which makes me smile. Not all that much can change after two years, and Zoro and Sanji still hate each other’s guts. My favorite thing about Sanji’s directions to Zoro was that he was the one who ultimately got lost. Irony at its finest.

Advice to gentlemen: Never make this face, puff smoke-hearts, or say these words while addressing a lady. She will assuredly hit you with the nearest sharp object.

Why does Zoro have such an odd, sudden enjoyment for fishing? There must be more to this than they are letting on.

Reunion with True Friends, All Grown Up

Chopper’s voice sounds different. He was, technically a child when Luffy picked him up at Drum Kingdom, so maybe he has gone through reindeer puberty and is a teenager now? I like this idea, but I want to see what his reindeer form looks like. His dedication to Robin is unwavering as usual, which is excellent, as they are terrific friends and he is unendingly loyal to the woman, but in this particular case his devotion is misguided, as he is searching for the wrong Robin.

A thought just occurred to me: why doesn’t Chopper just use his nose to sniff each Straw Hat? He is a reindeer with a sensitive nose after all, so shouldn’t he recognize each crew member’s smell? Come now, Chopper, be reasonable.

Did I just see what I thought I just saw? Chopper as an adult reindeer? This is spectacular! Just look at how much the boy has grown these last two years. He is a full adult reindeer now, which will be excellent for combat.

I feel sorry for the poor guy; he is seriously hurt by this supposed betrayal of his beloved comrades. I hope that he can find his real friends soon so that he can be happy again. I should have seen this coming, after all, he was much too happy, and something sad would have to happen to him in order to remedy the situation his naivete brought him to.

My wish has been granted as two adorable crewmates are finally reunited after so long. Usopp and Chopper are very sweet together.

I share Nami’s fascination with Chopper’s cuddliness. I wonder just how furry and soft the not-so-little reindeer is?

I am so happy that they share information. That is most vexing part of any plotline, when characters have misunderstandings with their comrades. Now, Chopper won’t get into trouble, or get the crew into trouble. A plan might actually come together for once.

So Chopper actually mentions that the imposters did not smell familiar. He was so swept up in excitement that he tuned out his instincts which would have told him the truth. No one can blame the kid. I was worried that Oda overlooked Chopper’s sense of smell as a plot point.

Fools and Fights

Why do average pirates mistake the fakes for Sanji and Zoro so easily? It must be the great similarities between them and their real counterparts. Everyone knows how weird Sanji’s hair is and how much Zoro’s let himself go.

Silly me, I haven’t even mentioned Luffy’s absurd fake mustache yet. That really takes the cake, but, if it works, then I am all for it.

Zoro and Sanji are at it again. How much more epic will these squabbles between them be now that they have each grown so much?

Caribou and Coribou are a nasty pair with tongue and hair issues. I hope this event featuring the Marines goes over well. I am looking forward to some fun times with arresting real bad guys for once.

Final Thoughts

It’s the little things you are taught in life (and One Piece) which make it all worthwhile, right? It was a fabulous episode all around, as we get to see all of the Straw Hats. Chopper’s head is finally sorted out, Luffy finds similar trouble, and Zoro has an odd obsession with fishing. What a lovely episode!

Preview

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Thanks to everyone for being here today, watching this wonderful episode, and ect! See more and support the show at OnePieceOfficial.com~

Manga: No New Chapter This Week (SPOILERS!)

2011-11-07T20:39:00.000-06:00

SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!!

Don't get scared! Read some of Viz's One Piece or read online at Jmanga.com!

That's right guys, We've got another week without One Piece to (not) look forward to. Well at least Oda can maybe possibly take this time to relax a bit and the readers can catch up. Enough of that, time to recap summarize what has happened since the last break.

Basically; Luffy and the his crew, as well as the Royal Family and army, are continuing to hold off Hody and the rest of the New Fishman Pirates. Not only that, but there is also the giant ark Noah which is that continuing continues to fall towards the island. The Straw Hats each display show how strong they've really become after two years of training through each of their own fights. Suffice to say; it's bloody awesome. We also learn about why Hody has so much prejudiced towards humans; he pretty much hated them since he was a child even after learning about there being some good humans out there. It’s a very basic motivation, it works but at the same time it kind of doesn't completely explain the villains’ motivation(at least in my opinion). Although seeing the New Fishman Pirates as a KKK-esque cult in their early days is very disturbing and creepy.

Prince Fukaboshi goes into an becomes emotional state and begs Luffy to help them make a fresh start by through defeating Hody and his aspirations by any means necessary. Luffy explains that he considers him a friend and that he is emboldened gains even more motivation to defeat Hody and uses even more of his new techniques. As the fleeing citizens below watch, they realize that all humans aren't all bad, especially after remembering how Whitebeard used to protect the island when it was under his jurisdiction. Luffy manages to finish off Hody, ....maybe. I don't think he has ended the fight, since because we don't haven’t seen his body like normally do for defeated villains. The latest chapter ended by showing offwith displays of more of the Straw Hat's new prowess, such as Chopper’s new ability being able to control his Monster form, now (which is KICKASS!).

I think we're definitely nearing the end of this fight. Of course, we need to finish the fights that each of the Straw Hats need to go through as well as a proper conclusion between Luffy and Hody no one battle has reached a proper conclusion in this war. Not only that, but even after the fighting is done we'll probably get a bit more backstory or foreshadowing which is pretty much a standard for an story arc when the fighting is finished after the climax. The only thing I want to see is what result is going towill come out of the Reverie, if the Fishmen need to fix Noah, now that it's broken or what Madame Shirley's prediction really means. On top of all of the questions regarding the Fishman Island arc; where are the Straw Hats going to go next? I'd love to see some theories or debates in the comment section on what you all think needs to happen in this arc post-battle or after the arc is done altogether.

So in conclusion, I'm very pleased that we've got to see more of the Straw Hat's’ new abilities and powers post timeskip in much more detail than before, although we'll probably get even more of that before the fight end properly finishes. I'm also looking forward to the proper conclusion of Luffy's fight against Hody. I know that the fans have eagerly wanted this arc to end, already but I like the pacing of it, even if nobody else does, (and heck I didn't like it either at first). My only gripe is that Hody should've been givenhad a better motivation for his hatred of humans, but I suppose I'll let the stereotypical villain trope slide this time.

Really that’s all I have to say about this recap story . In conclusion , take Take the story for what it’s worth, enjoy the new Straw Hat powers and look forward to the inevitable conclusion of this arc. Remember guys, some comments I made are my own personal opinion, if you don't have to agree with me then that’s perfectly fine. Please leave your own in the section below, keep reading One Piece and have a great day.

Written by: Super Neku
Edited by: Dsaftler

Manga: Chapter 644 Review (SPOILERS)

2011-11-06T22:32:00.000-06:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

"To Zero." Buy the manga at Viz Media or read the back issues of manga at JManga.

Hey guys, it's that time of the week again: Time for new One Piece comic strips! Last week we learned just how cold and black hearted Hody is. But is there more to his madness?

The first scene features citizens of Fishman Island running away from the approaching Noah, while Fukaboshi is explains how Hody and the rest of the New Fishman Pirates are the result of everyone’s prejudice. Hody continues to chase Shirahoshi and Luffy laughing maniacally along the way.

We are then shown another flashback to Hody as a child in the Fishman District. Crowds of angry fishmen are talking about how the humans made their lives miserable. Heck, they even cheer on a dead comrade because he killed eight humans. We also see Arlong again, talking about how the humans are afraid of fishmen and how they persecute them. Hachi talks to some children including Madame Shirley about how Rayleigh was a human who tolerated him. Hody hates the story.

Years later, they learn of Fisher Tiger's death, but only respond to it that he wasn't a messiah. Again, shouldn't you care more about the lives of your own kind? Then we see them in masks murdering a fishman for donating blood to a human and burning down his house. The idea of the New Fishman Pirates being a cult at first is very unsettling to me. Sometime after that, they learn that Jinbei has become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and that only Arlong's crew is left to give them hope.

Sometime after that event, Queen Otohime's death occurs and other fishmen become radicalized against humans and the royal family, even stating that they can't trust anyone else but each other.

Meanwhile, the five lieutenants celebrate the murder committed by Hody. Hody brings out a bag and says that heaven has “chosen” them by “giving them power.” Everyone is in shock that Hody managed to find “the legendary stuff” and asks Zeo to mass produce it.

Now although we don't see what it is, it’s pretty obvious that they're talking about the energy steroids. The flashback ends with Hody declaring that it all shall end with a holy war, a delivery of justice and a day of judgment.

The Ammo Knights fire a huge bubble to surround Noah, and Fukaboshi laments that Hody has so deeply threatened the future of Fishmen Island. He continues to explain that they ignored the grudge of the fishmen and only believed acceptance into Reverie was necessary. He cries out that he failed his mother's wish to stifle engendered prejudice in the kingdom.

After all is said and done, Fukaboshi begs Luffy to “bring the island back to zero” so that they all can stop living in the past. Hody thinks this is impossible but Luffy tells Fukaboshi that the Straw Hats will take care of everything because they dedicated themselves to the island ever since they entered the plaza together. He even calls Fukaboshi a friend which causes him to cry.

The citizens below were all touched by Luffy's words. The Minister of the Right then wonders if the Straw Hats really were the kinds of humans they feared. The guards then tell Luffy that there is air surrounding Noah and Luffy tells Shirahoshi to stick by him so that she won't get hurt. Luffy focuses his Haki and Gear Second transformation together as Hody charges towards him. The chapter ends with Luffy punching Hody with a new attack called Gum Gum Red Hawk, which causes a fiery explosion out of Hody's back. Can this attack possibly be a tribute to Ace?

What did I think of this chapter? The writing is good. It recapitulates the values of the different factions of fishmen, and I greatly appreciated that. On top of that, we see some great scenes with Luffy and artwork. I have a feeling that this storyline is going to end soon. All we need now is the end of combat. I'm confident that Oda sensei will provide a great conclusion to a great arc as usual. On that note, thanks a lot for reading my summary and analysis. I hope you guys enjoyed it and let's all look forward to next week's installment. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!

Written by: Neku

Edited by: Dsaftler

Manga: Chapter 643 Review (SPOILERS)

2011-11-01T16:41:00.001-05:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Get what you need! Buy Viz's One Piece today or read on JManga.com!

Summary

Cricket and the Saruyama Alliance are on a search for Nakurowa. (Cover Story)

Robin frees the human slaves and fights Hammond.

Brook and Usopp continue their fight with Zeo and Drauma.

Hody's motivation for exterminating humanity is revealed.

Thoughts

I find the current cover story arc to be very entertaining. You get to see interesting vignettes about characters that we haven't seen in a long time. It is great to see that Cricket is happy and I hope that we will eventually see what he is searching for.

Shojo's Luffy-inspired outfit scares me and I never want to see that again.

If you used a non-sea prism stone net on a known Devil Fruit user then you deserved this

I have never really understood the 'Devil Child' epithet for Robin. Her power is unusual and seeing arms sprout out of the ground can be frightening, but I never considered it satanic. I am now willing to reconsider that opinion because of this chapter. You get to see Robin use her powers in scary ways that can truly spook a person.

These scenes made me wonder where the real Robin is. Is it the one grabbing Hammond by the legs? You would think that the real Robin was the one releasing the humans but as you can see that wasn't the case. It is possible that the Robins we are seeing right now are both clones. That would mean that the real Robin is elsewhere. She is possibly still researching the Poneglyph.

A complaint that I have is that it seems as if Robin finished her job. If so then that was pretty fast. I hope that the fight with Hammond will last longer.

Later in the chapter you see Nami is still fighting fodder. Don't you think that Nami deserves to defeat an elite villain since she has a history with the fishman race?

Yeah...Lame....

Originally, Brook and the reader were lead to believe that all the fruit did was keep him alive, but now we are seeing there is more to his Yomi Yomi abilities. His powers seem to have a lot of ghostly undertones. The abilities are to reassemble himself, astral projection, and wrapping his blade with his soul to bring the frigidity of the underworld into this world. I predicted that Brook was going to be able to remove his head but I never thought about him doing the latter.

The ability to freeze things was a surprise. Now his blade has an added freezing effect when it strikes the opponent. You can see in the last panel with Zeo that Brook’s slash attack was freezing the wound. If Brook is able to slash up Zeo a few more times, then the fishman will soon become a frozen fish stick.

Daruma is an interesting character. He has the ability to put himself on fire without harming himself. I wonder what trick he is using. He also seemed to have a lack of comradeship similar to the rest of Hody's crew. Too bad Daruma is just as smart as the rest of his crew.

"All you've been doing is blindly shooting duds around!"

-Daruma

When I read this line I knew exactly what Usopp was doing. It is obvious that Usopp has been shooting traps all over the field that will finish Daruma. The small fishman is going to be in a world of pain within in a matter of minutes.

You can tell that Usopp has changed a lot in the last two years. The last panel made me realize that Usopp hasn't been as boastful as usual. He looks much more confident compared to how he was two years ago. It is like you are watching a completely different person right now.

This and the last chapter all took place while Luffy, the Neptune Children and Hody were up above Fishman Island. This cut is amazing because it shows the degree of urgencyright now. It was however a confusing cut.

"Well, that chapter just makes Hody an even more meaningless villain than I thought he was. Get it done and over with already."

-E1n from Twitter

"Racism is senselessly passed on through generations, losing sight of the original fear and ignorance that started it all." Hody = result."

-XeroXOmega from Twitter

The tweets above sum up my thoughts on the reason for Hody's hatred for humans. It feels like Hody is a waste of time and that sentiment was expressed in the narrative. On the other hand, it is a reflection of racism within the world. Originally, there was a reason for hate, but the hatred of some people is now based in engendered and tolerated extremist ignorance. That is what is fueling Hody right now but it makes him feel pointless to me. If Oda wants us to feel this way about Hody, then he is succeeding.

It makes sense why Hody hates humans with such passion, but because of that reason, it frustrates me more so that we have to deal with Hody and his gang. You have to hate Hody because of the things he has done and this just adds more fuel to the fire.

I just want to see Hody defeated and move on. As Fukaboshi explained, this is a pointless fight and the only thing worth worrying about is Noah falling down. It will be curious to see how Luffy will handle this news though.

Until next time true believers!

Written by Mikey-san

Edited by Dsaftler

Anime: Straw Hat Reunion Arc- Episode 518

2011-10-30T01:19:00.000-05:00

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First Thoughts

This week's episode felt a bit weak compared to the episode from last week. You may have noticed that there was a lot of filler material in the episode. Filler material isn't a bad thing but it can be bad because it can slow the pace of the episode. If you didn’t notice a slow pace then please let me know.

It is unfortunate because this episode has some good moments in it.

Summary

Hancock is shown dropping Luffy off near Sabaody.

Luffy has a brief confrontation with the Fake Straw Hats.

Chopper mistakes the Fake Straw Hats for his real companions.

Sanji runs off to gather rations but instead he finds Zoro.

Thoughts

Boring Filler Material is Boring

Filler material in One Piece can be good or bad. Sometimes it can provide exposition that the manga couldn't. Other times it can just put the viewer off. This episode had a lot of the latter.

The filler material in this episode slowed the rest of the episode. Everything involving Luffy and the Fake Straw Hats happens quickly. In the episode, you can see it was slowed. I am guessing this was done because they wanted to keep people watching to see how Luffy would deal with the impostures.

More Filler.....

Fake Zoro and Sanji’s later discussion about the real Chopper grew in the animation. This only slowed the episode down. I would have preferred the scenes kept as is.

Fake Straw Hats Shenanigans

Did you notice that the Fake Straw Hats sounded familiar? That is because they were voiced by the Straw Hats’ voice actors excepting Robin's voice actor. This made watching the new episodes a bit of a game because you can try to match which Straw Hat voice actor voiced which Fake Straw Hat. Below is a description of who voiced who:

Fake Luffy- Hiroaki Hirata (Sanji)

Fake Zoro- Kappei Yamaguchi (Usopp)

Fake Nami- Ikue Otani (Chopper)

Fake Sogeking- Kazuki Yao (Franky)

Fake Sanji- Kazuya Nakai (Zoro)

Fake Chopper- Mayumi Tanaka (Luffy)

Fake Robin- Akemi Okamura (Nami)

Fake Franky- Yūichi Nagashima/Cho (Brook)

You can hear Sanji’s voice when Fake Luffy yells. The creepiest voice has to be Fake Nami’s as voiced by Chopper's voice actress. She sounds like an 'evil Chopper'.

If, and when, Funimation dubs this part of the series, I hope they would do the same with their Straw Hat voice actors. It will be funny to hear Eric Vale and Colleen Clinkenbeard’s rendition of Fake Luffy and Fake Chopper’s voices.

The Fake Straw Hats are proving to be complete opposites of their counterparts. The Straw Hats never took advantage of their fame (or infamy). Some of them such as Nami, found it a curse.

Fake Luffy is an intolerable jerk. He feels confident that everybody will believe he is Luffy. The guy doesn't even know that he is jabbing his gun into the real Luffy. I wonder if Luffy realizes what is going on here. It seems like he wanted to get away from them as fast as possible.

The only good thing that the Fake Straw Hats do is make people aware of the Straw Hats. They paint them as vicious criminals though. The reason I say this is because the Straw Hats have been missing for two years and everybody seemed to have forgotten about them. If it wasn’t for this situation then the Straw Hats would have most likely rejoined quietly. Where is the fun in that?

H. E. Double Haki Sticks

Speaking of the Fake Straw Hats, Luffy decided to display his new found Haki powers to them. It is impressive to see how much control Luffy has over his Conqueror's Haki because this one can be quite troublesome. Luffy was able to make his Conqueror's Haki affect only the Fake Straw Hats. This is different from Marineford where everybody felt it and Luffy was unable to activate it willingly.

The One Piece: Reloaded

Another thing to consider is that Luffy decided to handle the situation quietly. Usually Luffy would whine when somebody does something similar to what Fake Luffy did. Instead he kept quiet and let Fake Luffy gloat. He used Observation Haki to avoid the bullets and knocked the Fake Straw Hats out with Conqueror's Haki. Luffy didn't raise a fist. Luffy has matured during the last two years.

Sprinkle of Information

A lot of things have changed in the last two years. In the last episode we learned that the Marines moved the location of Marine HQ. In this episode we get some information about the pirate world.

A pirate in this episode mentioned Blackbeard, Kid and Drake's name in his speech. You can guess that these three pirates are doing well. Why else would he even mention their names?

"Blackbeard, Kid, and Drake are doing whatever they want in the New World."

-Random Pirate Captain

It was clear that Blackbeard would be successful in the New World because he has the most experience. Kid and Drake were both rookies prior to the time skip. Kid seemed eager while Drake's future looked a bit uncertain. Both seem to be successful enough in the New World to make other pirates talk.

YEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH~

CSI: Sabaody

We finally get to see Zoro out of silhouette after being taunted in the last episode. The most important feature to note on Zoro is that he has a scar over his left eye. That must have been a result of his training with Mihawk. Speculation you could make is that Zoro has something hidden under that eye.

It is kind of funny, we finally learn what was hidden under Sanji's hair and now we have another source of speculation with Zoro's new scar.

The scene above looks similar to a scene from earlier in the series. Mihawk did the very same thing back in the Baratie Arc. It would look like Zoro has grown strong enough to cut ships in half with similar ease.

Always expect Zoro to do something cool like cutting a large vessel in half. Even after getting on the wrong ship.

Final Thoughts

I had to include this image....

The episode would have been much more enjoyable if the filler didn’t mess up the pacing. The best part of this episode had to be the Luffy-Hancock moment because it was smooth and kept intact.

Also note that not everything from the comic version was depicted. It seems like things are being rearranged. Hopefully we will not see that in the next episode but I expect some great things to come.

Preview

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Things are beginning to pick up. Can you feel it?

News Piece: Season 4 is Coming

2011-10-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

Well guys it's finally happening, the awesome guys at the Unofficial One Piece Podcast have officially announced via a well marketed podcast special, that Season 4 has been officially licensed by Funimation. For those of you who don't know, Season 4 contains portions of several story arcs. The Davy Back Fight arc pits the Straw Hats in a series of challenges against the Foxy Pirates. the Ocean's Dream arc based on a One Piece videogame in which the Straw Hats lose their memories work together to regain them.

The very popular Water 7 arc largely featured in Season 4 depicts the Straw Hats in some of their worst hours. It practically has some of the most important and darkest moments in the entire history of One Piece in my own personal opinion. But in terms of overall narrative, it introduces the future shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates, Franky.

I'm absolutely excited about this. Water 7 is one of my favorite arcs and hearing it in dubbed English will be an amazing experience. The prospect of the Funi voice actors speaking these famous lines makes me quiver. By the way, Funimation seemed to have licensed 58 episodes so far, but considering the fact that this arc is so popular, and the fact that apparently unlike the Japanese DVDs, these are in widescreen and HD. That alone is going to pave the road for Season 5. Funimation haven't stated a release date but my guess is going to be the summer of 2012 or possibly the fall.

So now that I've said my piece, what are your thoughts on Funimation finally giving the fans what they want? Please post your comments below and let's just sit back and enjoy, knowing that Patrick Seitz may be voicing Franky like in the Unlimited Adventure game. It will be great.

Written by Neku:

Edited by Dsaftler.

Anime: Straw Hat Reunion Arc- Episode 517

2011-10-26T01:09:00.000-05:00

Accept no substitutes! Go into the New World with OnePieceOfficial.com

First Thoughts

Because Mikey is so swamped with his reviews (imagine, a whole review dedicated to the 15^th opening!) I, Sora, was asked to handle the review of episode 517. My response was joyful and full of glee. It is such a great honor to be reviewing this episode today. I never dreamed I would get this chance, and the idea never crossed my mind once I had scheduled out the turns we each take. This was an amazing episode, and one of the best in a while (and that is saying something considering how great all the episodes have been as of late.) Plus, this gave me a decent reason to re-watch the episode. Just one viewing is not enough for an episode of such quality.

Summary

Reclaiming his trusty straw hat after 2 years of solitude, an older Luffy says farewell to his friends and leaves the island with the Amazons, finally ready to rejoin his crew at Sabaody Archipelago.

Each crew member is shown to have arrived separately on the island. A gang of imposters is assembling a crew for the New World, using force to threaten the general population into submission.

Zoro is the first to reach Shakky’s Rip-Off Bar, 10 days ahead of the other crew members. Nami is having a light drink, in a bar under the thumb of the impostor Straw Hats. Brooke is now a world-famous rock star, performing a concert in Sabaody. Sanji is overjoyed at seeing real women for the first time in 2 years, going into frenzy at the sight of them. Usopp saves Nami from the impostor Straw Hats using his new weapons and reveals his new buff body and extremely impressive mature nature. Robin loses the two secret agents tailing her, however, she looks in confusion at the posters advertising Brooke and the fake-Straw Hat crew’s recruitment. Franky finds the Sunny in mint condition. Chopper is excited to seeing his nakama again and eats cotton candy.

Luffy accidentally runs into the imposters, who are out looking for revenge for their embarrassment at the hands of Nami and Usopp.

Thoughts

Return to the Hat. Return to the Legacy.

An unusual opening scene, we come upon an older Luffy retrieving his hat from the rock he placed it on so long ago. The strange beginning signifies this episode’s change from the norm, and even the change within the characters themselves.

I really like how the animators have kept the new opening from being the first thing people see in the episode. There is definitely a sense of mystery about the new identities the Straw Hats have forged for themselves, as well as for any changes to their world around them in the past 2 years they have been out of the spotlight.

Personally, I am just thrilled by the snow. This is such an excellent setting: depicting the passage of time through a change of seasons, as when he landed it looked like late Spring or Summer, and it is now Winter.

Those three animals surprised me; I never expected Luffy to have made friends with the beasts on the island, but it is nice to see that he did not just beat all of the animals up. That wouldn’t be kind of him, and I am glad to see that he made friends. Plus, the blue gorilla is really cute.

When Luffy actually noticed Hancock was talking about marrying him and addressed her on the subject, I was shocked. Luffy has never noticed or realized what Hancock has said to him before, and now he not only noticed, but denied it calmly. It reminded me of how Rayleigh responds to people, so I wonder if his time spent training taught him both maturity and wisdom. That would be great assets to his cause, instead of naively running into situations like he used to do. I could see the beginnings of intelligent questions last episode, and I am pleased to see that he has developed this much already. He is becoming more like Roger every episode.

Opening 15: A Brief Commentary

I like this opening. What was it I said before in a Tweet? I said something about enjoying its lively, light-hearted nostalgic feel. It seems overly bright and optimistic, but it describes the tone of the new adventure fairly well, even if it is a bit “bouncy”. That is seriously the best word to describe it. I cannot say much against this opening, it is definitely fun. That is all I will say on the matter however, as it seems Mikey has a special post in store for the new opening.

The main plot of this episode, however, is the reunion of the crew members, so that is what I shall focus on tonight.

Sabaody Again, Sabaody Again

The last time the Straw Hats were all together in Sabaody Archipelago was nearly 100 episodes ago, so seeing the Archipelago again is nostalgic. It really has been over two years in real time since they were there, so the timing matches up well with the feeling I get from this scene. All around, excellently timed by Oda I dare say.

Zoro is the first to arrive at the bar, and ten days ahead of everyone else? This took me by complete surprise; I did not expect the usually aimless swordsman to arrive on-time, let alone early. I half expected him to get into a situation he could not get out of alone, like Bonney did the first time the crew was in Sabaody. By doing this, I can tell that Zoro has changed a bit during his two years; his maturity (and sense of direction) is keener than before. I admit I am very impressed by this development.

It is fitting, I believe, that Zoro should reach the bar before the others do. It not only represents how much the man has grown, but is well-timed because he is the last crew member to figure out Luffy’s message. He is also the first mate, so it is proper that he would arrive first. Hopefully he is mentally stronger.

Ah, Nami is in the bar! All of the talk about this episode revolves around Nami, and a certain (cough) part of her anatomy in the past two years. This seems totally irrelevant to me, so I will not even mention it. I think that she looks more mature than the excitable 18 year old she once was. She looks a lot better with jeans than in short, skimpy skirts, and her longer hair makes her appear more grown-up. The detail on her brown eyes is really excellent. All-in-all, I believe that she is a lot better post-timeskip than she was originally.

These imposters are irritating, but obviously Nami is not perturbed by them, so I am not worried either. If all of them are really that ugly, rude, and nasty, then no way are they any match for the real crew. Heck, even Usopp could take down these guys alone. The one reason I am worried about these imposters is if people actually believe they are the real Straw Hats, and then rumors will circulate. I am concerned what people may think of them if tales of these imposters spread. It is annoying, but I doubt the real crew will care much about them. I hear that each imposter is voiced by a different crew member’s voice actor. It sounds like imposter-Luffy’s voice is that of Sanji’s voice actor.

Brook looks like he is next. I must say, this surprised me. I never heard much about Brook post-timeskip, so this was amazing to see. Every moment of this scene made me scream with joy. Awesome is too little to say about Brook now, a new word must be found to describe his greatness. He has definitely improved after two years. I was surprised to see his “managers” were the Long-Armed men who kidnapped him. I get the feeling he is going to beat them up soon, and I find this amusing. I honestly cannot say enough good things about Brook at this moment. His song made me literally laugh until I cried. “SK Brook” = “Soul King Brook” apparently, but it is amusing because “SK” makes me think of “Skeleton” Brook instead. I wonder if that was intended, or if it was just coincidence. Besides, nothing can beat a living, singing skeleton with a guitar singing “Bone to the Wild.”

Sanji is finally almost free from the Okamas! I still love how much Sanji dislikes them, and I still laugh at how pink they are. Glad to see he has not changed much during the training period. Wait, is that his left eye and a goatee!? How sexy! I must say, men with goatees are interesting, but it is great to see how little he has changed otherwise, in appearance that is. Besides his newly-improved looks, I am glad to see he has reached a sort of friendship with the numerous Okamas. I really didn’t want him having a permanent hatred of them.

At this moment he is stuck on “womanizer” mode. How much more funny can he be? I do feel sorry for the ladies he is about to harass unintentionally. Those poor women, they were just minding their own business, and now they have a depraved ladies-man swooning non-stop over twenty woman at a time. I do find it somewhat disturbing how the Okamas are jealous of those ladies. Yes, I am rather disturbed indeed, but it is alright, because so is the love-cook himself. The phrase “I need lady” will become just as popular as discussion about Nami’s anatomy.

Wow, so that fake-Luffy just shot this guy for being too weak? That is awful, I hate these imposters even more right now. Who fake-Luffy says they already have on their crew worries me. If they actually have tough people on their crew, then that is bad for the real crew.

Fake-Franky’s voice is obviously Brooke’s voice actor, and fake-Usopp/Soge King’s voice actor is Franky’s voice, so that is funny.

Nami is totally cool right now, as when fake-Luffy “asked” her to drink with them; she ignores them at first and is never threatened by the whole ordeal. I do like how the bartender was concerned for her, and I can see why, because she isn’t exactly trying to keep a low profile, drinking alone in a revealing top. Not the best way to stay out of the radar of jerks.

It surprised me to hear Chopper’s voice coming from fake-Nami. I will also take this time to say that fake-Nami is fat, ugly, and laughs like a creep. It was funny when fake-Nami tried to intimidate Nami. I wonder if Nami is thinking about how stupid this is, or if she is thinking about how disgusting the imposters are.

Here I will describe my original reaction to this scene with Usopp in action: Oh gods, that is the hottest Usopp I have ever seen in my life. Oh, the irony of life. Usopp, or should I say, “Man-sopp” as he has been dubbed online, actually is going to take care of these thugs. Amazing how life turns out like this, hm? He is so suave and handsome now! Note to men in the world: should you turn out like Usopp, you will be extremely attractive to women. He is so mature, brave, honest, and buff! This entrance was astonishing, as I had no warning about the amazing changes Usopp went through after the time-skip. Even seeing that Usopp still has his sense of humor is interesting, because he has become more subtle, something that is definitely attractive.

If one is not careful, they may end up with new favorite characters. ”Man-sopp” may become my favorite character.

It is mandatory that Sora keeps this image. Mikey's orders.

Nami’s reaction to Usopp was great, even if it was more fun for me to see how friendly she was to him than it was to see him be smothered by her voluminous bosom. The poor boy, I can’t see how anyone would find that fun, as he doesn’t seem to enjoy it either. I was surprised that she was waiting for Usopp. I didn’t know they made contact prior to meeting up at Sabaody again, but this is a good development. Not all of the Straw Hats will meet one-by-one at Shakky’s place, which would be boring.

My final point on the matter is that I really like Usopp’s loss of bluster, and I also believe I am going to strongly support the pairing of Nami and Usopp from now on. I usually stay out of romantic pairings in One Piece, but I like to their new character designs and will seriously consider this possibility now.

Usopp is still freaked out by things that he isn’t prepared for. That part of his personality is still the same, and it is funny, so it is alright that it has not changed. I wonder if Usopp is still going to become Soge King. I am also curious about the favor Nami is going to ask of Usopp.

Onto Robin who has now undergone training under Dragon. She has some tails, but she easily shakes them off. I like her new clothing style, and her hair looks better long. Both of the girls look better with longer hair. It seems to have gotten thicker too. I continue to look forward to hearing about Robin’s time with Dragon. I bet she learned a great deal about the world and the effort to oppose the World Government.

Although we cannot see Franky in great detail here, I know what he has done with himself, and I am not too pleased with him at this time. As super as he is, he may no longer be my favorite Straw Hat. From what little we do see in this episode, it is fitting that he finds Sunny first. After all, he needs to see if his “baby” is alright after so long. I can tell from the thin translucent coat on the outside that Rayleigh got around to coating the ship, so I bet that helped keep it in “ship-shape”. Yes, I did just crack a ship joke.

My favorite character today is Chopper, mainly because he hasn’t changed so far, except maybe get even cuter. I am surprised though, to see that he altered his hat. I wonder if that is a cover he put on it, or if he changed the material. I did not think he would do something so drastic to the Doctor’s hat, because it is special to him. I am glad to see he is eating a sweet bun and wants cotton candy. It fills my heart will glee!

The next scene depicts fake-Luffy’s indiscriminate shooting of a couple who looked similar to Nami and Usopp. I really dislike these fake-Straw Hats. They are quite terrible. However, I really like how Luffy randomly bumps into him at the end. I already have guessed what is in his enormous backpack: all of the meat from Hancock’s ship that he did not finish eating, undoubtedly.

Final Thoughts

All together this was a fantastic episode. I could not ask for a better episode, even if they all did not reunite immediately. It is good that they all did not come together at once, because the fun would be over too quickly, but it is cool to have Nami and Usopp meet before anyone else. I do wonder what the significance is behind their initial meeting however.

The only two Straw Hats who we did not get a good look at are Zoro and Franky, both of whom have undergone severe character design alterations, so I suppose that it is better they are not shown right away, to prepare viewers for the shock of what they look like now.

My favorite scene was with Usopp and Nami finding each other, and seeing how much each has changed. I am looking forward to this New World now, even more so than I was before the timeskip, and I anticipate great things for the future. As long as they can quickly get rid of these annoying imposters and shake the approaching threat of Marines off their tails, things ought to be good.

Thanks for being here with us for this glorious first look at the Straw Hats post-timeskip! I hope all the viewers enjoyed it as much as we did, and hope to see you all come back next week for more on this excellent new arc, only at OnePieceOfficial.com. See you there~

One Piece More: Oni Con 2011 + Panel

2011-10-25T18:28:00.000-05:00

I hope everybody in the Houston/Galveston Area is excited because this weekend is Oni Con 2011.

The anime convention is taking place over October 28th though the 30th. It will be at the Galveston Island Convention Center. You will have to travel a little farther compare d to Oni Cons in the past, but anything is better than where it was last year.

Oni Con has a few noteworthy guests this year such as the Earthbound Papas featuring Nobuo Uematsu (Formally known as The Black Mages), Chris and Greg Ayres, and Clarine Harp. You may have heard of Nobuo Uematsu for because of his musical contributions to the Final Fantasy video game series. The Ayres Brothers and Clarine Harp have played a few roles within the Funimation One Piece dub.

Want your One Piece fix at Oni Con? Then I welcome you to the One Piece Fan Panel hosted by this very blog. The panel will be on Sunday in Panel Room 2 at 1 pm. We will be discussing the latest manga chapter and prizes will be given out. Overall, a great time is to be expected.

See you at Oni Con.

-Mikey

Written by: Mikey
Edited by: Dsaftler

KND/One Piece Fanart (Follow Up)

2011-10-20T18:58:00.001-05:00

You may remember in August that a piece of fanart by Codename: Kids Next Door creator, Tom Warburton, was showcased on the site. The reason why I am bringing this up is because Mr. Warburton noticed the article and the suggestions for who could be Nami. Below is what he had to say:

"If you read the comments, there are some thoughts regarding Numbuh 86 standing in for Nami, the Straw Hat's navigator.

I LIKE that idea. "

The suggestion that Numbuh 86 stand in for Nami was so appreciated by Mr. Warburton that he decided to draw it. This was all because of your suggestions and beyond anything I expected. Mr. Warburton did a great job in drawing Numbuh 86 as Nami. You can see that he drew one of Nami's famous expressions while she carries her Perfect Climatact.

You can head over to Mr. Warburton's site in order to view the full size image of his artwork.

Manga: Chapter 642 (SPOILERS!)

2011-10-17T23:06:00.001-05:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Surfs up! Read Viz's One Piece or read online at JManga.com!

Hey everyone, time for another great chapter as we dive back under the sea to the battle against Hody! But first we flashback to a few minutes ago whereupon we see Den, Keimi and Hachi in the Sea Forest alone as all the whales and other fish have fled. Hachi knows what’s going on as he states that Fisher Tiger feared this would've happened eventually. Meanwhile, chaos ensues all over Fishman Island as citizens flee from the gigantic ark heading towards them. The Minister of the Left finds Neptune wounded from his hostage situation. They lament that it could prove disastrous if Princess Shirahoshi and Noah collided with each other.

The Minister of the Left suggests the king should evacuate if his people have, but Neptune chooses to stay behind and wait for his sons. On the outer rim of the plaza, the Minister of the Right witnesses the horrific battles that the Straw Hats and Jinbei are participating in, as Brook is fighting Zeo and Nami and Jinbei are fending off several pirates.

The Right Minister realizes what is going on and orders the troops of royal guards into the plaza because they can't exactly let their island be saved by a group of pirates alone, can they? He tries to order the citizen bystanders to flee the scene, but they are reluctant to do so because they want to help defend the island, he gives in and simply tells them to do what they feel is right as he too charges into battle.

We see the return of another douchey character named Hammond (last time we saw him Luffy pretty much defeated him no problem several chapters ago) who comes in the plaza on his "Slave Tank" being carried by human slaves, even Robin thinks it’s cruel. An angry Wadatsumi starts puffing himself up which apparently makes him stronger (he's a tiger blowfish fishman by the way,) Wadatsumi additionally speaks fast while covering his mouth so that the air doesn't escape. Sanji isn't very impressed by this, saying the Kraken was still bigger than him, Wadatsumi responds by blowing up further and crushing pirates around him. Even after that, Sanji continues with the same provocation.

We cut to Jinbei asking Robin to release the human slaves, Robin says that they may have a grudge against Fishman Island after this but Jinbei says that any pirate would bear a grudge but because he won't allow Hody and his pirates to be like the Celestial Dragons. Robin agrees and we close the scene watching Wadatsumi growing. Ikaros attacks General Franky by spitting ink at him so Franky punches a squid ink clone. So how does Franky retaliate? Franky attacks Ikaros Much with a FIREBALL!

Amusingly, Franky spat out the fireball himself not through the mecha (I guess it’s the replacement of his Fresh Fire breath). Dossun attacks Chopper with his hammer but Chopper blocks it with a Heavy Point punch. Zoro notices this and points out that he still looks like a monster, but Chopper says that he doesn't care anymore because all he wanted was friends and he'll become a monster as long as he helps Luffy. Chopper, you are awesome. Hyozo prepares to attack Zoro but he blocks without any intimidation. The chapter ends with Zoro telling Hyozo to bring him the strongest swordsman of Fishman Island because he couldn't even kill Zoro's boredom. Zoro, you are awesome.

Look how small Sanji is! Aww! He is cute!

So what did I think of this chapter? I liked how we visited the whole island; it shows how far we’ve come. I liked the action and fight scenes as well as the character development we got in both small and big scenes. We should still ask; will Luffy and the gang stop Hody and the Fishman Pirates? Will peace ever come between the fishpeople and the humans? Well I think we'll get the answers to these pretty soon. We should get these fights out of the way first. Until then, sayonara!

Anime: Opening 15- We Go!

2011-10-11T21:40:00.003-05:00

We all go to OnePieceOfficial.com!

First Thoughts
You may have noticed that Episode 517 was full of action. Normally discussion of a new title sequence is within the anime review of the episode it premiered in. This time the review will be broken into two parts.

Episode 517 premiered Opening 15, “We Go,” the spiritual successor to “We Are.” It is fitting because the series is starting at the beginning in a way. The new theme is opening that will start a new chapter in the series.

So how about we go into this review!

Thoughts
Opening 15: We Go!

The new title sequence begins similarly to “We Are.” We have the retelling of the last words of Gol D. Roger which began the Pirate Age. This is one of the things that this opening mirrors from “We Are.”

Some people have stated that the opening focus on Luffy is similar to the first title sequence, but I think differently. I think both title sequences balance the focus between Luffy and his crew well. Luffy is the main character of the series but we have to remember that he is nothing without his crew. This allows us to be reintroduced to the characters and their new designs.

One thing that looks as if it came out of the first title sequence was the way the ship sailed. You can see that now it is the Thousand Sunny sailing instead of the Going Merry. The music lightens the scene but you can enjoy the sight of Sunny flying in the air.

The theme song is completely different from “We Are.” “We Go” has a much more rockish tone that makes you want to move. It motivates you to go and travel the world. In this case, the theme song is telling you we’re going into the New World with Luffy and his crew.

"Stuck in my head, and I don't think it's going away."
-PassionTentacle from Twitter

When you have lyrics like ‘Ichi, Ni, Sunshine, Yon!’ then of course you will find the lyrics catchy. They are hard to get out of your head. It is the chorus of this theme song and will be one of the things everyone will recall about this song.

The lyrics advertise adventure and perseverance, common themes that most One Piece title sequences have. So that is no different.

This part of the title sequence was (re-) introducing the characters to new and old viewers alike. A lot of new viewers have been picked up due to the Strong World media blitz and the resulting popularity. The sequence will allow new viewers to put a name to characters that they are not familiar with while the old ones can marvel at the new designs.

The title sequence is actually the first time we get a clear look at the characters’ new designs in the anime. They all look interesting and show the changes they have undergone in the last two years.

I am going to briefly go over each character new design:

Zoro- Looks very similar to a samurai. His left eye seems to have some sort of scar on it and is closed. That will be interesting to learn about later on.

Nami- She has surely grown a lot in the last two years in a few areas. One part of her body has surely become bigger which I like, and I mean her hair. It looks so nice, curly and long.

Usopp- Are those muscles we see? I already know that Sora has taken a liking to the new Usopp. His clothing may be inspired by the giants of Elbaf.

Sanji- The cook has grown some facial hair during the last two years. The best way to show that you are a man is to have facial hair. Also the mystery behind what is under Sanji's hair has been revealed! It is another eye!

Chopper- He looks cute though he has some sort of blue thing over his pink hat. I liked the simple pink hat better.

Robin- I like her long black hair. It looks very nice on her. I just don't like that it is combed back. The clothing is nice. I am wondering why she has decided to dress like this because it is very different from the style of dress that Robin has worn in the pass. Was Robin on a tropical island with the revolutionaries before reuniting with the Straw Hats?

Franky- He has seen a lot of change. Franky has completely remade himself from head to toe. His hair style is gone and he has huge shoulders. Who is wondering what surprises Franky will have for us within his body?

Brook- Our musician has changed a lot during the last two years. Brook is now sporting a much more flamboyant look with the boa and crown on his head. I wonder if he is still our 'gentleman skeleton'.

Now back to the opening.

I always like when the Marines are part of a title sequence. They only get a few scenes in this one but it is nice to see them. Most of the time they are beat up by Luffy and the crew, but it is a reminder that they are part of the story.

"I like it! ☆ Although, it's different than I expected it to be. I'm sure it will grow on me like "We Are". ^^"
-Jessica_Swaaan from Twitter

The title sequence is different from what I expected as well. I thought it was going to be similar to the first title sequence but with a more rockish beat. Instead, it feels different but the sense of adventure is still there.

We Go will grow on other fans as well, because I am still on the fence over how much I like the title sequence.

"well, i only saw the opening theme but it kicks ass. Not the series best but still awesome."
-ZenithWillRule from Twitter

The opening theme is good but I will agree that it isn't the best of the series. I still like the 14th opening theme so I was sad to see it go. The 15th opening theme is a great song and a great way to start the new chapter of the series. The opening animation helps set expectations from the characters and story as we enter this new chapter of the story.

The only thing I didn't like about the opening theme was the inclusion of scenes of the crew before the start of the two year skip. You can see that they reused the scenes from Episode 516 which felt a bit lazy. I would have liked if they had redone the animation or shown something different but I guess Toei Animation had to cut corners somewhere.

As mentioned before, this opening theme does a great job catering to new and old fans. This segment reminds you of the hardships that each crew member has overcame in the last two years. Each Straw Hat went though something different to reach where they are right now in the current storyline.

This is my favorite segment of the opening theme. You see all the characters that played an important role in the Straw Hat's training for the last two years while you also see future characters. I like how it is done too. The characters that we have seen recently are in full color while the characters that you haven't seen such as Sentoumaru and Kuma are given a bit of blue shading. Then you move on to see the characters that we haven't seen before or are going to be part of the Fishman Island Arc who are completed shaded.

I always enjoyed the side scrolling part of "We Are" and glad to see they kept it for "We Go." It is a great way to see where we are right now and where we are going. You are going to see some very interesting characters and terrifying villains as we enter Fishman Island.

The change in tone during the scenes involving the straw hat was my favorite part, music wise, for the opening. It is the slower tempo that pleased me because it is different from the quick pace of the opening. It gives you the chance to just watch what is happening on the screen and appreciate it.

These scenes are meaningful for many reasons. Mostly reasons that I can't discuss until later due to readers who only follow the anime. You can still understand the emotional nature as we are able to see the moment where Shanks pass the hat to Luffy. An interesting thing to note is that the smiling figure that you first saw is wearing a straw hat that is similar to the one that Luffy wears. It can be easily guessed that the hats could be one and the same.

The end of the opening is excellent. There are so many things happening here that more than one viewing is needed. You have one final stylized look at the characters. Each member of the crew displays the title of the show proudly on some part of their body minus Sanji. Robin is displaying it loud and proud on her lovely bust which I am sure many fans are appreciating. I would have liked Sanji to have 'One Piece' displayed on his knuckles, but that wouldn't fit his character and it feels more in-character for him to have it as it is in this title sequence.

Another thing to watch in these scenes is the background. You can see each crew member got a background that reflects their character and what they do. The background is similarly patterned except there is one thing that is different in each one. It can be easily missed with some characters while with others it is obvious. The fast pace of the opening makes it hard to spot. That helps add charm to each character. Below I listed the 'quirk' in each background:

Zoro- White triangle shaped item, above left sleeve.
Nami- Berri, second row in the upper right corner.
Usopp- Rubber band, above the 'C' in 'Piece'.
Sanji- Fork, upper right shoulder.
Chopper- Cotton candy, third row in the lower left corner.
Robin- Flower, hidden in her hair above left shoulder.
Franky- Speedo, next to his right ear.
Brook- Green guitar, bottom left corner.

Were you able to catch these little things?

Lastly, notice how the crew was divided as they stood before Sunny. We saw the Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Sanji first before cutting to them in front of Sunny. Then you saw the rest of the crew. This feels like a nod to when they joined the crew and to the East Blue Saga. I didn't notice this until half way through writing of this review.

"Personally I LOVE this new opening the music is so up beat and I just love the visuals that came with it. It's the first opening reborn perfect for the New World ^__^."
-StrawHatPirate9 from Twitter

I have to whole-heartily agree with StrawHatPirate9 on all accounts. The music and visuals are lively and upbeat. The opening theme is edgy as we saw towards the end, but in a way that fits the series.

Final Thoughts

This opening theme can be compared to a lot of things. People keep saying that it is similar to “We Are” while at the same time there are a few who are comparing it to “Fight Together”, our last opening them. I am going to say that it isn't as great as the 14th or 1st opening theme. I loved the 14th opening theme until it was taken off the air and still do while the 1st title sequence holds a special place in every One Piece fan's heart. Instead I am going to say that the 15th opening theme, “We Go,” is a great work in its’ own unique manner.

This opening does a good job reflecting what our characters have done in the past two years and what they are doing now. It gives something to One Piece fans both old and new which is greatly appreciated. Now we go into the New World and a new chapter with a new opening theme.

Written by: Mikey
Edited by: Dsaftler
Images provided by: StrawHatPirate9

Manga: Chapter 641 (SPOILERS)

2011-10-09T20:02:00.000-05:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Don't panic yet! You can still get One Piece from Viz or read online at JManga!

Summary
King Cobra is currently bedridden. (Cover story)

Luffy, Shirahoshi and the Neptune Brothers try to hold off Hody.

The Ryugu Kingdom Soldiers plan to fire an air bubble at Noah in order to give Luffy an area to fight Hody.

Thoughts
A few weeks ago I was playing with the idea that Vivi could be the queen of Alabasta and represent the country at the upcoming Reverie. Then I thought about it and knew that couldn't happen because King Cobra would most likely be king. After seeing this week's cover story, I am confident that Vivi will be at the Reverie on behalf of Alabasta. It doesn't look as if Cobra will be able to get well in time for the Reverie. It will be interesting to see Vivi attend the Reverie and how she will react if the Straw Hats are mentioned.

Cobra seems to have aged well though.

I think the majority of the fans are asking this.

This week's chapter addressed something that I think many fans have been wondering about Hody's plan and what he is doing. I even mentioned it last week in my manga review. The best explanation for what Hody is doing is that he is creating his own Fishman Island and claiming to be the king for the Reverie. That seems fine but we have no idea if this is Hody's master plan or if he has even thought this far ahead. This is the only thing that could happen if Hody continues down this path of destruction and hate. If there is anybody left to rule over.

It is nice that the motivation behind Hody's plan and actions is being addressed in the storyline. This means that it will be explained eventually.

I think I have figured out why fans don't really care for Hody. There are people who despise Hody as a villain but I find myself not caring too much about him. I actually cared for Decken more as a villain then I did for Hody. I feel what Hody is lacking is a motive. Buggy has dreams of riches. Arlong wanted to advertise the superiority of Fishmen. Crocodile was fueled by his desire for power. Eneru had his God complex. The CP9 were tools of the World Government controlled by Spanda. Each one of them had strong motives but Hody's feels a bit weak. The flashback earlier in the arc showed us a young Hody who hated humans but it doesn’t explain enough. We know that Hody is fueled by his anger and hatred of humans but we don't know why.

I can only guess that Hody hates humans because of his life in the Fishman District but there has to be more as alluded to in this chapter. Another possible reason is that the Fishman District may have become so vile after Arlong, Jimbei and Tiger left. These explanations don't feel satisfying. I hope that when Fukaboshi explains Hody's 'True Form,' he also explains his hatred and his uncaring attitude toward his fellow fishmen and crew.

I may not care for Hody as a villain but I still hate the guy. It is mostly his attitude that makes me hate him. He is all bark and no bite. I admit he is powerful, but I don't think he is as powerful as he thinks he is. The worst thing about him, is that his power came from a drug instead of strength that he developed over time. He claims that Luffy is weak yet he hasn't been able to hurt him until this chapter, and even then it doesn't threaten Luffy.

Luffy on the other hand has laid a beating on Hody that has put the fishman on his knees. Even in the sea where Luffy's strength is a bit weakened, the rubber pirate has been able to land impressive blows against Hody.

Hody may have been able to take down some weaker characters but he isn't putting out when it matters which feels disappointing. No matter what is revealed about Hody, his fighting abilities won't improve. Then again fighting is only part of the equation when it comes to One Piece.

This chapter focused on Hody, Neptune's Kids and Luffy instead of the fights happening back in the plaza. It wasn't what I expected but the chapter was still good. I don't know or understand why there is an air cannon but I am guessing it plays a role in life at Fishman Island. If the device is able to allow Luffy to fight Hody then that is fine with me. I just want to see Hody put in his place. The fishman can take a punchbut that is about it. Now we just have to wait until next week to see if Fukaboshi will reveal Hody's 'True Form' and everything will be set. It would be interesting to see Luffy fight Hody as Noah falls to the ground.

We’ll see what next week brings us. Until next time true believers!

Written by: Mikey
Edited by: Dsaftler

Anime: Post Marineford Arc- Episode 516

2011-10-06T22:07:00.001-05:00

The new era announced its entrance at OnePieceOfficial.com.

Be there. (I was!)

First Thoughts

I confused dates and I forgot that the new opening was not playing this week, but debuting next week. Oh well, I was almost the first to review the new opening. However, next weekend may be the true beginning of the New World Saga, but important points will be shown in this episode. Big events are occurring, if only to part the waters to the New World. It will be really cool to see the next episode, nonetheless.

Summary

Luffy says farewell to Jimbei, vowing to meet again at Fishman Island in 2 years.

Rayleigh takes Luffy to the island Ruskaina, an overgrown island ruled by beasts. He states that there are currently 500 beasts tougher than Luffy, and he begins teaching the boy about Haki and controlling this power.

Placing his trusty straw hat on the only "safe zone" on the ancient island, Luffy swears to become stronger. With excitement on his mind and confidence in his healing heart, the rubber man bounds off to begin his training for the New World, and for the future reunion of his scattered crew.

Thoughts

I have a confession to make. I stopped by the library a few days ago to pick up a light novel for the week, and ended up reading the Shonen Jump with the chapter animated in this episode. So I know what will happen in the first 10 minutes or so of the episode. I hate when I spoil myself (yes, that was a pun.)

Farewell to the First Son of the Seas

I am sad to see Jimbei go, he is awesome. Luffy, at least, will see him again when he goes to Fishman Island. I am not aware what occurs later in the story, I am basing my prediction on Luffy’s promise to Jimbei. I did not receive hints for this, of course not. What do you take me for, a person who sits around with a guy, listening to events from the manga all day? Oh wait, that was me, all of last year. Oops.

That was a wise thing for Luffy to say to Jimbei. It was strange; coming from Luffy the phrase felt so much different, because he is usually so immature. I like the little smile Jimbei has afterwards. It is really a cute smile.

I don’t think about it often enough, but the Kuja only like Luffy and Rayleigh, don’t they? I suppose they respect Jimbei now, and only tolerated the Heart Pirates because they treated Luffy, but it never struck me how strange it should feel that these hostile pirates are so cordial with men now.

Training for 2 Years on the Overgrown Island of Beasts

I feel bad because I know what is going to happen next. Ah, the burden of knowledge. I will never be able to read the manga again after this. Ruskaina is a pretty sounding name, and the island is a marvel of nature with rising columns and strange platforms.

It is strange seeing Hancock acting shy and meek around Luffy. She is rather decent, until someone tells her she can’t do something. Rayleigh does this and ignores anything funny we would notice.

Now Hancock is keeping track of the number of times Luffy says her name. I like the animation of her imagination about her “engagement” to Luffy. This is funny stuff right here. I have to give this one to Granny Nyon though: why has it gone from “marriage” to “engagement”?

Here we see abuse of an old man. Ah, society nowadays, allowing such travesties to occur.

I love this scene so much; my love cannot be expressed in words. This is the only time I have ever seen Rayleigh cornered or in discomfort. If only the Marines had thought of using Hancock to capture Rayleigh! All she has to do is pinch his nose really hard. Such is the awesome power of women. Of course, if the reason is to help Luffy, Hancock will relent and allow Rayleigh to ban her from the island for the next 2 years. Such is the suffering she must face.

Hey, that tree looks just like the tree in the 14^th Opening. I didn’t know what that was, I thought it might be a big rock or monument, but this is probably it! I wonder why animals stay away from it.

This is an amazing old island. It’s not dinosaur-infested like Little Garden, and it is not full of history like Upper Yard held for the Shandians. I would love to be there having Robin translate the history for me.

Already that boy smells adventure. He is back to acting a lot like his old self, which I suppose is a good sign, but at the same time I still worry for him.

This situation sounds a lot like Sanji’s predicament. He also can’t sleep at night for fear of the Okamas getting him. Of course, Luffy’s is much less deadly than that; Luffy only has to put up with the threat of 500 deadly beasts after his flesh at all hours. It’s not a big deal. Nothing compared to rampaging Okamas.

Luffy asks an intelligent question. He is becoming more perceptive. This is a good thing; it means he is adapting to his environment. Of course, I already know what Rayleigh is about to say. It is pretty awesome.

This is the scene in the Manga where I stopped reading; when Rayleigh describes the “colors” of Haki. I am excited to learn more about it; I stopped spoiling myself after I read halfway into the man’s explanation, realizing what I was doing and I panicked. One question remains before I continue: How does such a huge elephant have such skinny legs?

I have been hoping that Rayleigh would explain Haki to Luffy for some time now, and I am really thrilled to get my wish. I am curious about this power, and it is one of the only bits of knowledge I did not learn from my (*cough* evil) friend. He didn’t pay attention to the explanations, only the fights. What a silly guy.

Observation Haki must be the Haki that Coby just discovered! That is a very exciting discovery. It just gets better and better.

I feel as though the elephant may be playing a game of Whack-A-Mole, and failing. It is funny to imagine it this way. It did worry me however when Luffy attempted to attack the beast in Second Gear and nothing happened.

Luffy remembers things like this in the past that were unexplained, such as Sandersonia’s method of knowing where his kick would be, and then the surprise appearance of other Haki users in Luffy’s flashback.

It was remarkable when I read this yesterday at the library, and I saw Eneru using Haki. Of course, in Skypeia everything is different, so they call it Mantra. It is wicked cool to see the Sky Island again.

I had forgotten until this moment, but Rayleigh went to Skypeia too, didn’t he? Roger even found the golden bell, and left a note in Poneglyphs. I still wonder what their motives were. Roger is such a mysterious (or just crazy) man, that I can never figure him out. At least Luffy is rather simple, so I can guess what he will do most of the time. Roger however, is more complicated than that.

Armament Haki was the one I did not read about. So that is what all those folks were using when they were able to injure Luffy, or when they blocked his attacks? That is intriguing. With this power, a person can attack a Devil Fruit user with ease.

Luffy is progressing much faster than I had expected today! He has already remembered Akainu, Rayleigh’s kick to Kizaru, and his inability to defeat Smoker or Aokiji in connection with his understanding of this ability. This is very impressive, and I like where this is going. If Luffy finally gets an ability to stand and fight with anyone, then that would protect his friends really well.

When Rayleigh unleashed the final rare form of third Haki, just like Shanks, Hancock, and Luffy have before, I was stunned. It was really startling, even if I knew what happened when that power was used.

Conqueror’s Haki, the power to intimidate your enemy. Of all the Haki powers, I think that would be the most useful.

Oh, I hadn’t thought about the negative effects of using the Conqueror’s Haki. I never thought the innocent people around Luffy that could get hurt.

Aisa and Eneru were both mentioned by Luffy. That is extremely important. To reference a past character implies that they will play a role in the future. Foreshadowing is awesome. Of course, because I really enjoy the little one-panel comics that tell side-stories in the manga chapters, I know what is going on with Eneru (even if I do not approve of it), but hearing Luffy mention Aisa is phenomenal. I mean, if this is canon, this could cause quite a stir to bring back a character like her. I would enjoy it immensely, if only for the conflict that would follow.

As they sit around the campfire, eating meat and chatting, I realized something. First, this is just like when Luffy was a kid with Ace and Sabo, beating up and challenging monsters in the forest and strengthening their skills. Of course, this time Luffy doesn’t have his brothers, and he does not have 10 years to train for fun, but he does have a coach from Roger’s crew to help him out. The second thing I realized is that the allusion to Skypeia is really ironic, considering that the last time Luffy sat around a campfire eating meat in an overgrown jungle of giant beasts, surrounded by decrepit old buildings, he was in Upper Yard in Skypeia. These references to Skypeans and Shandorians are fun.

I didn’t know Luffy knew that word, let alone that he would do something like this. The 14^th Opening makes more sense now!

I’m leaving things here so they are kept safe.

I am witnessing a life-changing moment in this series. Just like when they rode up a mountain to get to the Grand Line, and just like the beginning of the series. This is such a huge moment! The coloring and animation here is gorgeous as well, and of course the musical piece playing in the background is a timeless classic from the earlier arcs of the series

It is strange, but at that moment Luffy thinks of his nakama, I suddenly missed them too. It was strange feeling what Luffy was feeling at that moment. I am eager to see them together again. They have been apart longer than ever before in the series, and I am relieved to see they will get back together (hopefully) next episode.

Training montage! I love montages, and this one is exceptional. I like how much time is devoted to Robin and Zoro especially, but this whole thing is so exciting! They are playing “We Are,” the original version, the 1^st Opening theme song. Next week we move onto the 15^th Opening, a new rendition of the original opening. This is going to be the biggest event of 2011, I am certain of it. Wait, that funky guitar solo at the end there is mysterious and awesome.

Final Thoughts

Now, on to the New World! Goodbye to Luffy and his crew as we knew them and hello to the future. This is a moment people will remember, “a day marked...” not in infamy, but hope. Greatness will be the word used to describe this day years from now. Even if this is only the anime version, this is where the New World finally comes to life, no matter if the manga already depicted this one year ago.

We. Are. Going. To. New. World.

Go to New World.

Once more, thanks to all of the wonderful readers and followers of One Piece out there. I'm sure we will all miss the Straw Hats as we knew them these past 14 years. Keep on going at it! We've all made it this far, and I hope everyone can keep it up for the next 516 episodes, haha! OnePieceOfficial.com. Be there.

Manga: No New Chapter

2011-09-27T21:38:00.000-05:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

Jimbei is going to get serious! You should too. Buy Viz's One Piece or read at JManga!

One Piece is on break this week because perhaps, Oda's (hot) wife wants him to take a break. So while One Piece fans suffer without their weekly fix, Oda is going to be at home with his (hot) wife and kids.

This is of course, not true. Oda is one of the hardest working men in manga and it is common knowledge that the guy works at home. Oda's (hot) wife may have suggested a break but there is no way to tell. It is still fun imagining she did though. haha

The action is picking up as the important fights are finally set. I was completely wrong two weeks ago predicting that each of the majority of the New Fishman Pirates commanders would fight a pair of Straw Hats. Instead they are all in one on one fights excepting Nami and Robin from the action. That is my only complaint about the last few chapters.

I am guessing this isn't the best image for this topic. I blame Sanji.

The chapters that have come since the last break have been excellent. I am disappointed that both Nami and Robin will not fight a New Fishman Pirate commander. Instead they were used to set up fights for the other Straw Hats. Robin was attacked by Hyouzou. This then lead to a confrontation with Zoro for the octopus swordsfishman. Ikaros and Zeo both attacked Nami but now they are in a fight against Franky and Brook.

We all know that Robin and Nami can stand on their own feet in a fight. Robin may not have had any big battles by herself, but two years of training should at least give her rights to a big fight. Nami on the other hand has taken out big names in villainous organizations such as Ms. Doublefinger and Kalifa. This isn't Naruto where the girls get pushed to the side while the guys get all the glory. That is why makes some fans criticize Naruto while lauding One Piece.

Hopefully Oda has a plan for Robin and Nami. There are no other important Fishmen to fight so maybe one of them will be lucky to fight Hammond. Speaking of whom, where did he go? A possible two against one fight with Caribou could be possible; another character that has disappeared from the scene, though we know his plans. Oda doesn't disappoint and I hope he doesn't here. I would love to see more of what Nami can do because I enjoy seeing what weather mischief she can pull in a battle.

Something awesome is coming in the next couple weeks as the important battles are now underway. Meanwhile, Noah is falling towards Fishman Island with Luffy, Hody and Neptune's children not far behind. Will Hody's unorganized plan to destroy and/or rule Ryugyu Kingdom happen or will Luffy and his crew put a stop to it? We will find out once Oda gets back from his week off with his (hot) wife and children.

Question: Does anybody understands Hody's plan? He wants to rule Fishman Island and kill the kings of the world at the Reverie but has no problem destroying Fishman Island. The very place he wants to rule over. Anybody wants to attempt to explain what is going on?

Maybe Oda's (hot) wife knows.

Manga: Chapter 640 (SPOILERS!)

2011-09-24T19:47:00.014-05:00

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

SKULL JOOOOOOOKE time with One Piece! Buy it from Viz and JManga today!

We dive right back into the action this week as the chaos continues under the sea. The chapter begins with a view of Sanji fighting Wadatsumi, and Nami fighting off the enemies with her new Sorcery Climatact, as she unleashes a barrage of lightning clouds and attacks them with "Lion Rod"! We're only on page 2 and we already have a bad ass moment. Nice!

The scorched pirates anger Ikaros, so he and Zeo plan to attack Nami through having Zeo turn invisible and grab her legs, while Ikaros comes in for the kill. This almost works because Nami was caught off guard. She is, however, saved by Brook who rushes to her rescue, (Albeit accidently because he wanted to see her panties again, as usual. Standards people! :D) Ikaros stabs Brook with the squid spear to suck up the moisture from his body, but you can't suck up the moisture of a skeleton can you? Naturally, Ikaros is confused which leaves time for General Franky to deliver an epic punch, which means they're going to fight! Moving the spotlight back to Brook, unbeknownst to him he's stepping on the face of the invisible Zeo until he slowly materializes, which means we have another fight . Interesting pair ups so far.

Usopp gains 100 EXP! Usopp leveled up to Lv 10!

Daruma, the little annoying shark, continues to dig underground searchingfor Chopper, while Dosun notices that Usopp is defenseless and prepares toattack him from behind. While this occurs, Usopp tells Chopper to come out.Chopper smells Dosun and tells Usopp to duck. Chopper then attacks Dosun with"Horn Cannon Elf" while Usopp attacks Daruma with Skull ExplodingGrass, damn. The two clearly learned from experience. With this attack, the fightsfor both Usopp and Chopper are now set.

Meanwhile, Zoro continues his fight against the steroid enhanced/drunken Hyouzo. While this occurs, people are receiving medical treatment and children ask Madam Shirley if the island is really going to be destroyed, but she says nothing. Above the island, Hody mocks Luffy's ambition to protect everything and he attacks Ryuuboshi explaining that he wanted to destroy the island anyway so that is why he killed Van Der Decken. Luffy understands his plan and tells Fukaboshi to take him to Shirahoshi, she tries to divert Noah by going away from the island. Luffy does not pursue because Decken is alive due to Noah’s continued rise in the water and Noah starts moving away from the island bubble. Decken rises from the bubble inside Noah and says he'll never forgive Hody, when he suddenly foams at the mouth and collapses. I don't know exactly what happened but he may actually be dead this time. The chapter ends with Noah falling towards the island, andHody proclaims victory while Luffy and the others gaze in shock.

Well...we are boned....maybe

So what did I think of this chapter? We certainly got no shortage of action this week as the fights have been decided for nearly all of the Straw Hats, not to mention the peril above Fishman Island. So the questions we have to ask now; how will the Straw Hats fare against the New Fishman Pirates? Will Luffy be able to stop Hody? Is this really the end for Fishman Island? Well once again, we won't find out until after a week's break but have no fear as the cliffhanger should be resolved soon. Until then, catch up with the current chapters, buy Viz Media's new volume 58, buy Shonen Jump, watch the anime, unlimited rice pudding et cetera et cetera!

Written by: SuperNeku
Edited by: Dsaftler

Anime: Post Marineford Arc- Episode 515

2011-09-22T20:58:00.001-05:00

Run! There are new episodes of One Piece at OnePieceOfficial.com

Thoughts

This was a great episode to watch the first time through. Every scene felt meaningful and added another layer of depth to the characters that were focused on in this episode.

Then I had a second viewing of this episode. It was not as fun to watch and I wanted to skip to the highlights. This does not occur often when I re-watch episodes. Maybe it is because I know that cool things are in store very soon and that all of this is just set up.

The revelation at the end of the episode had the same impact through both viewing. I will get to that later in the post.

Also a reminder, next week is the premiere of Opening 15, We Go.

Summary

Brook, Robin, Usopp and Zoro ponder the message from Luffy.

Zoro explains that Luffy wants everybody in the crew to become stronger and reunite in two years at Sabaody.

Thoughts

Anything but the Bare Bones

Brook starts off the episode pondering Luffy's message. He is taking it seriously because he wants to put all he has into helping Luffy. When you think about it, Brook has only been with Luffy's crew for what seems like a week, yet he has already developed bonds that are just as strong as those he had with his old crew. Luffy fought hard against Moria so Brook could regain his shadow and join his crew. Not many people would do that for some stranger that they met on an abandoned ship.

Things don't look good for Brook, who is stuck in a cage. It looks like he will be stuck there for a while entertaining the people of the Three Elbow Tribe. The people of this country don't seem to travel often as people with a single elbow populate most of the world. Are people with a single elbow joint that much of a rarity for these people? I wonder why Apoo decided to leave this place. That is if it was his choice to leave. Apoo at least is used to the world outside of his island, remaining non-plussed by the single elbow jointed people on Sabaody.

The flashback scenes of Brook’s past were not reanimated. There was no reason to reanimate the scene, because it originally aired in 16:9 ratio. I didn't expect them to reanimate Brook's introduction, but I was wondering if we were going to see anything new.

It was nice to see the events that lead to Brook joining the crew. It was unfortunate for Brook that he had finally officially joined the crew after 50 years of loneliness, and within a matter of twenty minutes he was separated from them.

""Loneliness" is no longer a part of my vocabulary!"
-Brook

The statement above can best describe why Brook is positive despite separation from the crew. Brook was alone for most of his life. Suddenly, a group of people found him and were willing do anything to help him. Now Brook knows that no matter where he is there will always be somebody to help him. He doesn’t have to be alone anymore because they will be there to support him. Brook now has to do the same for Luffy and the rest of the crew.

This whole scene was cool until Brook ruined it with a lame skull joke. The worst part was that the skull joke wasn’t meant to be a joke.

It will be interesting to see how Brook will improve. Currently he is almost a blank slate as we haven’t seen as much of his abilities compared to the rest of the crew. He can either develop his swordplay or his musical abilities. Brook could also develop abilities we’ve never seen from him. The sky is the limit with Brook. It will be fun to see what Brook comes up with.

Robin and the Wonderland
The Revolutionaries are getting more than they bargained for as Robin demands things of them. Robin doesn't want to go inside and the Revolutionaries have to readjust all the preparations made for her. Then you know that Robin is doing this just to mess with them.

Robin isn't doing this to mess with them of course, well maybe a little bit. Shebrings up a good point concerning the relationship between pirates and revolutionaries. Based on what Robin said, the two groups don't have a friendly relationship with each other. I wonder if pirates regularly interfere with revolutionaries or vice versa. Do the revolutionaries even like pirates? I would guess the pirates could harass them because pirates don't care who they pillage from as long as they pillage something. That would make the pirates an unknown factor for the revolutionaries’ plan because you never know when they will strike. Just imagine what would happen if Luffy matured on an island that the revolutionaries controlled before they knew he was Dragon’s son.

One line that got to me was the one below.

"We didn't know that you were allied with Crocodile."
-Some Revolutionary

There is a high chance that I am reading too much into the line, but it sounds like the revolutionaries know of Crocodile. Is this guy saying that they could have easily talked to Crocodile and take Robin away from him? That would mean that Crocodile is willing to negotiate and trade with revolutionaries. I know that conflicts with everything I said in the previous paragraph, but we do know that some pirates have worked with revolutionaries before. Kuma was a pirate who had ties with them. This could mean that Crocodile is a member of the Revolutionary Army and his plot to overthrow the Alabasta Kingdom was part of their plans. Perhaps that was the secret that Crocodile want Ivankov to keep. Then we see some sort of wing design on their ship that reminds me of the Baroque Works’ Jolly Roger.

Now I am grasping at straws.

The other thing that line could mean is that the revolutionaries would either infiltrate or overpower Baroque Works to retrieve Robin. That would be a good theory too.

I have never seen Robin's flashback or much of Enies Lobby animated. I have read both stories in manga volumes but never watched it. I do know one thing, hearing Robin forcing back her tears as she laughs while slowly floating away from her home island is one of the saddest things I have ever seen. Even if there was no foreshadowing, it was still sad to watch.

SniperKing Begins

Usopp is already busy trying to grow stronger for Luffy's sake. He is working off the extra pounds that he has gained staying on Boin Island. I wonder if it will become muscle or Usopp will go back to skinniness. You can hear the determination in Usopp's voice as he works off the fat. The guy says some powerful stuff too.

"To make you the King of the Pirates. I'll become the real King of the Snipers!"
-Usopp

He is slowly making his lies into truth. It is now a matter of time before we will all know him as the true King of the Snipers.

Reanimated scenes from pre 16:9 ratio look nice.

I am not really sure what you could have shown as important “Luffy and Usopp” moments but I guess these scenes are good enough. Both scenes illustrate the friendship between the two characters and how much they mean to each other. Usopp in the future isn't just going provide Luffy with motivational support but support him in battle.

I wish that we saw these Pop Greens utilized prior to this moment or some hint that Heracles was using them. I understand that they wanted to keep them mysterious, but it feels like they came out of nowhere. I believe that the plant life has to be hostile as we saw the plants attacking Usopp. I wonder if these are the seeds of those plants.

The Pop Greens are going to be an awesome part of Usopp's arsenal. I can already see him shooting these things from his Kabuto. Usopp just gets cooler with each passing arc.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Zoro

"When a man like you swallows his pride, it is always for somebody else."
-Mihawk

Mihawk is one of the few people who have watched the Straw Hats grow up. He met them back in the East Blue and later fought Luffy at Marineford. Now he has Zoro bowing before him asking for training. He must have a good idea of how strong the crew is after seeing Luffy at Marineford. Mihawk has an interest in the crew that was his reason for attending the Warlord meeting during the Jaya arc. It is these moments that have given Mihawk an insight that many people in the world do not get to see. He knows that Zoro is full of pride. It says a lot if Zoro swallows his pride to ask for training by the guy he wants to defeat.

That Zoro defeated a bunch of powerful baboons that had already beaten him twice. He did all of this for Luffy. Now Zoro will undergo training by his ultimate rival. That is one hard pill to swallow for both Mihawk and Zoro.

Mihawk decided to train the man that will beat him. Either he believes that even with his training Zoro won't be able to defeat him, or he knows that there are better people then himself for Zoro to fight. This is a very interesting situation. I wonder how this will play out.

The humandrill leader is anime filler by the way. Its only purpose was to provide a backdrop for Zoro’s flashback. It was a nice touch in the episode, but nothing special.

Zoro Explains It All

Did anybody found it strange that Zoro who explained the meaning of the tattoo and the purpose of what Luffy did at Marineford? Please remember that Zoro was struggling to understand it in an earlier episode. Apparently, Zoro got the message as he is willing to stay on Mihawk's island to train.

Luffy’s message to the rest of The Straw Hat was that they will be separated for two years. All the other actions had no meaning. A very cunning plan created by Rayleigh.

This was a surprise because we know that Luffy likes to rush into trouble. Rayleigh suggested this plan to Luffy and normally, Luffy would have ignored it. This could be a sign that Ace's death affected Luffy's decision making. Moreover, during the war, Luffy saw many powerful people. This experience could have told him that if he wants to compete in the New World, then his crew has to be stronger. They have two years to do that and Luffy won't be idle.

Final Thoughts

Two years; a lot can change in that amount of time. Do you realize that the Straw Hats have been apart for that same period in real time? We won’t have to actually wait another two years because it will be two years in anime time.

Overall, it looks like we are going to enter a time skip pretty soon in the anime. This could mean so many things. We might view new designs, new attacks, and new personalities in the future. These last two episodes have shown us how each crew member may become stronger. Now it is up to them to show us what they will have in store. Things will be exciting pretty soon.

Preview

It looks like Luffy will undergo his own training with Rayleigh. What does the elderly pirate have to teach Luffy? Surely it has something to do with surviving in the New World.

It would seem that we will see what the others in Luffy's crew are doing as well. it’s probably nothing too big but a little something for us to see.

The next episode will probably be emotionally moving. Two years can go by fast or slow. Next week's episode will show us what Luffy will have to endure in the next two years.

Next Episode: Luffy’s Training Begins! See You At The Promised Place In 2 Years!

Make sure to not miss next week's episode!

Written by: Mikey
Edited by: Dsaftler