We open with Hiyori, Zoro, and Kawamatsu discussing her father's blade Enma. Kawamatsu objects to giving such an important blade to Zoro, but Hiyori insists. She also underscores the importance of returning Shusui to Wano, and Zoro agrees – since a replacement is involved.
Back at the prison quarters in Rasetsu town, many samurai are still being held captive. The samurai attempt to explain that it was all just a prank by Yasui, but the guards aren't having it. Meanwhile, below ground Law has Hawkins subdued. Hawkins reveals that Apoo betrayed them for Kaido, as well as his belief that Kid will die trying to defy Kaido. As Law goes to leave, he tells a shadowy figure that he knows of their plot to let him escape.
Kinemon calls around Wano to the various co-conspirators. He notifies them that they need to change the rebellion's symbol by adding two lines at the bottom. The various leaders recognize the coded meaning right away. Nami tries to decipher it but Kinemon explains that it only makes sense if you know the names of the ports of Wano. By adding two lines, the snake becomes a lizard, and this changes the rendezvous point from Habu Port to Tokage Port. The Akazaya Nine are thankful for Yasui's brilliance in designing the flyer for such an eventuality.
Back at Onigashima, waves crash and alcohol flows. Apoo arrives via ship and breaks through the waterfall thanks to Kaido's permission. He even has Numbers in tow, enormous monsters that shake the earth beneath their tread.
In the final moments, Kaido and Big Mom announce that they have formed an alliance. The Big Mom Pirates and Animal Kingdom Pirates have joined forces as the title card flashes.
An entertaining enough episode for what was essentially exposition.
I have said in the past that the care involved in the creation of the series keeps even this from being boring, and I stand by that. That being said, Wano does have a lot of moving parts and it can take an entire episode just to touch base with everyone. The vast majority of the runtime is Kinemon making snail calls to his lieutenants, so of course your mileage may vary in the excitement department. The direction and cinematography in these scenes are also standard fare to ensure clarity.
That being said there is still the trademark One Piece creativity and drama on display. The explanation for the ingenuity of Kinemon's change to the flyer was neat (if a bit long-winded for my tastes), and likewise the one about the importance of Shusui to Wano was a fun look back at Zoro's duel with Ryuma. This episode was heavy on the maps and diagrams too, with plenty of detail provided in regards to the secret waterfall entrance in Kaido's fortress. These details are part of the series DNA, but it is a touch dryer than the emotional or political stakes going on elsewhere.
The episode was not entirely dry though. The constant joy of the transponder snails will forever be a joy, and watching all the little snails take on the aspect of the caller makes me smile every time. Law fans will be pleased with his dramatic scenes beneath the prison and their accompanying gravitas. Mitsuaki Madono's line delivery as Scratchman Apoo is terrific and brimming with his signature energy. And lastly, the alliance between Big Mom and Kaido cannot be overstated in its importance. Luffy and crew have quite the challenge ahead...
Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it.― Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...
Series previously inspired 52-episode anime in 1993― This year's 24th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that Gosho Aoyama's Yaiba manga will be getting a new anime adaptation. Aoyama is supervising. The series follows the titular Yaiba Kurogane, a young samurai boy inspired by Miyamoto Musashi, the real-life swordsman who pioneered the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū sty...
Based on the novel by former Nogizaka46 member Kazumi Takayama, trapezium asks its audience to follow one girl who will use anything, and anyone, to achieve her dream.― Trapezium is a strange movie, to say the least. On the surface, it's a rather simple movie that explores youth, their dreams, and the lengths they'll go to achieve those dreams. It's a coming-of-age story wrapped in the veneer of the...
ZeroReq011 remembers what made Spice and Wolf a story for the ages, from its fully realized world and economics to Holo and Lawrence's romantic chemistry.― Back when Funimation was still its own company and not owned by Sony, long before its in-house streaming service was terminated in favor of Crunchyroll's streaming platform, it owned a TV channel. Legal streaming had yet to dominate the Western a...
Anime will star Hiroshi Kamiya, Kotaro Nishiyama, Kotaro Nishiyama― Distribution company Remow announced on Tuesday that Yura Urushibara's Tougen Anki: Dark Demon of Paradise manga will get a television anime in 2025. The company revealed the trailer, key visual, and main cast for the anime. The anime's cast includes:
Kazuki Ura as Shiki Ichinose, the protagonist who inherits the blood of an Oni. Sh...
Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations, from the Yuri on Ice movie to the second half of Stars Align.― Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations from the second half of Stars Align to the 2007 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood movie. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views...
Welcome to the rankings for the Spring 2024 season! The perfect place to check out which hidden gems might have flown under your radar.― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated ...
The final Spring 2024 Manga Guide update includes not-yet-released series from this month, including Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad,Bungo Stray Dogs: The Official Comic Anthology, A Sign of Affection and more.― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it a...
Producer Masakazu Kubo shares the animation team's dedication to realism, including bringing in a pro golfer to produce the anime's sound effects.― 64-year-old Masakazu Kubo has been planning and producing anime for decades. He's had a major hand in everything from Pokémon and Detective Conan to Teasing Master Takagi-san and Dorohedoro. Recently, he sat down with us to talk about Tonbo!, his attemp...