One Piece to become a seasonal Anime Starting Spring 2026
This coming January is going to mark the end of an era, not only for One Piece, but for anime as a whole. And I’m not sure how to feel about it.
For almost thirty years, the One Piece anime has been a near constant in the world of anime. Almost every week would see new episodes of the anime air on Fuji TV before eventually making their way online and to the West. That was the norm for a lot of Shonen anime at the time, with its contemporaries like Naruto and Bleach following the same formula. The bad news is that this often meant the anime would have to create filler arcs to make sure it wouldn’t overtake the manga, and most people hate filler. But things have changed since then. Most anime is now released seasonally, a method meant to ensure quality over quantity. One Piece was one of the last holdouts, and even that is about to come to an end!
📢 Breaking News from ONE PIECE NEWS
ONE PIECE will go on a three-month break starting this January, returning in April 2026 with the start of the Elbaph Arc!
Beginning in 2026, the anime series will also kick-off its new production schedule, dividing into two parts for a… pic.twitter.com/EQQI6mv4tB
At the time of this writing, One Piece is airing the climax of the Egghead Island Arc. But over on social media, it was announced that once that is done in January 2026, the anime will be going on another hiatus. And when it returns in April, it will no longer be releasing year-round. From now on, One Piece will be a seasonal anime, releasing episodes in two batches of 13 for a total of 26 per year. In other words, One Piece is finally going seasonal.
End of Longform Anime
This is the end of an era for anime. No longer can fans tune in once every week and expect a new episode of their favorite anime. Now everyone will have to wait until a new season drops. It allows for the people working on the anime to have more time to work on it, ensuring that it’s the highest possible quality. It can potentially mean a less stressful work environment for the people in the industry, because heaven knows they need it. More importantly, though, it means that filler arcs are going to be largely relegated to the history books. Still, having grown up on the weekly anime format, I can’t help but feel sad to see it go. Yet I understand that it’s for the best, as One Piece deserves to be as peak as possible. Especially when you consider what it’s going into once it comes back: the Elbaph Arc.
Elbaph is Worth the Wait
For those who don’t know, the Elbaph Arc is the ongoing arc in the manga, and next to Wano Country and Luffy finding the One Piece, it is the most hyped up thing in the history of the franchise. First mentioned back in 1999, Elbaph is the homeland of most of the Giants, the strongest warriors in the world. It’s a place that Luffy has been dying to visit for years, and fans have waited decades for the moment Oda would introduce it to us outside of flashbacks. Once he did in 2024, he did not disappoint, with it being everything we imagined, and then some. I’m currently covering it on my own blog, and I can promise you that the hiatus will be more than worth the wait, with some of the biggest battles and most insane lore drops that we will ever see. I might even end up reviewing the episodes here if that’s possible!
The One Piece Netflix Series is Returning.
The good news is that we won’t be entirely bereft of One Piece until April. The Netflix series is finally returning.
Two years ago, Netflix and Eichiro Oda worked together to give us a live-action adaptation of One Piece. And it didn’t stink! While it had to do away with the more cartoonish aspects, it still managed to capture the heart and soul of the series. The Japanese dub even got the series’s seiyu to reprise their roles! Since then, fans have been waiting for the second season to come out, and it looks like we don’t have to wait much longer. The second season will drop on Netflix on March 10th, 2026, and it looks to be bigger and better than the first. With the story taking us into the Grand Line, longtime fans know that this is when One Piece starts to pick up as the Straw Hats come into conflict with the evil Baroque Works. More importantly, though, we get our first appearance of fan favorites like Robin and Chopper. If I had to guess, I’d say that the season will cover the Loguetown arc to the end of Drum Island, with the next season bringing us to Alabasta. And there will be a third season; Netflix has confirmed it.
Bottom line: now is a great time to be a fan of One Piece. And if you’re not, then you’re welcome to come aboard. Even if you don’t have the patience to watch the entire anime, there are plenty of people on YouTube that cover the series and the important parts.
Why the World Government of One Piece is just the worst
Anyone who has read or watched One Piece long enough can agree on one thing: the World Government is the worst. Over the course of the series, they went from simply being the people chasing after Luffy because he’s a pirate to being worse than any outlaw could ever hope to be. If I were to rank dictatorial regimes in fiction, I would put the World Government right next to the Galactic Empire in terms of how vile they are. There’s a reason why people have been using the Straw Hats flag at protests around the world, and that’s because the fans know that it is a symbol of defiance against injustice. They know this because they’ve come to know the ones who rule the world of One Piece are more evil than any outlaw could ever hope to be.
I’m RJ Writing Ink, and I wanted to talk about what is it that makes the World Government such an effective villainous organization in One Piece. Because if there is one thing that Eichiro Oda is excellent at doing, it’s making some of the most vile and disgusting villains you may ever find in a world of manga.
The World Government: EVIL
In the world of One Piece, the shadow of the World Government has been present long before it is formally introduced into the story. They are the ones in charge of the Marines, the forces tasked with maintaining law and order across the world by protecting it from criminals and outlaws. Like any large organization, they have a series of uniform rules and ideals that members are expected to follow. And just like any other large organization, there are going to be people who don’t always conform and subscribe to different beliefs as well as those who only care about their own personal gain. That much is made clear early on in the series thanks to Luffy’s encounters with Marines like Axe-Hand Morgan and Nezumi. The former was a man who effectively bullied those under his command and charge, while the latter was openly taking bribes from pirates like Arlong. However, they’re both counterbalanced by the introduction of Smoker and Tashigi, two Marines who actually do the job they’re supposed to be doing. However, that does not mean that they cannot think for themselves.
When the Straw Hats run into Smoker and Tashigi again during the Alabasta Arc, they wind up dragging them into their fight against Crocodile and his criminal organization. In doing so, they expose this supposed ally of the Marines for his crimes, leading to his arrest. Seeing as how they helped save an entire country, they ultimately decide to let the Straw Hats go when they had the chance to arrest them, with Smoker giving them credit for stopping Crocodile in his report. However, he is disgusted when the higher-ups choose to give him all the credit and cover-up the Straw Hats involvement. On the surface, it’s understandable. They’re trying to save face because they don’t want to admit that a pirate did their job. As we come to learn later, though, this was our first hint that something was wrong with the people running the world.
The Enies Lobby Arc was a Turning Point
I’ve seen several video essays already covering the subject, but the way that Oda reveals just how dystopic the world of One Piece can be is brilliant. In most instances of a dystopian setting, the story makes it clear from the get go just how unfair and cruel something really is. The Empire from Star Wars doesn’t even hide how evil it is. In contrast, though, Oda chose not to let people know straight away just how corrupt the World Government is. Instead, he did it gradually, dropping hint after hint as Luffy and his crew journeyed across the Grand Line that they the World Government was not what it seemed. Until, finally, he proceeds to blow the whole lid on everything several arcs later during the events at Water 7 and Enies Lobby.
For those who haven’t read the manga or seen the anime, here’s a basic summary of the Water 7 and Enies Lobby arcs. While the Straw Hats are dealing with tension between themselves, one of their members, Nico Robin, opts to turn herself into Cipher Pol 9, the World Government’s black ops team. In truth, Robin is actually the sole survivor of Ohara, a nation of scholars that sought to uncover the mysteries of the Void Century, a hundred-year gap in historical records during which the World Government rose to power, and something that they made a crime to research. In response, they burned the entire nation to the ground, killing everyone but Robin, and then lied to the world by claiming Ohara wanted to uncover ancient superweapons.
This moment was a major turning point for the story of One Piece. It made it clear as day to the Straw Hats and to readers that the World Government was, in fact, a tyrannical dictatorship that would stop at nothing to maintain its power, even if it meant killing the people it was supposed to protect. And in response to this, and rightfully so, the Straw Hats declare war on the World Government to get Robin back, utterly embarrassing them in the process. But this was only the beginning of readers learning about the crimes the World Government has committed.
The Celestial Jerkwads
From Enies Lobby onwards, Oda continues to escalate the level of atrocities committed by the World Government. At Sabaody, we are introduced to the Celestial Dragons, descendants of the founders of the organization who live atop the Red Line and see themselves as gods. They can kill, enslave, and torment who or whatever they want, and they can do it because they’re considered gods by everyone. In reality, though, they’re just delusional jerks who represent everything wrong with humanity wrapped into grotesque caricatures. The only reason no one defies them is because the Marines will step in to protect them, even if they’re doing things that are supposed to be illegal.
The Celestial Dragons are really the ultimate symbol of how the World Government is built on lies. They tell everyone that they’re an alliance of equals that works to maintain peace and justice, but to them, it means doing what they want without consequence. That is how they’ve likely always been, and that is why they are so determined to keep the truth of their origins a secret for 800 years, no matter how many people they have to slaughter in the process. To be fair, eight centuries seems unbelievable for a group so corrupt to be in power, but it shows just how effective their methods of maintaining power have been. If anyone tries to step out of line or learn the truth, they will brand them an outlaw and hunt them to the ends of the earth, something that most people cannot afford to be put through.
Now, to be fair, not everyone in the Marines and the World Government are as corrupt as the people in charge. In fact, people like Smoker and Tashigi are some of the most morally upstanding people in the entire series, and there are plenty of others like them. Yet despite these people having a greater sense of justice and could, in theory, change things for the better, they are ultimately forced to stop short of doing so. This is the ultimate trap of the World Government. They make it so that the most moral and just people, AKA the people most likely to effect change, are forced to become cogs in their massive machine. While they can do plenty of good in the Marines, they are ultimately unable to change the status quo without risking being branded outlaws themselves. It’s how the Celestial Dragons have been able to stay in power, and it’s one of the reasons why few have discovered the ultimate lie at the heart of the World Government: Imu.
Imu is the Heart of Darkness
The World Government claims that it is an alliance of equal nations where none are meant to stand above the other. As we know, that is a lie, as the Celestial Dragons and their leaders, the Five Elders, do just that. Yet only a handful of people realize that even this is a lie. In truth, the Five Elders serve their own master, a figure that, for the majority of the series, no one even knew existed: the true ruler of the world, Imu.
To date, we know almost next to nothing about who, or what, Imu even is, as not even the higher-ups in the World Government are aware of their existence. It’s not even clear if Imu is even human, with some believing that they are some sort of demonic entity or dark god. What is known is that they are the embodiment of order and oppression itself, ruling the world from the shadows with an iron fist, and they are determined to keep it that way. Any outsiders who learn of their existence will be hunted down and killed to keep this knowledge from becoming public. Yet that has not stopped some people from finding out anyway and living to tell about it. Were that to happen, then all of their plans would come undone.
For the longest time, fans have thought that the ultimate goal of the World Government was to maintain its power no matter what. And I do mean no matter what. Murder, torture, genocide, racism, brainwashing, whatever heinous act you can think of, the World Government is willing to do it. But I don’t think that even the most die-hard fans could imagine what their endgame might be. If you’re an anime-only watcher or not caught up yet, then turn back now, because there’s going to be a major revelation from this moment on:
The world of One Piece is slowly sinking into the ocean. And the World Government is likely counting on it to happen.
Armageddon is on the World’s Doorstep
During the Egghead Island Arc, it’s revealed that a thousand years ago, the world was once covered by massive continents and a civilization more advanced than anything in the present day. Yet the events of the Void Century would not only see to that civilization’s destruction at the hands of the future World Government, but most of the world being swallowed by the sea. All of the islands that we’ve seen throughout the series were just the tallest points on these continents that survived the flooding. Even that might not be enough anymore as the sea levels continue to rise.
While the person who shared all this information said that it’s unclear who’s responsible for the current state of the world, most fans have guessed that the predecessors to the World Government were responsible. Or, at the very least, took advantage of things to seize control. They’ve kept people isolated on their islands and unable to travel the dangerous seas without them, all while using the Marines to control the seas. They did all of this to keep people in the dark about how their homes would eventually be lost to the sea, leaving the Celestial Dragons atop the Red Line in control of the only remaining dry land. In other words, they’ve spent the last eight hundred years herding the world like cattle to the slaughter.
Ultimately, the world of One Piece may seem like a fun and colorful world of adventure; and for the most part, it is. But underneath that fun and whimsy, Oda has created a world ruled by darkness. And it is this darkness that Luffy is supposed to be fighting against. Why? It’s not just because he wants to be King of the Pirates. It’s because he might actually be the savior of the world. It’s messiah. Pirate Jesus!
Eichiro Oda is one of the most influential authors in the entire world, and it’s all thanks to his absolute epic, One Piece. Since it began publishing in Shonen Jump back in 1997, One Piece has become the best-selling manga of all time. There’s a list of the best-selling fictional authors in history on Wikipedia, and he’s at number eight. One Piece has changed the world to the point where a generation of young people are waving the Straw Hat Pirates flag at protests, showing how they believe in the series themes of freedom and liberation from oppression. Needless to say, Oda is a big deal in the world of anime.
Which only makes it harder for fans to watch as their hero threatens to work himself into an early grave.
Oda started serializing One Piece when he was twenty-two and in the prime of his life. He could afford to work himself to the bone and run on a fraction of the sleep he needed. But over the last few years, it seems as though his commitment to his creation has begun taking its toll. He’s started taking scheduled breaks every few chapters or so, but at the same time, unscheduled breaks are becoming more and more frequent. And it’s making fans ask the same thing: Is Oda alright?
No one is going to question whether or not Oda is losing his work ethic. However, people are more aware of how grueling working in the anime and manga industries is now than they were when he started. The long hours or ceaseless work can be incredibly stressful, and that stress can start to add up as we get older. The worst-case scenario, they could end up working themselves to death. That’s something that Dragon Ball fans know all too well.
Last spring, the anime world was shocked by the sudden news of the death of Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator of Dragon Ball. His death at the relatively young age of 68 sent shockwaves throughout the industry. Many people started to question if the hard lifestyle of a mangaka led Toriyama to an early grave. Oda, for his part, seemed to take the hint, as he went on a vacation so he could process his hero’s passing. However, that hasn’t stopped people from worrying about him. He’s fifty years old, been working on One Piece most of his life, and it could be another 5-10 years before the story is finished. He needs to look after himself.
Oda has become beloved in the world of anime and manga for creating One Piece, and he’s managed to change the world for the better. Millions of people have been inspired by his characters and how to live their lives by their example. There are people out there waving the Straw Hat Pirates flag as a symbol of rebellion against oppression right now. His legacy has already been secured. But none of that will matter if One Piece leads him to an early grave. If that happened, I don’t think the fans would be able to live with themselves.
Fortunately, it seems the One Piece Fandom is among the most understanding in anime and manga. Every time Oda has to go on break, fans have been understanding and wishing him well. None of us wants to see him work himself to death, including myself. And when the day comes for him to end One Piece, he should be able to enjoy retirement for decades to come with his wife, kids, and hopefully grandkids. It’s the least that Oda deserves.
All over the world, people are raising the Jolly Roger of the Straw Hat Pirates, and those in power are afraid.
In its nearly three decades of publication by Shonen Jump, One Piece has become an international phenomenon. Eichiro Oda’s legendary manga has become the most successful of all time, making the man himself one of the most successful authors in history. He’s up there with the likes of Shakespeare, and it’s not hard to see why. People from all walks of life love One Piece for its action, sense of adventure, and the beloved characters that make up the heart and soul of the story. And at the heart of the story are the Straw Hat Pirates, known in-universe and without for their Jolly Roger featuring their captain’s iconic straw hat. For Luffy and the crew, it’s a symbol of the fun to be had in their adventures. For their many, many friends, it’s a symbol of joy and hope. But for those who abuse their power, it’s pretty much their worst nightmare.
That last bit is especially important, as lately, that is what the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates has come to represent to those who stand to lose their power.
How this All Started
It started this past summer in Indonesia. People were fed up with the numerous issues facing their country, especially regarding corruption among those in power. People stopped flying the country’s flag. Instead, they started flying the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger in protest. Some government officials saw this as acts of treason and sedition and tried to have it banned. But the flag stayed.
cnn talking about people in protests using the straw hats' flag. i'm glad people can associate it with resistance pic.twitter.com/yeZNV9EVTs
Then came the events in Nepal, one of the poorest and demographically youngest nations in the world. In September 2025, the Nepalese tried to ban two dozen social media platforms. They claimed it was due to them failing to meet new rules, but many believed it was because social media was being used to show just how unfair life was for those not born into privilege. In response, people took to the streets, and among them were those waving the Straw Hat Pirates flag. Once again, it became a rallying symbol for those fed up with how things were going for their nations. Look on the protests Wikipedia page at the time of this writing, and you’ll see an image of the Straw Hat Jolly Roger on there.
Since then, the flag has continued to spread. At protests around the world, people are waving the Straw Hats Flag, uniting people under its banner. It’s becoming more than just a symbol of the popular manga and anime. It’s becoming a real life symbol of rebellion, defiance, and freedom.
The Straw Hats have Always been about Freedom
The crazy thing is, all of this is in line with what One Piece is about: freedom.
There are several major themes behind the story of One Piece, but one of the biggest is that of freedom. All Luffy and the Straw Hats want to do is live their lives however they see fit, no matter what the rules may say. Fortunately for the world, the Straw Hat Pirates are naturally friendly and don’t seek to use their freedom to take it away from others. In fact, everywhere the Straw Hats go, they end up changing people’s lives for the better, bringing joy and saving them from oppression. At first, it was assumed that they were doing this simply because they were just that nice. But as One Piece has continued, their actions have take on a more significant light.
As the series has progressed, it’s become increasingly clear that the world they live in is one shrouded in darkness and misery. From other pirates to the government that rules the world under a false guise of benevolence, there are too many people who oppress and hurt others for their own gain. The World Government, in particular, is one of the most corrupt organizations in all of fiction. They’re willing to let most of the world be swallowed by the sea to keep themselves in power, deluding themselves by thinking they’re gods. And their corruption inspires others to follow suit, creating a chain of misery that keeps most of the world enslaved without realizing it. But the Straw Hats keep getting in the way.
It’s eventually revealed late in the manga that there’s a reason why Luffy has his powers and seems to change things for the better wherever he goes. As it turns out, his powers mark him as the incarnation of an ancient sun god, Nika, the Warrior of Liberation. Nika is said to go around playing the fool, using his rubbery body to defy the laws of the world and bring smiles to all those who are oppressed. In other words, Luffy is the second coming of Pirate Jesus. Thus, his flag becomes more than just a pirate flag: it’s the embodiment of freedom itself.
And people in the real world are taking a page from Luffy’s book.
Maybe the World Needs the Straw Hats right Now
There’s no getting around it: the world kind of stinks right now. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to stay afloat, while those in power continue to accumulate wealth and gain more influence. Many people likely wish for the chance to change things for the better, but either don’t know how or are scared to try. That is why Luffy and the Straw Hats have become so popular amongst younger generations. Luffy may not care about changing the world for the better, his willingness to call everyone he meets a friend means that he and his crew will inevitably get involved in fighting whatever tyrant is making people miserable. People see Luffy as an inspiration, and the growing popularity of One Piece proves how much of an impression the series is leaving on the younger generation. Thus, it’s inevitable that when fans take to streets to fight oppression in real life, they use the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates as a rallying cry. More than any one nation or ideology, One Piece is uniting the world. And the world is starting to notice.
Different nations, same flag. 🏴☠️ Freedom everywhere — from Indonesia & Nepal to Gaza, Italy & France. Who’ll raise it next?#ONEPIECEpic.twitter.com/RriLOtfwx9
There’s no telling where things will go from here, but the more people use the Straw Hats Flag, the more it gets attention. It’s doubtful that Oda intended for the protagonists he created to become political symbols, but the fact that their flag is unifying people across the world is a testament to how much he’s changed it for the better. Who knows? Perhaps by the time One Piece concludes, it will have brought about world peace. At this point, not even that sounds impossible!
Ladies, gentlemen, and those who identify as neither, this Sunday is Father’s Day. The day when we tell our dads and father figures how much we love and appreciate them. There have been many noteworthy fathers in anime. Some are great, others aren’t, and there’s the one dad who’s so vile that we consider him one of the most despicable villains in fiction. Fullmetal Alchemist fans know who I’m talking about. However, there is one dad in all of anime who stands head and shoulders above the rest—someone who’s gone above and beyond for their child. Someone so selfless should be canonized as an actual Saint. That man’s name is Bartholomew Kuma.
Kuma from One Piece is the walking definition of a gentle giant. Despite how terrifying he can be towards those who commit evil, he is just the sweetest to everyone he meets. And despite the horrific nature of his life, he never stops trying to be a good father to his little girl, Bonney. Not even death itself will stop this man from protecting his daughter. And with the One Piece anime having returned and now into the story of Kuma’s life, it is the perfect time to honor Saint Kuma. This man has one of the saddest backstories in all of One Piece, yet he manages to be one of the best dads I’ve ever seen in an anime.
Get some tissues ready. This story is going to make you cry.
Born to Hardship
It all starts forty-five years before Luffy sets out to sea when Kuma is born in South Blue. His mom was a normal human, but his pastor father was secretly the last survivor of the Buccaneers, a race of powerful hybrids that had spent centuries being hunted by the World Government. They claimed it was for a “crime” they “committed,” but it was likely for simply breathing the same air as them. And when Kuma was four, the Government found them.
They dragged the whole family up to their capital of Mariejois and made them the slaves of the Celestial Dragons, AKA the vile, disgusting, and hedonistic rulers of the world. They would beat, torture, and abuse the family until Kuma’s mom finally dropped dead. But his dad didn’t want Kuma to lose hope, so he told him stories about Nika, the ancient sun god their people worshipped. He would go around spreading laughter and joy and freeing the miserable and oppressed while doing a fun dance. But then, just as Kuma was starting to cheer up, the Celestial Dragons shot his dad dead right in front of him. All because they didn’t like him making noise.
Yes, you read that right. They killed a man right in front of his child for simply annoying them with his song and dance. That is how petty these people are! About 99% of them have no empathy for anyone and those who do end up dead. And this isn’t even the worst. Every three years, they annex an entire country, seize its resources, and then hunt down the entire population for the fun of it. And Kuma was being used as one of their prey.
Thankfully, not all their slaves were willing to accept this date, and at the next hunting event, they met Kuma and made their move.
Freedom
Meet Ginny and Emporio Ivankov, two slave children who decided to take matters into their own hands, and they wanted Kuma in on their plan. Weeks ahead of time, Ginny had managed to leak the location of the World Noble’s (AKA the Celestial Dragons) hunt to the outside world. That led to some of the toughest pirates in the world descending on the place, turning it into a warzone. And while that happened, Kuma and Ivankov would sneak over to where the grand prizes, rare and powerful Devil Fruits, were being kept. They planned to steal and eat them so they could use their powers to escape. Unfortunately, they were only able to get the one Fruit that Kuma ate, the Paw-Paw Fruit. It not only gave him paw pads, but it let him push away anything he wanted for as far as he wanted, even pain itself. Using that, Kuma was able to help himself, his friends, and five hundred other slaves escape. And that was only his first miracle.
After they escaped, the trio went their separate ways. Ivankov took to the seas while Kuma and Ginny moved into the old church his parents had called home. They would make a living selling wood in town, and once he came of age, Kuma became a priest like his father before him. He even used his powers to help the elderly by taking their pain away and into himself. But he took it like a champ.
During this time, Kuma and Ginny would fall in love with each other. But when Ginny asked him to marry her, he refused. He couldn’t bear to put her in the same danger his mom went through. But then, something happened; something bad.
Their island home’s new king, Bekori, was a greedy and horrible tyrant who wanted to suck up to the Celestial Dragons. So, he decided the best way to do that was by saving money by getting rid of the parts of the population that he thought were dead weight. So he declared the southern half of the kingdom was being thrown out, leaving all the elderly people who made up its population to rot.
No one was happy about this decision, and when Kuma tried to protest, the king had him arrested. And then arrested Ginny and their friends when they protested that. But then, help came in the form of their old friend, Ivankov. During his time out at sea, he had met a man named Dragon who hated the World Government as much as he did. Together, they formed a small team of like-minded freedom fighters to fight tyranny wherever they found it. And they came running as soon as they heard Kuma and Ginny were in trouble. With their help, they swiftly deposed the king and sent him running for the hills. Afterward, Dragon and Ivankov offered the two a place in their group. And despite Kuma abhorring violence, the two gladly agreed to join.
Thus, the Revolutionary Army was born. This group of rebels had one goal: to overthrow the World Government and free the world from the tyranny of the Celestial Dragons! With their skills, Kuma and Ginny earned a place in Dragon’s inner circle alongside Ivankov. Together, the group fought tyranny and injustice, took names, and helped those in need. Life was good for Kuma.
But then, another great tragedy befell Kuma. Around twelve years before Luffy set out to sea, Ginny was kidnapped.
Fatherhood
Since becoming an adult, Ginny had become known as quite the beauty and had many admirers, even though her heart belonged to Kuma. Somehow, though, a Celestial Dragon learned about her and, being who they are, had her kidnapped and brought back to Mariejois to be their “bride.” There was nothing her friends could do.
For the next two years, Kuma would become a different person. He threw himself into his duties, charging recklessly onto battlefields as his mood began to darken. Then, one fateful day, he and the others received a call from Ginny. She had been released and made it back to the surface! But whatever joy Kuma felt turned to even deeper sorrow. The reason she’d been cast out was because she was dying from a terminal illness; she had called to say goodbye. Kuma never heard it, though. He teleported back to their church home, knowing she would be there. But by then, it was already too late.
The saddest part of this scene is that while Kuma was flying to Ginny he was unaware of her last words telling him that she loved him. Ginny died not knowing that he didn't hear her.#OnePiece#ワンピース#OnePiece1132pic.twitter.com/wu4TjWca8X
To reiterate: the love of Kuma’s life had been kidnapped, forced to spend two years of her life as a s** slave, was r**** repeatedly, and then left to die after catching a deadly illness. And it was all the fault of the Celestial Dragons. For the second time in Kuma’s life, they had taken everything from him. And this almost destroyed Kuma. But amidst all this darkness, there was still a light to be found: a baby.
Ginny had gotten pregnant during her time in captivity and given birth to a baby girl. Being the monsters they were, the Celestial Dragons abandoned the child as well as her mother. Ginny sacrificed what time she had left to get her daughter, Bonney, to safety. And Kuma wouldn’t let her death be in vain. He would take in her daughter and raise her as his own. She would be the daughter that he and Ginny should’ve had. She became his new reason to keep living.
Being a single dad is hard in the best of times, and since Kuma was still part of the Revolutionary Army, he had to balance being a dad with his job. Fortunately, his Paw-Paw powers meant commuting wasn’t an issue, and the townsfolk were happy to help him raise Bonney, for they had long adored her parents. It was a busy life, but a happy one…until Bonney suddenly got a blue stone on her face.
By a cruel twist of fate, Bonney had been afflicted by Sapphire Scales, the same disease that killed her mother. It was such a rare illness that there was no cure for it. Any contact with natural light would make it spread, covering the host with blue stones before finally turning their skin blue before they died. The doctors who came to see her all said she wouldn’t make it to her tenth birthday. And to make matters worse, Bonney overheard this and misunderstood, thinking she would be better by then. Kuma had no choice but to maintain the lie to his little girl.
Kingship
After learning about this, Kuma left the Army to become a stay-at-home dad, keeping his daughter’s spirits up by telling her stories of Nika while looking for a cure. But then, the former King Bekori returned and regained his old throne. The difference was that this time, he opted to simply burn the southern half of his kingdom to the ground! Kuma couldn’t let this happen, and in a repeat of what happened before, he single-handedly stormed the palace and sent the tyrant back into exile once more. Afterward, the people were so grateful they declared Kuma their new king!
Kuma, naturally, didn’t care about such a title. He left rule in the hands of the tyrant king’s nicer predecessor so he could focus on Bonney. Who he just found out had somehow gained Devil Fruit powers of her own, letting her temporarily alter her age to look as young or as old as she wanted. It could even let her transform into alternate future versions of herself that she could imagine, even Nika!
But guess what? Bekori returned for a third time. He had spread lies overseas, claiming that Kuma was a tyrant who unjustly overthrew him, and the international community fell for it. The WG gave him a fleet of Marines to retake the island and everything!
Now, Kuma was a gentle man by heart who never wanted to hurt anybody. But after everything the king had done, Kuma decided that Bekori’s free trial of life had expired. He didn’t even wait for him to make landfall. He just pulled up on him at sea and sent the foolish former king and his fleet to the bottom of the sea.
After that, Kuma was now a wanted man. He couldn’t stay with Bonney any longer, and he knew it. So he set out to sea, fighting off bounty hunters while continuing to look for a cure for Bonney. Then, one day, he ran into his old friend, Dragon, who had managed to come through. Dragon recommended that Kuma go and see a friend of his, Dr. Vegapunk, a brilliant scientist and the smartest person alive. If anyone could cure Bonney, it would be him.
Just as Dragon hoped, Vegapunk could cure Bonney. Thanks to the miracles of stem cell research, the good doctor could save the girl’s life! The procedure would take a while, and it wouldn’t be cheap, but Bonney was going to live. However, Vegapunk wasn’t interested in money as payment. What he wanted was samples of Kuma’s blood.
Vegapunk had this idea about creating a line of cybernetic protectors that could keep the people of the world safe. With the Buccaneers renowned for their strength and durability, Vegapunk thought Kuma was the ideal template. Kuma happily agreed, thinking that being the template for an army of friendly peacekeepers was a great idea. It felt like things were going his way at last!
But then, the biggest opp in Kuma’s life and one of the greatest haters in all of One Piece came in and decided to take everything from him.
JayGarcia Saturn, a Celestial Dragon, one of the Five Elders who ran the World Government, and an absolute hater. Years ago, he had seen firsthand how Kuma had defied his masters and vowed to become a savior like Nika. And that act of defiance had been enough to make Saturn dedicate his life to making Kuma’s life miserable. And when he learned about Vegapunk’s deal with Kuma, he decided his time had come. Instead of arresting Kuma or forcing Vegapunk to back out, he did something worse. He would let them follow through on the deal. But in exchange, he would force Kuma to give up everything: his freedom, his daughter, and even his very humanity.
The World Government would oversee Bonney’s treatment, effectively holding her hostage while keeping Kuma from seeing her. As for Kuma, he had to agree to work for the World Government as one of the Seven Warlords and slowly be turned into a cyborg, with the ultimate end goal being to erase his free will, essentially killing him. And to add insult to injury, they would take Vegapunk’s clone army and turn them into weapons for the Navy to use!
So, despite knowing that this would lead to his eventual death, Kuma took the deal. He gave up his freedom and his very humanity all to give his daughter the future he deserved. That is how great a dad he was!
The process of becoming a cyborg was a slow one that spanned several years, and during that time, Kuma rarely got to see his daughter. And while he constantly wrote letters to her, the government op in charge of watching kept shredding them up! She had no reason to do so; she was just doing it to be mean! And the longer Bonney went without hearing from her dad, the more convinced his friends were that something was up. Sure enough, they were right.
Bonney’s Freedom
Some of Kuma and Ginny’s friends had overheard the Government agents talking in town, and that’s when they learned the truth: Bonney had already been cured. They kept lying about it to keep her captive as leverage. And it was at this point that those family friends took matters into their own hands. Having kept Bonney’s Devil Fruit powers a secret and having converted a ship in the local harbor to suit their needs, they managed to get the girl out right under her captor’s nose, set out to sea, and went to look for Kuma.
And, for extra karma, when the fake nurse tried to stop them, Bonney used her Devil Fruit to turn into a version of Nika and punch her face!
At just ten years old, Bonney had escaped to sea and become a pirate, and she would make a huge impression. Using her powers to mess with the marines wherever she went, she became part of the same new generation of pirates as Luffy and the Straw Hats. Yet try as they might, they could never find Kuma. And that was because he didn’t want to be found.
Even though they no longer had anything to use as blackmail, Kuma continued to serve the World Government. He knew that if he backed out now, Saturn would ensure that Bonney would not survive. The most he could do was watch her from afar as he awaited his end. However, all was not lost. Kuma had discovered something that gave him a new sense of hope for the future: the stories of Nika might be true.
Luffy is Pirate Jesus
For those who dont know, Dragon is the father of the series protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. And despite keeping it a secret from his friends, Kuma was able to piece this together. More importantly, he saw firsthand how Luffy could stretch his body like rubber and seemed to bring joy to everyone he met. And it just so happened that those exact two things were what Nika did in the stories his father told him.
Kuma kept an eye on Luffy as he set out on his journey to becoming King of the Pirates, and the more he did, the more he grew convinced. He didn’t know if it was fate or coincidence, but everything that Luffy did matched the legends about Nika. After Luffy proceeded to punch a Celestial Dragon without any fear of retaliation, Kuma became convinced: Luffy was the second coming of Nika.
Unfortunately, that stunt he pulled meant that Luffy and the Straw Hats were now being hunted by the best fighters the Navy had to offer. With the Straw Hat Pirates woefully underprepared for the second half of the Grand Line, Kuma knew they would get themselves killed. So, he decided it was time for some tough love. As Luffy and his crew were being assailed by Admiral Kizaru of the Navy, Kuma stepped in. And before they could do anything, he teleported each of the Straw Hats to islands across the world for mandatory training arcs. It was cruel, and it caused them all grief, but it was the right decision. If Luffy was the new incarnation of Nika, then he would need friends powerful enough to help him. And this was something they all came to understand.
But it was not something that Kuma would live to see. For his time had come.
The End…or is it?
Vegapunk had begged Saturn to show Kuma mercy, but, being the hater he was, the monster refused. Yet despite this, Kuma showed no regret for his decision. He was giving up his life to ensure that his daughter could live a full one, like any good parent. Using his powers once more to extract his memories for the doctor to study, Kuma said his final goodbyes. Then, with the final pull of a lever, Bartholomew Kuma, the man, was no more…and the world was a little less bright.
But the story doesn’t end there.
So, two years after Kuma effectively died, the Celestial Dragons brought him full circle, turning them into their slave once more and using him as their personal mule boy. Until, that is, the day that his friends in the Revolutionary Army decided the time had come to pick a fight with the World Nobles. And in the process, they sprang Kuma loose! However, there was nothing that they could do to restore his mind.
Meanwhile, Bonney had made her way to Vegapunk’s lab at Egghead Island, and ran into the Straw Hats while doing so. Having not gotten the full story about her dad, she blamed Vegapunk for everything, and if he couldn’t make him fix Kuma, she was out for his blood. Until she stumbled upon her father’s memories and proceeded to see everything.
Return of the Opps
And I think I can speak with all sincerity when I saw that what we saw in Kuma’s memories has to be one of the saddest backstories in all of One Piece. Maybe one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen in my life! But it did make Bonney realize that the real opp was Saturn. Who, as it so happened, was currently leading an army of Marines to kill Vegapunk for secretly turning on them. And when Saturn arrived on the island as this demonic spider, Bonney decided that it was on-site. But as she quickly learned, Saturn was almost unkillable.
So, Saturn pretty much had Bonney, Vegapunk, and half the Straw Hats dead to rights, paralyzed by Conqueror’s Haki. And now that Kuma was of no use to him and Vegapunk had turned on him, he decided it was time to end Bonney’s life. But before he did, he decided to twist the knife even further.
Warning: spoilers from the manga lie ahead.
Saturn proceeds to tell Bonney the horrible truth: “You know how your mama died from that rare disease? And how you somehow got Devil Fruit powers at random? Who do you think was the one who did all that to you two?”
It was all Saturn! He used Ginny as a guinea pig and infected her and her daughter with sapphire scales on purpose. And then he injected baby Bonney with the essence of a Devil Fruit to see if it would give her its powers. He is the reason that Bonney died and Kuma had to sacrifice his freedom and life!!! HE DESTROYED THIS FAMILY’S LIVES! ALL BECAUSE KUMA DECIDED TO STAND UP FOR HIMSELF!
In all my years of life, I have seen some truly despicable villains. I have seen tyrants, psychopaths, predators, and haters of the highest degree. But this? This is hating on the same level as Reverse-Flash, DIO, and Frieza. This reveal was enough to make me scream for Saturn’s blood at the top of my lungs! He became public enemy number one in the fandom!
Thankfully, fans didn’t have to wait long for karma to come back to bite Saturn in the butt.
Justice at last
So, one of the last things that Saturn ordered Vegapunk to do to Kuma before erasing his free will was to implant a bomb in him. That way, he could blow him up if he ever went rogue. But Vegapunk secretly altered it to a simple shutdown switch that would render him inactive, because he had morals and ethics. By the time the Revolutionary Army found him, Saturn had already hit the button, meaning that he was pretty much catatonic.
Which only makes what happened next even more important.
As everything was happening at Egghead, Kuma’s friends were trying to restore his humanity. Suddenly, Kuma got up and started running as fast as he could. Before they could stop him, he had already teleported away!
None of them knew it, but Kuma’s dad’s sense had been tingling.
Despite losing his memories, free will, and humanity, and despite not knowing what was happening, Kuma somehow sensed that Bonney was in trouble. And in defiance of all logic and common sense, through sheer force of will, Kuma forced himself to run, fly, and teleport to where his daughter was. He climbed the 10,000-meter tall Red Line, fought his way through Mariejois, and slipped past Fleet Admiral Akainu to get to Egghead. And he got there just in time to save his daughter from being skewered by Saturn!
i added some sound effects to midael's kuma vs saturn animation, for the punch i used the sound of luffy punching the celestial dragon from one piece ep396 because i thought it kind of matches the intensity
Finally, after all these years, Bonney was reunited with her beloved dad. And while she sat there, being hugged by her father and crying her eyes out, Saturn was unable to process what was happening. It didn’t make any sense to him! He thought that Kuma was dead! Even Vegapunk had no idea how this was possible. It didn’t matter, though, because this was the beginning of the end for Saturn.
Saturn had made it his personal mission in life to make Kuma’s life a living hell. He had taken the woman he loved, endangered his daughter’s life, and robbed him of his humanity and freedom. And now, Kuma was ready to give him a lifetime of karma. He went full Asura’s Wrath mode on Saturn and, for the crime of making his daughter cry, sentenced the demon to a cathartic face-punch that should’ve killed him then and there. But that would be too good for Saturn. His humiliation was just getting started. Because now, it was time for the Sun God to punish him.
Saturn Gets Royally Clapped
After being left exhausted earlier from an earlier fight, Luffy finally recovered enough to re-enter Gear Fifth and rejoined the battle. And the moment that Bonney saw him in that form, Vegapunk told her that all the stories about Nika were true, and she was looking at them. Everything her dad had told her had been right all along; NIKA WAS REAL, AND LUFFY WAS HIS NEWEST INCARNATION. And he proceeded to
Utterly embarrass Saturn in the most cartoonish way possible. But that wasn’t even the best part.
Luffy is HIM fighting the Gorosei and a Admiral making both Kizaru and Saturn into a pizza then making Saturn call for the rest of the Gorosei to fight along is a huge feat https://t.co/zuVRA1IB3Ypic.twitter.com/TCaUdtOCqH
Remember those robot clones of Kuma that Vegapunk built, the Pacifistas? The newest models had been stationed as security on Egghead, and while everything was happening, Saturn had tried to use them to kill Vegapunk and the Straw Hats. He thought that they were programmed to follow the Five Elders orders above all else. However, Vegapunk had outsmarted them. He secretly programmed the Pacifistas to follow an even higher authority: Bonney. The good doctor made it so that they would never harm her and would always be there to help her. The love between father and daughter basically made one of the World Government’s greatest weapons completely useless.
Eventually, the Straw Hats, Kuma, Bonney, and all their allies managed to escape, but not before Saturn made one last attempt to kill them all. But Luffy and Bonney had had enough of this monster. And using her Fruit’s powers to mimic Luffy’s Gear Fifth, Bonney joined her hero in repaying Saturn for a lifetime of pain and suffering by giving him the mother of all beatdowns.
Luffy is HIM fighting the Gorosei and a Admiral making both Kizaru and Saturn into a pizza then making Saturn call for the rest of the Gorosei to fight along is a huge feat https://t.co/zuVRA1IB3Ypic.twitter.com/TCaUdtOCqH
Sadly, Saturn did not die…yet. However, his failure to kill Luffy and cost the World Government control of the Pacifistas drew the wrath of the true ruler of the world, Imu. And while Saturn tried to explain himself to his master, Imu was about as forgiving as Darth Vader. And Saturn had failed him for the last time, an act that would see the dark entity strip him of his immortality and, thus, his life.
– He killed Ginny & made Kuma become a cyborg – He made Bonney suffer – He made Kizaru & Sentomaru conflicted – He contributed to Vegapunk's death – He summoned all Gorosei in Egghead – He made Robin suffer
So ended the life of one of the greatest haters in One Piece lore. May they rot forever.
Kuma is Best Anime Dad Ever
And that is the story of Saint Kuma thus far. And I say thus far because, despite technically being dead, one of Vegapunk’s satellites, Lilith, said that she was going to work on a way to restore his mind. In other words, Bonney might be able to have her happy ending with her father after all! But for now, she’s just happy being able to be with her dad. And may no one ever separate them again.
Kuma is, without a doubt, one of the best dads I’ve ever seen in anime. He has lived a life of selfless charity, saving hundreds of lives and literally taking on their pain for himself. He’s so selfless that he is willing to make a deal with the devil to save his daughter’s life despite knowing it would kill him. He even willed himself to protect his child after becoming a mindless machine because he loved her that much. That is the kind of example every dad should follow! If he were a real person, he would be canonized as a saint!
Everyone, we have found our Chopper, and he is adorable.
In 2023, the live-action adaptation of One Piece premiered on Netflix, and despite what many fans feared, it didn’t stink! In fact, it was one of the most faithful and enjoyable live-action adaptations of an anime that many had ever seen. Thus, it was inevitable that Netflix would end up green-lighting a second season as the Straw Hat Pirates finally leave the East Blue behind for the Grand Line. That means the show would be heading into the vaunted Alabasta Saga, which would introduce us to fan-favorite characters like Crocodile, Vivi, Nico Robin, and many more. However, there is one character that fans have been concerned about more than anyone else: Tony Tony Chopper.
A blue-nosed reindeer that ate a Devil Fruit, granting him sentience, Chopper serves as the Straw Hat’s doctor and one of its most popular members. Beloved by fans for his adorable appearance and sweet nature, he’s one of the most marketable members of the cast, and the subject of tons of merchandise. Given how picky fans can be with using CGI (Ugly Sonic), people were naturally worried about what Netflix would do to Chopper. And when Netflix put out an ad saying there would be a big announcement at their annual Tudum festival about One Piece, everyone knew what was coming.
And we were right. We got our first-ever look at the live-action/CGI version of Chopper.
So far, reactions to the Netflix Chopper has been…mixed. Some people are saying it’s as bad as Ugly Sonic. Others are saying that they could make him cuter. Others are going to be upset no matter what Netflix does, though. And while he could be made to look cuter, Netflix got one thing right about Chopper: his personality.
In the span of the short teaser, we see Chopper act just like how he does in the anime and manga. His shy and childish nature (because he is still a kid), his love of compliments, and his expressive face are all present. While it’s a little sad that they don’t get his English VA, Brina Palencia, to voice him, Mikaela Hoover captures the spirit of the character. Plus, it’s likely the Japanese subs will use her seiyuu, so there is that.
In addition to the reveal of Chopper, Tudum also confirmed that the show will be returning in 2026. For those who can’t wait, not to worry! LEGO is making sets based on the Netflix show set to come out later this summer. Either way, there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming months.
RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Spring 2025 Anime to Look Out for
The sakura blossoms are in bloom, and that means that spring is finally here! While that means that it’s time for anime lovers to say goodbye to the winter’s big hits like Solo Leveling, Zenshu, Sakamoto Days and more, there’s no reason to fret. Spring 2025 is packed with potential hits. From newcomers trying to make their mark to returning veterans, there will be plenty of anime to binge this spring.
I’m RJ Writing Ink for the D&A Anime Blog, and this is a list of some of the anime that people will likely be paying attention to this spring. Yes, I’m going to be watching most of it. Yes, there’s a chance I’m going to review some of this. And yes, I am aware that by the time this goes up, many of these will be out! That’s a consequence of covering four series at once over the course of the winter!
The Beginning After the End, April 2nd
Isekai anime might be dime a dozen these days, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a diamond in the rough. For the Spring 2025 season, that diamond might be The Beginning After the End, or TBATE. Based on the Korean-American Web Novel and Webcomic of the same name, TBATE is about Arthur Llewyn. Formerly known as Grey, Arthur was a powerful king in his first life before abruptly dying a mysterious death and waking up in a world of swords and magic. Now going by Arthur, the former king strives to master the powers that govern this new world while also making sure to enjoy everything that he missed out on in his first life.
Full disclosure: I’ve binge-read most of the webcomic after Aaron reccomended it to me, saying it could become the next Solo Leveling. While I wouldn’t got that far, the series certainly lives up to TV Tropes description of it being “Mushoku Tensei meets Naruto.” Since I love both of them, that makes it worth my time. The one downside is that everyone is complaining how basic the animation is compared to the likes of Mushoku Tensei and Solo Leveling. Hopefully, that won’t be too much of an issue.
Wind Breaker, Season 2, April 3rd
Let’s get ready to rumble!!! Wind Breaker, the deliquent anime of spring 2024, is back for round two. This time, Haruka Sakura and the members of Bofurin are up against a ruthless gang going by the name of KEEL. And from the looks of the trailer, the boys of Bofurin are going to be in for one heck of a challenge.
Despite seeming like another series extolling how cool the rebel deliquent life seems to be, Wind Breaker turned out to be an anime with a surprising amount of depth to it when it first aired. The fights themselves are well-choreographed and often serve as a means for the story to elaborate on why the characters are fighting in the first place. It may still be a series about fighitng, but sometimes, the questions of why people fight and what’s worth fighting for can be just as interesting as the fights themselves.
Devil May Cry, April 3rd
DMC fans, your prayers have been answered. Capcom’s popular half-human, half-demon Demon Hunter is getting another anime. And from the looks of things, it’s going to be an absolute banger. Set in an alternate contiunity from the games, Devil May Cry will follow Demon Hunter Dante as he comes face to face with the villainous White Rabbit as he attempts to stage a demonic invasion of Earth.
I know very little about Devil May Cry beyond the basic premise, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking this series has the potential to be one of the big hits of the season. Firstly, the animation looks absolutley gorgeous, brought to life by Studio Mir of Kipo and My Adventures with Superman fame. Secondly, the voice cast has multiple legends among it, with Johnny Yong Bosch voicing Dante this time around. However, it’s the inclusion of the late Kevin Conroy and Tony Todd that’s gotten plenty of people talking. Having recorded their lines for the show before their passings, this will likely be the final chance people will get to hear the GOAT Batman and Candyman. And I’m going to take full advantage of it.
One Piece, April 6th
It’s only been six months, but if you’re a One Piece fan, it’s felt like an eternity. After going on a vacation for the first time in its history, One Piece is returning with the second half of the Egghead Island Arc. When we last left off, the anime had just finished going over all of the major events that were taking place in the world at large while the Straw Hats are busy on Egghead Island. With everything abroad now wrapped up, though, the series is ready to focus on the Straw Hats as they try to defend the island and the genius Dr. Vegapunk from the forces of the World Government.
And things are only going to get crazier from here.
I’ve been covering every chapter of the One Piece manga on my own blog for years, so I know what’s going to happen with the rest of this arc. I am not exaggerating when I say fans are in for an absolute emotional rollercoaster. I can’t even say anything about what happens without veering into spoiler territory. What I will say is that you should be prepared for some of the most exciting moments in One Piece history as well as some of the most heart-breaking, tearjerking ones. Keep tissues ready!
Witch Watch, April 6th
This rom-com on Netflix is about Morihito Otogi, an ogre who looks like a human who’s loving his best high school life. Until, that is, his childhood friend, the witch-in-training Nico Wakatsuki, moves in with him and decides to make him her familiar. While Morihito is supposed to guard Nico, his job gets harder due to the fact that a.) she lets everyone know she’s a witch, and b.) she is madly in love with him.
After the end to 100 Girlfriends, I’m going to be needing a new rom-com fix. And judging by the description to Witch Watch, this series looks to be right up my alley. I’m a big sucker for the childhood friend romance trope, so I’m sure to enjoy whatever will happen here!
Lazarus, April 6th
If something seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. That is the lesson that the world learns when they discover the wonder drug, Hapna, will soon kill everyone who took it. The only way to prevent this is to find its creator, Dr. Skinner, in the next thirty days. Thus, the world’s best hope for salvation is in the hands of the task force known as Lazarus.
If this series feels like the second coming of Cowboy Bebop, that’s because it is. This series was created by none other than Shinichirō Watanabe, AKA the creator of Cowboy Bebop. Considering how instrumental the adventures of Spike Spiegel were in bringing anime westward, having Watanabe’s next work come to Toonami is a big deal. This has the potential to be this generation’s Cowboy Bebop, andI am all in for that idea! Bring on the gunfights!
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, April 7th
The story of Deku and Class 1-A might be winding down, but there are still plenty of stories to tell in the world of My Hero Academia. Nowhere is this shown better than with the new prequel series, MHA: Vigilantes. Taking place five years before the events of the main series, Vigilantes follows a pair of aspiring heroes who, after various things happen, wind up becoming unlicensed Heroes. Now they have to fight evil while staying outside the reach of the law.
The big irony of the world of My Hero Academia is that the concept of superheroes has become a profession rather than an ideal. In most works of fiction, superheroes are often vigilantes operating outside the law; people let them do this because they tend to be good at it. If the original MHA focuses on world-ending threats, then Vigilantes is going to be the series that focuses more on the streets, like Batman and Daredevil would. Either way, this should tide people over until the final season hits this fall.
Any anime we missed? I know that there are going to be anime we missed, so let us know in the comments below!
RJ Writing Ink’s List of Anime to Look Out For in 2025
Anime fans, we are going to be eating like kings this year.
By the time you’re reading this, the year 2025 will likely be here, and it is promising to cook a feast for anime lovers around the world. From popular anime returning with new seasons to newcomers on the block, the year is going to be filled with so many potentially great anime. So much so that for the first time in recent memory, I actually had to stop looking to keep my brain from overloading. That’s how much we could end up eating this year!
I’m RJ Writing Ink for the D&A Anime Blog, and this is my baker’s dozen of all the anime I will be paying attention to in 2025.
Solo Leveling-Arise from the Shadows-January 4th, 2025
Only a few days into 2024, the world of anime got its first big hit in the form of Solo Leveling. Based on the Korean manwha of the same name, this megahit told the story of Sung Jin-Woo as he started going from being the weakest Hunter in the world to a contender for the title of That Guy. And he’s going to get even stronger.
At the end of the first season, Jin-Woo gained the ability to raise the dead as shadow warriors, giving him the means to build his own army. This upcoming season will see him grow his forces while continuing to level up his skills. And the stronger he gets, the more attention he will end up attracting. And, having read the entire manwha to the end, I can promise you when I say that we have seen nothing yet!
Zenshu-January 5th, 2025
This next anime is unique on this list, as it’s the only one that wholly original. Created by studio MAPPA, Zenshu takes the all-too-familiar concept of the Isekai and puts someone who works in the anime industry into the protagonist role. When the young animator Natsuko Hirose apparently dies from exhaustion at work, she wakes up in the world of her favorite anime. Unfortunately for her, said anime is one where anyone can die, like its Game of Thrones. The good news is that she learns that she has the power to re-animate scenes from the story, thereby changing it in the process. So, she does what any fan who doesn’t like how a story turns out: she gets to work fixing it.
These days, Isekai are a dime-a-dozen, and creators have to get creative to help themselves stand out in the crowd. That being said, the premise of someone rewriting the world of her favorite series because they hate what happens is something plenty of fans can relate to. Take, for example, the recent ending to the Oshi No Ko manga. Plenty of disillusioned fans would love to fix that controversial ending! Not to mention how the last two seasons of Game of Thrones need a complete overhaul! The bottom line is that Zenshu is the power fantasy for every fan disillusioned by a story gone wrong, and we should give it a shot.
Dr. Stone Science Future-January 9 2025
We’re ten billion percent ready to return to the world of Dr. Stone, the sci-fi manga with an emphasis on science. Following the events of the third season, Senku and the Kingdom of Science to acquire one of the mysterious devices that caused humanity to petrify. In addition, they also learned the device and its brethren were getting their orders somewhere on the Moon, meaning they would have to travel there to uncover the truth behind the Petrification Event. Doing that will require more resources, meaning Senku and the others will have to travel the globe and gain new allies…and new enemies.
While I never watched Dr. Stone past season one, the anime has caught up to the part of the manga where I started reading it every week. Since I know what happens, I know how interesting things are going to get. And while it might not be the most exciting Shonen series, Dr. Stone balances learning about science with goofy humor, making it interesting enough for me to watch. That, and the dub voice cast is pretty good.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2-January 10 2025
Everyone’s favorite apothecary detective returns with a new season! If you don’t know what The Apothecary Diaries is, it’s an anime that premiered back in 2023 before running into the following year. It tells the story of Maomao, a talented young apothecary forced to work as a lowly servant at the palace of an Emperor. Once she starts using her talents to solve mysteries, though, she starts taking on a much greater role. With the new season heralding the arrival of spring, there’s sure to be more mysteries to solve. And more importantly, more chances for Maomao and Jinshi to mess with each other!
Normally, The Apothecary Diaries wouldn’t be the kind of anime I would be interested in. However, the combination of good voice acting, mysteries, and the dynamic between Jinshi and Maomao is enough to pique my interest. With how many popular like to cosplay as characters from the series, it’s apparent that it’s got a pretty big fan base already, and will surely grow bigger with the new season.
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 2-January 12th 2025
The ultimate sigma harem anime returns at last! For those who don’t know (or didn’t ready my review of the series), 100 Girlfriends is, as the name suggests, about a boy who’s destined to meet and have 100 girlfriends. As of the end of the first season, our protagonist/the ideal every boyfriend should aspire to, Rentaro Aijo, stands at six girlfriends. Given what the trailer revealed, he’s due to make it to the double digits before the end of the season.
Harem doesn’t have the best reputation in the anime community, but as I said in my review, 100 Girlfriends is the exception to the role. Not only does it have a protagonist who actively gives his partners reasons to like him, but each partner serves as a deconstruction of a different female archetype. I.E., Karane’s tsundere-ness is something she hates due to it making her too insecure to say what she’s really feeling. Or Shizuka’s muteness is not by choice, but due to her extreme shyness. The point is that each girlfriend has more depth than you would think. Not only that, but the series is pretty funny.
One Piece-April 2025
This fall, One Piece shocked fans everywhere when, for the first time in its 25-year history, it went on hiatus. Fans have had to be content with a retelling of the Fishman Island Saga over the course of the fall and winter months. However, all of that ends April, 2025 as One Piece returns to the actual story.
For those not caught up, the series went on hiatus in the middle of the Egghead Island Arc. That arc has the Straw Hats meet the genius scientist Dr. Vegapunk, who begs them to get him and his clones as far away from the World Government as possible. While the arc has already been filled with plenty of epic moments, I can promise you that you haven’t seen anything yet. Expect your mind to be blown into a million pieces, put back together, and then blown again before the Straw Hats leave Egghead. No spoilers, though!
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes-April 2025
My Hero Academia might be heading into its final season, but there are still stories left to be told in this world of superpowers and heroes. Case in point, we have the anime adaptation of the MHA spin-off/prequel, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. Set five years before the events of the series, Vigilantes follows Koichi Haimawari, an aspiring hero who opts not to become a Pro Hero in favor of becoming an illegal vigilante.
Anyone who has read an American superhero comic knows that vigilante heroes aren’t a new thing. Technically, most of the superheroes in Marvel and DC comics are vigilantes that have charges pressed against them. The only reason that doesn’t happen is because the heroes are all fairly competent at what they do. Having a spin-off that brings the concept of superheroes back to its vigilante roots should provide a new and interesting perspective on how heroism works in the world of My Hero Academia. That, and it will keep the fandom alive for a little bit longer.
Dan Da Dan Season 2-July 2025
If you read my reviews of Dan Da Dan, then you know I consider it to be the best anime of 2024 hands down. Unfortunately, the first season ended on a pretty awkward vote: Okarun and Jiji found a secret room in Jiji’s house, and Momo was under attack from a bunch of creeps. Thankfully, fans don’t have to wait years to find out what happens in anime form, with the next season due in just a few months.
Continuing the story where the last episode left off, Okarun, Jiji, and Momo will have to face both a deadly cult and an evil spirit known as the Evil Eye. Given everything that we see in the trailer, including Jiji being possessed by the spirit and the image of an erupting volcano, things are going to get wild. And I wouldn’t have it any other way!
My Hero Academia Final Season-Fall 2025
It’s been a long, long road, but My Hero Academia is finally nearing the end of its run. The last season ended as the final battle between the heroes and the villains was reaching its climax. As Deku continues his fight against Shigaraki, All Might fights to stall the evil All for One from reaching his apprentice so they can merge and become unstoppable. With all the other battles now out of the way, the series can focus on making this the finale that the fans deserve.
Once again, this is a series where I read the entire manga in advance. Thus, I know how things are going to turn out and care more about its executed. If Studio Bones does this right, then it will cement MHA in the Shonen hall of fame. If not…you remember what happened with Oshi No Ko, right?
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2-Unknown Release Date
Here’s another up-and-coming Shonen anime that’s getting another season, Kaiju No. 8. At the end of the last season, Kafka Hibino managed to prove his humanity despite being able to transform into a Kaiju. As a result, he’s getting another chance with the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. With the threat of Kaiju No. 9 and other intelligent Kaiju still looming, the JAKDF will need all the help they can get.
Sadly, a concrete release date for the new season has yet to be announced. In fact, every entry beyond this point has no clear release date.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc-Unknown Release Date
Right when it looked like it may never continue, Chainsaw Man bursts back onto the scene in all of its bloody glory. Some time ago, it was announced that the next arc of the popular Shonen series, the Reze Arc, would be made into a movie. However, with no news after such a long time, it began to feel like we may never get to see the Reze Arc play out. Thankfully, our wait may not be for much longer.
While we still don’t have a concrete release date for the film, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s coming in 2025. Given how popular the anime is, fans will likely line up in droves to see this next chapter in this bloody, unhinged story.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba-Infinity Castle Movie Trilogy-Unknown Release Dates
Speaking of popular Shonen series getting the movie treatment, it seems that Demon Slayer is returning to the movies not once, not twice, but three times in 2025. With the fourth season covering the Hashira Training arc and the start of the final battle against Muzan, the studio behind the anime must have decided to give Demon Slayer the send-off it deserves. Thus, it looks like they’re adapting the Infinity Castle arc into a trilogy of films, giving Demon Slayer the stage it needs to play out its final act.
At the moment, it’s currently unclear if the Infinity Castle movies will premiere in theaters in the West. It’s not even clear if the movies will finish the series as a whole or just cover the Infinity Castle Arc. However, I’m hoping that they do both. With how cinematic Demon Slayer has proven to be over the years, it feels right to have it end on the big screen. Just like the series finale to Avatar: The Last Airbender should’ve aired in theaters.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 (I Hope!)
JUJUTSU KAISEN "Culling Game Arc" Officially Announced!
This last one is less of a confirmed release and more like wishful thinking, but given how the JuJutsu Kaisen manga ended earlier this year, it would be appreciated. After all, the second season of JJK ended on a pretty bleak note.
To quickly recap what went down in the second season of JJK:
Gojo was sealed inside a cursed prison with his enemies in Jujutsu society forbidding his rescue.
Sukuna made Yuji level most of the Shibuya District, killing hundreds in the process.
Tons of new curse users have been awoken alongside many cursed spirits.
Yuji’s execution has been re-instated.
With the next season set to adapt the Culling Games Arc, this is JJK’s chance to regain much of the love that was lost due to how the manga ended. Hopefully, more news will come in the next few months!
What other anime are you looking forward to seeing in 2025? If you have any recommendations feel free to leave a comment about it! Happy New Year!
With the year 2024 ending, the time has come for anime fans to look back on what they liked about this year and what they didn’t. One of the topics that will inevitably come up is who we think qualifies for the status of best girls and best boys in anime. Last year, I came up with my list of who I think were the best anime girls of 2023, and I see no reason why I can’t do the same for 2024. I’m RJ Writing Ink, and in no particular order, here are my picks for best girls of 2024.
As before, this list will include girls from anime that premiered in 2024 as well as girls who gained prominence on returning shows. And since last year set the precedent that an anime can have more than one, I will be combining thosewith multiple entries
Vegapunk/Lilith-One Piece
For years, fans of One Piece had been waiting to be introduced to the mysterious genius known as Dr. Vegapunk. Said to be the smartest man in the world, the Dr was responsible for many of the tools used by the World Government to maintain their control over the world. Imagine everyone’s surprise when the Straw Hat’s meet this young woman who calls herself Vegapunk. However, that’s only partly true. This woman, Lilith, is a clone of Vegapunk called a Satellite. He created them to help do his research faster, with all of them connected via a hive mind and representing a different aspect of his personality. Fitting for a woman named after an ancient demon, Lilith represents his “evil” aspect.
Don’t let the evil part fool you, though. While Lilith embodies Vegapunk’s manipulative, impulsive, and ruthless side, she’s actually a very nice person. She’s incredibly loyal to her fellow Vegapunks, and as with many characters they meet, she becomes a steadfast ally of the Straw Hats after she gets to know them. If anything, her rough nature made me enjoy her even more. It also helps that her English VA is Madeline Morris, AKA Rudeus Greyrat.
Akane Tendo-Ranma 1/2
One of the earliest anime waifus to make their way to the West returns for a new generation. The main heroine of Ranma 1/2, Akane Tendo is a headstrong martial artist whose beauty makes her the object of affection for many boys at her high school. Unfortunately for them, she hates most men. Unfortunately for her, her unwilling fiancé, Ranma Saotome, not only thinks she’s not attractive but manages to get on her nerves.
Then again, that seems like the standard formula for one of Rumiko Takahashi’s manga.
Contrary to Ranma’s assertions that she has no charm, Akane Tendo has plenty of charm to go around. While she may come off as rough and abrasive towards most guys, it’s repeatedly shown that she has a soft side. She has an innocent crush on the boy her older sister likes, and she’s shown to be very affectionate towards her sisters and those she considers friends. She even starts to be nicer to Ranma after they get to know each other better. They’re still regularly at each other’s throats, but that’s par for the course in one of Takahashi’s manga.
Alya Kujou and Yuki Suou- Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
For the first anime on this list to have more than one entry, we have Alisa “Alya” Kujou and Yuki Suou from Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian. Both of these high schoolers are seen as beauties in their series, hut for different reasons. Alya is seen by many as an unattainable kuudere, with her white hair and half-Russian parentage only adding to her reputation. In contrast, Yuki is more of a traditional Japanese beauty, owing to her refined bearing and coming from a distinguished family of diplomats and former nobility.
Anyone who knows them personally, though, would better describe them with two words: tease and troll.
As Masachika Kuze can attest, Alya may seem like a kuudere, but she likes to flirt and tease him in Russian, thinking he can’t understand it. The irony is that he can, and if she knew, she would be embarrassed to no end. As for Yuki, while they act like strangers in public, she’s actually Masachika’s younger sister. When they’re alone together, she loves to indulge in manga-reading, is a total pervert, and regularly flirts with her brother to get under his skin. The bottom line is that both of these young women can be menaces if left unchecked, but are still genuinely good people.
Sylphie and Roxy Greyrat-Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Full disclosure: I initially intended to just include Roxy on this list since Sylphie made it last year. After thinking it over, though, I felt it only fair to put them both on due to how they help Rudeus’ life.
Now that she’s no longer keeping her identity a secret from Rudy, Sylphiette couldn’t be any happier. The two are young, married, and before the season is over, they’re parents to a beautiful little girl. However, the reason she made this list a second year in a row is due to how accepting she is of Roxy becoming Rudy’s second wife. She even says that she expected Rudy to bring another woman home one day, and that he wouldn’t do so unless they were very special to him.
As for Roxy, Rudy could spend hours singing her praises, but the reason she’s on here is due to her helping Rudy recover from the shock of losing his father in the teleportation labyrinth. What’s more, despite having fallen in love with her former student, she was willing to walk away rather than risk being a homewrecker. Combine that it was Roxy’s teachings that helped Rudy survive the hardships of his life, is it any wonder why she’s earned a spot on this list. Keep doing your best to support Rudy, you two!
Kikoru Shinomiya-Kaiju No. 8
One of the three main protagonists of Kaiju No. 8, Kikoru Shinomiya is considered a genius Kaiju slayer despite only being a rookie. As the daughter of the leader of the Japanese Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, everyone has high expectations for her, ones that she has strived to meet by becoming the best at fighting Kaijus. And with good she’s shown to be at fighting them over the series first season, her reputation is one well-earned.
While Kikoru may come off as arrogant and abrasive at first, she’s actually a very nice and loyal woman once she starts to befriend Kafka and Ichikawa. Case in point, before Kafka chooses to out himself, she’s the only person the duo willingly tells about him being a humanoid Kaiju. Despite her hatred of Kaiju, the fact that Kikoru chooses to keep quiet speaks volumes about how kind she is.
Himiko Toga-My Hero Academia
While normally a villain wouldn’t go on this list, an exception will be made in the case of Himiko Toga, as you’ll see here.
When first introduced in My Hero Academia, Toga came off as a sadistic killer with a love of blood, and the blood part is a part of her personality. However, as we learn more about her, we realize she only became as bad as she is because she failed to get the help she clearly needed. Instead. She was told to act “normal” until the strain became too much, making her snap. Anyone who’s had to hide what they’re like to the world can relate to how tough that can be!
Ultimately, while Toga’s actions during the final war threatened to cost the heroes everything, it’s what she does at the end of her story that shows that, deep down, she was a good person. After Uraraka finally gets through to her, Toga chose to sacrifice her life to save Uraraka’s. That selfless act feels like it’s earned her a spot on this list. Plus, Uraraka’s right. Toga does look cute when she smiles.
Kara Zor-El-My Adventures With Superman
The only non-anime waifu to make the list is the latest incarnation of Kara Zor-El, AKA Supergirl, from My Adventures With Superman. As is the case for most versions of her, Kara is Superman’s cousin who was separated from him during the destruction of Krypton. Unfortunately for her, she wound up being raised by her universe’s version of Brainiac, AKA the rogue AI of Krypton that destroyed it in the first place. Kara spent her entire life conquering planets in the name of Brainiac’s twisted version of Krypton, but everything changed when she went to Earth to look for her cousin and found out how evil Brainiac really is.
While she may not be from an anime, there are several reasons why this version of Kara is on the list. Firstly, My Adventures With Superman is heavily inspired, in both animation style and story structure, by shonen anime. Secondly, her casual attire is almost an exact copy of Android 18’s clothes from Dragon Ball Z. Lastly, despite being raised by one of the most evil versions of Brainiac ever made, Kara is so nice and friendly. Seeing her getting to experience all the little things that make life on Earth worth living is infectious, and her growing, mutual crush on Jimmy Olsen is pure puppy love.
Jimmy, ask her out! NOW!
Momo and Seiko Ayase-Dan Da Dan
If Dan Da Dan was the best anime of 2024, then Momo Ayase and her grandmother, Seiko, are our best girls. Momo is an extroverted gyaru-girl believes in ghosts, has psychic powers, and swoons at the mention of Ken Takakura. Meanwhile, Seiko is a psychic medium who looks to be in her 20s despite having a granddaughter, loves Hiroshi Abe, and is a talented spirit medium who’s teaching Momo everything she knows. Together, the two make for a pretty badass pair…when they aren’t getting on each other’s nerves.
The reason why both are included on this list are because they each have their own appeal to them. Momo’s quirky personality, sense of fashion, and loyalty to those she calls friends like Okarun have won over many fans. Not to mention there’s the fact that her psychic powers mean that she can go toe-to-toe with both aliens and ghosts and come out on top. As for Seiko, while she does come off as abrasive at times, she does care about her granddaughter and want the best for her. I even compared to an older, more mature Haruko from FLCL. It’s fitting, considering how her English VA is Kari Wahlgren, AKA the VA for Haruko.
Who Were Your Favorite Girls for 2024? Let us Know!
RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Best Moments in Anime for 2024
With 2024 all but over, once again, it’s time to look back on all the anime we’ve watched…and figure out what moment broke the Internet the most. There were plenty of moments that would gain their fifteen minutes of internet fame, and like many people, I have my own opinions on what moments live rent-free in my head. Last year, I recounted my favorite anime moments for 2023, and I see no reason not to consider that tradition.
I’m RJ Writing Ink, and here are my picks for the best anime moments for 2024. As was the case with last year, I’ll be limiting myself to the anime I watched.
Sung Jin-Woo Slaughters Hunters, Solo Leveling
If you ever need an example of why humans are the most dangerous game in the world, this is a prime example. When most of Sung Jin-Woo’s party of Hunters use him and newcomer Jin-Ho as fodder for a dungeon boss, they fully expected him to die. When they come back and find the boss slain, they decide to kill them both to cover-up what they did. Little did they know that Jin-Woo was not a man that they should make an enemy of. In one of the coldest anime moments of the year, Jin-Woo proceeds to kill every last one of them without any signs of remorse or empathy.
Solo Leveling had already established itself as one of the first big anime of 2024, but this moment? This moment cemented it as one of its best. Seeing the once meek and powerless Jin-Woo effortlessly kill the Hunters was equally exciting and terrifying. Exciting because it showed that Jin-Woo was become THAT GUY, and terrifying because it represented him losing a part of his humanity. Coupled with the superb insert song, DARK ARIA <LVL2> playing in the background, is it any wonder this broke the Internet?
Muzan is Cornered by Demon Slayer Corps, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba-Hashira Training Arc
This was the moment Demon Slayer had been building towards. After coming out of hiding to hunt down Nezuko, Muzan tried to cripple the Demon Slayer Corps by killing its leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, in his hidden mansion. Little did he know that this was all part of an elaborate trap. Kagaya sacrificed himself and most of his family to blow the mansion up, stunning the Demon long for fellow Demon Tamayo to inject him with a drug meant to turn him back into a human. Driven into a corner by the arrival of the Hashira, Muzan countered by dropping the entire Corps into the Infinity Castle in the hopes of finally wiping them all out.
Demon Slayer is well-known among anime fans for its superb levels of animation, and moments like this are why the reputation is justified. The slow-motion explosion as the mansion goes sky high. The incredibly well-detailed shot of a dazed Muzan trying to regenerate himself. The sweeping sight of the Infinity Castle as the Corps falls into Muzan’s personal domain. Everything about this moment is meant to excite fans as the final battle between Humans and Demons begins! It’s a shame that we have to wait until later in 2025 for the movies.
Bakugo’s Sacrifice, My Hero Academia
The penultimate season of My Hero Academia is filled with plenty of epic and emotional moments, but few were as upsetting as this. As the heroes try to keep Tomura Shigaraki contained long enough for Deku to arrive, Bakugo steps up to buy them some time. While he manages to wound the villain, though, all it does is anger Shigaraki for his repeated interference. Fans and heroes alike were thus forced to watch as Shigaraki cut Bakugo down in cold blood, seemingly killing him.
As someone who read the manga in advance, knowing that this was coming didn’t make it any easier to watch. I still remember how freaked out the fandom was over Bakugo’s apparent death, only to grow irate when it’s revealed to be a fake-out. Fake-out or not, there was a very really possibility that Bakugo was dead, and in a season full of shocking moments, this was not one I wanted to relive.
Nokotan’s Entrance, My Deer Friend Nokotan
If you want to establish a reputation as chaos incarnate, look to Nokotan as an example. After meeting the mysterious deer girl on her way to school, Koshitan just wanted to return to her perfect life at high school. Instead, she’s horrified when that same deer girl ends up becoming a transfer student in her class. To make matters worse, she’s the only one to have a reasonable reaction when Nokotan breaks the door with her antlers, sending debris flying into the poor students faces.
Say what you want about Nokotan as an anime, you can’t deny the fact that this moment is hilarious. The slow-motion effects as Nokotan forces her way through the door. The ominous chanting of “shii-ka” like she’s the boss of some video game. The fact that most of the students keep the same smiling faces even as they’re pummeled by rocks! I found it so funny that I decided to make a meme out of it, and it blew up.
Rudy has had plenty of terrible moments during his second go at life, but few were as bad as what happened when he lost his dad. While Rudeus and his father are fighting a massive hydra to rescue his mother, Rudy makes a mistake that leaves himself open to attack. Paul pushes him out of the way in time to save his life, allowing Rudeus the chance to kill the monster, but the act cost Paul his life. By the time Rudy is aware of what’s happening, all he and his party can do is watch as Paul quietly dies, smiling at the fact that his son is alive.
I don’t know if it was a coincidence that this episode came out on Father’s Day or not, but if it wasn’t, the powers in charge are sick sadists. Just as Rudy thought he was getting his life together, he makes a mistake that cost Paul his life. Had Roxy not helped him to grieve, he might have reverted to his shut-in mentality from his first life. Considering that the alternative meant that Rudy would have died and left his new wife, Sylphie, a widow and their unborn child without a father, though, I think that Paul made the right choice. He protected his child like any good parent should do.
Kafka Punches A Kaiju Bomb, Kaiju No. 8
Even after he became a humanoid Kaiju, Kafka Hibino never stopped aspiring to join the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. He did his best to keep his powers a secret from all but two of his comrades, knowing that exposing himself could lead to his death. However, when Kaiju No. 9 threatened to drop a massive bomb on Kafka and his comrades, the man didn’t hesitate to transform into his Kaiju form and punch the bomb straight into the sky in a move that would make All Might proud.
Besides being one of several well-animated moments in a series that was already well-animated, this moment marked a turning point for the story of Kaiju No. 8. Now that the JAKDF was aware that he could turn into a Kaiju, they were naturally going to want to apprehend him. The fact that he chose to put himself anyway speaks volumes about his character, and his friends knew that. While Kafka has to face an uphill battle going forward, his friends aren’t going to abandon him whether he’s human or a Kaiju.
One Piece Fan Letter, One Piece (the whole thing)
The year 2024 was a big year for One Piece fans, as it marked the 25th anniversary of the anime. To commemorate this event, Toei decided to release this special adapting a series of short stories released back in 2027. Taking place during the Return to Sabaody Arc as the Straw Hats reunite after two years apart, Fan Letter shows the impact that Luffy and his crew have had on ordinary people. From a pair of Marine brothers who’s lives Luffy inadvertently saved during the Marineford War to a girl wanting to give Nami a fan letter, this special shows the impact that the Straw Hats have had on the world through the people they’ve inspired.
Besides the great animation, what makes this special important is the dual meaning behind the title. To put it simply, the title lets everyone know that this episode is the fandom saying thank you to One Piece. The series has entertained and inspired countless people the world over, serving as a guiding light in a potentially dark and chaotic world. While the story has yet to conclude, there’s no doubt that One Piece has more than earned its spot in the history books as one of the best stories of modern times.
To A Kinder World, Dan Da Dan Ep 7 (the whole episode)
If you’ve seen Dan Da Dan, then you can’t argue with the fact that it’s one of, if not the best, anime of 2024. It’s quirky characters, balls-to-the-walls levels of insanity, and gorgeous animation quickly won fans over. However, anyone who hadn’t read the manga expected it to do what it did with its seventh episode: make the Internet collectively cry.
After defeating the Yokai Acrobatic Silky, the characters and audience are treated to a silent, extended flashback to Silky’s life as a human. Without any dialogue, we are shown the life of a single mother who struggled to provide for her daughter, only for her to be ripped away by a group of loan sharks. Left in despair, the mother performed one last ballet dance before jumping off a roof to her death. When a younger Aria mistook Silky for her deceased mother, this led to the ghost’s obsession with seeing her as her lost daughter. Ultimately, this led to Silky sacrificing herself to give Aria a second chance at life.
Sweet mercy, this episode was an absolute tear-jerker. Everyone who watched this episode of Dan Da Dan agreed that it was the series’ finest moment to date. I was barely able to keep myself from crying as we witnessed Silky’s tragic life story. This entire episode virtually cemented Dan Da Dan as the best anime of the year, garnering acclaim from fans and critics alike for how poignant it was. If you’ve seen it, then you’ll understand why!
What Were Your Favorite Anime Moments of 2024? Let us Know!
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