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.
The Shibuya Incident, AKA the turning point of the original Jujutsu Kaisen manga. On Halloween night, 2018, Jujutsu society was rocked by an event that would change it forever and take a dark story and make it even darker. With season three of JJK coming next year and a compilation movie set to release in December, now is the perfect time for us to recap what happened on that Halloween Night. If you haven’t read the manga or seen the anime, then I highly recommend that you stop reading this, because there will be spoilers from here on out!
How it all Started
The root cause of the Shibuya Incident stems from the existence of one man: Satoru Gojo, the CHAD-master and strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer alive. Time and again, the group of “Geto” and the special-grade Cursed Spirits had tried to kill Gojo, only to fail. So long as Gojo was around, they could never enact their plans of causing chaos in the Jujutsu world. So they decided to change tactics by doing the next best thing by sealing him away. Over the course of several months, their group gathered allies and tools they would need to fulfill their goal. And by Halloween night, 2018, they were ready, with the Shibuya District chosen to be their stage.
At 7 pm local time, a massive curtain was drawn up around the Shibuya District. All civilians and non-sorcerers were trapped inside and unable to escape, and all phone service was cut off. The only way they would be let out is if they started demanding the arrival of Satoru Gojo. So the leaders of Jujutsu society (who are total jerks) told Gojo to head in and take care of the people responsible for this, alone. Four other squads would remain outside to act as backup.
Being the Jujutsu equivalent of Superman, Gojo would be able to handle everything inside the curtain on his own. That’s why Pseudo-Geto and the Curses rigged everything in their favor. The civilians would slow him down while Mahito transfigured hundreds of random people to slow him down even further. Being Gojo, though, he manages to deal with all of this in about five minutes or less while also battling the Curses. But that was all the time that Pseudo-Geto needed to get the Prison Realm close to him and activate it. In one stroke, Satoru Gojo, the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer, was sealed within it, much to the shock of all of his comrades. Yuji’s team races to get to the Prison Realm before the enemy can escape, but they already prepared for this. They’ve filled Shibuya with Curse Users, Cursed Spirits, and transfigured humans to attack anyone that gets inside the curtains. It’s pretty much open season as everyone starts fighting all over the place. But this was only the beginning, as two even bigger threats soon join the fray: Toji Fushiguro and Ryomen Sukuna.
The Return of the Chick Magnet Toji
If you know Gojo’s backstory, then you know about Tojo Fushiguro, the father of Megumi, AKA the man who came closer to killing Gojo than anyone else. Despite not having any cursed energy, nature compensated him by giving him strength and durability beyond that of any sorcerer alive, allowing him to make a living hunting them. Gojo only survived because he unlocked his reverse curse technique. And in the midst of all this chaos, this old woman decoded to use her grandson as a medium to call Toji’s spirit back to the land of the living. Her plan was to use the strength it gave her grandson to have him start killing all the sorcerers they could find. But it backfired when Toji’s spirit overtook the grandson and left him in full control, bringing him back from the dead. And since he didn’t use cursed energy, there was no way to stop the technique. It’s honestly surprising that that old woman didn’t think this through in the first place!
Toji would proceed to go on a rampage throughout Shibuya, fighting anyone with cursed energy. At one point, he even entered the domain of one of the Special Grade Curses the others had been fighting, and proceeded to slay them without almost no effort. His relative, Maki, and her comrades had been struggling, and he did it so effortlessly. After that, he went after Megumi as he tried to escape. However, that proved to be unnecessary, as Toji stopped his assault as soon as he realized that Megumi was his son all grown up. Rather than keep on killing, Toji regained his senses and, content that Megumi had taken his mom’s last name, chose to take his own life, removing himself from the equation.
But that was just a prelude to the real carnage that was about to go down.
The Dawg Has Returned
In the middle of all this chaos, Yuji is trying to make his way to Geto, whose currently guarding the Prison Realm. However, he gets waylaid by multiple Cursed Spirits, Curse Users, and lastly, Choso, the last of the Death Paintings, these hybrids of Cursed Spirits and Humans that Yuji and his friends defeated. They fight, and Yuji ultimately loses. But before Choso can kill him, he gets these memories that tell him that, somehow, Yuji is related to him. But before that can be explained, he leaves, and then these two girls that were raised by Geto show up and feed Yuji one of Sukuna’s fingers. They wanted Sukuna to save Geto for them, but all they were doing was sealing their own fate. Then Jogo the Special Grade Curse shows up and proceeds to feed Yuji ten of Sukuna’s fingers. And this feeding session was all that was needed for the dog to be let off the leash. And without Gojo around to stop him, he wasn’t going to pass up this chance to let loose.
The first thing that Gojo did was murder those two girls for trying to order him around by saving Geto. Jogo was a little more tactful, though, and Sukuna was in a good mood from the fingers. So they made a deal: if Jogo could land one hit on Sukuna, he would work under him and kill everyone in Shibuya except for Megumi. But this was just Sukuna wanting to play with his food before going in for the kill.
Sukuna proceeded to go on a rampage, throwing off everything Jogo and everyone else threw at him while killing anyone unfortunate enough to get in his way. Jogo can’t keep up, and while the King of Curses says he put up a good fight, Jogo still dies. And then he proceeds to go after Megumi, saving him from another enemy just so he could fight him himself. Not even Megumi’s Mahoraga is able to stop the King! But Sukuna stops just short of killing Megumi, leaving him with his allies. And with his control over Yuji running out, his last act is to head to where the Shibuya Crossing once stood just so Yuji can see the full carnage for himself when he comes to so he can break the kid.
And it works. When Yuji regains control and sees what has happened, he is absolutely traumatized! But his suffering was not over.
Mahito is a Worthless Nobody
At this point, the only major enemies left were Pseudo-Geto and Mahito, the latter of whom was continuing to hurt innocent people. He made Yuji watch as he killed his mentor, Nanami, and proceed to main Nobara. And for a long time, we weren’t even sure if she made it out alive or not. Not to mention how he kept mutating innocent people, forcing the Sorcerers to kill them. And all of this just destroys Yuji in mind and spirit. The young man is scarred for life by what’s happened. But it is at this point that Yuji crashes out.
Thanks to the arrival of his self-proclaimed brother, Aoi Todo, Yuji locks in with the single-minded goal of making Mahito pay. The sadistic embodiment of Mankind’s hatred of itself throws everything he has left at the two, but it’s not enough. They plow right through it until, finally, Mahito runs out of gas in the tank. And then Yuji just looks at him and tells him that his existence is less than worthless, and that he needs no reason to kill him. Terrified, Mahito runs, only to be stopped by Pseudo-Geto. Instead of helping him, though, Geto decides he has no use left for him and proceeds to absorb him into himself. Crazier still, Choso shows up and reveals that “Geto” is an imposter whose been jumping from body to body for centuries. And in one of those bodies, he had been the creator of the Death Paintings, and might somehow be related to Yuji.
That’s when the fake Geto reveals he did all this to unleash chaos by making cursed energy users stronger than ever. To that end, he activates a technique that causes hundreds of people across the country to awaken as Jujutsu sorcerers, some of whom being possessed by the spirits of sorcerers from ages past. With that done, Geto manages to escape with Prison Realm, despite the best efforts of everyone to try and stop him.
Thus, the curtain falls on the Shibuya Incident, AKA the worst Halloween Japan has ever seen.
Where Season 3 Picks Up
The next episode and chapters show how Japan has been plunged into chaos in the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident. Hundreds of people are dead, hundreds more have become Jujutsu Sorcerers, and tens of millions of Cursed Spirits have been unleashed upon Japan. Tokyo’s a warzone, the economy is in shambles, and the existence of the Jujutsu World has been exposed to the entire country. Jujutsu Society has been rocked to its core, and it only gets worse thanks to the leadership.
If you’ve read or seen Jujutsu Kaisen, then you should know by now that the leaders of Jujutsu Society are the epitome of toxic conservatism. They’re made up of a bunch of backward-thinking, sexist old men who refuse to change with the times and run things the same as always even when it’s clear that won’t work anymore. The forward-thinking Gojo has been their greatest opposition due to being the strongest and able to keep them in check. But now that he is gone, the higher-ups decide to do everything they want, declaring him an accomplice of Shibuya and unsealing him to be a crime. They sentence his and Geto’s teacher to death, reinstate Yuji’s death sentence, and assign it to be carried out by Gojo’s other student, Yuta Okkotsu. Thus, Yuji has to go on the run, while his allies are left to deal with the aftermath of everything on their own.
And with that, we have now covered a general overview of the Shibuya Incident. Hundreds are dead, Japan is on the brink of collapse, and the main protagonist is a fugitive. Yet the real fight has only just begun. In January 2026, we will see the start of the Culling Game Arc with Season Three. However, a compilation film will be released on December 5th, covering the Shibuya Incident and giving us a look at the first two episodes of Season Three. That should be plenty of reason for fans to get excited!
Well, well, well, Studio MAPPA. It’s about dang time you decided to give us more Chainsaw Man! It only took you three whole years to get to what might be one of the best arcs in the entire series, the Bomb Girl Arc. I chose to forgo reading the manga so that I could fully enjoy what would come next, but when I learned that the arc would be getting its own movie, I knew I had to see it. So, how was Chainsaw Man: the Movie-Reze Arc? Was it a worthy return for the series and can it pave the way for another season?
Honestly, yes to both.
Welcome Reze
Its just after the end of the Katana Man Arc, with Denji and his friends working to deal with the aftermath. Power is stuck having her blood drained, while Aki is working with the Angel Devil, so Denji has to fly solo for a while…sort of. This fanboy Shark Fiend gets assigned to be his bodyguard, much to his annoyance. But at least Denji gets to have a movie date with Makima, so he can’t complain. Until, that is, he encounters a beautiful woman his age named Reze, and now his heart starts getting torn in two. He wants to stay loyal to Makima, but it feels like Reze is really into him! If only he had to deal with something like a love triangle. Because Reze is, in fact, a Devil hybrid with the ability to create bombs and explosions. And all she wants is that special heart that Denji has on him!
Just Let Denji be Happy!
I’m just going to come out and say it: Denji’s love life is just the worst. That’s coming from me, and I’ve had a hard time getting any dates. The girl he’s mainly interested in is basically emotionally manipulating him (you dont need to read the manga to see the red flags.) And now this new girl shows up and is doing the same thing. And poor Denji is so starved for affection that he’s letting himself be played like a fiddle! It’s honestly depressing to watch!
Ok guys i watched Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc and i'm literally both happy and broken… just WHAT WAS THIS MOVIE ?! This was an experience to remember for ages !!! 😍🥹😭 pic.twitter.com/RA8bJ5gLM4
What makes it even more depressing, though, is that the first half of Reze Arc is a slow burn focusing on Denji’s unfortunate love life. Even though Reze is ultimately going to betray him, you can’t deny that she manages to give him a taste of the normal life that he hasn’t had up to this point. Yes, the Devil Hunters do feed him and give him a place to stay, but as Reze points out, he’s still not living a normal life at age 16. Normal can often be subjective, and there are plenty of shonen protagonists his age who deal with danger. But at some point, you can’t help but wonder if this is really the life that Denji should be living.
The worst part, though, is that even after Reze shows her true colors, a part of Denji still likes her. Enough to even consider running away with her. Surprisingly, Reze actually considers doing so, mission be darned. And if you’re caught up on the manga, then you may agree with me when I say that I really, really think Denji should’ve gone through with that decision. If he had, then it would’ve prevented a lot of pain and suffering. But instead, any second chance is left to bleed out unceremoniously in an alleyway, which only makes the whole thing even more tragic.
Watched the chainsaw man movie in theaters.. She looked so good bro idc if she supposed to be the villain pic.twitter.com/81NeszDV8e
But we don’t watch Chainsaw Man just for the drama. We want it for the over-the-top violence. And lucky for us, the second half of the film is devoted almost exclusively to the action!
The Real Action Was Awesome!
For those who need a quick refresher, Devil’s get stronger the more they inspire in humans. Given how dangerous bombs can be, Reze is an extremely dangerous foe once she decides to take Denji by force. Her attacks are stronger than Bakugo from My Hero Academia, and considering how the young hero can hold his own against Shigaraki and All for One, that’s very concerning. A good part of the second half is the Devil Hunters trying to play keep away until they can get Denji to heal, with her blowing up sections of the city in the process. And then she summons another Devil working for her and proceeds to turn the place into a disaster zone! It honestly makes me question how human civilization is able to remain intact in this universe!
Of course, though, the real show starts once Denji joins the fight. The fight itself is like something out of a JRPG game, so I’m not going to spoil it for you. I will, however, leave you with this tantalizing image: Chainsaw Man riding a shark and battling a Devil the size of the Colossal Titan. Have fun with that.
In summary, Chainsaw Man: the Movie-Reze Arc was everything the fans wanted and then some. And if Studio MAPPA knows what’s good for it, it will give us more of the anime. SOON!
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.
There’s no getting around it anymore: it’s Fall. Leaves are falling, the capitalist system is preparing for the Holidays, and new anime seasons of anime are on the way. There’s just one problem: for the first time in a while, I’m worried that I won’t have an anime to cover on a weekly basis. There are plenty of great anime coming out to watch, but I’m not sure which one to cover for the D&A Anime Blog. That being said, it’s not stopping me from talking about some of the big names that might be worth watching.
Let’s Play, October 1st, Crunchyroll
Our first potential pick is potentially for anyone whose a fan of video games, romcoms, or webcomics, Let’s Play. Sam Young is an introverted 22-year-old software developer whose love for video games led to create her own, Ruminate. At first, it did great on the market, until her favorite Let’s Player, Marshall Law, gave it a bad review, leading his fans to trash it. It gets worse, though, as she discovers Law has just become her new neighbor. Talk about a drama bomb.
Believe it or not, I’m actually one of Let’s Play’s earliest fans, having read it from its first chapters on WEBTOON. At first it seems like another romcom built around gaming, but once Mongie starts picking up steam, she starts getting into some pretty heavy subjects like depression, trauma, and insecurities. Unfortunately, I don’t think that the show’s animation lives up to Mongie’s own artwork. Having been let down by The Beginning After the End earlier this year, that’s left me a little weary. However, I think I’ll at least give it the benefit of the doubt.
My Hero Academia Final Season, October 4th, Crunchyroll
Ever since the manga came to an end last year, fans have been waiting to see if the My Hero Academia anime can live up to their expectations. As the final war between the Heroes of Japan and All for One nears its climax, Deku will be drawn into his final confrontation with the ultimate villain and Shigaraki in a battle to decide the fate of the world.
For the past decade, My Hero Academia has been one of the biggest names in the Shonen genre, and anime in general, and for good reason; people
love superheroes! The series has had its highs and lows, but given how the manga ends, people are eager to see if the anime can live up to the hype or surpass it. Having covered the series on my own blog since Season Four, getting to see the finale will be a bittersweet experience for me. At least we’ll still have Vigilantes to look forward to, though!
Ranma 1/2 Season 2, October 4th Netflix
Last year, Netflix gave us their remake of one of the OG romcom anime, Ranma 1/2, and now it’s back for more. Too bad for Ranma, his misfortunes when it comes to love, as well as his curse, are going to keep giving him grief.
When anime and manga started arriving in force to America back in the 90s, Ranma 1/2 was among the first wave, helping to introduce fans to Japanese romcoms. Granted, modern audiences might take issue with several things about it, like how argumentative Ranma and Akane are, or how they’re betrothed by their dads without their consent. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still one of the OG romcom anime, and it’s cool that it’s getting more love.
Spy x Family Season 3, October 4th, Crunchyroll/Hulu
Everyone’s favorite spy family is back for a third season. As Loid continues to work towards his ultimate goal of completing Operation: STRIX, the Forger family continues its efforts to keep looking like a normal family. Which is tough considering how the “Dad” is a spy, the “Mom” is an assassin, neither knowing that, and their “daughter” Anya has to help keep it that way. Which will be hard, considering how this season is slated to include an escort mission on a cruise ship and Anya’s school bus getting hijacked by terrorists.
I’m not that overly big a fan of Spy x Family, only really watching it when I have nothing better to do. However, I can appreciate why people like it so much. The characters are likable, there’s a good balance between action and comedy, like many great Shonen, and the animation itself is great. What might tip the scales, though, is that this season will give us a look at how Loid became the superspy Twilight.
Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, October 29th, Disney+
Four years ago, Disney teamed up with some of the biggest animation studios in Japan to give us Star Wars: Visions, an anthology series that combined two of the greatest things in the world: Star Wars and anime. Now, it’s returning to those roots with a third season that promises to be just as good, if not better, than the last two. Not only will we be getting new shorts inspired by the Star Wars universe, but three are going to be sequelss to some of the most popular shorts from Volume One: The Duel, The Village Bride, and The Ninth Jedi. If you’ve seen the shorts, then you know why this alone is worth the hype.
I’ve been a fan of Star Wars since I was a little kid, and despite how Disney has kept fumbling things since 2012, I’m still a big fan of the franchise. Combining it with anime is naturally enough to get my blood pumping! Given how amazing the first two volumes are, I’m eager to see what comes next from this anthology series!
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, October 29th, Theaters
It’s been three long years since the end to the first season of Chainsaw Man, and while manga-readers have feasted, anime watchers are starving . But all of that changes as Chainsaw Man gets the movie treatment with Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.
After defeating the Katana Man and his Yakuza flunkies, Denji continues his work under Makima as a hunter of Devils. His world winds up getting turned upside down, though, when he winds up meeting a girl his age named Reze, and she actually seems interested in him! But since the universe seems to love seeing Denji suffer, you don’t need to read the manga to know that this cannot end well.
I had my criticisms of the first season of Chainsaw Man, and for good reason. Considering all the hype about the manga, it felt like the anime failed to meet my expectations when it comes to action. However, I did promise myself I would go back and review it again once it continued, and I intend to keep that promise. Given how effectively Demon Slayer has adapted arcs into full-on movies, I have high hopes for this flick. Hopefully, it also means that the anime will be coming back soon with a new season.
Do you know what’s more metal than fighting giant monsters inside a giant robot? Absolutely nothing! The Mecha and Kaiju genres are some of Japan’s oldest and most respected cultural exports, and they’ve gained popularity with people around the world. Since DanDaDan is essentially a giant love letter to all things sci-fi and supernatural in Japanese pop culture, including the two is a no-brainer. And with a Space Kaiju baring down on the teens of the series, it only makes sense that they fight it off with a giant mecha for the season finale. And it is everything that the nerdy Konya ever wanted…when it works at least.
YOU! DIG! GIANT ROBOTS!!
In order to fight off the giant, thunder-breathing Space Kaiju trying to kill them, the quintet of Takakura, Momo, Aira, Jiji, and Kinta resort to turning the Ayase House (made out of nanobots) into a weapon that can fight back. Fortunately for everyone, Kinta’s love of mecha anime comes in clutch, turning the house into a buddha-themed combiner robot in the style of Voltron, Power Rangers/Super Sentai, and later versions of Gurren Lagann. That’s the good news about this situation, at least if you’re Kinta.
The bad news is that the Family lacks the teamwork needed to pilot the thing.
I’m not sure how often this is an issue when it comes to combiner mechs, but teamwork is often the most essential thing for making them work right. The Power Rangers and Voltron may make it look easy, but in real-life, coordinating to pilot a giant robot would be very difficult. If one member isn’t in sync, it could derail everything. Case in point, this surprisingly realistic outcome results in Okarun getting ejected, the Evil Eye busting free without caring about what’s going on, and the remaining three getting their butts kicked.
But this is where Kinta starts to show what he is truly capable of, and how there’s more to him than his appearance would suggest.
Don’t Mock Mecha
He just obsessed with Robots just like how okarun is obsessed with aliens 😭 i felt so bad for him.
Much like Okarun before he met Momo, Kinta lived a very lonely life, mocked for his nerdy interests; in his case, for his love of mecha and giant robots. Before anime became mainstream, and even now, that is something that many an unfortunate nerd has had to experience. However, like a true nerd, Kinta refuses to feel bad about liking what he does. Because he knows that at the rate that technology is progressing, the possibility of being able to pilot a giant robot is becoming more and more likely. That’s not even a joke: companies are working on real-life mechas capable of being piloted by humans, and if they got mainstream, they will need capable pilots. And it’s people like Kinta, who understand mecha and sci-fi and trained for them, that will be first in line.
And it is with these burning feelings in his heart that we see Kinta become the mecha pilot he always wanted to be. And it is awesome!
The fight between the Great Kinta and the Space Kinta is nothing short of epic! It’s the kind of fight that makes any fan of either genre just want to grin from ear to ear. And the way the girls use their own powers to help enhance the Great Kinta mecha! Absolutely insane! And the other two boys manage to be a comedic duo the entire time since all they can do is watch everything! The comedy and action don’t stop!
In the end, the group manages to beat the Space Kaiju, but they come back to reality in the middle of the city. So, they have to hoof it back to the Ayase property with their fallen opponent. And Momo and Aira have to puke from motion sickness, LOL. Besides that, though, Kinta managed to solidify himself as a member of the group. His mecha skills are something else! But believe it or not, the giant robot vs Kaiju fight wasn’t the biggest surprise of the episode. It’s what the boys find inside the Kaiju. Or rather, Kaiju suit.
This whole time, the Space Kaiju was really a suit, and the person piloting it will surprise you.
DanDaDan now has a new waifu. Manga readers have been waiting for her for a while now, but sadly, anime watchers will have to wait until season three. Thankfully, it’s already been confirmed that there will be a third season of the anime. When it will come out, though, is anyone’s guess.
DAN DA DAN Season 3 is CONFIRMED!
Thank you to all the fans for your support, and we hope you look forward to what's in store. Stay tuned for #DANDADAN Season 3! ✨ pic.twitter.com/waCLb6e3C2
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!
Japan may not have invented the concept of giant monsters, but it turned it into an art form, complete with its own name: Kaiju. Since 1954, Japan has cemented itself as the giant monster capital of the world, with names like Godzilla gaining international fame long before anime established a foothold in the West. With DanDaDan essentially being a love letter to all things supernatural and sci-fi, it was only a matter of time before we got ourselves a Kaiju. And just like how most humans are in the movies, Momo, Okarun, and that new guy Kinta are completely outclassed as they face down this terror from the stars! They’re going to need all hands on deck just to survive this fight!
Or maybe a giant robot.
Kaiju Approaching!
Just when Momo and Okarun thought they had a lead on the latter’s missing nut, not only did it turn out to be a dud, but it’s led them to be facing down some kind of alien Kaiju. The upside is that it doesn’t shoot atomic breath at them. The downside? It shoots bolts of lightning like it’s a thunder god. And with tagalong Kinta unable to defend himself, the pair are forced onto the backfoot until Aira and Jiji show up. While Jiji takes Kinta away, since neither of them can fight, Aira, Momo, and Okarun try to fight the Kaiju…with disastrous results.
Will the gang's supernatural abilities be enough to stop this colossal creature?? 😰#DANDADAN Episode 23, "Hey, it’s a Kaiju" streams tomorrow at 9am PT! 💚 pic.twitter.com/RHZVhR1pYk
There is a lot of unresolved tension between this growing group throughout the season, and a lot of it has to do with Aira. She’s kept insisting that she’s the leader of this “Family,” something that the others have either ignored, like Okarun, or flat-out rejected, like Momo. Thanks to that, their lack of team coordination means they’re not able to fight as effectively as they can. Not that that matters, since they’re fighting a Kaiju. You have to be as freakishly strong as a Saiyan, ninja, or a pirate with Conqueror’s Haki to take that down.
It also doesn’t help that there’s the tug of war that Aira and Momo are caught in over Okarun. Look at what Aira did this episode to one-up Momo!
Meanwhile, Jiji fares no better with Kinta. Thanks to the latter’s stubbornness, Jiji winds up turning into the Evil Eye, and he doesn’t change back. For the rest of the episode, he’s serving as comic relief, complaining about wanting to fight someone, but he can’t. It’s not Tuesday! Admittedly, it is funny to see the Evil Eye acting all pouty because he can’t fight Okarun, but since he can’t fight the Kaiju (Takakura points out this is a bad idea), comic relief is all he’s good for. Which is fine in this case.
As entertaining as this, though, there’s still space-Godzilla headed straight for them. And with Turbo Granny nowhere to be found and Seiko a guest on some show, they’re on their own. Luckily for them, they have the means to fight back!
Even if I didn’t know the basics from the manga already, I would’ve guessed that rebuilding the Ayase house out of memory-shape nanomachines was an important plot device. Technology like that plus raw imagination means someone could think of anything, and the machines would make it a reality. And there’s only way to stop a Kaiju without getting another one to fight: giant robots. And this is when Kinta comes in clutch, using his otaku knowledge of all things mecha to create this!
This is Voltron meets Pacific Rim with the Buddha thrown in, for good measure! Some people may say that giant robots are a waste of time and money, but they’re probably just jealous they don’t get to use one. This could make for an amazing finale next week as the gang fights the giant Kaiju! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens! Assuming, that is, they can pilot it!
When the hit Shonen manga Jujutsu Kaisen came to an end last year, fan reactions were mixed. On the one hand, people were happy to see the protagonists come out on top over Sukuna and the corruption of Jujutsu society. On the other hand, the final chapters did little to wrap up the emtional loose ends. That, and people were upset over Satoru Gojo dying. That man was basically Kakashi 2.0, and many likely won’t forgive the mangaka for taking him away from us.
Now, Gege did make an effort to provide the fans with further closure with an epilogue omake, but that can only do so much. And with a world as interesting as the one created by Jujutsu Kaisen, there were more stories to be told. And Gege Akumatai has delivered! Much like its predecessor, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen has a sequel about the next generation, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. And this time, aliens are involved!
Welcome to the Future!
It’s now the year 2086, 68 years since the Culling Game and the defeat of Sukuna. In that time, Jujutsu society has reformed as Gojo wanted, free of the archaic ways of the past and the corruption of the leadership. Yuji, Gojo, and their generation of Sorcerers have gone down as legends, but most of them are now either dead or super-old. The task of protecting people from Curses now falls to the next generation.
Meet Yuka and Tsurugi Okkotsu, the twin grandchildren of Yuta Okkutsu and Maki Zen’in. The two are following in their late grandparents’ footsteps as Jujutsu Sorcerers, but there’s a little tension between them due to the older generation’s beliefs. Then all of a sudden, a group of aliens called the Simurians arrive on Earth asking for refuge, and they can also use Cursed Energy. In order to see if Earth would welcome them, they send one of their own, Marulu Val Vol Yelvori, to observe the Okkotsu siblings. And this is where our story begins.
To be clear, there is only one chapter of Modulo out at the time this was written, and the series will not be that long. At best, Gege intends for it to last around three volumes, meaning about 30 chapters, if we’re lucky. Yet even with the one chapter already out, we’ve already got a pretty good idea of what Jujutsu Society is like in the 2080s.
Gojo, Your Dream Came True
Those who read the original series and watched the anime already know this, but the Jujutsu world was a fairly corrupt one. The higher-ups in charge were explicitly self-serving, archaic, and refused to change with the times. Needless to say, Gojo was right to want them gone, and while he didn’t live to see it, the students he trained would change Jujutsu for the better. These days, Yuji and Gojo are considered legends who people still try to measure up to. Which isn’t exactly a good thing, as Jujutsu Sorcerers are getting weaker.
The downside to the peace that Yuji, Yuta, and the others fought for is that the following generations won’t face threats like Sukuna or Mahito. As a result, Yuta and Tsurugi, while strong, are nowhere near their grandparents level yet. Which makes their job of fighting Curses evil Curse users, and protecting good Curse users harder.
The other big change to the Jujutsu world is the fact that it’s no longer a secret. The Culling Game has made the entire world aware of the existence of Cursed, Cursed Energy, and those who wield them. The upside is that it means Jujutsu is more widely accepted by the public, and Japan is considered the global expert on the paranormal. The bad news? Because Cursed Energy is found almost exclusively in Japan, and it’s a great alternative to fossil fuels, Japanese citizens are a hot commodity. So now, Sorcerers have to protect anyone with a modicum of Cursed Energy who can’t look out for themselves, like kids. It’s dealing with this very problem that serves as the catalyst for Yuka and Tsurugi meeting Maru. But that’s only part of what it looks like the series will be about. The other half seems to be focused on the legacy of Yuji and Yuta’s generation and how it’s affecting Jujutsu Sorcerer’s in the 2080s.
The Next Generation of Sorcerers
By the time Modulo starts, Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zen’in have passed away, and while there’s a chance that members of their generation, like Yuji and Megumi, might pop up, there’s a good chance that most of the cast of Jujutsu Kaisen is dead. Yet their accomplishments were so incredible that they’re still idolized as heroes. Much like their mentor, Gojo, they came to be considered the peak of Jujutsu Sorcery, one that their descendants are struggling to surpass, with Yuka and Tsurugi being examples of this.
When they were kids, Yuka and Tsurugi were close to a different grandparent. Yuka adored her grandfather, Yuta, and loved spending time with him. The feeling was mutual, as Yuta chose to entrust her with his most prized possession: the engagement ring he got from Rika when they were kids. Now a Cursed Object, Yuta hoped Rika’s Ring would protect her like it did him. However, this sentimentality flew over the rest of the Gojo clan’s collective heads, as after Yuta died, they took the ring and gave it to Tsurugi, who they saw as the stronger of the two. But Tsurugi didn’t see it that way.
Like his grandmother Maki, Tsurugi was born with a Heavenly Restriction, basically giving him great power in exchange for nerfing his cursed energy. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could make it as a Jujutsu Sorcerer like his grandma on his own terms. So when the clan gave him Rika’s Ring, he took it as an insult with them saying he wasn’t strong enough on his own. So while Yuka’s goal is to take the ring back by proving she’s stronger, Tsurugi’s is to prove he doesn’t need it, sparking their sibling rivalry.
Here’s a Bright Idea…
I understand the driving force behind this conflict, and it does sound interesting. Yet, I cannot help but be reminded of the many times in anime and manga where poor communication leads to unnecessary drama. There are probably rules in place, but from my perspective, there’s a simple solution to this problem: Tsurugi just gives his sister the Ring, and if the Clan objects, tell them off. It probably won’t work, but it feels like the best solution possible. Then again, I’m sure that the series will give us further reasons why this won’t work, but for now, I just wanted to make my opinion known.
At any rate, I’m probably going to end up reading Modulo as it progresses over the next several weeks. I was never that big a fan of JJK, but with the third season of the anime coming up, I feel like it’s worth paying attention to. But what do you guys think? Let’s talk in the comments!
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Review
When it was announced at the end of the last season of Demon Slayer that the finale would be a movie trilogy, we all knew we were in for a good time. When Mugen Train came out in 2020, it managed to break the global box office despite COVID-19 shutting everything down. The series was so awesome, not even the dreaded Coronavirus could stop it! And with how this young anime franchise has risen to become one of the most popular in the world and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Naruto,Dragon Ball, and One Piece, the grand finale that is Infinity Caslte and Sunrise Countdown were going to be major events. Come opening weekend in the US, I got my Tanjiro haori on, grabbed a prop sword I had from One Piece, and headed to my nearest AMC to see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Infinity Castle.
And it was worth every last penny that I spent.
LET THE WAR BEGIN!
After a brief flashback revealing how Kagaya, the head of the Demon Slayer Corps, told the Stone Hashira Gyomei about his plans to sacrifice himself to kill Muzan, the film picks up right where we left off. Muzan teleports the Demon Slayers, save for a few non-combatants, into his base, the Infinity Castle, in the hopes of wiping them out for good. With everyone capable of fighting separated within this pocket dimension and surrounded by hordes of Demons, their mission is clear: find Muzan and kill him. With the stage now set and all the players in place, the final battle between humans and demons begins, and what a battle it is!
Right from the start, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle makes it clear it’s not going to wait for the gate to open: it’s just going to break it and come out charging like Inosuke trying to fight a train. By that, I mean that the film knows that this is the start of the grand finale, and that it can’t afford to hold anything back. Ufotable has always been consistent about providing the series with cinema-levels of animation, but for the second time in its history, the franchise gets to play out in actual cinemas. So it holds nothing back in regards to everything. It continues to blur the line between 2D and CGI animation to the point where it doesn’t exist anymore. It knows when to inject some of the series’ irreverent comedy when needed. Above all else, though, it knows how to get the most out of the fights to keep audiences on their toes, cheering one minute…and then crying out the next in anguish.
If you have read the manga ahead of time, then you know that not all of the heroes are going to live to see the end of this fight. Even anime-only people will go into this film expecting for some of the Demon Slayers to die. Losing Rengoku in Mugen Train made it abundantly clear that it doesn’t matter how likable someone is; that won’t save them. If anything, the film only makes the anguish of seeing what the heroes get put through feel even worse thanks to its frequent use of flashbacks for both parties. As a result, when something bad does happen to one of the heroes, you are going to feel awful watching it and knowing that nothing can be done. I will not name names, but if you read the manga, you know. We should just be grateful that the body count was light in the film, because the proceeding films will not be so kind.
Speaking of flashbacks, a good chunk of the film’s 2-hour, 35-minute runtime is made up of flashbacks. Like many good Shonen anime, these flashbacks are designed to flesh out the backgrounds of certain characters, revealing their motivations, perspectives on the world, and driving forces. Some people have complained about their prescence in the film as it takes time away from the action people came to see. However, they serve an important purpose that ties back to the series themes of overcoming adversity and facing impossible odds. Many of the demons we meet were people who saw the ugliness in the world and allowed it to corrupt them, turning them into the monsters that they are. Some of them even have downright sympathetic backstories. It doesn’t excuse them for what they do, but it’s meant to help contrast with the Demon Slayers, who refuse to give up despite the odds.
Hence, the flashbacks stay, even if they make Infinity Castle run longer than some would like.
Demon Slayer Deserved to be a Movie. Again!
Having seen the movie for myself, I can honestly understand why some people complain about its length and pacing. Demon Slayer has released compilation films in the past, and at times, Infinity Castle can feel like one. In fact, its sheer size and pacing makes it feel less like a film at times and more like an excuse to get the first six or so episodes on the big screen. At which point you start to ask whether or not making the finale a movie trilogy was even necessary.
To all those who think question this logic, I offer this rebuttal: It is necessary, because it’s Demon Slayer.
One of the most important aspects to any story is its ending. If the ending is good, then people will talk about it for years to come. Maybe even generations, if lucky. Given how much flak Demon Slayer got for the manga’s ending, it’s not inaccurate to say that it’s up to the anime to redeem things. And for something as grand and epic as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a simple TV or smartphone isn’t worthy of what’s going to happen. In all fairness, Demon Slayer has earned the right to end on the big screen. And so far, it’s justifying its right to be there, again! It’s the biggest opening for an anime film in the West to date!
So, to summarize, this movie is awesome. I consider it the last big movie of the summer season, and if you’re a fan of Demon Slayer, don’t wait for it to show up on Crunchyroll or another streaming service. Do yourself a favor and get your cosplay, go to the nearest theater, and get your butts in a seat. You will thank yourself later.
Just hope you have better luck getting the collectible popcorn bucket or cups than I did. They sold out where I went days in advance.
I Give “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle” A 5/5
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