Shonen

STANDS HAVE RETURNED!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Ep 3 Review

Oh yes! I know that the Spin Technique is supposed to be the new gimmick or power for Part Seven of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but it’s nothing compared to the sheer creativity of a Stand! They have been an integral part of JoJo since Part Three, and seeing how bizarre and esoteric their powers can get is amazing. I knew it was only a matter of time before we saw the return of Stands in this new continuity, and we’ve already seen our first Stand. And now things have only gotten harder for Johnny and Gyro.

CAMPFIRE AMBUSH

It’s nightfall on the second stage of the Steel Ball Run, and Johnny and Gyro make camp for the night. As Johnny is trying to practice his Spin technique, he ends up seeing some interest in Gyro’s belongings: a book with a royal crest and a newspaper about a boy sentenced to death. Gyro isn’t talking about it, though. I can expect that this will become a plot point in the future.

Things, however, begin to get bizarre when another jockey shows up, Andrew Boomboom, saying he got bitten by a venomous lizard and needs help. But then, he tries to…choke himself out while trying to cut the poison out. That was weird enough, even if I know some people are into that. But then, two more people start riding towards them: his brother and dad, the Boomboom family! They were the ones who killed those people in the first stage.

Then things start to get even weirder as Gyro’s leg gets perforated by metal. Almost like it’s being drawn to his body like a magnet.

STANDO POWER RETURNS!

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that what we’re seeing is the power of a Stand. They’re the only thing capable of defying the laws of reality. In this case, the Boomboom family has Stands, or a Stand, that can manipulate metal. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a Stand that can manipulate metal; Risotto’s Metallica could do the same thing back in Part Five, and that nearly killed Diavolo! All the Boomboom family needs to do to use it is get their blood to touch their victims, and the iron will take care of the rest. I also appreciate the fact that Johnny and Gyro don’t question the supernatural events and immediately accept what’s happening; it’s a good part of the plot. Plus there’s also the fact that Gyro sees a Stand attached to Andrew, but doesn’t understand it. Thankfully, they’re not as smart as Risotto, as Gyro and Johnny manage to escape.

Or maybe they are smart. Somehow, Daddy Boomboom uses his Stand to disguise himself as Johnny and tricks Mountain Tim into thinking that he’s the murderer he’s hunting. Now the cowboy is after our protagonists. However, the big surprise is the reveal that Mountain Tim is also a Stand User! In his case, he can separate his body parts and control them remotely! Pretty handy for getting into tight spaces or catching criminals.

STANDS RULE!

The real question isn’t the fact that we’ve got Stand Users in the game now. The real question is how they get their powers. I know that this new continuity has different means of giving people Stands, but I either don’t understand them or don’t want to spoil things. The big clue, though, is that all four Users visited a place that the Native Americans consider cursed: the Devil’s Palm. That certainly sounds like something that would make people feel afraid. Something tells me that it won’t be long until we see this place pop up in the race. I don’t know when, though, as I only know the basic details of how Part Seven goes and I don’t want to spoil myself.

This is getting good, you guys. Now Johnny and Gyro have three killers after them as well as a lawman! Not to mention the fact that one of the jockeys they’re racing against is DIO BRANDO! I can’t wait for the next episode!

I Give “The Desert-Born Outlaws” a 4/5

YEE-HAW!! WE RIDING IN THE WEST NOW!!!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , ,

Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Ep 2 Review

Saddle up, pardners! We riding cross-country on this one, JoJo style!

Remember when the premiere for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run came out earlier this year on Netflix and everyone was excited about it? But then Netflix screwed us over by holding off on the next stage all the way back to the fall! That probably wouldn’t have happened if Toonami was airing! But now that is fall, I’m ready to hop back in the saddle as we go on a trip across the USA in the Old West! And already, things are starting to get bizarre!

By the way, this is likely going to be the only series I’ll be covering this fall for D&A Anime Blog. Both because there are no other series that I particularly want to cover weekly this season, and because, after covering four shows a week for months, I’m tired! Now, cue the intro and get ready to make some memes!

Mundane made awesome

The first stage of the Steel Ball Run is over, but in JoJo’s, even the most mundane of moments can become epic. Case in point, despite crossing the finish line first, Gyro didn’t win the first stage. He got penalized for using his steel balls as weapons on the downhill slope, so Sand Man wins! Which is a load of baloney, because he wasnt even aiming at anyone! He was trying to clear a path to get by! Now, Gyro could have taken it on the chin, but…he got even with Steel by ruining his champagne.

The next stage of the race is going to be a mammoth task. It’s going to be crossing 700 miles of desert in the American Southwest. I’ve only ever been out that way twice in my life, and I can tell you that it’s very hot, dry, and harsh. If you weren’t prepared back in the Old West, you could die. So, it’s best not to go it alone, which is why Gyro and Johnny decide to team up for the next leg of the race. That, and Johnny wants to keep learning more about the Spin to help him walk again.

It’s a good thing that they do. As they break off from the rest of the pack and head into the deep desert, it becomes clear that Gyro doesn’t have the best sense of direction. I think he was even reading the map wrong at one point! Plus, as becomes apparent, despite the rules in place prohibiting violence against competitors, violence will still happen. Either people will do it when the officials aren’t looking, or they will find clever workarounds. Case in point, the pair are attacked by this racer who uses bugs and cacti that shoot out their needles to try and kill them. This wasn’t made up, either. I looked it up, and that type of cactus can shoot out its needles!

I thought for sure that their attacker was a Stand User, but it turns out that he was just a freak! The man had insects nested in his eye socket! But Gyro outsmarted him in the end!

A Killer in the Race

There’s a bigger problem, though. The day before the second stage, the authorities reveal that several of the contestants have been murdered. Gruesomely! The culprit was one of the other contestants, and since they can’t stop the race, they brought in someone to investigate. Mountain Tim, a true cowboy and gentleman if there ever was one, and a skilled detective. He’s able to identify a clue based on the hoofprints left by the killer, and he’s already in pursuit. The bad news? The killer is following Johnny and Gyro.

It looks as though the next leg of the race will continue to heat up, and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. There are 700 miles to the next stage, and America is vast! Plenty of strange things can happen!

Cue the outro!

I Give “The Sheriff’s Request to Mountain Tim” a 4/5

The Devil has Come to Elbaph

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1180 Review

We finally made it. The moment that I’ve been dreading seeing in the One Piece anime has come. Imu, the Devil who sits atop the world and calls himself God, has come to Elbaph.

I had mentioned it at the end of my review of the last episode, but there is no other way for fans to describe the likes of Imu other than calling him the Devil. Oda has made it no secret that those were his intentions with the mysterious being who rules the world from the shadows. From his direct servants being summoned by a reverse pentagram, a symbol commonly associated with demons and the occult, to the fact that we saw the Five Elders become demonic creatures, the signs were all there. However, what happens at this point in One Piece pretty much confirmed that Imu was meant to be the Devil, and he had come to take Elbaph.

Want to know the scariest part? Some of us started thinking that Imu might be an actual demon.

Imu is the DEVIL

From the moment he chooses to possess Gunko, Imu shows that he is a no-nonsense kind of enemy. When the kids start crying to the adults trying to save them, he simply tells them all to “be silent,” and hits them with one of the strongest blasts of Conqueror’s Haki I’ve ever seen. The scariest part, though, was seeing how Sommers and Killingham react to the presence of their dark master. They are terrified and in fear for their lives! These guys have been running roughshod over Elbaph, the strongest nation in the world, and they are terrified of Imu. I don’t blame them, either. Do you know what happened to the last guy who failed Imu, Saturn?

And then we get to see the moment that sent shivers up fans’ spines. Imu summons a grimoire and, right before our eyes, he turns Dorry and Brogy into demons. Actual demons! And Toei doesn’t pull any punches with how terrifying the process is, either. It shows what happens in all its unholy glory as Imu utters the spell that the fandom has come to fear: Domi Reversi.

And then, he turns all of the Giant Warriors into demons.

I was starting to sweat at this point in the manga

Guys, I can’t even tell you just how terrifying this was for me when I was reading it in the manga. I have seen a lot of tight spots on One Piece before, but this? This might have been the toughest one to date. Not even Wano or Marineford got this bad! And do you know what the worst part was? The fandom had no idea how Imu was even doing this! His powers were so otherworldly, we weren’t even sure if they came from a Devil Fruit or if Imu was an actual demon. And this guy is supposed to be the ancient enemy of Joy Boy, someone that Luffy was going to have to fight in the future!

The episode, and by extension, the series run in 2026, ends on the bleakest note possible. The kids are being kidnapped, the Giants are injured or have turned into Demons, the school and library are on fire! It looks like everything has gone to Hell! I was ready to throw my remote at the TV in frustration when I saw it end on that! It was only thanks to a post-credits scene reminding us how the strongest players on the good guys side, Luffy, Loki, Sanji, Zoro, and more are still in the Underworld, that kept me from crashing out.

THIS. ISN’T. OVER.

At the moment, we don’t know when the anime will return beyond it being sometime in 2027. When it does, though, you can expect it to focus on one of the longest and most important flashbacks in the series history as Loki tells us the truth of what happened the day his father, King Harald, died. What we do know is that one of the most important portions of said flashback, the God Valley Incident, are going to be covered by its own movie. To be honest, that is exactly what fans were hoping for. If you’ve read the manga already, then you know just how important the God Valley Incident is to the lore of the series. If you’re an anime-only person, then you can expect some of the most intense action we may ever see in the entire series. Plus, it’s not like One Piece is going completely dark in between now and then.

At the time that this episode premiered, we were just two days away from a two-part LEGO One Piece special premiering on Netflix. Framed as stories that Usopp tells Chopper of the Straw Hats adventures before he joined them, it’s a comedic retelling of the first two seasons of the live-action series. A series which, I might add, will be returning for its third season sometime in 2027. In addition, the remake anime from WIT Studio will be dropping all seven episodes in February 2027. Not only that, but next year will mark the series 30th anniversary, so we can expect to see a lot of cool content to celebrate. Plus, the dub for this season is due to come out this fall.

In other words, don’t worry about One Piece, you guys. I think we’re going to be good for a while. It will be worth the wait!

I Give “Elbaph in Despair – Diabolical Covenant, ‘Domi Reversi'” a 5/5

GABAN FUMBLED SO HARD IT HURTS!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1179 Review

Oh man, I hated this part of the Elbaph Arc! After eeeing things just keep going wrong for the Giants of Elbaph and the Straw Hats! And then we got a glimmer of hope when Scopper Gaban, one of the Roger Pirates, showed up to save the day! I thought that this was when the Straw Hats would begin their counterattack. But I was a fool! Not only do we see Scopper fail to do anything substantial, but things get worse. If you thought that was bad, though, then prepare yourself. One of the two people I count in the running for the final villain of the entire series is about to make their move.

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS IN ONE PIECE

If you’ve been following One Piece for as long as I have, you’ll notice something about the elderly characters: they’re all insanely badass. Whether it’s Garp, Rayleigh, Vegapunk, Whitebeard, or Big Mom, some of the strongest characters in the series have consistently been those considered getting up in their years. Now, if you’ve watched a lot of Shonen anime as I have, then you know that there are plenty of elderly people who can beat you into the ground. However, I think Oda might have some of the best examples of badass old folks in manga, and that is 100% intentional. It’s his way of fighting back against ageism. And honestly, I respect him a lot for that. If I live to be that old, I think being able to do the things that Garp and others do would make it worthwhile. Why am I bringing this up? Because we just saw Gaban make Sommers look like a chump!

It’s important to note that what Gaban did to Sommers goes beyond simply attacking him. He managed to actually hurt him and make it stick. Even if it was only for a moment, Sommers was in actual pain, and it was enough to make the psychopath panic and go on the defensive. It just goes to remind us of just how much of a power gap there still exists between the Straw Hats and the Roger Pirates, and that they still have a way to go if they want to surpass them.  Because as I, and many fans at the time, suspected, Gaban was able to make his attacks stick thanks to the power of Haki. AKA, the power of one’s will made manifest. Because for Oda, willpower can be an actual superpower.

So close. SO CLOSE!!!

It was awesome getting to see Gaban waste Sommers, but unfortunately, that moment gets by three bad moments. Firstly, we have to watch as the library and school are set on fire, which breaks my heart as much as it breaks the Giants’ hearts.

Secondly, Gaban’s attempt to rescue the kids gets derailed all because Colon had to call out for his dad! And then Gunko uses him as a hostage to strike a deadly blow on Gaban!  And I liked how the anime drives home how Gaban couldn’t make it in time. His Haki told him exactly that. It’s every parents worst nightmare come true and I don’t blame him for hesitating. The two saving graces are the fact that Chopper uses the chance to dive down into the Underworld and save Gaban. That, and hearing Colon cry out for his dad has Gunko go through another flashback to a memory that she shouldn’t remember.

If you’re caught up on the manga, then you’ll already know this: Gunko and Brook do know each other from the past. They have a shared history that is beyond tragic, and will make you think twice about who Gunko is. For the anime-only folks, I appreciated how Toei dropped more hints about this connection in their version of the flashback. It will take us time to get to the meat of it, but it will be worth it. Sadly, though, Gunko’s moment of clarity is brought to a halt by the third bad thing to happen this episode: Imu takes the wheel.

Oh no…

They say that the greatest trick that the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist. However, ever since we learned about the existence of Imu, I don’t think that’s accurate. The greatest trick that the Devil could ever pull was t making the world believe he wasn’t real. It’s doing that AND disguising himself as God to those who know of him. And that is the case with Imu.

I don’t remember how much I’ve discussed Imu when I’ve talked about One Piece on this blog. However, if I have mentioned him, or you read my blog where I’ve reviewed new chapters of the manga since the Wano Country Arc, then you know how seriously I take Imu. His very existence exposes the fact that the World Government is built on a lie. And I really love how Oda has been dropping hints throughout the story that Imu is meant to be his series’ counterpart to the Devil. Whereas ol’ Scratch must wallow in Hell and plot revenge on his creator, though, Imu managed to storm Heaven (Mariejois), overthrow god (Nika or Joy Boy), and take their place. The fact that he managed to do all of that whilst keeping his existence a secret for centuries is a testament to how dangerous he is. And now that he’s getting involved in what’s happening in Elbaph, things are about to get a lot more dire. I still get goosebumps thinking about what we’re about to see!

I Give “One Do-or-Die Second – Gaban vs. the Knights of God” a 4/5

The God’s Knights are not as Invincible as you Think

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Crunchyroll, Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1178 Review

We’re about to whip somebody’s ass! And that somebody’s name is SOMMERS!

So, the downside of watching the One Piece anime is that I have to watch as things just keep going from bad to worse in Elbaph. I mean, I’m a longtime fan of the series, so I know that things are going to get worse before they get better, but this? This is one of the worst scrapes the Straw Hats have been in since the timeskip. And that includes having to escape from Big Mom and all the stuff they went through in Wano! But, I’m also being reminded of just how much I am offended by the existence of Sommers. He is so evil, i was pretty much onboard with Robin’s plans to take him out of the picture from the get-go.

No one hurts innocent kids or books on Robin’s or the Straw Hat’s watch!

TIME TO WHIP SOMEBODY’S ASS

So, if you thought that the God’s Knights couldn’t get any more despicable, then you clearly haven’t been paying attention to the series. I don’t know how Oda does it, but he’s really good at making some of the most disgusting villains you can imagine. Case in point, Sommers and Gunko threaten to kill one of the kids they have hostage. And they’re doing it in the cruelest way possible.

They take one of the Giant Kids, Ronja, and have her stand on a platform above the branches. Right below her, hundreds of feet below, is the Underworld. If she falls off the edge…she’s gonna die. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Even most of the Giants would have a hard time surviving a fall like that. And unless the grown-ups agree to burn the school and library, and everything with it, down, then she will be forced to walk over the edge.

I had to read about this in the manga months ago, and even now, it just sickens me. Now, I wasn’t exactly what you would called attached to school growing up, since that involved homework (which I despise). But libraries? Those were my sanctuary when I couldn’t watch TV or play video games! I looked it up, and it turns out that the deliberate destruction of a library is considered a war crime. These false god’s are committing war crimes and they are laughing about it!

Not on Robin’s watch.

GET HIM, ROBIN!

If you have any inkling at all about what Robin’s life was like before we met her, then you know the HELL she went through. She had to watch as her home, her mentor, her mother were all wiped out by the World Government. She only just now found out her oldest friend and the knowledge of Ohara still existed. And she is not going to let anyone take them away from her again. And this is when Robin locks the f in.

You know, it’s pretty rare for us to see Robin get genuinely angry. Most of the time, she’s the most logical of the Straw Hats, always keeping a cool head or offering some darkly humorous remark. Or being like a mom to Chopper. But if you have seen what she is like when she is angry, then you know why it’s a bad idea to push her to that point. She can, and will, kill people if she thinks they deserve it. And as Sommers finds out for himself, she’s the smartest of the Straw Hats for a reason.

I have to admit, it was pretty clever of Robin to figure out that Sommers powers had a range limit attached to them. Not to mention just how gutsy it was to drive him off the branch into the Underworld, with her along with him. But the best part is seeing how that was just a clone, with the real Robin already making for her captured friends. Now that is how you use your brain!

Which is why I only got even angrier when I saw that Robin’s gambit didn’t work. Damn it, Oda! The bad guys shouldn’t be getting plot armor like this! And then we had to listen as the grown-ups order the destruction of the school and library.

SCOPPER RULEZ!!

Karma’s a b****, though, because guess who comes in clutch to save the day? Scopper Gaban. He jumps in out of nowhere and slices Sommers in half, and unlike the other times, he doesn’t pull himself back together.

Even before it was revealed how Gaban did this in the manga, it didn’t take a genius for me to figure out how this happened: Haki. That spiritual power that has become more and more important ever since the time skip. Through the strength of will, Haki lets even someone without powers fell the mightiest of opponents. And apparently, that also includes the likes of the God’s Knights. So, clearly Gaban is strong enough to actually put a dent in Sommers. And the best part? Sommers knows Gaban. They actually met many years ago at a little place called God Valley. And it looks like Sommers isn’t happy seeing him again.

Things aren’t going to begin going the Straw Hat’s way right off the bat, but this episode did the next best thing: it showed a crack in the Knight’s armor. That’s all we need to know that they can be beaten. Just wait until next year when Luffy and the others make their move. They’re going to whip their asses back to Hell.

I Give “Protect History and the Future – Robin and Gaban Go on the Attack” a 4/5

THIS IS…DESPICABLE!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1177 Review

Guys, I don’t know how Oda does it. I have no clue how he is able to create villains that are so rotten, vile, and despicable that their very existence offends me. But he just keeps doing it over and over and it works so well at angering me! Which only makes it more entertaining when they go down. But this? SOMMERS is in a class all his own when it comes to how much I hate him. And this episode reminded me of it!

BAD! THINGS! HAPPEN!

So, as seems to be the norm for this arc now, things just get worse. We saw Saul, poor Saul, get maimed by Sommers thorns, in the last episode. And this episode opens up with him getting stabbed in the foot. It’s like stepping on a LEGO but ten times worse.

This entire episode serves as a reminder of just how bad things are going to get from here on out, and honestly, I both love and hate it. And for good reason. It only makes their inevitable defeat all the more cathartic. But this arc really tries my patience, especially considering how likely it is that we will not see the comeback until next year.

Half the Straw Hats are Captured!

Oh, and just to remind you guys of how bad things are, not only has Collun been captured, but now Brook, Jinbei, Nami, and Usopp are prisoners. The only solace I get is from knowing that this just guarantees that Luffy is going to kick all their asses. Then again, the act of kidnapping children is considered a capital offense in the eyes of the Straw Hats, so they were already going to do that. This just adds fuel to the fire.

What is most surprising, though, is something that I had almost forgotten about: Gunko’s fixation on Brook.

Yeah, Brook Knows Gunko

Now, the thing about Oda is that he tends to be great at foreshadowing. A random name he drops or a character’s habit can end up being an important plot device in the future. And if you recall, Gunko is a fan of Brook. So she tries to make him her slave and write songs for her forever like a yandere fan. But that’s not what’s interesting. It’s the way Brook reacts.

If you know Brook, then you know how he hits on women as much as Sanji does. It’s like his most well-known bit besides his bone jokes. So, and this was something I actually forgot, when Brook speaks to Gunko, he doesn’t make any jokes. He doesn’t ask to see her panties. Nothing; just dead seriousness. THAT is a red flag that something is wrong.

It would be some time until we learn the truth about the connection between Brook and Gunko, and trust me, it’s a tearjerker. But I really liked how the anime foreshadows it here. When Brook says that one thing that makes Gunko have a panic attack, you can tell that there’s more to her than meets the eye.

SOMMERS MUST DIE!!!!

Sommers, on the other hand, has nothing else to him; just pure, sadistic malice and cruelty.

So, by this point, the kids have woken up and realize that they are in trouble. The giant monsters is enough of a warning sign. But what Sommers does next is just pure evil. He has Qillingham broadcast everything to the island, list off the names of the kids being held hostage, and just enjoys seeing the despair on the parents’ faces.

But then, he gives them a choice that offends me to the core of my being: ordering them to burn down the school and library. The library where all the books from Ohara have remained safe for almost 3 decades.

Now, I couldn’t really care about the school, since I hate homework. But a library? When I was a kid, o spent most of my free time at our school libraries. It was my refuge, my safe space! And if Interntational Law didn’t already consider it, I would consider the destruction of libraries to be a war crime.

Now imagine how Robin must feel.

TARGET: SOMMERS. OBJECTIVE: EXTERMINATE!

Robin had to watch as the World Government destroyed her home of Ohara as a little kid. She couldn’t stop it from happening. But she will be damned if she lets history repeat itself! I was all in on Robin’s decision to join the fight. It’s time to go full gangster on these monsters!

Man, this anime is so good! I love One Piece so much! And I’m pretty sure it’s already out by now, but I hope that that crossover happy meal with SpongeBob is doing well!

I Give “A Despicable Hostage Game – Sommers’s Brazen Demands” a 4/5

The part where the Straw Hats get Cooked

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1176 Review

…Okay, now is the time for us to be scared.

So, fun fact about this part of One Piece: when we got to this point in the manga, I remember thinking “Maybe the Straw Hats have got this. I mean, they’ve all gotten crazy strong since Wano. Maybe they can handle themselves as a group against one of the God’s Knights. At least Jinbei could!” I was A FOOL. A COMPLETE AND UTTER FOOL! If there was ever any doubt that the God’s Knights are monsters, Gunko just shut that up for good. They are FREAKING TERRIFYING!

The Straw Hats just got clapped

I normally spend the majority of these reviews diving into the details about what happened in the episode. However, I think that I can summarize everything that happened with this simple description: a case study in the art of butt-whooping. Because that is basically what we spend the entire episode witnessing. With some of the best animation of the entire season, I might add.

I still remember the sheer shock I felt when I read these parts of the manga when they came out. I knew that the God’s Knights were strong, but seeing what Gunko managed to do to Nami, Usopp, Brook, and Sanji? It was straight-up demonic. They threw their best attacks at her, and she basically no-selled every last one of them.

Nami and Zeus’ combo attack? She almost fried Nami with it! Brook and Jinbei’s attacks? She uno-reversed them!

And the scariest one had to be how she tanked that attack from Usopp. She got her upper half blown off, and she just regenerated from it like she was Cell or Majin Buu!

There is a war coming

Now, I had already known at this point that Imu had granted his most elite servants some kind of immortality. If you saw the Egghead Island Arc, then you would know that. However, seeing it up close and personal like this is genuinely terrifying. I can’t even call the God’s Knights human. They’re demons, plain and simple! Why else would they be kidnapping children to force the grown-ups to fight for them.

If you’ve been up to date on One Piece lately, then you should already know that what Gunko was saying was true. There is a war coming on the horizon. According to the rumors, Oda plans on making a war so massive that it makes what happened at Marineford look like child’s play. Considering how that was the big war arc of the series until recently, that is terrifying! And I had already known that the Giants would be a tipping point in the whole thing. Hence why Imu is hellbent on making them kneel.

GOD-TIER ANIMATION! ABSOLUTE CINEMA

What else is there for me to say about this episode, save for the fact that the animation is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. I had imagined what these fight sequences might have looked like in my head, but to see them play out like this is just amazing! I love it! Even if the majority of this episode is about the heroes getting pounded into the ground by the God’s Knights.

There’s no getting around the fact that Elbaph is facing its greatest crisis ever. If the God’s Knights are not stopped, the Giants of Elbaph will be forced to become slaves to Imu. And I’ve seen enough Shonen anime to know that the only way that they can be stopped is if the main character pulls up. Sadly, that is not something that is going to happen anytime soon. Trust me; I’ve read the manga. I suggest you guys get used to things being bad for a while, you guys! But don’t you worry. That’s only going to make it even cooler when the Straw Hats counterattack.

I Give “The Threat of the Arrow-Arrow Fruit – Gunko vs. the Straw Hats” a 5/5

Jinbei Could’ve Been a Fireman

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1175 Review

So, where are we with everything on Elbaph? There’s an entire branch of the great tree on fire. A bunch of sleepwalking kids are being led right into it and will burn to death. There’s an army of dream monsters wreaking havoc and keeping most of the grown-ups busy. Yeah, I can safely say that we are in the part of the Elbaph arc where things are going to get worse before they get better. But at least we don’t have to see a bunch of kids burn, thanks to Jinbei. And we just got our first set up for what is going to be one of the GOAT characters in One Piece.

Jinbei saves the day

Instead of talking about the episode in order, I’m going to focus on the second half first, and then go to the first half so I can talk about what’s happening there. The second half of the episode is focused on the threat of that massive fire that’s threatening to kill the Giant kids: it’s too big! The fire brigade has managed to make it to the flames, but it’s glaringly obvious that what they have isn’t going to be enough to stop the flames. And the tension as we see the kids inching towards the fire is sickening. Death by fire is said to be one of the most painful ways to die, and these are just kids! And that monster Sommers is watching the entire thing like he’s getting off from it! It’s horrifying!

But thankfully, Jinbei, our GOAT, comes in clutch to save the day.

This is why I consider Jinbei to be one of the strongest of the Straw Hats. I have lost count of how many times I’ve seen him save Luffy and the others over the years, and that includes emotionally! The man is just amazing!

Too bad that the arc dictates that things are only going to get worse from here. Gunko shows up.

https://twitter.com/NIKATHEFEAR/status/2091559317300519409?s=20

Never trust Luffy with Nursing duties. EVER!

But what I really want to talk about is the first half, as Luffy and the others are helping Loki heal up. Well, everyone else is. Luffy…just makes things worse.

Now, Hajrudin and his crew don’t like Loki, and the feeling is mutual, but despite his namesake, he wasn’t lying about Shanks. I think he really does have an idea where Luffy’s mentor and hero might be. Plus, he wouldn’t lie about something like that, for he knows what it’s like to have a pirate they look up to. The only difference is that Loki’s role model was a scumbag. Awesome, but still a scumbag.

THIS MAN IS A GOAT!

Rocks. D Xebec. In a series that is filled with GOATS, that man is a serious contender for the GOAT of GOATS. Manga readers already know this, but this long-dead pirate has become the subject of so many memes. Some people are even saying that he’s even greater than Gol D. Roger, the man who became the King of the Pirates. Now, we didn’t know it at the time of the manga, but this one scene was setting us up for one of the greatest flashbacks in the entire series. A flashback so great, we got a flashback in the flashback about Rocks specifically, all leading up to one of the most defining moments in the series’ lore: the God Valley Incident.

And get this: it’s going to be made into a movie.

Next year, when the anime comes back and we will presumably head into the flashback part of the arc, they are turning the big event, the God Valley Incident, into a movie! They reached something so amazing that Toei decided to do what Demon Slayer did for Infinity Castle. How epic is that?! Having read the manga myself, I can confidently say that this was the correct decision. It’s too big an event to be confined to the span of a few episodes!

I Give “Elbaph in Flames! Jinbe’s Shoulder Throw Explodes!” a 4/5

The Giants Rise Up! Save the Kids!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1174 Review

Oh, boy; I remember this part of the Elbaph Arc in the manga all too well. This is the part of the story where everything that can go wrong does go wrong for the good guys. I know that it seems like a few things did go right for the Warriors of Elbaph, but mark my words: the show is lulling us into a false sense of security. Need I remind you that not only does Elbaph have to deal with the fire, kids being abducted, and the God’s Knights, but the GIANT MONSTERS? Who, I might add, are incredibly well animated!

The MONSTERS ARE COMING!

The episode starts off by reminding us that not all of the Straw Hats have gotten the message about what’s happening. Besides those in the Underworld, the only one who still wasn’t in the loop was Franky, as he’s with Collun’s mom and ends up running into Lilith and Bonney. They got lost trying to get their papers, and wound up finding this weird, sci-fi looking building.

https://twitter.com/WH8D_88/status/2089044584903106854?s=20

To this day, we still have no clue what this place is supposed to be, if it’s even a building to begin with (it looks like a robot to me.) All we know is that it’s around 3,000 years old, making it older than even the stuff from the Void Century. Knowing Oda, he will eventually enlighten us on its importance. In the meantime, the quartet are attacked by one of the dream monsters!

I just want to say this: the animators for the dream monsters cooked. The animation for One Piece has gotten some notable improvements over the last few years, but they really knocked it out of the park with the dream monsters. The way they’re so crudely drawn really makes it seem they’re something that a kid created. The fact that they are all so powerful and deadly only makes the contrast even more unsettling. Even worse, though, is that nothing the heroes do seems to put a dent in them! Even the adults of Elbaph are struggling to stop them.

And that’s why the Straw Hats have to get involved.

NO ONE HURTS KIDS WHILE THE STRAW HATS ARE AROUND

Nami comes clean about the intruders in the Castle, and between her and her crewmates, our protagonists are able to get a better idea of what’s happening. They know that there’s two or more intruders on the island, and that they have Devil Fruit powers that are causing this chaos. It’s not a lot, but knowing the enemy you’re facing is half of the battle. Too bad Jarul and the other Giants insist their guests not put themselves in harm’s way!

But, since the Straw Hats have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to hurting kids and those they call friends, they’re going to get involved. Which leads to this cute moment where they catch Collun going off to help and decide to enable his plans.

https://twitter.com/WH8D_88/status/2089048886690152809?s=20

That’s just cute.

I WANT SOMMERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA!

Meanwhile, the God’s Knights are watching as Saul tries to save the kids from the burning inferno that awaits them, and for a moment, he thinks he figured out a way to stop them. But Sommers, curse him, is truly sadistic. Even if they try to stop the kids, they’ll run into each other and hurt each other with the invisible thorns. It’s monstrous!

In case you guys haven’t figured it out, I loathe Sommers with every fiber of my being. He’s one of the few characters in fiction I consider so evil, so monstrous, that the very thought of them breathing feels like an offense to all I hold good and dear. At least Gunko went down on my list because of her love of Brook’s music. That makes her cultured.

https://twitter.com/WH8D_88/status/2089049662825115802?s=20

The Giant Captains and Gaban Move Out!

Ultimately, the episode does end on a bit of a high note as Dorry and Brogy take to the field and annihilate one of the dream monsters with their combo attack. And for good measure, Scopper Gaban is coming with them!

Full disclosure: I don’t know if Dorry and Brogy could make a dent in the likes of the God’s Knights. But Gaban? Gaban could take them on. I’m really looking forward to seeing what a legendary pirate is capable of when they cut loose!

I Give “Save the Children! The Elbaph Warriors Rise Up” a 4/5

The God’s Knights are the WORST

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , ,

One Piece Episode 1173 Review

Elbaph is under attack. The God’s Knights Gunko, Sommers, and Qillingham are trying to abduct the children of the Giants to force their parents to submit to their dark master. If they are not stopped, all of Elbaph will be enslaved. And the irony of all this is that the guy who feared this would happen is trying to intimidate Luffy and his group into setting him free. Like I told you guys, there is more to Loki than what his name implies.

THE GOD’S KNIGHTS ARE THE WORST!

By this point, the teachers at the Walrus school have begun to sound the alarm: Elbaph is under attack. And I can appreciate the fact that the anime finally lets us see the horrified reactions of all the grownups that were partying with the Straw Hats. Some of their kids and grandkids go to that school. Knowing that your child is in mortal danger is one of the scariest parts of being a parent, and while Jarul may still be drunk and acting goofy, that does little to lighten the mood.

As for the culprits behind this attack? They are nonchalantly eating lunch while watching everything go down l. And all the while we have to listen to Sommers the sadist laugh about the love of a parent for their child will lead to them getting killed thanks to the thorns he placed on the kids. And he’s laughing about it like he’s the Joker! And when they all realize the kids are walking into an area that is currently on fire, they don’t care. They just say they can grab the next batch of sleeping kids!

You see why I hate the Celestial Dragons so much? With a handful of exceptions, they are the worst of humanity personified, and I pray for the day they get brought to justice. But for the moment, I’ll settle for the Straw Hats kicking their butts. But to do that, they need their strongest members to join the fight and they’re dealing with Loki.

I Told You Loki Was Bluffing!

When we last left off in the Underworld, Loki was threatening to set the Treasure Tree Adam on fire unless he was fully set free. Doing that would put all of Elbaph in danger, something that neither Luffy nor Hajrudin could not allow. For a moment, it looks as though Luffy and Loki are about to fight, but it turns out that that was never necessary.

Remember when I said that Loki wasn’t as big of a threat as he seemed to be? That’s because I read the manga and knew what would happen next. However, even if I hadn’t read it and went into the episode blind, it was pretty obvious to the more astute people that Loki was bluffing. He just got badly injured by Shamrock and Gunko and has had no time to recover. The anime even drops subtle hints that he’s running on fumes with the way he’s holding his hammer, which I appreciated. Besides, if Oda really wanted Luffy to fight Loki, he wouldn’t have it happen when the latter is this weak. He might tease us a lot, but not to that extent.

In the end, the group decides to spare Loki and get him back to fighting shape. All except for his older half-brother Hajrudin. He remembers how their dad told them how he loved them both and wanted them to work together for the good of Elbaph. But Loki was such a huge bully that he can’t forgive him, and even tries to kill him whenever he has the chance.

That’s when Loki decides to drop this bombshell about the crime that got him imprisoned, ie killing their father: he never wanted to do it.

How did Harald Really Die?

When this came out in the manga, fans had already been theorizing that there was more to the death of the late King Harald than what was initially revealed. The fact that there was that summoning circle in the ruins of his castle was a massive red flag that something was seriously up with the story. Plus, there was also the man’s name: Harald. I remember reading a Twitter thread mentioning how that was the name of Kings who united Norway and Denmark, important parts of the Viking world. One of them also introduced Christianity to their land, beginning the eventual transition from the old Norse Gods to Christianity. Savvy readers picked up on this fact and came to a startling conclusion: Harald might have attempted to give the World Government control of Elbaph, either of his own accord (making him a traitor) or against his will. Loki found out, and was reluctantly forced to kill his father to stop this from happening.

Now, what Loki said can be taken with a grain of salt thanks to his reputation for tricking people. However, I didn’t think he was lying in that instance. The most telling piece of evidence, though, has to be how Luffy is reacting to all of this. The guy is an idiot and can’t do a lot of things, but he’s always been a great judge of a person’s character. If he thinks that Loki can be trusted, then we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Just…just don’t uncuff him. We need to be compassionate, not stupid.

Well, guys, we are now in the thick of things, and I have no idea how far we’ll get this year in the anime. But if it ends where I think it does, then next year is going to be awesome.

I Give “A Nightmarish Game – The Dark Plot of the Knights of God” a 3.5/5