Episode 999 is an episode of extremes on multiple fronts. In many ways, this is the prelude to what is to come, both in a narrative and a metatextual sense. We have the Straw Hats coming back together in Onigashima, the disparate threads and battles that have occupied them separately leading back to them congregating within the heart of the fortress. We also have the anime itself setting the stage for what is sure to be a bombastic episode 1000 of one of the world's most beloved series. It is clear that this episode is serving as the connective tissue to get us ready for what is to come.
We get lots of focus on the “kids” and the “adults” of the Straw Hat crew, so to speak. Nami, Chopper, and Usopp have their moments, but spend most of the episode in dire straits. The Brachio tank does, well, nothing against the Numbers, but I love those scenes anyway. Usopp and Chopper being precious and supporting each other is hilarious, and I love the squeaky toy BEEP that the tank makes every time it fires. All the gratuitous close-ups and stylistic flourishes on the tank barrel only add to the comedy.
The grownups really steal the show in this episode. Franky, everyone's favorite big bro cyborg (cybrorg?) and the hottest toy of the holiday season, gets his time to shine. Franky is my guy, so I'm always glad we get plenty of time with him. As One Piece has gone on, the increasing number of characters and plot threads means that a lot of core cast members (like Franky) have gotten sidelined in recent years. Outside of the monster trio, it is rare for Straw Hat crew members to get more than a line or two with any regularity. So having Franky get lots of cool one-liners and some stellar animation sequences where he shows off the radical beam and his ability isl a treat. Add in Robin and Jimbei getting some of that love too and it's a real strong showing for the older members of the crew. Also, the abject hilarity of Big Mom getting unceremoniously rolled out of the scene is just great.
The animation is a bit dodgier in this episode overall though. While the later moments look gorgeous and kinetic, the earlier sections (particularly with the Yamato scenes) are a bit more strained. The shot with Ulti's mace on the ground comes to mind as being a really weird angle where the haft looks kind of warped and unaligned. My guess is that the team is under a lot of pressure to deliver a tour de force in episode 1000 and portions of this week's episode struggled as a result.
I can't recommend the series, nor think that any hypothetical viewer would enjoy it, but it is the kind of trash TV that's rewarding to dissect.― Have you ever wondered what Baki would be like if it had a conservative bent instead of queer undertones? Well, look no further because the answer is Kengan Ashura! While Kengan is trying to convey the same spectacle and white-knuckle action of the long-ru...
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One Piece: Heroines novel also licensed― Viz Media revealed its new licenses and new print releases planned for spring 2025 on Friday. Kazuyoshi Seto's Minecraft: The Manga: Announcement: Add this book to your enchantment room! Join Nico on his chance to escape the blocky confines of his home and prove how strong he's become when zombies attack! Minecraft: The Manga, by Kazuyoshi Seto, releases Spri...
Series starring Miku Martineau, Ayo Solanke, more starts production in Toronto― The Hollywood Reporter entertainment news site reported on Thursday that showrunner Simon Barry (Warrior Nun creator) and Boat Rocker Media are producing a live-action series for Netflix titled BET that "is based in part" on writer Homura Kawamoto and artist Tōru Naomura's Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler manga. The show h...
Jean-Karlo attempts to condense two big video game showcases into a coherent column, from the revamped Silent Hill 2 to the grazing pastures of Story of Seasons.― Welcome back, folks. This is related to a big story for this week, but this past weekend, I listened to Utada Hikaru's re-recording of "Simple And Clean". It's very emotional. Utada Hikaru is a good twenty-plus years older than when she or...
In the Eisner-nominated work, Maki Fujiwara chronicles her daily life with her husband, lionized mangaka Yoshiharu Tsuge. Though deceptively simple at first glance, a foundation of abuse is slowly revealed.― At first blush, Maki Fujiwara's My Picture Diary does what it says on the tin. It tells the story of her daily life as a housewife and mother, spending time with her daily activities, noting the...
Now streaming on Netflix, Tomotaka Shibayama's first feature animation mixes the magical with reality to share a simple but important message.―
Director Tomotaka Shibayama's latest film, My Oni Girl, is an action-adventure drama with elements of a buddy comedy and a relatable coming-of-age story. The film, produced by Studio Colorido, was released in theaters in Japan and on Netflix on May 24, foll...
Miyano, Nukumi play original characters for August 2 film― The official website for My Hero Academia the Movie: You're Next (My Hero Academia: You're Next), the fourth anime film in the My Hero Academia franchise, announced on Friday that the film has cast Mamoru Miyano and Meru Nukumi as original characters. Mamori Miyano as Giulio Gandini, a butler who serves the Scervino family Meru Nukumi as Ann...
Kaiju No. 8 takes the top spot this week while Tonari no Yōkai-san pushes to #3 in the cmulative! Check out our weekly user rankings!― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated in...
Mospeada is a work very much of its time, riffing on ideas and tropes that were all the rage when it was made, and doesn't do anything exceptional with them.― It can be easy for even longtime fans to forget that alongside Macross, there were two other 80's sci-fi anime that got Frankenstein-ed into what we'd eventually call Robotech. While this isn't the first time one of those series has made it to...
Following the upcoming retro programming block Toonami Rewind, Chris and Lucas look back fondly on the afternoons spent watching Naruto and Sailor Moon.― Following the upcoming retro programming block Toonami Rewind, Chris and Lucas look back fondly on the afternoons spent watching Naruto and Sailor Moon. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the v...
Yeah, yeah, Kaiju No. 8 has all the great action scenes, but Yatagarasu is chewing up the scenery as the royal ladies absolutely lose their minds!?― Why Aren't You Watching This Anime Yet? Yeah, yeah, Kaiju No. 8 has all the great action scenes, but Yatagarasu is chewing up the scenery as the royal ladies absolutely lose their minds!? The ANN After Show streams live on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitte...
Here we have a from-the-ground-up remake, but does this beloved classic still hold up in a modern sense, or is that praise just nostalgia talking?― It's nice when Nintendo surprises us with a remaster or re-release of one of their more difficult-to-obtain games. The original Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo GameCube is a classic for many. However, since the game was never re-rele...