The fateful day has arrived. Komurasaki's funeral procession is marched through the streets of the Flower Capital and Yasui is brought out to be executed as an offering. He is tied to a large cross and placed in front of the crowds for all to see. Using transponder snails, Orochi has the event televised (snailivized?) to the people of Wano as an example of what happens to those who oppose Orochi.
In Ebisu town the people are laughing at the sight of the execution video. The Straw Hats are perplexed by this, and even more so when the people realize who Yasui really is. The townspeople rush off towards the capital and the Straw Hats follow along in pursuit to protect them.
It turns out that Yasui used to be the daimyo of the Hakumai, and we flashback to when Yasui and Oden were spending time together twenty years ago. Oden had just been kicked out of the castle, and Yasui was lamenting the country's isolation policy. He wanted to explore and see the world.
Back in the present, Yasui is still laughing as cherry blossom petals shower him. One of the guards shoots him once for talking but it is not a killing blow. Instead, the charges against Yasui are read – primarily opposing Shogun Orochi. As X Drake and Hawkins wonder at the wisdom of televising the execution, they are notified that people are flooding the streets of the capital. The people of Ebisu are rushing desperately to be with Yasui in this moment, and even though the city guards attempt to stop them, the Straw Hat pirates make short work of them.
Yasui begins to make a grand speech about the wonderful land of Wano. He tears into Orochi for destroying this beautiful place that was once full of vegetation and rivers, covering it in his filthy greed. In the last few moments. Toko makes it to the city. She is running as fast as she can with cherry blossoms at her back, weeping for her father as the To Be Continued card flashes.
Another excellent Wano episode. The buildup to Yasui's execution is being handled extremely well. Even though by and large the entire episode is just Yasui up on a cross laughing, there is enough tension and excitement to keep things interesting. The real weight of what Orochi is about to do is settling in, and we get the sense that even though he's clearly never been connected to the people he is about to break something that cannot be fixed or forgiven.
It is a gorgeous display on the visual side as well. There is a constant running theme of the falling cherry blossoms of course, and the use of the different colored leaves to denote the flashback was a nice touch. There are multiple shots of the gathered crowds being all in pink or seen through a pink filter as they watch Yasui's drawn out abuse. There is a distinct visual connection being made between the people and the cherry blossoms. It was a great touch to have Yasui take that single petal in his hand as he faces down his demise, as though protecting the people of Wano in his protection. I also liked the shot of the saw on the chopping block with Orochi muttering “Today is a great day!” at the thought of the pending execution.
Not to mention, this episode also has Robin smiling and getting to use her Devil Fruit powers to defeat a bunch of goons as well. Do you really need anything else for a good episode?
With no less than three new golf anime coming this spring season, Chris and Steve as the big question: Is this Birdie Wing's fault?― With no less than three new golf anime coming this spring season, Chris and Steve ask the big question: Is this Birdie Wing's fault? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warnin...
As we approach the end of the season, Delicious in Dungeon and Undead Unluck are steadily climbing the cumulative. Find out how your favorite shows performed in 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...
English dub trailer, cast, staff unveiled― Crunchyroll announced on Tuesday that it will stream episodes of the anime of Naoya Matsumoto's Kaiju No. 8 manga at the exact time they air in Japan, starting on April 13 at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The company will also stream dubs in English, Latin American Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Castilian Spanish, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu at 11:30 a.m. EDT...
Original anime's director Junichi Satō draws storyboards for peek into girls' future― The staff of the Magical DoReMi (Ojamajo Doremi) magical girl anime debuted a video for its 25th anniversary at AnimeJapan 2024. The video features newly animated glimpses of the main characters as they grow up. Junichi Satō, the director of the original anime, storyboarded the new video, while Tatsuya Nagamine, an...
As we look in despair to a future without new episodes of Frieren, you may be wondering what could possibly fill the hole in your heart (and watch schedule). We're here to help.― With the end of one anime season comes the start of another. As we look in despair to a future without new episodes of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, you may be wondering what could possibly fill the hole in your heart (an...
This week, Nick and Lucas talk about the recent, ongoing, and not-yet-released works of the late, great Akira Toriyama—as well as the potential future of his most popular franchise.― This week, Nick and Lucas talk about the recent, ongoing, and not-yet-released works of the late, great Akira Toriyama—as well as the potential future of his most popular franchise. Disclaimer: The views and opinions e...
From shows that are "just not for me" to pure animated shlock, here are our editorial team's picks for the worst anime of the winter 2024 season.― Yesterday, we gave you our list of the best anime Winter 2024 had to offer. Now it's time for the opposite. From shows that are "just not for me" to pure animated shlock, here are our editorial team's picks for the worst anime of the season. Note: The co...
The second part of a double-feature currently in U.S. theaters, when Sakuta finds he's become invisible, he'll have to face some significant changes in his life to create the future he wants.― As an overarching story, The Rascal Does Not Dream series hit its central climax in the 2019 film Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl. The previous film to this one, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Vent...
With the end of the Winter 2024 anime season upon us, it's time to look back at the best of what the season had to offer.― With the end of the Winter 2024 anime season looming, it's time to look back at the best of what the season had to offer. And so here's a list of our editorial team's favorite anime series this season. The big takeaway? We really like Delicious in Dungeon. Note: the commentary ...
― Curious about all the news and panels that happened at AnimeJapan 2024 last weekend? 132,557 people descended upon Tokyo Big Sight across two days to experience all the latest and greatest in anime! News from Saturday, March 23 Nanare Hananare TV Anime Premieres in July CoMix Wave Films Teases New Work by 'Rookie Director' Hyakushō Kizoku TV Anime's 2nd Season Premieres This Fall Thunderbolt Fant...
In theaters as a double-feature, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out changes up the formula for a unique yet satisfying film.― As a fan of the previous Rascal Does Not Dream anime, this film is not at all what I expected. Up until this point, the series has followed a set pattern. Our protagonist Sakuta becomes involved with a young woman who is dealing with some aspect of growing up—be ...