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.
The benefit of being committed to such a simple setup is that the story knows exactly what it needs to do to invoke the maximum emotional response for this type of story.― I Want You To Make Me Beautiful is a simple story that does everything it sets out to do. At its heart, it's a straightforward story about moving on from the pain of a bad breakup and reinventing yourself into something better. Th...
Masaaki Mizunaka, KENN, Daiki Yamashita, Maria Naganawa, more join cast― The staff for the anime of Kaoru Shinozaki's Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-level Spells (Hazure Waku no "Jōtai Ijō Skill" de Saikyō ni Natta Ore ga Subete wo Jūrin Suru made) light novel series revealed on Sunday the anime's ending theme song's title and artist, additional cast member...
Laid-Back Camp narrowly claims the top spot this week, but Delicious in Dungeon is having none of that and bumps it down in the cumulative. Find out where your favorites rank this week!― 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 ...
Goodbye, Lara follows reborn mermaid, Ninja Skooler features ninja school― Kinema Citrus announced at its panel during this year's Anime Central event on Saturday that it is producing two new anime titled Goodbye, Lara (Sayonara Lara) and Ninja Skooler. Takushi Koide is directing the Goodbye, Lara anime with character designs by Shiori Tani. The anime is based on a concept by Kinema Citrus, and it t...
2019-20 anime was itself a follow-up to first 2013-16 Ace of Diamond anime― Production on a sequel to the 2019-2020 television anime of Yūji Terajima's Ace of Diamond Act II (Daiya no A Act II) manga has been green-lit. Terajima drew an illustration to commemorate the news: Terajima's original Ace of Diamond baseball manga inspired a television anime that premiered in 2013, and Crunchyroll streamed ...
Honestly, you're getting a solid collection of character art with some disposable comic stories where you might get to enjoy some out-of-context obscure CAPCOM cameos.― As a lifelong fan of Street Fighter, it's easy to get excited about the potential of seeing my favorite fighters doing stuff in different mediums. The flip side is that Udon Entertainment's hold on the comic treatment of the characte...
The cast of the Demon Slayer stage play gave a memorable performance during the Japan Day Parade.― The Demon Slayer franchise continues to prove itself as an absolute powerhouse for fans worldwide. The hit manga by Koyoharu Gotouge has been adapted into multiple mediums, including anime, light novels, video games, and a stage play that has been running since 2020. Cast members of the stage play app...
2-hour programming block airs on Fridays starting on May 31― Adult Swim's Toonami programming block announced on Friday that it is creating a new block called Toonami Rewind that is dedicated to running anime, or versions of the series, that aired on the original Toonami prior to its 2012 revival. Toonami Rewind will air on Fridays starting on May 31 at 5:00 p.m. EDT, and it will feature Sailor Moo...
Pokémon Horizons continues to display some of the best the franchise offers with great character work, creative setpieces, surprisingly strong direction, and a focus on a plot that continues to feel engaging.― Pokémon Horizons felt like a breath of fresh air as a new mainline Pokémon series. With a more timid and empathic main character and a stronger emphasis on the adventuring aspect of being a Po...
Sony and Square-Enix are both reorganizing, from new CEOs to staff cutbacks. Also, sad news about Penny Blood, more Cotton, and the latest video game news!― Welcome back, folks! You know, it's always nice to discover old stuff from a franchise you love that you didn't know existed. For example, I didn't know that the old Captain N: The Game Master cartoon had an episode that featured the world of Dr...
Ahead of the romance anime's second season, director Takehiro Kubota discusses the choices, the challenges, and balancing the story between the everyday and the supernatural.― My Happy Marriage began its life as a series of novels written by Akumi Agitogi, and it has since been adapted both as manga and, as of July 2023, an anime series simulcast by Netflix. Agitogi's tale, set in a nebulous time t...
Steve and Chris compare some of the highs and lows of an anime studio change-up, from Attack on Titan and One-Punch Man to Spice and Wolf.― Steve and Chris compare some of the highs and lows of an anime studio change-up, from Attack on Titan and One-Punch Man to Spice and Wolf. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.S...
You've probably read some version of this story before, but I doubt that you've ever seen it be this adorable.― You've probably read some version of this story before, but I doubt that you've ever seen it be this adorable. You and I Are Polar Opposites is based on the tried-and-true formula of a thousand romantic comedies: Suzuki is a popular girl, and Tani is the class nerd. She's bright and perky,...