It's finally time to say adiós to Rebecca. It's not her fault that she was given some of the most confused and directionless writing ever seen in One Piece. Her story with Kyros may have started super promising and then veered off into total underwhelming gibberish, but at least it gets a decently okay bow for the wrap-up. It definitely feels like Oda put a lot of heart and soul into this father/daughter subplot, even if huge chunks of it just didn't work.
Last week, Luffy and Rebecca busted out of the palace in an attempt to reunite the princess with her ruffian father. Kyros has been suffering a strong guilt complex over his shady past and has been trying to distance himself from his daughter, hoping that she can live a better life as royalty. But neither Luffy or Rebecca agree with his conclusion, so they are off to catch him before he leaves the island for good.
"Filler heavy" is an accurate description of this episode, considering that in the manga, the characters' dash towards the flower field was pretty concise. Toei has decided to buy some time by having Luffy and Rebecca getting tripped up by marines who are out to catch them, as well as a sequence later in the episode where Rebecca is running through a forest alone and trying to make it to the other side where she might find her dad. Constant flashbacks to herself as a child, living with Kyros as the toy soldier, are also abundant.
I've got a weak spot for any emotional crying scene in One Piece. When Rebecca and Kyros reunite, the waterworks are flowing within milliseconds. Rebecca is assuring her father that she doesn't care about his past and wants him to stay by her side like he had promised when he was still a toy. Kyros' voice actor's booming wails as he cries continue to be pretty great. I have my grievances with the Rebecca and Kyros storyline, but the worst of it ended months ago. As its own little heartwarming story beat, this episode does okay.
Lastly, we end on a scene between Law and Sengoku off to the side while the rest of the Straw Hat alliance heads to the shore. Both of these characters were like family to Corazon: Law like a son and Sengoku like a parent. The two had never crossed paths before, but they share some baggage. The episode ends on a dramatic cliffhanger, implying some beef between the two, but anyone who's read the manga knows that it's nothing that serious.
Overall, we're finally on our way off the island, about to mark the end of the Dressrosa arc. There's still a few more episodes to go as we deal with Fujitora's impending attack, but spiritually, the loose ends have been tied up. It's not the most impressive episode, since it's stretching out one of the weaker subplots of the arc, but it gets the job done. Buh-bye, Rebecca.
If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.”― If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.” Shiki and Fuyuki's interactions are a mixture of playful (and sometimes sexual) teasing and heartfelt feelings as the two come to value each other. They have real chemistry—and that drives the anime stra...
Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it.― Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...
Series previously inspired 52-episode anime in 1993― This year's 24th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that Gosho Aoyama's Yaiba manga will be getting a new anime adaptation. Aoyama is supervising. The series follows the titular Yaiba Kurogane, a young samurai boy inspired by Miyamoto Musashi, the real-life swordsman who pioneered the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū sty...
Based on the novel by former Nogizaka46 member Kazumi Takayama, trapezium asks its audience to follow one girl who will use anything, and anyone, to achieve her dream.― Trapezium is a strange movie, to say the least. On the surface, it's a rather simple movie that explores youth, their dreams, and the lengths they'll go to achieve those dreams. It's a coming-of-age story wrapped in the veneer of the...
ZeroReq011 remembers what made Spice and Wolf a story for the ages, from its fully realized world and economics to Holo and Lawrence's romantic chemistry.― Back when Funimation was still its own company and not owned by Sony, long before its in-house streaming service was terminated in favor of Crunchyroll's streaming platform, it owned a TV channel. Legal streaming had yet to dominate the Western a...
Anime will star Hiroshi Kamiya, Kotaro Nishiyama, Kotaro Nishiyama― Distribution company Remow announced on Tuesday that Yura Urushibara's Tougen Anki: Dark Demon of Paradise manga will get a television anime in 2025. The company revealed the trailer, key visual, and main cast for the anime. The anime's cast includes:
Kazuki Ura as Shiki Ichinose, the protagonist who inherits the blood of an Oni. Sh...
Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations, from the Yuri on Ice movie to the second half of Stars Align.― Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations from the second half of Stars Align to the 2007 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood movie. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views...
Welcome to the rankings for the Spring 2024 season! The perfect place to check out which hidden gems might have flown under your radar.― 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 ...
Producer Masakazu Kubo shares the animation team's dedication to realism, including bringing in a pro golfer to produce the anime's sound effects.― 64-year-old Masakazu Kubo has been planning and producing anime for decades. He's had a major hand in everything from Pokémon and Detective Conan to Teasing Master Takagi-san and Dorohedoro. Recently, he sat down with us to talk about Tonbo!, his attemp...