The battles kicking off across Wano continue. As the Straw Hats battle in the Flower Capital, they hear the twang of an approaching shamisen. Orochi's Oniwabanshu ninja arrive and add their force to the conflict, letting loose with gun biwas and arrow-launching helmets. Brook decides to very subtly join the action by doing a great leap and some sick licks on the guitar. Komurasaki is accosted by goons as she tries to escape. Sanji sees this, breaks away from his fight with X Drake and rushes to her aid, only to be cut off by Zoro who not only saves her but already knows her, crushing his heart on the spot.
Across Wano other events are stirring. Law goes to save his crewmates and finds Shachi and Penguin in prison. Hawkins confronts him and tells him that Bepo is being kept elsewhere because of Law's potent Devil Fruit power. Trafalgar is ready to fight, but Hawkins runs his blade along his arm - and Shachi cries out in pain. He has linked his life to Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin, sending a chill down Law's spine.
Back at the prison, Queen is putting Kid and Killer through the ringer. He has them hung upside down over a tank of water and lowers them beneath the surface. That would be lethal for anyone, and given that they are Devil Fruit users it will cause additional agony. Luffy is understandably infuriated by this, and tells Queen to restart the sumo competition. Queen mocks him for being so hopeful and goes to start the battle anew - when suddenly reports come from the prison guards and the earth shakes.
Big Mom has arrived...
An excellent episode and another great entry in Wano's continuing hit parade. We've got multiple high octane battles in progress, nearly all the major players are contributing, and the tension is still finding ways to ratchet upwards. The Toei team is doing more than just adapting Oda's excellent groundwork, they are adding that much more to the experience through their effort. I remember reading this in the manga and being generally excited, but this time around I'm getting amped up for what's coming.
I really appreciate the literal and figurative tone setting the Toei team has been putting into the Wano arc. From moody shamisen during the arrival of the Oniwabanshu to the single shakuhachi playing as Law strolls through city streets, from the hilarious layering of Sanji's ever-more-depressing goofy reaction face to the mono-color filter choices over Luffy and queen as they face off, it's a real treat of an episode.
Not to mention the actual fighting! Sanji always gets the love whether it's on the page or the screen and this episode is no different, The super-hot leg strikes against X Drake pop off the screen in such satisfying ways. The blistering impacts feel more realistic than a fight between a flying soba chef and a heavy metal dinosaur have any right to be.
Can't wait to see what the team has in store for us next week.
As Slam Dunk reached its final stretch, I can see why this series is considered the sports classic that it is today.― This is the largest batch of Slam Dunk episodes that I've reviewed thus far. Originally, I wanted to review the show in more even seasons, but given its overall pacing and release, it wasn't easy to find a moment where it felt right to stop and start again. However, as we approached ...
Main cast, staff, teaser visual, video revealed― A website opened on Thursday to reveal a television anime adaptation of Kogitsunemaru's Izure Saikyō no Renkinjutsu-shi? (Someday Will I Be The Greatest Alchemist?) light novel series, which will premiere in January 2025. The website also revealed the anime's main cast, staff, and a teaser promotional video and visual. The novel series' illustrator Hi...
James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY.― Yatagarasu Gets Violent! James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu, in which Wakamiya plays his hand to find out the truth behind his older brother's scheming to obtain the throne. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY; Hunter x Hunter manga is on its ...
Making a sequel to Code Geass is a daunting task. But with its fantastic main character and a story that doesn't undercut what came before, Rozé of the Recapture is on the right track.― Making a sequel to Code Geass—especially one set close to the end of the series—is a daunting task. Any story that involves an ongoing war massively undercuts both the finale of the original anime and the sacrifices ...
The Switch sequel console is finally happening! The details are scarce, but you can find out more in this week's column. Also: an interview with El Shaddai's Sawaki Takeyasu, Microsoft layoffs, and more.― Welcome back, folks! What a wild week this has been for the gaming industry. We'll go further into it, but jeez. This past week also saw the disappearance of Capcom's Dark Void and Dark Void Zero. ...
The Code Geass creator discusses his new project with Web3 company Azuki, Enter the Garden, and his hope that this new path could help the medium evolve.― Los Angeles-based Web3 anime-styled brand Azuki and advertising conglomerate Dentsu debuted the first nine-minute episode of their joint anime endeavor, Enter the Garden, on April 30. The episode, which has already racked up a quarter of a million...
Wandering Son creator's manga about girls in opera school ran from 2011 until this past March― Ohta Publishing announced on Thursday that Takako Shimura's Awajima Hyakkei manga is inspiring an anime. Ohta Publishing has not revealed any further details about the anime adaptation. The coming-of-age omnibus series follows the girls at an opera music school, with each chapter centering around different...
Special cereal box honors Goku Day― Dragon Ball Z... for breakfast?! Alright, it isn't actually that surprising since General Mills' Reese's Puffs cereal has been rocking the dragon with a limited-time collaboration with Dragon Ball Z since earlier this year. The collaboration is still ongoing, but now Reese's Puffs has reached its FINAL FORM! In honor of Goku Day (May 9 because the numbers for "5" ...
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...
Final volume ships in fall― The 25th compiled book volume of Yuki Sato's Tomodachi Game (Friends Games) manga revealed on Thursday that the series will end with the 26th volume's release in fall. The story, based on Mikoto Yamaguchi's original concept, centers on Yūichi Katagiri, a young man with a perfect student life who has four friends with difficult lives. His peaceful daily life comes to an e...
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...
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...