5 stars for the next thrilling installment of swashbuckling.
One Piece is a long running anime based on the serial in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine written by Eiichiro Oda and telling us of the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and the rest of his crew, the “Straw Hat Pirates”.
This collection comprises episodes 276-299 and takes place during the Enies Lobby arc. The usual spoiler alert applies here, we’re well into the story so don’t read on if you’re planning to watch the previous installments.
Luffy, Chopper, Sanji, Nami, Sniper King (a.k.a. Usopp) and Zoro have finally made it to Enies Lobby, the World Government Headquarters, in order to rescue their crew mate Nico Robin, who has been captured by CP9 and is destined for the Gates of Justice.
Once through those gates there will be no chance of getting her back, so the Straw Hats are on a very strict deadline. With help of Franky and his family and Granny Kokoro and Chimney, they must defeat the powerful individuals who make up CP9 and make it to Rob Lucci and Spandam before they can take Robin past the point of no return.
As you would expect from One Piece, this collection is a riot of noise and colour, filled with astonishing characters and ever more imaginative fight scenes. Kaku’s transformation into a giraffe is easily one of the funniest things I have seen for ages.
It also features quite a few flashbacks, which some people may find irritating but which I rather enjoyed in the context of the story. We see how the crew came to be together, and the events which led Robin to this terrible predicament.
In true One Piece style there are also plenty of tears and a very strong storyline full of important lessons concerning friendship and loyalty.
A must own for UK One Piece fans but this far into the story, probably not for the casual observer.
“It’s been ten years since that day. I set out to sea to become a pirate. I’ll protect my friends and my crew the same way that Shanks protected me.”
One Piece Collection 12 is available to buy now on DVD.
| Director | Kônosuke Uda |
| Author | Eiichiro Oda |
| Genre | Anime, action, adventure |
| Starring | Colleen Clinkenbeard, Christopher Sabat, Luci Christian, Sonny Strait |
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