One Piece Episode 1088 gives us echoes of arcs past even as it sets its sights on new possibilities on the horizon.
Have I mentioned how glad I am that Wano is behind us? Because I'm really glad Wano is behind us. For all of the last arc's strengths – of which there were many and I praised it for those strengths – its isolation from the rest of the world was beginning to wear on me. That was a thematic choice and one that fits the setting of Wano to a tee. That said, as time went, on Wano started to feel less like an island within the broader pirate world and more like it was the main story that the One Piece world was just coming to visit at random intervals. With the feasting done, the goodbyes said, and the bounties updated, the crew is finally getting back to the sorts of shenanigans that made us fall in love with the story all those years ago.
And what shenanigans they are. I'd say roughly 8-10 minutes of the runtime is comprised solely of everyone crying about Vivi. This is fitting! Vivi is a Straw Hat too (even if by dint of not being onboard, she is a franchise location, but that's beside the point). It's great seeing everyone get upset and worry on her behalf. It's also fun when Zoro is being practical and kind of a jerk about it. Seeing Sanji and Zoro go at it again on the deck of the Sunny soothes my soul (and I like the new putdown in the mix of “fourth-placer”). Robin even gets to read the paper and strike her iconic pose – truly I am blessed.
The Rayleigh-saves-the-day angle was interesting. Of course, I never complain about a chance to see Rayleigh and Shakky again so their presence is welcome. It's interesting that Rayleigh specifically mentions that he is getting too old for all this, and we're getting to a place where that entire past generation is completely out of the game. Starting to seem like we're approaching the final arcs…
The Pacifista elements are all quite mysterious. The World Government has been up to no good involving technology, cloning, and so on. The star-shaped pupils of the baby Boa clone were a recurring visual in this episode and I think that sequence was just shockingly well done; as usual, hats off to the Toei team for doing great work week after week.
Rating:
"What other five-star anime are you watching? Vote on the latest episodes here: Your Score"
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...