The episode begins with Hiyori bowing and asking Zoro to help save Wano. Back At Kinemon's camp, everyone is moved to tears by hearing Kawamatsu recount this. There is a brief discussion of the timing on Hiyori and Momonosuke's ages naturally involving Sanji, but soon the focus is on Zoro. The green-haired swordsman uses Enma and cuts a huge chunk off of a cliffside, his arm shrivelling from expending so much energy. Zoro is nevertheless excited about wielding it.
While Zoro and Momo go off into the forest to train more, Kinemon receives a call from the former crime bosses – they have even more troops than expected. Luffy arrives at the camp as well, and after gathering supplies the groups split up to head in their separate directions for the ports. At this stage the Akazaya Nine are all reunited and heading into battle against Kaido himself. Zoro is continuing his training as he learns more about the history of the blades that he wields, while across Wano the power players are moving into position for the final battle. Hiyori's shamisen plays over Luffy training and the land of Wano returns to full bloom as the To Be Continued card flashes.
And with that, another act draws to a close in the story of Wano.
A fine episode that ends up being largely Zoro-focused. If you like seeing training montages and hearing about the legacies of legendary blades, then this episode has you covered. I personally find it all engaging, but I can see how for certain viewers this might be a lot of exposition with little payoff. There isn't a whole lot to comment on either, as this continues to be a broad overview episode that reminds us where all the major parties are. Wano is big! Wano is a lot.
The visual highlights in this episode are still remarkable. Zoro testing out Enma after deciding to save Wano (by rather unceremoniously cutting off a huge chunk of it) is bombastic and marvelous. Zoro has consistently been given amazing moments and this is no exception. I think introducing significant drawbacks to Zoro's use of the Enma blade is quite interesting; Zoro has been pretty much a one-man wrecking crew for a long time (minus that ego check at the bridge) and having his abilities cost him in a tangible way is a welcome wrinkle to his considerable strengths.
I also really enjoyed the theater-like elements on display. The imagery of Wano coming back into full bloom in those final moments of the episode with accompanying shamisen music and curtain imagery is very pleasing. It's all present in the manga but the added impact of hearing it in the anime is great. In terms of cinematography, the top to bottom screenwipe of the falling snowflake was a really nice touch.
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 ...
The final Spring 2024 Manga Guide update includes not-yet-released series from this month, including Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad,Bungo Stray Dogs: The Official Comic Anthology, A Sign of Affection and more.― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it a...
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...