Episode 1109 hits the ground running and hardly lets up for the entire episode.
The first half of this week's episode is a continuation of the various battles versus the Seraphim on Egghead Island. We get a brief check-in with all four intimidating child soldier experiments, but the chief battle among these is with the not-Kuma and the not-Mihawk. They are facing down the combined forces of Luffy and Zoro, with Lucci and Kaku handcuffed nearby. After a lot of jumping around and arguing, Lucci and Kaku are freed and add their power to the fight as well. This splits off into Zoro and Kaku tackling not-Mihawk while Luffy and Lucci handle not-Kuma.
This is far and away the best part of the episode. The tension doesn't last long, but it is an interesting dynamic to have Luffy and Zoro waffling over what to do with their former and current but not as immediate enemies. We then get a couple of team-up attacks, which are exciting, I think, especially for longtime fans who probably never expected such a crossover moment. It just shows the pressure these Seraphim have everyone under and the constantly shifting alliances between pirates and the powers-that-be out in the current era's stormy seas.
The back half of the episode is focused on Shanks and Eustass Kid. There is a bit with the giants of Elbaf and reflections on Kid's last encounter with Shanks, as well as a line-up to reintroduce everyone to the audience. I'm more lukewarm on this set piece and would rather go back to Egghead, but I do think a rematch (on hopefully closer terms) between these two is bound to be exciting, funny, or both.
One thing is certain: it's hard to argue with the visual feast on display across the whole runtime. The Toei team is in their usual top condition, which is rare for most other crews, and everything from the high-octane action early on to the more reflective moments is done up to the nines.
Rating:
"What other five-star anime are you watching? Vote on the latest episodes here: Your Score"
Lucas and Chris recall some of the strangest and most surprising crossover episodes in anime history. Which are your favorite?― Lucas and Chris recall some of the strangest and most surprising crossover episodes in anime history. Which are your favorite? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discu...
I walked away from the first half of this series feeling reasonably entertained despite a rough start; it eventually managed to veer into something fun, if a bit uninspired.― While it can be hard to gauge how well anime generally performs on Netflix, if there's one series that's undoubtedly been a success for them, it's Nakaba Suzuki's The Seven Deadly Sins. So much so that they've been consistently...
Anime of Hawaiians arc announced on manga's 7th anniversary― The staff for the anime of Reiji Miyajima's Rent-A-Girlfriend (Kanojo, Okarishimasu) manga announced on Friday that a fourth season will air in 2025. The new season will cover the Hawaiians arc. Friday marks the seventh anniversary of the manga's launch. The anime's third season premiered on July 7, 2023 in the Super Animeism block on MBS,...
'I'm sure Horikoshi-sensei is burning his soul, like One For All, and he's going to deplete his soul like All Might after he finishes drawing the final episode.'― While discourse around My Hero Academia has focused on the manga's imminent ending as of late, you wouldn't have thought the franchise was running out of gas based on the MY HERO ACADEMIA SPECIAL EVENT at this year's Anime Expo. Filling t...
Prince Alcryst and Princess Hortensia from Fire Emblem: Engage will head to Japan to compete in the international competition!― Every year, thousands of people flock to Anime Expo for cosplay alone. While truly impressive cosplay and some of the biggest cosplay creators can be seen on the convention floor and surrounding convention center campus, this particular expression of anime fandom shines br...
Popular sound novel creator Ryukishi07 and Beatrice voice actor Sayaka Ohara look back on Umineko's mysterious ending.― Ryukishi07, the mind behind the When They Cry franchise, and voice actress Sayaka Ohara came together for Anime Expo 2024. Ohara voices the legendary Golden Witch, Beatrice, from Ryukishi's Umineko When They Cry series. Although the final chapter in the story was released in 2011,...
Despite my grievances with how the story is told, I cried like a baby by the end. The Duke of Death and His Maid feels like it can only be described as wholesome edging.― We have finally approached the end of this journey. When I first watched The Duke of Death and His Maid, I didn't think I would grow as emotionally attached to these characters as I did. What I thought would be a light yet digestib...
Near future hero action manga ended on Thursday― A website opened on Thursday to announce that a television anime of Paru Itagaki's SANDA manga has been green-lit. Science Saru is animating the project. The "unconventional Santa Claus hero action" manga tells the story of adults and children in the near future with a declining birth rate. An ordinary boy named Sanda finds out that one of his classma...
Manga about two people sleeping, traveling in car launched in 2019― The official X (formerly Twitter) account for Makoto Takatsu's Wataridori to Katatsumuri (Migratory birds & Snail) manga, revealed that it will get a television anime adaptation, and also announced the manga's return from its four-year hiatus, on Wednesday. Takatsu also drew an illustration to celebrate the manga's return and anime ...
Megumi Han, Ai Kakuma star in anime about young boy aiming to be pioneer of magic in another world― Kadokawa announced the television anime adaptation of Kazuki Kaburagi's Magic Maker ~Isekai Mahō no Tsukurikata~ (How to Perform Alternate World Magic) light novel series on Wednesday, and revealed the anime's teaser visual, teaser trailer, main cast, staff, and 2025 premiere. The anime stars Megumi H...
It's forbidden love at first sight in The Magical Girl and The Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies. Plus, Love Is Indivisible by Twins, No Longer Allowed In Another World, Mayonaka Punch, My Deer Friend Nokotan, Narenare -Cheer for you!-, Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest, Tower of God Season 2, and more!― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2024 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of ...
Producer Kazufumi Kikushima revealed during a press conference on Sunday that Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom (Gekijō-ban Overlord Sei Ōkoku-hen) — the new film project for the Overlord anime — is over two hours long. The Sunday press conference, and the "Crunchyroll Presents Kadokawa Anime" panel at Anime Expo on Saturday, also previewed the film's first eight minutes. The film will open with regula...
Like a cocktail, the ingredients are all there, but they've been blended without skill or care, lacking fizz, leaving only a hint of the flavor and kick of the original.― Despite my intense personal dislike of alcohol (for no profound reason other than it makes me feel ill and I hate the taste), I nonetheless love the original 2006 TV anime adaptation of the Bartender manga. In the same way that Lai...
Trails Through Daybreak is a phenomenal RPG that provides a strong opener for the next era in the series while also serving as an excellent starting point for newcomers.― The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is a phenomenal RPG that provides a strong opener for the next era in the series while also serving as an excellent starting point for newcomers. The Legend of Heroes series—often simpl...
Did you miss your chance to buy Kadokawa's special merchandise at Anime Expo? It's still available online for a limited time.― Anime Expo 2024 has come and gone. Many attendees were able to visit the KADOKAWA Booth and partake in high quality products based off of popular anime titles. For those attendees who were unable to purchase the products they wanted in time and those who were not able to att...