Six of RJ Writing Ink’s Favorite Anime Moments from the Wano Country Arc

After more than four years, our time in Wano is over. Again. The Wano Country arc, likely the longest arc in One Piece in anime and manga, is over. And what an arc it was. I’m proud to have gotten to cover most of the arc on this blog, and nlw that it’s over in the anime, it feels sad to say goodbye to Wano Country a second time. However, we also got some of the best moments in the entire anime out of this arc, and the fans approval showed. Whenever Crunchyroll posted clips from new episodes, they tended to go viral on YouTube!

In honor of the anime reaching the end of the Wano Country Arc, I’m going back and covering some of what I think were the best moments from the entire arc. Granted, I didn’t start watching the anime again until around Act 3, but since I covered the manga here, I think I should get a pass.

Kaido KO’s Luffy in One Hit

For years, One Piece had hyped up the absolute menace that was Kaido while barely giving us any details about him. The little we knew from his sporadic appearances, though, showed that he wasn’t one to be taken so lightly. Luffy learned this first hand at the climax of Act 1 of the Wano Country Arc. After accidentally discovering the meeting place of the Alliance, Kaido nearly killed everyone present, only for Luffy to pick a fight with them to buy time to escape. The captain of the Straw Hat pirates got rewarded for his efforts by getting knocked out in a single hit.

This moment was a foretaste of the monumental challenge that Luffy and his allies were facing. Despite how strong he’d gotten, Luffy still had a ways to go to catch up to Kaido. In addition, we also saw first-hand Kaido’s Devil Fruit powers. He could turn into a dragon! Fitting that the strongest man in the world could turn into one of the strongest beasts in fiction.

Lord Yasuie’s Sacrifice

When first introduced, I didn’t know what to think of the man called Tonoyasu. At first, I thought he was just a traveling companion that Zoro picked up as he walked across Wano Country. However, his importance wouldn’t be revealed until it was almost too late. Halfway through the second act, it’s revealed that Tonoyasu was actually Lord Yasuie, the last of the four Daiymo of Wano Country before Orochi and Kaido took over the country. In order to give the Alliance a fighting chance, Yasuie allowed himself to get caught and executed by the false Shogun’s minions. By doing so, he made it look like the coming rebellion was a mere prank he pulled on Orochi to make him look paranoid. It worked to a fault, and Yasuie died know he got the last laugh.

When I read this in the manga, this was the moment when my natural dislike for Orochi descended to new levels of loathing. Seeing first-hand how Orochi had robbed the people of the ability to even cry at Yasuie’s death left me livid, and I cheered when Zoro came close to ending the man’s life then and there. In hindsight, though, I’m glad he didn’t. Orochi was evil, but he was still a puppet. The real monster was Kaido.

Oden’s Final Words

I’ll be honest about this: I loved pretty much everything about the extended flashback to Kozuki Oden’s life. From his taming of the Kuri region to joining the Whitebeard Pirates and sailing with Roger all the way to Laugh Tale, the whole experience made me love Oden more than I already did. His entire life story was just one, long example of badassery. However, his most legendary moment has to be his death. After enduring an hour being boiled in oil, Oden sacrificed himself to give his retainers the chance to escape. Out of respect for one of the few people able to match him, Kaido chose to end Oden’s life in an act of mercy, but not before he had time to give one last line.

This moment was already amazing to read in the manga, but it was the anime that took Oden’s passing into the status of legendary. Seeing Oden sinking into the oil wih a smile of his face. Hearing the people of Wano finish his last words with tears in their eyes. All of this played to the sound of the shamisen in the background. It was like a moment from a traditional kabuki play. Respect, Oden. You went out like a real one.

Roof Piece

It’s moments like this that make glad I was born in time to see One Piece as it happens. Episode 1,015 of the anime had the honor of adapting the 1,000 chapter of the manga, and it did not disappoint. After making it to the roof of Onigashima, Luffy and his allies stood face to face with the might of not just Kaido, but Big Mom. What does Luffy do? Walk right past them and grab Kin’emon and the others and get them to safety. The message behind that is clear: he’ll only care about them when he deems fit to do so! However, it’s the episode’s final moments that wound up setting the Internet ablaze.

Throughout the Wano Country Arc, Toei made it a point to improve the animation to meet the high expectations that the manga put on it. While moments like Queen’s start to the party were amazing, “Roof Piece” as fans took to calling it, was everything we wanted, and then some! Jaw-droppingly animated to the remix of the now legendary song “We Are!”, this moment was a masterclass in meeting the hype. It was so epic that it wound up trending for several days on YouTube, and it wouldn’t be the last.

Big Mom’s Defeat

After spending the entirety of the Whole Cake Island Arc fighting her, more than a few people were surprised to see Big Mom returning so soon. Having come to Wano Country in pursuit of Luffy, Big Mom instead decided to ally with Kaido so they could take over the world. Instead, her plans for world domination were brought down thanks to the combined efforts of Captain Kid and Trafalgar Law.

Thanks to the arc preceding it, fans were already aware of how inhumanly strong Big Mom was and why she was one of the Four Emperors. We also knew that a fight between her and Luffy and his allies was inevitable. However, I don’t think any of us expected that Law and Kid, not Luffy, would be the ones to knock Big Mom off her throne. Her era was over, and the new generation’s was getting started.

Luffy Ascends to Gear Fifth

For the umpteenth time during the Wano Country Arc, One Piece managed to break the Internet in a moment years in the making. After failing to defeat Kaido for a third time thanks to outside interference, it looked like Luffy might be down for the count. However, this near-death experience proved to be the push he needed to finally awaken his Devil Fruit. For Luffy, it was his ultimate form, Gear Fifth. For the world, it was heralding the return of Joy Boy after 800 years.

I already made a separate post on why this moment is amazing, but I still want to gush over it. From the continual beating of the drums as they built to an energetic crescendo to the grin on Luffy’s face as he awoke, this was what fans had been waiting for since the manga. However, it wasn’t until I Gear Fifth Luffy in action in the anime that I realized how poor my imagination was.

Luffy in Gear Fifth form is a firm argument for why One Piece needed to be an anime. The over-the-top reactions, antics, and hurt that Luffy unleashed on Kaido was like watching a classic Popeye cartoon. Toei pulled out all the stops here, and it showed.

Full Disclosure: these were only a handful of the great moments from the Wano Country Arc. If there are any others that you loved seeing make it into the anime, let me know!

Click here to see more animanga stuff

One Piece Chapter 1057 Review/Recap

It’s over, everyone. After four years, the longest arc in the story of One Piece, and likely one of its greatest, has come to an end. Kaido and Big Mom have been defeated, Orochi is dead, and Wano Country is free at last. Their work now done, it’s time for the Straw Hats to move on, the Laugh Tale and the One Piece now closer than ever. However, Oda had one last surprise to throw our way , and it’s the most shocking of all.

Recap

As Yamato, Momonosuke, and Kin’emon race to Tokage Port, Yamato drops a bombshell: she’s not going with the Straw Hats. Like Oden before her, she plans on traveling across Wano before setting sail on her own. She already told Luffy about it. Momo and Kin’emon, though, are still angry at Luffy for leaving without saying goodbye. After all, they’d been with the Straw Hats since Punk Hazard. However, as soon as they actually corner the Straw Hats…Momo breaks down crying and begging Luffy not to leave, moving some of the Straw Hats to tears over it.

Luffy, though, says that even though he’s an adult, he’s still mentally a kid, and a dummy. But he also considers Momo like a little brother, so he leaves him a gift in the form of his flag. He wants him to put it up as a warning to anyone who tries to mess with Wano Country, and promises that he’ll come to get them if they ever want to be pirates.

Their goodbyes now said, the Straw Hat, Kid, and Heart Pirates set sail…and then get into a competition over which way they’re leaving. 

In the Flower Capital, a massive play’s being put on, recounting the story of the liberation of Wano. It’s a tale of powerful pirates that Momonosuke brought with him who bested the dragon Kaido and the demon Big Mom. And, of course, it’s about the last, vengeful moments of Orochi Kurozumi. With a reminder from Hiyori and a cheer from the crowd…you know what, just look.

And thus concludes the tale of Wano, a story of bravery, sacrifice, and inherited will. 

Review

*clap clap clap* 

What. An. Ending. For that matter, what an arc. It’s almost sad to know that the Wano Country Arc’s ended. It’s the longest arc in the manga’s history, and given how much time it has left, it will likely retain that title forever.

Now, I had been a fan of One Piece and had followed it sporadically for years, but it wasn’t until Punk Hazard that I started reading it every week. That was ten years ago. That’s how long Momonosuke and Kin’emon have been with the Straw Hats in our time. Thus, it’s tough to say goodbye to them. That said, the fact that Wano Country seems destined to play a major role in world affairs soon means that we’ll likely see Momonosuke, Yamato, and the Scabbards again. 

Yamato’s Decision and Oda’s Blindside

Now, on to the elephant in the room, Yamato. What a blindside by Oda. So many fans of the manga expected that Yamato would be the final member to join the Straw Hat Pirates. She’s powerful, she’s got the right backstory, and she’s already connected to Luffy thanks to her being friends with Ace. However, I’m pretty sure that we’ll see her again before the series ends, along with everyone else from Wano.

Orochi Got What he Deserved.

Speaking of Wano, some people are saying that the way Wano handles the death of Orochi seems hypocritical of Oda. A recurring theme of One Piece is how being into the world isn’t a sin, and persecuting people for their blood ties is wrong, yet they’re doing the same to Orochi post-mortem. 

Stop. It. Oda’s not being hypocritical. He made it pretty clear that it was wrong of Wano Country to hunt down the Kurozumi family because of the actions of a single member. That hatred created Orochi, and he unleashed it back on Wano a thousand-fold. However, Orochi’s actions and planning on destroying his own country and letting his people die made him lose the moral high ground. In the end, he got what he deserved: an ignoble and pathetic death.

Laugh Tale Closer Than Ever Now

Now, with that rant out of the way, we’re truly in the endgame now. From here on out, the Straw Hat’s are in a race to Laugh Tale, and I can’t wait to see what Oda has planned for the finale to his legendary story. And I want to keep following it on this blog for as long as I can. I may also do a review of the Wano Country Arc as a whole in the coming weeks.

SAYONARA, WANO COUNTRY!!!!! 

I Give “Final Curtain” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

One Piece Chapter 1056 Review/Recap

The story in Wano’s almost over. Kaido and Big Mom were beaten, the Beast Pirates thrown out, and the Navy Admiral sent packing. In other words, it’s almost time for the Pirates to head out. The world they’re heading into, though, isn’t the same one they left. And a big part of that is due to the new Yonko, Buggy, and his new alliance, Cross Guild. 

I had the biggest grin as I read about this.

Recap

In the Shogun’s Palace, Raizo and Shinobu are left weak and emaciated thanks to their beating from Ryokugyu. Worse, Momonosuke and the Scabbards admit that without Kaido, they will have to be diligent against outside threats. To that end, Nekomanushi and Inuarashi decide to stay in Wano, picking Carrot to be the new leader of the Minks. 

Life continues, though. Shinobu recovers and takes Tama on as her apprentice, with Luffy promising to let her join him once she gets stronger. As for Momonosuke and Hiyori, they have a tearful reunion with their grandfather, Sukiyaki, overjoyed that they still have family left. 

A few days after the victory celebration, Momonosuke goes looking for the Straw Hats, only to find that they’ve all left for Tokage Harbor without telling him or Kin’emon, with Yamato planning to join them. In fact, the Straw Hat, Kid, and Heart Pirates are all leaving. After arguing over which route they take (with Law playing both of them,) the three pirates acknowledge that from here on out, they’re rivals in the race for the One Piece. 

Oh, and there’s also the fact that Buggy’s formed a new alliance, Cross Guild. And that alliance now has Crocodile and Mihawk in its ranks.

…..I’m sorry, what?

Review

Okay, there’s a lot to unpack in this chapter, but let’s start out with the biggest elephant in the room: Buggy, the Clown who pretends to ooze Giga-CHAD energy. I don’t know how, but he managed to get Crocodile and Mihawk, both former Warlords, to work for him. They’re probably just using him, though, since they know how weak he is. Regardless, that explains why Buggy is now a Yonko. That, and his new alliance, Cross Guild, might be the Clown’s magnum opus. 

Cross Guild is Freaking Brilliant!

In a move that only a madman could pull, Buggy’s new group is now putting bounties out on Marines. No, you didn’t read that wrong. Buggy. Is Putting. Bounties. On the Marines! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

This is the biggest piece of news to come out of this chapter by far. Until now, the general rule of thumb for most Pirates has been to avoid fighting the Marines unless they have to or are strong enough to do so. Now, Buggy’s basically putting the hunters in their position. And given what we’ve seen of some Marines, they deserve bounties on their heads. I feel bad for Coby and Garp, but Akainu and Ryokugyu will deserve it! 

The writing’s on the wall for the World Government. They’re being backed into a corner, and everyone knows it. Their day of reckoning is coming, whether they like it or not. 

Let the Race Begin!

As for the rest of the chapter, it’s great to see that Momo and Hiyori learned that their grandfather was alive. The two siblings have each other, but they clearly still want a parental figure in their lives. I’m happy for them.

Also, Shinobu is skinny and pretty again. Talk about a glow-up!

As for Pluton, it will remain hidden until the day when it is needed. Luffy doesn’t care about it…but Caribou does. Now Caribou knows about two of the three Ancient Weapons, and plans on telling a certain person about them. Whoever this person is, they cannot be good for anyone. 

With Shonen Jump on break next week (I think), we’ll have to wait two weeks to see Luffy and the Straw Hats off. However, I’m looking forward to seeing if Yamato finally joins. She’ll be the perfect final member of the crew, and many fans think so, too. Here’s hoping Luffy let’s her join!

I Give “Cross Guild” a 4.5/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

One Piece Chapter 1052 Review/Recap

At long, long last, the war for Wano Country is over. The Alliance stands victorious, the Beast Pirates shattered, and Kaido and Big Mom are stuck in an underground magma chamber. Let’s hope they stay there for the time being. However, the fight wasn’t without sacrifice. As the world deals with the aftermath, a new face arrives in Wano as the new dawn arrives. This is going to be a long one, by the way!

Recap

News of Kaido and Big Mom’s defeat quickly reaches the Gorosei in Mary Geoise, and the timing couldn’t be worse for them. Word will spread, and any balance of power left will fall apart. However, they do learn that Zunesha has left and that Wano’s borders will remain closed for the time being. Despite this, they remained determined to capture Robin.

In Wano, those left behind adjust to the new dawn. Hawkins and Drake rest on Onigashima, the brainwashing of the Flower Capital’s kids starts to be undone, and all over the land, people talk of the heroes who saved them. Not just Oden, but Hiyori, Denjiro, and above all, Joyboy. In the Shogun’s palace, Luffy and Zoro finally awaken after being asleep for more than a week. Everyone begins to rejoice before enjoying the hot springs in preparation for the massive festival held later that day.

In Udon Port, Apoo, Law, and Kid join Franky and Usopp with news on their new bounties, and who got dubbed the new Yonko.

Unbeknownst to everyone, though, a new visitor’s arriving in Wano: Admiral Ryokugyu.

Review

This chapter was something else, in my opinion. It didn’t explain as much as fans wanted, but also gave us a general idea of what’s happening now. I’m going to break it all down as best as I can.

The World Government Stays Out of Wano

Originally, the World Government planned to annex Wano if Kaido were to fall. However, thanks to Momonosuke’s decision, Wano remains closed for a little while longer. He wants the country to be ready for what will come soon. The Gorosei even compliment Momo for being a shrewd man.

At the same time, their attempts to kill Luffy ended up backfiring in the worst way possible. As a result, now Luffy has become the next Joyboy, and is a hero to all of Wano Country. When the time comes, they will help him. And with the Warlords abolished, they’re weaker than ever.

As for Ryokugyu, there’s no telling if he’s coming to Wano as a friend or foe. However, I don’t think Luffy has to worry about him. At his level now, he’s beyond the Admirals.

Momonosuke Will Lead the New Dawn of Wano

At last, the new dawn has come to Wano, and Momonosuke’s taken his place as Shogun. He may not be as strong as his Dad was yet, but he’s going to be a great leader. Too bad for him, but he can’t use being a kid to get attention from Nami and Robin anymore.

I knew that would happen, but it was still hilarious to see. As for Yamato, she may actually join the Straw Hats.

As for the Scabbards, they’re able to lay Oden, Toki, Yasuie, and the others to rest in a shrine in Ringo, watching over Wano for all time. However, it also appears that Ashura and Izo also died during the final battle. It’s sad to know they fell, but it also lends real weight to what happened. As for Orochi and Kanjuro, we have yet to hear if they’re truly dead, but I’m hoping they are.

The Rise of the New Yonko

As of this battle, while Big Mom and Kaido may still be alive, they’ve lost their titles as Yonko. The Beast Pirates will likely be forced to rebuild the country they ravaged. Big Mom may return to Whole Cake Island, but her power will be broken.

As for who will become the new Yonko, we all know one of them will be Luffy. His bounty will likely skyrocket to surpass Kaido and Big Mom’s. As for the others, it’s possible that Law and Kid will be declared Yonko. No matter what, though, every pirate who took part in this will see their bounties increase. The whole world will be pushed into a massive uproar. Alas, we will not know for some time.

Oda’s On Vacation

As fans know by now, Eichiro Oda’s going on vacation for the next month or so. According to Twitter, he’s doing this so that he can revise the story in preparation for the final saga. This doesn’t mean One Piece is ending soon, though. It will likely last until the middle of the decade. However, Oda wants to ensure that the finale meets the fans expectations.

I say that’s a good idea. The Wano Arc was something he’s been building up for ten years now. He deserves to take a vacation. Fans may not like it, but the least we can do is let him relax.

I Give “A New Morning” A 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.