One Piece

Or bathing suits.

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Neuchwanstein is the obvious inspiration here, with a bit of "Little Nemo" too :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADrAgsaq7P8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BKh8*I1H1kA4TXY6Bk4tPCHBmHtqh85U7A9XO9nA7nXJAMU6vqhz1*Y83OiPKhztSscp6mumSHY1uVQhd40klwnhpzGw1F6BnAnbXwLvzzivXcl8CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20138%20-%2016.JPG?dc=4675452298596936098

Homage to McCay's Gertie :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADdAgQae7L8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BfASYxnyGoEWWzFjPlPZZuQWZrv!IchIG11BOgx1QzuZ!RU!tao2Lv6sYzvaIeJlAqVt1NF1fSnDH3WZwm!SsxHkLJexEZph8UON4Mjz0ybjXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20116%20-%2008.JPG?dc=4675451783018722150

Homage to Calvin's imaginary dinosaur :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAAAF4aNcj8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BfASYxnyGoEXXQKNfjpdNh!DMh6F085KAYjHU8S22*waP8e7jaAVqYbRRNKVcAUakf2vvFY3sR8sW6ytZ5D7FcAUGqUc0ipq*hdNqpGvROngAAAAAAAAAAA/One%20Piece%20-%20116%20-%2002.jpg?dc=4675451782996647609

This will become your favorite character! :) He is Mr 2 Bon of Baroque Works (to call him "loud and proud" is an understatement). His battle with Sanji is one of the funniest moments in the series so far : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YACwHGwaVsr8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2B0IXppBdpRcFG0iHN5fpJWrbW6FNukmOfqSH6Q!RpwkqDkNhbykjxITP!p9p1ygiDFBC!AS!onSmLUnswm0XS0lEwYbEo*046HLwu06J3kbfXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20154%20-%2016.jpg?dc=4675452307722480154

Mr 2 Bon entertains the troops! :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADrAmUa8sn8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BBaYfBdJbYH3yUjSPqFtX55AX6ViZ93tNq5TjuiVZDbAb4Yniq7Cx9IOYgb0CXw75RiTw47Fh3dhiR6gAts7shdISq4rSIcmKRucxUg8Vqr7XcmcCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20156%20-%2014.jpg?dc=4675452308816799643

Luffy is notorious! -- too bad the Marines can't find a scary picture for their wanted poster :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwDnAgMULp4WrERVeDVRJ4*Ma9CXB9mVUeX3qF9l6F8HYIsBQEPC4MD!Suq0jpZyR0UiNbZiab9eL!CaPyR*j9*KDzVop0BrekElvmpIrmc/17.jpg?dc=4675450665826834457

One of the two giants on Little Garden Island (excellent perspective drawing -- again, echoes of Winsor McCay) :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADhAv0ZtbD8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BfASYxnyGoEXULBMX1UHV3WEmDSuDgv8O5wkLQmKzNbB7XAXLdWvsnwoGIeX4Wyb8yQI9mLe4ZHZNzFbqHkvl!enifK0Q3TJ8b6csiWoYHLTXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20116%20-%2010.JPG?dc=4675451783025853386

The second of two giants on Little Garden island (more cartoony, but still great) :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADlAgAad7H8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BfASYxnyGoEXK0x1CO8OjmkzZbM820cBnzNcrtldb7RjECA6q7PpLH48gjhApRdYKFf2DVGjsMCZnvYADfRth!kAsaEYMMXGqlT6Bf0aU*vzXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20116%20-%2004.JPG?dc=4675451783004230612

When Sanji joins Luffy's crew, Zoro feels threatened -- and so begins an endless series of "alpha male" challenges between the two of them. Here's one with dinosaurs : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAAAAcazLL8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2Bw0lWpyiyjs8nfPD5FnwuE4r9988AN67oaXTRQjuTc7MqFzWKjWYJjqzVmGKjHfD!Ud3d0CaNYFzfWXj9Aao1MVEKvGaD5qPNXfsrRko!*4MAAAAAAAAAAA/One%20Piece%20-%20128%20-%2014.JPG?dc=4675452114176714536

This is Belle-Mere, ex-Marine and foster-Mom of Nami. Her story is the emotional core of the "Arlong arc" :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwDnAqITHIrtLM47kpHgZ9HHO9DB26MQmWjhtCUowd92rI2dI*gE1lVcGA2DUfIwiLEY7AppQI!JBViDd2s7wH!MA!MHbbLI5E*wDAYMcRE/06.jpg?dc=4675450659266267140

This is Tashigi, a gutzy (and slightly clutzy)Marine with a passion for pedigreed swords. Here she appraises Zoro's sword -- telling him things he didn't even know about it :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RADdAiUUUa4XEO7HW0KLRch*jTwRybLrby!8GjKUimG3hCB3!b!cmFTPpI4gcuawSRxw5cIBqG3Sy7o1BxIDOS!xjlp7ETKlXFGydr7ipWg/08.jpg?dc=4675450667237217409

And since Zoro feels threatened by Tashigi's expertise, he resorts to "alpha male" mode with her too, trying to prove
that he's man enough to carry that rare sword around :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RADdAiMU0K0!!cOjowTuM*DUogqauTjqZbSLd7mJh0mb!YKNJsS2HoyTstlt9usc28jVPyZpDl0rf4C2RvTF1fJndHHmB5cWRPlsTTFbUEw/15.jpg?dc=4675450667267070613

Inevitable moment in the rain when they hear their names being called by each of their crews and realize that they're actually supposed to be enemies :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RADdAiEUvqxAZAPvDUEivJDh!7KjMYkuvWwOofqrEQDVTdypk0TU2y3a*qjI2!ol465PD6infjKEO11Nh9ZLBqi8qwmOMQepG5t!a3Ou6zo/10.jpg?dc=4675450668135374607

Pirates of the Drum Empire (and a switch to a more cubist way of drawing) :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADnAg0a8bL8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2By3NoNhpEYWP!aAcbwse!AlMfnr0iz2x8av64cZyQsR3hu4lzOPJr*XsUdt!yxuzpavAuORd84UOL6Z6TSDI*4V**vlM42L199PjkZgfT5LbXclsCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20135%20-%2015.JPG?dc=4675452296902258126

Pell and Chaka, guardians of the kingdom of Alabasta (and a more romantic, sweeping way of drawing -- makes me
think of the Baghdad episode of Sandman) :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADxAmcaKMr8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BsqaVRmw6*8Q*dYNQ*ueYDOG9vaUNa*snuADYu0FNtiyP0oLIqIaRPvo*xDZs7wnPwJ3ATt9BDrdMMT2ZSUe0gyR8VDD329CwJTs6qImGMgrXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20167%20-%2012.jpg?dc=4675452314292316646

An iconic moment when Luffy saves a pirate flag that's been shot down :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADhAm4aiMv8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BR420J62ynXrrhGq*s7l*hEqulNNqxld6rMmNMzvNk4urclD1W2e88HrP6REGBMvbfqghVapRsqlvqvXdlfuwO!O*RMdCxbp7yOjKmQFzhbHXcl0CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20148%20-%2008.jpg?dc=4675452304740452546

Lovely view of the Merry Go entering Drum Island : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAAAGQaXcj8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BOOKirFvkhi7CeT4RXzrKELWuGZHuU1MrDf55hcRK1kD5ZS1wk1L0Epn6Yjfe8KsJJfo8MgknLnL7hRnElB2*1g!bP*IUXUoJk2JN2sGRmncAAAAAAAAAAA/One%20Piece%20-%20132%20-%2012.jpg?dc=4675452265227521744

Nami in the witch doctor's castle (that's Chopper who is walking by her, he's half-reindeer, half human) :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADrAg8ah7T8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2B4C8mvf4kXIwzf*lX3S9yocWFCWb5832IRR773N*d6auC9q36U*fUZXwm!8scRjf46Sa5YPxGPZC!!YZ7BKzqtElEmO9UlvV47hyy65lfmG*XcmcCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20139%20-%2009.JPG?dc=4675452298962538030

Intense moment when Chopper accidentally poisons a pirate
because he thought that the skull and crossbones on the label meant the stuff was good medicine for pirates :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAMA20aM8r8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BTRSb4Ro31ouxxAdR48FmZQb4qGM!wRzI44Pb5j1KS!kQxSmzGK3j0E*QtdazQ8Od9hFARqEeXOX1t0aLEax9uKa30c1!leRyTDOVSu42vVLXcngCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20144%20-%2015.jpg?dc=4675452302035863917

Robson the snow hippo :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAAAAsab7L8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2By3NoNhpEYWNr5*ypfvhVSzba*UK2W!LOFvXZH0dQ1DTMPPjAUG2h0H8G77RfcU554WC7h5IEZZUO2pKcXz68dolY!iguA!4nhEk9QsHdOhcAAAAAAAAAAA/One%20Piece%20-%20135%20-%2013.JPG?dc=4675452296888541273

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"Scary monsters! Super Freaks...!" (Is this guy Bowie or what?)
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter234.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4517

A "Mad Magazine" type panorama of pirates carousing in a bar :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YwDnAvUakQT8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BQ2lje71W11aueCHVyuYDDb8LCpbgxHWh8ApQKXZAKHlMLQruFivDVKfkRCF8ImXJaKYbqIO2Cbi9z1QtoJNXDMZwe!kg0PK*pnW9Ax5FBlYvJV!dk2AREA/One%20Piece%20-%20224%20-%2012-13.jpg?dc=4675452399078734733

A delicately drawn arial view -- to tell you more would be to spoil the plot :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAAAMAaVtz8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BQ7Lck1jc*qLrsw8abjWzkrZOx2hChfpjbgpjaZwIKOLrxcLQ5bnV74xf2qjC6Lj3YL9E9YkPsSQy6JNozy4oT4TvCVJjK6bVacMM1THHBPsAAAAAAAAAAA/One%20Piece%20-%20210%20-%2009.jpg?dc=4675452394605744224

Nice "kid's book art" of Luffy, as Merry Go finally reaches the Grand Line :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RADdAiUUMa3HLa3wh1kmhazKB0ylZBMa4IZ*1vWTna*UCoK50PGX0Q7WSVI6h8hsOmPECgnflteGAmQ36!PxhIyS4M3iJa4KfiPZzc5d32Q/02.jpg?dc=4675451778349467543

Bellamy's "New Age" pirate crew is comprised of extremely annoying fashionistas! :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter223.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4318

Nami makes Luffy promise not to get involved in any fights for one whole day, but only two minutes after he makes that promise, this occurs ... a classic image of "uh-oh" understatement :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter223.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4321

After being jeered at by fashionistas, Nami recants : "I take it back, Luffy -- Just kick their asses!!" But Luffy refuses to break his promise -- and won't let Zoro fight either. As a result, both are are pulverized by Bellamy, and then laughed out of town by his fashionistas. However, as they approach the pier, the "cherry pie" pirate gives them consolation of sorts :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADhAmkauMn8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BH06x*!Oin7iw33RPwebtuwzRVoKqMTZRmfyHmUkTMw0lZLuAkQ5E6URqYs0C7XEv3X0PS9LmVY1AY6JtSJpnNMRmZgFWIVk0zm41zgiDi4DXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20225%20-%2015.jpg?dc=4675452399564013544

Bellamy warns Luffy not to get "killed by his own imagination" : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADnAmgansn8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BQ2lje71W11b0hoK0oMG!sQEHQC5bykR5pZ2Y*9iS4VwVmCJrdwgHX5vw*xu6pp3NP5E2w5zZu2g*jCAnUgwuC4I9P86bryRhyHChpgGSQBbXcl8CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20224%20-%2016.jpg?dc=4675452399093248541

More Hewlett-esque drawings -- this one of the council of elders :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter233.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4507

The forest animals resent having pirates in their midst :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAARA2Aa5cf8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BEeXnL40hzTP9jh39k8pEf9qYCycWYiuvcaM9LsU9E!zI9iNvUB4ibuPBreYphYlNjEH6tp*Qu8oxQQQnAiBcq88fHDBAXpYnGDGAfLX1OU7XcnUCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20231%20-%2003.jpg?dc=4675452401534194579

This is Robin Nico, an archaeologist who at first is an enemy of Luffy, but later becomes a sort of friend. Robin has a unique ability -- she can make her arms attach themselves (Hindu-diety style) to other people and other things. (Which will no doubt endear her to the slash-fic and hentai doujinshi crowds ...)
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter202.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=3921

Here she uses her talent to toy playfully with Chopper and Luffy (those are her hands coming out of the floor), while Nami looks on disapprovingly. http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAfA78aj9z8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BCUlCQMtFP!4UVGinYAgsLDP4YGhEbORmdZAIUa*xz!zSlk!93MjUN5JgHZk12Wtaf!C9jnh4ZsZCtiNtL!M6SAXFK4MrrCmFEdZNaRujA8HXcosCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20218%20-%2010.jpg?dc=4675452397120134203

And in this Sandman-like sequence, Robin attaches her hands to Tashigi's body and turns Tashigi's own sword against her (Poor Tashigi! Once again she's found herself on the wrong side of the battle ...). http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter201.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=3911

A very Daniel Clowes-type drawing of Tashigi sobbing after her defeat. The guy in the picture is Smoker, her boss. He's the only one who seems to have figured out what's driving her crazy ... :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADVAsMazNz8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BRQEqkY1st08!WSbwas*arR1nFjIXkH1c!xcip!m6gaHhO6p50OsFCBr!L1gc6AGhJhX3nl4zdKwKeZX!7dooJW!ysuHSS96cVYWdCbvHzrzXclECTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20212%20-%2017.jpg?dc=4675452395065078251

... And that's why, when a second "wanted" poster turns up at the base, he wastes no time in giving her their next mission ... :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter217.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4207

Captain Shoujo, the monkey pirate :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADpAl4ad8j8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BJBp0xvExLhfmpGqwjmGGuCbdt8w6bQqwbaT2O0bR6daK!U9jLo13j8rtp31LvcFQhoQ61D3COnlJ3qUO5YIz6tgJWKQtJ8H!5mT9ZNwBiNvXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20226%20-%2011.jpg?dc=4675452399751476140

Well, now that I'm here actually, why not answer a few questions ...

The scenery chewing guy? That would be Captain Kuro, who makes his first appearance in the manga within the same arc that Usopp (the long-nosed guy who annoys everyone) makes his appearance. Poor Usopp -- he's not very will-liked even within the story itself! Kuro shows up around chapter 24, all prim and bishoneny, but doesn't actually do his "evil claws and scenery-chewing" thingy until something like chapter 33. I have no idea if/when he shows up in the anime -- I've only seen 3 episodes.

Sanji is a very amusing character, and highly quoteable too : "A knife is a chef's soul -- no worthless person should be allowed to touch it!", etc. He's certainly one of the most memorable manga/anime characters I've seen in a long time. And his past is interesting too. Do they go into that much in the anime?

I also like Zoro, who is this amusing mix of invincibility and vulnerability : he'll pulverize 20 pirates without mercy one day, then yell like a baby the next day because someone "hurt his feelings"! It's fun to see the stereotype of the "invincible swordsman" toyed with like that.

(Oh, I think in the USA Shonen Jump translations he's called Zolo though -- maybe because they didn't want a lawsuit with that other famous swordsman. You know, "the Gay Blade" ... Zorro -- with two "z"s, not one).

:)

Some more courtesy of her:

Luffy's crew snags a "South-Facing Choh Bird" to use as a compass, but the bird resents being captured: http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADnAmgaUsn8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BQgFkF2VJ*Usz7S*A*pMsvD8ariXgt9OV0Gftpjwh9zMW*iBGyVvwvFnVy5yBnOyjXF13n!yHew!Jc43L9gVOpekTmJoGzpEnWo5kknczrIjXcl8CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20235%20-%2012.jpg?dc=4675452403881955733

While Pirate Chef Zeff and Sanji (as a kid) are marooned and starving, Zeff dreams of a floating restaurant : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwDRApITOokWrERVeDVRJ5YITBV!uAfgcAuqj!hbFreL3YTlvfceusQrOH4lu!Si9b4X0WyU9JbJY66M!by5pcNkvTmCgupgASx8q*g063s/17.jpg?dc=4675450644298619487

Patie and Kalune, the "Bluto and Popeye", of Restaurant Baratie -- enjoy brawling and are always trying to catch Sanji off guard : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwDlApkThIk!!cOjowTuMy0kA2qJMLnhSGqLok8YAWSzFS4RHSullt7AhUZe41slkSM*1ze2tU1gsCU6hOjYMlOdz5hL3odnoTXq4hhvngg/15.jpg?dc=4675450647554357408

Since he knows the pain of starvation firsthand, Sanji is understandably upset about Luffy's crime ... : http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter155.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=3055

Attack of the killer snow bunnies!: http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADhAg8acrP8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2By3NoNhpEYWPIH7VOZEe!17AhaSa8UowEZq1BxgAM1pT4Ty0pbtIPi8pWknwOcZUJpNQN!*owwK1ep9sdSHtrSRUMqWJ8WbC4hlZDsx9seADXcl0CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20135%20-%2008.JPG?dc=4675452296852920087

The alpha male battle continues -- this time over "who has the largest bounty" : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADnAmYaWcr8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BInNxDAGWULbpQyz63ec25fW*LHIenjV6A1kCw7B6Gy*mAMVVe5tZlTXOu39fq4yPMDjzbusV8mrryNXUDrEXJd6kuj!9XR7zftGpEjI21CrXcl8CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20236%20-%2008.jpg?dc=4675452404104143936

Sanji's main weakness is women ; Zoro's is too, -- but in the opposite way : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwAAAPwT9JyxXA7wB!zhnMP8DR!*b!xXeiBPd4v7iWe8F5*cQ!aeBTBELoaJw6MPXgZNwaxUcynq!as7gZeYCCgshJc!2XtGpMg5tV4aCfg/05.jpg?dc=4675450650423661213

Luffy's blunt words about death foreshadow trouble in Alabasta, as well as subtly shifting the tone : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADrAmka0cr8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2Bozz48rf!jFZg93*qFlXmxjmxo9*gvhwDC6xiPZKpkvp59O68gcv52zP3bIt6KBeCLfrlFH*Re8iz7BAF7so3Gl3CdkdbJ5HEOw1fB29QI7vXcmcCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20166%20-%2016.jpg?dc=4675452314040477262

Usopp collapses in the snow. In desperation, Vivi revives him by slapping him silly (he looks
like someone from "Troubletown" now, doesn't he?) : http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAAAAkaAbP8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2B4C8mvf4kXIxGx7XrD3bKOVOwWwUUzXQomy1w5L0kCETNOExIpUYBA7EMpl6*djAfQGYlFS6G9Htxt8Z5Jvpi428LUNGyOdePYtl85WSmNhjXcl8CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20139%20-%2003.JPG?dc=4675452298886580738

While the crew discusses their plan to save Alabasta from Baroque Works, Luffy keeps shouting "And then I get to kick Crocodile's ass, right?" (the rhythm here is similar to the Samurai Jack "...and then they fight!" episode) http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter155.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=3061

So far, the story is exceptionally well-plotted -- characters and
events that seem like tangents or "one-offs" always come back later and profoundly affect things -- it's very satisfying to be rewarded for noticing details and for paying attention. (The exact opposite of "Life Aquatic"). This scene is the first time when that concept is explicitly voiced :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter237.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4566

Lovely panorama of the cloud ocean :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter237.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4568
Usopp dives into the cloud ocean, which may or may not have a floor! :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter237.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4570

Bouncing on clouds -- a sweet, peaceful interlude before another intense battle :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter238.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4592

Half of the fun of a new island is watching the crew figure out how it "works" :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter239.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4607

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Wild perspective as Luffy shoots out of the water and then falls from the sky in the Arlong arc :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwAAAJMTwYhLcelHiGVrx55KTcyJjrQKPQyhwdEXKToGrfz6D5MBRLDNF!EROl92ZySfr8yjyTiwl*emmq3bVAmEzG2HfYsIG31Su0sNZOU/14.jpg?dc=4675450664050553698

Another "calm before the storm" moment just before reaching the war-torn country of Alabasta :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADZAgcatLH8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2B*deO3hOZ*Qulp6ZAxfv2uKrqW!sESC39XsNAjXpbhY0t6FGdjKt9rk4mGvnf!SFkev4IqZbEQVKLOQtI6GGLF1SEY1R*XqmLq!h3yVehzeHXclUCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20115%20-%2004.JPG?dc=4675451782809186603

The Alabasta chefs try to out-cook Luffy, but his appetite proves stronger than their abilities :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADdAr8aodv8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BaiXUTYFopf64o2!dag4FeYL8FjS4*0CcQpcNhbtBrxZzdzwL7d5tH1Z6J9IUyLjG6XuDc7C1EPE6FOHX1!zdNtuof3VbGMsVLfCGsmw9sOnXclkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20213%20-%2011.jpg?dc=4675452395488587478

The ever-quoteable Sanji, this time in the middle of a battle with a pirate who can shoot fire :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwDhApET34dAZAPvDUEivL2fzP15Z1nVdPS8FNiXT9dWyDZL*rShf*UQUTjLcy0W831UQoMdKWbBTo39A3zAQHTEljROx387y2r24IJgfNc/10.jpg?dc=4675450643143600975

----

The Straw Hats have huge appetites and are adventurous eaters, but even
adventurous eaters have limits :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADZAmQaEMn8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BjdsL1HT!w826VsRWaqmzjMPIzlJX5Vv1oYpFzR48WnheXW9B0J2Q24EHcfDCWdLGVbWHfTUZddk*PzS7cs!t!s9TfCmH!YMXa7d1WqFTcJDXck0CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20253%20-%2003.jpg?dc=4675452411230867479

"Obey the chef or die of starvation!" -- Sanji wins this round :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter253.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4853

Nice pacing/layout, as residents of Angel Beach react to the Straw Hat crew :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAABA2Mazsj8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BHyDVzaKEnrQHNZOH7ap2fTjSy0GQtYp8QoWKx3SPwjwLpC*hiHmhZ7*1U*vZ7cx5rfftB5yD1wwp*oGw5fHr6XojdNyzrbiblZScFi2kx*XXcmkCTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20244%20-%2011.jpg?dc=4675452407167744108

"LET'S GET IT ON, GOD!" -- rare brave moment from Usopp :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SADkAqUU9tMuz!LpqEque1YcOJGdJB0q72WWcAeRZNVQnlAHMudKq!blTjiviHryBziUZ36aVH6yvfCCr!iXgd7l1ZMn6Y4VYcrDnXH5S8tzAAAAynJgAg/284-02.png?dc=4675452426579135134

AKU! (no, not really, it's actually Getasu, but he does have a similar
hairstyle, no?). Big turning point for Chopper too, as he decides finally to
stay and fight, not to run away and let someone else fight for him :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADVAtQa7N78SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2Bxh4wHbwSO5yz2jazA0FN5wsiqBfJXqlM6EYd64Twczu5h1Vk*4jnQwiZB1mgbqvpx2pgpook*1Jo!kp5Wuxrpuc1poNohA6npqXwNtVO3kbXck0CTW96aQ/One%20Piece%20-%20262%20-%2014.jpg?dc=4675452415665230324

Because they're the smartest -- as well as the only females -- Robin and Nami
quickly become friends. Here, Robin gives Nami an important navigational tool
as a gesture of goodwill :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAAAGIaZcj8SGNMoi!*W5svx7YPzb2BDUgQ2sxYai!4fg7vRxprslsH*MFUT7ADZZkem6WGP57B4rXOIqAkunorFh1EN2Jzdap!X0SiloZ7kS2LXK1x9AlOJeoBsd*dw2xctIYJ!hcAAAAAAAAAAA/One%20Piece%20-%20222%20-%2005.jpg?dc=4675452398349046832

Zoro is usually very hostile to women, but for whatever reason (because
she's older? smarter? hotter? -- or is it simply because she has a bigger
bounty than he does?) -- he treats Robin respectfully. In fact in this scene,
he's being quite chivalrous! Robin has just been knocked unconscious, and
as she collapses, Zoro jumps out of battle momentarily to catch her ... no
easy feat, since he's got three swords to keep track of too! :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SAAAAKIUN9OrzOKTJYDZGnCAjaLKUEBPN2*PIH0dT631Me7DYuIFhxPPy3ROiXk!Yf7jqelr7DAIpks3JM2MqtRtkz7zhINlCHnEcgPji!opAAAAAgAAAA/275-03.jpg?dc=4675452422202456880

A while later, Robin regains consciousness and finds Zoro lying unconscious
beside her. Now that their roles have been reversed, she repays his earlier
act of kindness by using her arm-attachment ability to "carry" him to safety :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SQDxAgEVXO6NWFsHI5sMFNtFk5kX8stPoeDbQUWwfqxHvVQEFzYXqK!C5HlrF5ztVZc44JcaLNJQrtUSfAkLdv6NEsxyf18QatO1vSh!HOr7JvLVOeH9bg/c283-10.jpg?dc=4675452426378071807

Luffy vs God -- another iconic image (of Luffy that is) :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TgAAAP0Vwzs6LuIvWZ9wrJOeScSypLWjUeW*IiEkab0zQywvH!SAcJM3ZOKUCMuABUVFQ9ew9GmlQmcjsTlECO9SHOF2Tf5xB!vsS7j3Vk0Q9G0**a3Znw/c278-017-018.jpg?dc=4675452423912346990

Are these the natural side-effects of living on a wide-open steppe -- or
is it just a fun-house trick?
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TQDeAjgWRU40a2r4lZ4zraiL07ttXF!KjP9NOpbzxB2wsx7RHbHeHO8lbfZBgpMvy!A4!xNeRP*Ks35M2JBYoG6Q1VA7zmfmoCfyy*rq9Feu!UzPclTYXg/ch305-04.jpg?dc=4675565751258584860

Eventually, it dawns on the Straw Hats that they'll need to find a crew
member who can fix their ship. Sanji offers to help, but Luffy questions
his reasoning -- then Usopp questions Luffy's reasoning! :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VwDVAlcagZvgzt1gNbXvwm9Qk4UGbs*eNgjgpILTOLLIl4MWqLpsZoSN1fn7ODBsPtOHkyrcHELJV45UEntH2ee8MqWtC3azDES4Iagw3MO3*l3OXyqjPaSjTr03lLmO/One_Piece_ch323_p04.jpg?dc=4675474689942059713

No doubt one of the Garrerra shipbuilders would make a good crew member
-- that is, if the Straw Hats can ever get on their good side! (I'm
putting my money on Pauli, the guy with the target on his shirt) :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WgD9AvMakNngzt1gNbXvwm9Qk4UGbs*envEiB83qMT6LWcpWQysUBLsCtLcsUJEZCd7xTpk*rrt2ywwKUltWfuJtlXZFWuejlkkWCnHRYQVV5aJTq9ZbBFgUrTL*VZvqJFLoFJPO5sM/One_Piece_ch323_p18-19.jpg?dc=4675474691439185097

... alternatively, they could end up with Franky, the insane cyborg
ship-demolisher, who dances around town in a skimpy bathing suit,
followed everywhere by his "family". (oh please no ... please please
please no ...)
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VADdAgIY3N7eeQzMvFO0M*tQHJS7GFgjzU5h6AvJorK8XvdSjg7xAH2JbHQInsM4CxDMC9VzzCOcEKEwV30mTt0mtzoiF*PJ6x8mUoSZGJ3moq6K*SPzqn1G07EtDPAI/ONE-PIECE-335_13.png?dc=4675487938688947779

Ladies and Gents, it's Franky time! Franky always brings a floor show
with him. He and Mr 2 Bon should team up :) ...
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VwDVApYYwRPeeQzMvFO0M*tQHJS7GFgjEp3ICpIAhgnkDrqexGgM9!ckM!MhHXyikqCQVbxZFWCuxKMC44UgrBalNEMVez3rYEKJO1xbkiaeILyuhKOZ0qvS3Di6G1JS/ONE-PIECE-335_14-15.png?dc=4675487938694117647

In Water Seven (which is something like a cross between Venice and an
M.C. Escher print), canals rise above the water level, so strong sea-critters
called "bulls" are needed to pull the boats along :
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgABAzEVUAALiTtd3oTP0LsCzjmu4aIbA70PWu3r2i*rsHL6WHkH153p1JVsnJY8xncS5ptjuIFjuor!!gHe5VSL92pyaQKjkM2TlNuSMJ8J49cAC78!6w/324-09.png?dc=4675475416317507158

The Foxy Pirates roam the seas, searching for unwary crews to play
games with -- literally! After the Foxy crew challenges the Straw Hats,
Robin and Sanji fill in the others about the nature of these games :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter306lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7331

Luffy and the alphas all want to compete in the "single combat" round, but
Usopp and Nami are more concerned about what might happen if they lose :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter306lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7342

As captain, Luffy has the final say, so ... :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter306lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7343

Cheating is expected and encouraged :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter307lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7348

One of many clever ways that Usopp, Nami and Robin outwit the Foxy team :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter308lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7369

Are the alphas playing against each other -- or against Foxy's team? Nobody knows
for sure ...
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter310lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7409

When things look grim for the alpha team, the unthinkable occurs :
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chaprer311lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7434

The Foxy pirates get to steal one person from the Straw Hat crew -- so which of
the 7 will they choose? Which would you choose? ;)
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter309lq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7388

Meantime, over in Libya:

http://twitpic.com/6b4dkq

Shoulda been posting more on this thread simply because One Piece is so legit huge now over time. And Netflix will try and do something with it...

https://gizmodo.com/one-piece-live-action-netflix-poster-luffy-zoro-sanji-1850048408

(After Cowboy Bebop's misfire for them, hm, but we'll see.)

My older son is really into this, they watch it in lunchtime anime club at school.

both my kids huge fans. they have read through vol. 102

there is also an extremely popular one piece game in roblox called bloxfruit

there is currently a half-finished 1000-piece one piece puzzle on a card table in my kitchen lol

i've been reading one piece weekly probably over half my life now and it's the best it's been in a long time right now

there's not really any reason to expect the live action show could possibly work. bebop at least had the possibility to translate decently to live action if the adaptation had been at all competent but it's hard to see how this could possibly be a success

the movie was terrible. One Piece Red. it probably didn’t help that the cinema i saw it in had the volume cranked to like 15000000

i find it pretty hard to care about the movies (they're all non-canon side stories with the author only having minor creative involvement) and i'm sure they're all completely incomprehensible to someone who isn't already a fan. they're just an excuse for some sort of big spectacle involving every one piece character ever making cameo appearances and they make a ton of money.

fucking Joy Boy!!! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

i've watched over a thousand episodes of this show and things are starting to get PRETTY interesting.

loved the nod to Loony Tunes and thought it was delightful but i definitely only need one episode like that. what a tour de force though.

GEAR FIVE!!!!!

(re: the live action thing. the trailer makes it look like bad bollywood but it couldn't be worse than m. night's Avatar travesty. not gonna watch it either way.)

well it isn't as bad as avatar but its still pretty corny. the actors do their best with impossible parts to play. i don't know who it appeals to. the anime/manga fans will boo at every sloppy inconsistency. kids will be baffled. adults who know nothing about it will think they stumbled upon some lost Finnish show from the 90s. or maybe i'm the only person who thinks of Lazytown when i'm watching some goofy live action versions of anime/manga. or that super mario brothers movie with bob hoskins. i do think its cool that Luffy is Mexican. its always going to be a little weird to see an adult play an idiot child. but what do i know. it could be a big hit! maybe it already is! things move fast in the streamaverse.

Oda gave his blessing to the cast. he said they were "perfect". and they obviously tried to do their best with the actors. they didn't cast just anyone.

what we haven't done is watch the japanese dub which we need to do because ALL the anime voice actors did the japanese dubbing for the show! so it will be weird and fun to watch that. still haven't finished all the episodes though.

my friends' reactions seem to be along the lines of "this is amazing", "no wait this is terrible", "oh wait now it's amazing again". i have been warned multiple times that if i start with one piece i will never stop, and i take those warnings very seriously so i haven't started. i am ok with knowing that there is great art i will never experience simply because i don't have the time for it.

it is a commitment if you watch the whole thing. the manga is probably online. the art in the manga is amazing.

both my kids have read every volume. we tried watching One Piece: Red last year and they hated it, but that may have been because the volume in the cinema we were at was cranked to earbleeding levels

for some reason cyrus and i have never watched all the movies. gives us something to do together in the future.

do they watch the show, tracer?

they don't! weirdly they seem uninterested. i have suggested it a number of times. right now they're extremely into watching BAKI a show with characters so preposterously muscled that it's almost avant-garde or something.

yeah, Baki is pretty insane.

real cho aniki vibes

for real avant-garde cred you need to get japanese king crimson clone band bi kyo ran to do the soundtrack or something

i've been a fan of the manga since i was a child (first exposed via the ridiculous 4kids anime dub) and the first two episodes of the live action show were surprisingly alright, which is a whole lot better than i expected. they somehow actually displayed basic competence at the task of adaptation, which has eluded nearly every previous live action anime adaptation out there. i think oda had a whole lot more oversight than original creators usually have had with these adaptations, which surely helped. i've had minor gripes here and there but it's done a pretty good job at capturing the feel of the original, the performances have been mostly decent, and the changes made generally make sense.

it still isn't great tv and i probably wouldn't bother watching the rest if i wasn't already a fan, but honestly very early one piece isn't the greatest either - it's fine but the first arc that's a step up is the arlong arc, the last one adapted here. the biggest strength of one piece is the very long-term plot development and that obviously isn't here at all.

i am also kinda unsure who this actually is supposed to appeal to, but i did think my dad (who loves pulpy scifi/fantasy adventure shows) might enjoy it? i haven't seen a lot of discussion anywhere from anyone who wasn't already a fan so idk how much it's really caught on with the broader public.

i don't really recommend watching the anime to anyone interested in the original - it's fine for a few hundred episodes but then falls off a cliff in terms of quality, and it is just so long that it will take you absolutely forever to catch up on. the manga is better and also much more approachable despite still being so long - it's just much quicker to read than to watch. it's pretty easily accessible legally (first 12 volumes are here for free: https://www.viz.com/shonenjump/chapters/one-piece), and it's quite easy to pirate a translation of the official coloured version too.

if someone hadn't watched the show i would tell them to watch the long Dawn Island flashback arc with little luffi, ace, and sabo. so beautiful and so well done. i don't know how many episodes there are. it stands alone though. it will make you cry so hard.

watching the whole thing was a project. thank god for worldwide pandemics! *kidding*.

there are definitely things i will go back to.

and i'm happy that i made it all the way to Joy Boy!!!! so friggin' cool. and the Joy Boy episodes have been amazing to look at. they have pulled out all the stops.

i don't read the manga. i wait for the show to see what happens next. i miss having endless episodes in front of me. when we got all caught up cyrus would get mad because i always wanted to wait until there were 4 or 5 episodes to watch in a row like a movie. he wants to see it immediately.

now that he is off to school i don't know what i will do. maybe i'll wait until he comes home from breaks to watch it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0021y5y/one-piece

Ready for Bello to go Gear Fifth 💨#RedSox | #OP25TH pic.twitter.com/bQ1xdbuLOu

— NESN (@NESN) August 28, 2024

oh man my kid is gonna be so sad that he missed that by 4 days. he's going back to school in beantown on monday. his school is right next to fenway.

cyrus and i have been leisurely - because of me - about getting caught up with one piece together. but we are there now. i am enjoying egghead island. they keep adding stuff to it! shanks and koby and luffy's grandpa and all kinds of stuff. we will be able to watch the 1,117th episode on september 1. and then cyrus goes back to school.

Netflix season 2 trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-XxKVxZ2fU