Complaints Against the New One Piece OP Song Surge to Toei Animation

XMURADX

According to J-Cast, the official BBS of Toei Animation has been filled with hundreds of complaints against the new OP theme song of "One Piece". The audience resented that the new song was completely mismatched with the serious OP animation.

Toei Animation One Piece BBS

The new OP song "Kaze wo Sagashite" is a tie-up work with a TV quiz program "Quiz! Hexagon II" and the singers are idols and comedians. Toei Animation said it's usual to see such negative reactions when theme songs are switched. They don't plan to make any explanations to the audience and the new song is likely to be used for the next one year.

Source: J-Cast

dirt monkey AL

lol this thing is the best thing ever

XMURADX

I love how Toei are claiming the song will last for a year, just to piss off everyone. lol

MetaMario

Wow. Even the Japanese don't like it. This is amazing. Poor Toei. If only they picked a better fitting song.

I like it, but maybe it should've been an ending.

They're pissing their fans off more by keeping for a year. That's freaking hilarious.

dirt monkey AL

@XMURADX:

Toei Animation said it's usual to see such negative reactions when theme songs are switched.

@XMURADX:

They don't plan to make any explanations to the audience

Those're my favorite parts.

Honestly, I've never seen so many people bitch about an opening after a switch - except over maybe Crazy Rainbow Star, but that was over the length.

Mr. Truth

Toei to win award for making logical anime choices.

But seriously fuck them.

loledinmypants

This is brilliant. EVERYONE hates the new song and Toei decides to further the trolling by saying "no explanations, it stays for a year". lmao

Greg

1. Vindication

2. Thank you for bringing this up.

3. The article is a bit questionable at the end. It suggests that the opening may last a year merely based on past openings (not all of which have lasted a year) so Toei doesn't appear to have said anything to that end.

4.

Toei Animation said it's usual to see such negative reactions when theme songs are switched.

Yeah, so usual that it finds itself on news sites and they have to close down their message board.

Bullshit artists.

I like how the article describes it:

"…some of the criticism seems to stem from the lyrics 'Yay! Fuu~!' "

Yay-fuu indeed, yay-fuu.

Zach Logan

@Greg:

1. Vindication

2. Thank you for bringing this up.

3. The article is a bit questionable at the end. It suggests that the opening may last a year merely based on past openings (not all of which have lasted a year) so Toei doesn't appear to have said anything to that end.

4.

Yeah, so usual that it finds itself on news sites and they have to close down their message board.

Bullshit artists.

I like how the article describes it:

"…some of the criticism seems to stem from the lyrics 'Yay! Fuu~!' "

Yay-fuu indeed, yay-fuu.

Once again, Greg, you summed it up for me.

loledinmypants

The "fuu fuu fuu yay!" during the reverse Sieg Heil would tend to bring up… controversy one would think. Apparently the higher ups at Toei have lost their minds and think that candyland = hell and WAR.

Crossword

As usual, the serious business nerd rage over a two and a half minute introductory clip amuses me, especially the mention of the song being ''completely mismatched with the serious OP animation''. Just sounds so uppity to me, since the only real serious part of the OP animation was the bit with Ace. where the song actually took on a brief, relatively somber tone. I dunno, maybe it's the cultural differences, but I really don't see the effort in expending so much hot air over this. I mean, I hated the new We Are! remix, but after expressing my dislike I simply gritted my teeth and waited it out, no rage necessary.

Though, I will admit that I didn't care so much for the second Yay~! much either, but I do like the sound of the following chorus. Maybe if it was less pronounced or something it would help.

Greg

See Zach? I wasn't flipping out over nothing, [not that you said I was] I knew this would be a big issue here.

Toei paid good money for this, so there really isn't much they can do except stand on deck saluting themselves while the ship sinks in flames. The one thing it will let them know is that fans don't want this shit again….not that ANYTHING indicated we ever wanted shit like this to begin with.

I mean, I hated the new We Are! remix

You just don't get it.

There's a difference between liking and disliking a song and THIS pairing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Consider FUNimation taking a song that sounds similar in tone, melody and lyrics to the Sesame Street opening, and setting it to One Piece.

That's the case here.

If you don't see the reason for fan "rage" [or as I like to call it "criticism of something really fucking stupid"] I would pose the question, did you ever say anything negative regarding 4Kids and their choices?

dirt monkey AL

maybe they were trying to say that preschoolers, while cute, aren't worth it for they are jailbait

thus the allusions to the happy fun times before going to prison and getting executed

Greg

I take everything back.

dirt monkey opened my eyes to the symbolism struggling to break free from this misunderstood symphony of triumph.

It's like, woah.

or not ^o^

dirt monkey AL

i hate you, grek, you take all the fun out of lengthy thought theories!!!

Captain Hypersock

You can't buy this brand of comedy. It grows naturally.

loledinmypants

@dirt:

maybe they were trying to say that preschoolers, while cute, aren't worth it for they are jailbait

thus the allusions to the happy fun times before going to prison and getting executed

OMG I understand it so well now! But it's still a really fucking terrible choice.

eerie

They should have just kept Believe.

Airflow101

ahahahahahahahaha

The amount off butthurt on both sides is hilarious.

Greg

@Airflow:

ahahahahahahahaha

The amount off butthurt on both sides is hilarious.

The truth butthurts.

Battle Franky

The song is absolutely fine.

So much ado about nothing.

Greg

Who's this noob??

please don't ban me.

Crossword

@Greg:

You just don't get it.

There's a difference between liking and disliking a song and THIS pairing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Consider FUNimation taking a song that sounds similar in tone, melody and lyrics to the Sesame Street opening, and setting it to One Piece.

That's the case here.

Hey, I'm fully willing to admit to not getting it. I'm no expert on how the politics of these song choices work, nor can I understand the lyrics without consulting a translation, and on that subject, to me, they feel rather in-line with the series themes with their talk of adventuring, making memories, and encountering occasional hardship, if perhaps not expressed in the most ideal manner. I mean, my view is pretty much that it's not the ideal song, but that fact does not effect the content of the actual episode. Toei is still giving Oda's series a decent adaptation, and life will still go on. Again, perhaps I don't get it because of my ignorance, and because that I can't quite find it easy to compare the brief opening jingles or what have you of American children's programming with hiring mainstream or niche music bands and setting proper vocal songs that will be sold in stores to expensive animated sequences.

If you don't see the reason for fan "rage" [or as I like to call it "criticism of something really fucking stupid"] I would pose the question, did you ever say anything negative regarding 4Kids and their choices?

I'm going to be honest, I have never seen a full episode of the 4Kids One Piece dub, only clips here and there, and peoples' writings and rantings on it. Again, I feel it hard to compare a brief opening song which doesn't effect the content of the episode itself, to over-editting and dumbing down that very content to the point where it makes a mockery of the original material. I mean, if the 4Kids dub had used the One Piece rap as its opening but everything else was stellar, A+ quality work I'd be rathered annoyed at the opening, but not to the extent that I'd be constantly going on about how awful it is and making up my own euphemisms for how crappy I think it is. I'd comment on how unfortunate the choice is and generally move on unless my feelings needs to be brought up again. I guess it's because I'm not too confrontational over stuff like this, and am usually pretty forgiving. As long as the actual episodes still do justice to the original manga and still manages to entertain me in a good sense, everything is cool in my book.

dirt monkey AL

What'd I say about you and parades, doublecrosser?

Greg

Again, I feel it hard to compare a brief opening song which doesn't effect the content of the episode itself, to over-editting and dumbing down that very content to the point where it makes a mockery of the original material.

If you suggest that's what 4Kids did, that's exactly what has happened over here. That's the kind of regard openings are held in, especially at a time when the series is at such a massive turning point.

Now I whole-heartedly agree that the opening changes nothing with respect to the actual program, nor is it something that deserves as much attention as I give it, but openings are a big deal on this side as the face of the series. It's something fans can express, use or play out in a number of different mediums.

For example, at this year's sports festival at our school, the blue team used Share the World as the main theme of their cheer dance. The cheer dance being the ouendan of DS legend.

Now, is Greg PMSing because his students can't use a OP opening now? No, I'm just trying to illustrate how an opening here is viewed by the locals as something that can be enjoyed in a number of venues, and now since that isn't possible for many, cue the reaction.

As for me, personally, my opinion and not trying to express the status over here, I think it's a terrible choice that betrays the fans' expectations, but I have always skipped through openings if or when I actually watch One Piece so it doesn't matter. That's Greg's 'no-nonsense outside of my online persona' opinion.

zullzero

@Crossword:

As usual, the serious business nerd rage over a two and a half minute introductory clip amuses me, especially the mention of the song being ''completely mismatched with the serious OP animation''. Just sounds so uppity to me, since the only real serious part of the OP animation was the bit with Ace.

I agree. The whole OP was basically Oda's 2 page color spreads slightly expounded upon. They've done a lot of openings that "felt" like that at least. Oda doesn't do a whole lot of really dark and heavy color spreads with the crew. It fits the theme of Oda's color spreads.

I don't know, it's not much of a song, but then again, it's been awhile…as in, a really, really frikkin long time, since OP has had a really good OP song. And if this intro runs like the last one based upon the teasers, it's only going to run until halfway through "the really big fight" anyway. That shouldn't take an entire year...I'd hope. Maybe several months. They're already past the start of one of the arcs this should cover, and barring unforeseen filler, it should only get a little way into the next big arc.

TLC

Honestly I like the song. Maybe humans of different nationalities have pleasure centers in our brains that are programmed in different ways and can be activated by a unique set of tones and beats and this song just so happens to use them for my specific nationality?:/

Edit: Also about the year thing, Toei aren't total dicks, I bet they'll change the opening sooner rather than later. A damn shame too, the animated scenes were beautiful, best ever. I'd prefer if they stuck with them and just changed the song.

Greg

Honestly I like the song. Maybe humans of different nationalities have pleasure centers in our brains that are programmed in different ways and can be activated by a unique set of tones and beats and this song just so happens to use them for my specific nationality?:/

No one has ever suggested whether or not it's an issue of liking the song. I think that's why most people go all RABBLERABBLERABBLE DEY TOOK OUR OPINION RABBLERABBLERABBLE.

No.

If you like it, you like it. Granted what you like is a song aimed at an extremely low age group, but I also think 'heroes in a half shell, turtle power' makes for a bitchin refrain.

The hot spot is simply that it doesn't fit One Piece.

At all.

I might argue that it's even slightly too saccharine a treat for the first half.

Imagine Black Sabbath doing the theme for Julia Child: Lessons with Master Chefs.

That shouldn't take an entire year…I'd hope.

Did you used to have a username with a 'n' in there?

Toei never said anything themselves about a year, that was abuse of conjecture on behalf of the article's author.

Battle Franky

@Crossword:

As usual, the serious business nerd rage over a two and a half minute introductory clip amuses me, especially the mention of the song being ''completely mismatched with the serious OP animation''. Just sounds so uppity to me, since the only real serious part of the OP animation was the bit with Ace. where the song actually took on a brief, relatively somber tone. I dunno, maybe it's the cultural differences, but I really don't see the effort in expending so much hot air over this. I mean, I hated the new We Are! remix, but after expressing my dislike I simply gritted my teeth and waited it out, no rage necessary..

Yeah, I'm sorta bemused by all of this. It's not like there's been a real precedent for changing up the style of music for openings that feature heavy moments in the manga (though Kokoro no chizu hit a great balance) usually because those 'serious' montages are so goddamn fleeting it wouldn't be worth it, though as you point out the song does appropriately dip with Ace being led up the stairs and the Impel Down scenes.

The rest is fairly fancy free bouncy J-pop "WE'RE ON A BIGASS ADVENTURE HOW AWESOME FUU~FUU Y~AY!" which imo is fairly in line with every other opening in the series, which is why I'm not really disappointed at all.

JulieYBM

I've been pretty amazed by the reaction this opening has gotten. I told Zach this, but I actually really like the opening. Not being one fluent in Japanese, my blood still got boiling as it did during Brand New World when the animation shifted to the Marinford arc scenes. It was strong, it was fast, and it hit like a hurricane.

Would I love to see, say, Hironobu Kageyama do a rockin' ultra-shônen opening theme for this arc? Sure, but this is still a really exciting theme, I feel, and I don't suspect the arc will be so short as to end in a few more months.

J-Sack

This is pretty damn amusing. I wonder if Toei would listen if ratings dipped.

Robin 0

I like the song but i don't think it's good for a Opening. I mean usually Openings are more "Bam bam, punch punch" and stuff and the Endings are more slow and they don't usually use action. I would like it to be an Ending and the Opening should be more Boom!

Battle Franky

I think it has a lot of punch and maintains a good tempo, especially spread over 2 and half minutes. Also, the hook is one of the better ones out there.

Maki707

The animation of the colour spreads with the straw hats that Oda has drawn is fantastic it was great to see some of them in the opening. I also like the song that is used in the opening.
But two issues here, one the second half of the opening is so shamelessly full of major spoilers i would of cried if i did'nt read the manga first, this reminds me of when i was first watching one piece(i followed the anime before the manga) and got to the episodes with the third opening and it showed that Robin was going to join the crew a few episodes before she did. It completly ruined it for me. It's ridiculous for fans who only want to follow the anime and not the manga, or is this toei's way of saying support and read the manga otherwise you will never get a plot twist again.
The second issue is that while i like the song to put a song that is along the lines of the Barney the purplr dinosaur "i love you,you love me" to animation about war and a prison is just so stupidly wrong it's comical.

TLC

@EvilGamerX:

This is pretty damn amusing. I wonder if Toei would listen if ratings dipped.

I doubt that a simple opening would dip the ratings to that extent especially with all the mixed feelings about it.

fps_anth

@XMURADX:

They don't plan to make any explanations to the audience and the new song is likely to be used for the next one year.

Teclo

Just to probably repeat what others have already said, but the bit with Ace in does get more serious sounding and the lyrics change to reflect this:
Ace shackled and being escorted through Impel Down. Close-up of his face overcast with shadows.
With tears flowing, people will get stronger.
With tears flowing, memories will…
Luffy running through Impel Down with various allies and enemies warping in and out of the background.
…increase more and more, more and more Hannyabal and guards salute as the lyrics go: Yay! In that part, the "Yay!" is the only silly bit but considering that 99.9% of Hannyabal scenes are him making comedic Freudian slips about wanting to be Chief Warden, it's not like they're ruining his deadly serious image or anything.

The energetic tempo continues along with the melancholic undertones (provided by the string instruments and, don't quote me on this, plenty of minor notes) as we see previews of Marineford events. The lyrics are about "tears", "searching" and how "we" won't stop because "you're right in front of me" as it shows Luffy falling from the sky and Ace raising his head.

I appreciate what Greg said about it not mattering if you like the song or not, it's more about does it fit. I think the song manages to convey the energy and pace of the One Piece storyline while also having more reflective and thoughtful parts which reflect Luffy's search for Ace and the fact he's putting it all on the line for him. I think it is worth pointing out that some of the past OPs were bad simply because just because the lyrics may or may not go, along with the tone of the music, it's all for nought if the song is bad. The last OP was an horrible little bit of attempted hip-hop and the We Are remix sounded like a complete mess. Neither of them even went with what was going on anyway.

As for the spoilers, well that's far from being unique to this OP. There was one during Alabasta which showed that Robin joined the Straw Hats and the last one, IIRC, showed the then yet-to-appear Hancock and heavily implied there'd be a special relationship with her and Luffy. Just two examples off the top of my head. This is probably a shitstorm caused by what may be a significant amount of people on the Toei message boards but really a meaningless minority in the grand scheme of things. It reminds me of how there was a "massive backlash" against Dragon Quest IX in Japan. It amounted to around 100 or so people bitching on the internet. The game sold 3 million in a few days.

Kaiolino

This is all part of Toei's masterplan. They will upset everyone with this terrible song.

Then after 10 weeks a completely new opening will show up, with even better art and animation.

And it'll be sung by Jam Project.

J-Sack

@Thousand:

I doubt that a simple opening would dip the ratings to that extent especially with all the mixed feelings about it.

I wasn't being serious you idiot.

I'm the idiot for arguing with this one, aren't I?

Kaizoku Mele

@Kaiolino:

This is all part of Toei's masterplan. They will upset everyone with this terrible song.

Then after 10 weeks a completely new opening will show up, with even better art and animation.

And it'll be sung by Jam Project.

Darn it, don't get my hopes up. XD

Joe

I don't know why they keep using kiddy ass songs for the one piece openings just because its a shonen.

JulieYBM

Probably the same reason volumes won't exceed a certain page count so kids don't have to pay more per volume.

Ashura_KingFisher

They should have put back kokoro no chizu, best opening ever.

Greg

That really was a damn fine opening all around. Yeah it was anime poppy so it's probably not something I'd want on my ipod, that I don't own, but all the pieces really came together quite well.

0_0_Spider

so where is the "make opening 12 better" thread?

and Gintama is a shonen too but that show has sum of the best OPs ever…

Maki707

@'[[\0_0/:

/]_Spider;1366780']
and Gintama is a shonen too but that show has sum of the best OPs ever…

Definitily and I know some people here don't really like the series but the Naruto anime is another good example of having good sutiable openings and foreshadowing without spoiling the plot

Pirate Empress Kooh

@EvilGamerX:

This is pretty damn amusing. I wonder if Toei would listen if ratings dipped.

People will NOT stop watching the whole show because of an opening they don't like..if anyone stops watching one Piece because of a song, then they don't deserve to watch it anyway.

And by the way, Crazy Rainbow Star was my favourite opening. I do NOT watch One Piece soley for the serious moments, there's hundreds of other anime for that, One Piece is unique in it's ability to make me feel happy, that's that.

shinpanman

Well, nice knowing peeps on that end feel as insulted as I do. I kinda hope this encourages Toei to change it soon, but hell, I lived through the We Are remix so I'm sure I can handle a good deal yay-fuu~

Luffy Master

Wow, I Didnt know this type of stuff happens, Do you really think it happens with their other animes? They sound like they are kinda saying it happens on a refular basis, And it could be nothing to worry about.

Devoted fanbase lol

J-Sack

@'[[\0_0/:

/]_Spider;1366780']so where is the "make opening 12 better" thread?

Here it is.

@Pirate:

People will NOT stop watching the whole show because of an opening they don't like..if anyone stops watching one Piece because of a song, then they don't deserve to watch it anyway.

AGAIN, I am not being serious. Obviously ratings won't dip. I just find it funny that it is getting so much buzz. If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if ratings go up a bit due to those who don't usually watch want to see what the fuss is about (if the haven't discovered the internet already that is).