Well.. the thread hasn't been made yet, and the episode starts in 10 minutes, so I thought I'd make it.
I'll use Crossword's format for the title post.
Title: ''Shichibukai! Trafalgar Law''
Chapters Covered: 660 and a page of 661 (maybe)
New Characters: None
Animation Director: Yukiko Nakatani
Time: 7:30PM EST
Watch It: www.onepieceofficial.com THERE WILL BE A BREAK NEXT WEEK Preview:
! @Galaxy:
! > Preview:
It's just not the same thing without the witty one-liners.
Oh, well… here hoping for a new opening even if the chances are low.
yes ap forums is back! and whewww i was scared there was no ep of Op today.
yes ap forums is back! and whewww i was scared there was no ep of Op today.
We never went.
"We Go" still up.
[/sees We Go ; flies into the sun]
We go again… even after Law appears.... -___-
Well... i guess there will be a new one when
! Caesar will show his real body maybe?
The anime is supposed to be on break next week, right?
If so, maybe we'll have a new opening when we come back from that? Otherwise, I'm just going to assume we're not getting a new opening for quite a while, just so I won't be constantly disappointed about it.
when are the breaks on guys?
"Even in front of a huge enemy army that he had no chance of winning against, Roger stood tall and would not run."
— Monkey D. Garp about Gol D. Roger
Yes it's true, next week there is a break and the anime will be back on march 3… hopefully that is a sign for the new opening lol
Anime is probably gonna be on break March 10th as well. Another marathon is set to air that day.
Possibly the new opening will be announced this Wednesday when One Piece (manga) comes back up. Then, the next time One Piece (anime) is on, the new opening will be up.
Gotta watch episode tomorrow.. well… later, at least.
I accept Jesus Burgess as my Lord and Savior 
Chapter 660 p.3-19 and Chapter 661 p.2-3
Better pacing definitely.
Glad that Nakatani animated this episode.
Well, I liked how they showed how Kinemon's torso ended up on the lake, but didn't like how they skipped Law's reaction to the Straw Hats showing up at the front door.
Overall, average episode.
Meh. At least there was some good animation this episode. The pacing is still pretty bad, though.
I swear, Toei needs to get their shit together with the pacing. I'm losing more and more interest with the anime each week. I'll still watch it, but I haven't been so unenthusiastic about the anime in a long time. Here's hoping a certain upcoming fight will be handled well.
I need Law videos now!
God, when will people understand that pacing won't change. It's been like that for FIVE FCKIN YEARS.
Deal with it dammit. Stop acting like its something new.
Considering the amount of material this episode covered it was bareable pacing-wise like last week, nothing too jarring art or animation-wise, in fact it seemed to step it up at the end there. The strawhats with the children popping up and then going back in right after, Sanji going along with the SUPER pose and Law lifting the ship were highlights for me. They've been doing the cliffhangers really well. Looking forward to next episode after the break.
The anime has been slow for a long time by now, at the very least it would be nice if they'd make more smart filler like Law delivering the hearts last week, but flashbacks and pans are obviously the easier way to do filler, so there's gonna be that. Punk Hazard has some really packed chapters(which later in the arc makes for some really uneven pacing, with one one side some really fast-moving chapters and some pretty slow ones) that could be expanded upon really nicely, but I feel like the slow parts are going to be really bad. We'll see I guess.
Preview:
@Dahaka.:
God, when will people understand that pacing won't change. It's been like that for FIVE FCKIN YEARS.
Deal with it dammit. Stop acting like its something new.
But see, that's exactly the problem; this is a problem that's been around for far too long, and has gotten worse over time! Seriously, I never cared more about the pacing than I have since the climax of Fishman Island was about to start, and some would say the pacing was that bad even before then. Saying "deal with it" is a lousy excuse, because this shouldn't be something we have to deal with; it's sheer incompetence and demonstrates a lack of care for the series. Toei has had plenty of opportunities to add filler arcs, or even to extend the episodes in more entertaining ways, like extending some of the action scenes (with actual action, and not just the opponents glaring at each other). But they rarely do anymore (yes, I said anymore - I seriously feel that they were good at extending scenes earlier on). The problem now is that Toei is extending and dragging out scenes that don't warrant or benefit from it, like just showing people running, or milking a running gag until it's unbearable, or just showing random shots while acting like it's somehow building more tension than it actually is. And yes, they've done all that before, but here's the thing: it wasn't good then either. Considering that they're doing it more often now, and not even as effectively, and we have the right to be upset.
No, this is not a new problem. But they aren't doing anything to solve it, and they're doing enough to make it worse. That, along with the so-so animation we usually get from the show, is why I'm disappointed. There is good stuff here, don't get me wrong, and there's even been a few moments where they extending the scenes while still keeping them entertaining. But stop acting like this is something we should just "deal with". If it's not entertaining, then why should we watch it? It's legitimate criticism that makes me question why I should watch a series I love.
New problem or not, it's still a big issue that Toei is running out of excuses for.
Thanks to PirateNeko for the avatar!
But see, that's exactly the problem; this is a problem that's been around for far too long, and has gotten worse over time! Seriously, I never cared more about the pacing than I have since the climax of Fishman Island was about to start, and some would say the pacing was that bad even before then. Saying "deal with it" is a lousy excuse, because this shouldn't be something we have to deal with; it's sheer incompetence and demonstrates a lack of care for the series. Toei has had plenty of opportunities to add filler arcs, or even to extend the episodes in more entertaining ways, like extending some of the action scenes (with actual action, and not just the opponents glaring at each other). But they rarely do anymore (yes, I said anymore - I seriously feel that they were good at extending scenes earlier on). The problem now is that Toei is extending and dragging out scenes that don't warrant or benefit from it, like just showing people running, or milking a running gag until it's unbearable, or just showing random shots while acting like it's somehow building more tension than it actually is. And yes, they've done all that before, but here's the thing: it wasn't good then either. Considering that they're doing it more often now, and not even as effectively, and we have the right to be upset.
No, this is not a new problem. But they aren't doing anything to solve it, and they're doing enough to make it worse. That, along with the so-so animation we usually get from the show, is why I'm disappointed. There is good stuff here, don't get me wrong, and there's even been a few moments where they extending the scenes while still keeping them entertaining. But stop acting like this is something we should just "deal with". If it's not entertaining, then why should we watch it? It's legitimate criticism that makes me question why I should watch a series I love.
New problem or not, it's still a big issue that Toei is running out of excuses for.
I understand that, but that's not the matter here, the matter is that every week there are people complaining about the pacing, everybody understands that, but if you don't like anime, just drop it, don't come here to complaining about something that is not going to change, at least for now.
And if you wanna say something, you should use another thread, like One Piece Anime, or filler vs pacing, and say more things about this specific episode.
BTW, I liked this episode, the filler was good, and of course the animation has gotten a little better, and that's good.
I was at a family dinner, so I'm glad to see that the fort was held down in my absence.
I can see that, but when so little happens each episode…there isn't much else to bring up, honestly. Which just highlights the problem more.
But whatever, moving on - I did like Law lifting up the ship, the Franky tank was still funny, and they actually thought to add a scene of Sanji giving Nami his jacket (she just suddenly was wearing it in the manga, I'm pretty sure). The stuff with the rest of the Strawhats was alright too, I guess, but it felt like nothing really progressed there at all. At least it was animated well, and there was at least a little bit of action. The bit with the samurai's torso rolling down the hill was amusing, as well. So there's at least a couple smart moves in terms of padding the episode out.
I gotta say, though - I'm very happy that this episode had some good animation in it. We don't get episodes that are well-animated the entire time much anymore, so I hope that's a sign that Toei can actually pull through on the animation front when it matters for this arc.
I'll still stay as optimistic as I can about this arc, pacing qualms aside.
It's legitimate criticism that makes me question why I should watch a series I love.
I hear ya, but did you read the manga chapter before watching this episode?
I do read the chapters before the anime, and I find the start of arcs to be exciting within the anime, it's change of scenery, with new characters, yadda. But once you've heard the new voice actors and seen all the setting designs, etc, it becomes very tiresome and predictable.
If you already know what is going to happen AHEAD of the story, you'll just bore yourself to death, becoming angry while waiting for the arc to finish, expecting to be 'wowed' because it might have some interesting animation. I mean what else do you expect the anime to be other than a re-telling/refresh of the manga?
Some people would rather watch a padded out accurate interpretation of the manga, whereas others would like watch a slightly more entertaining mini-scene-filler injected interpretation. You have to deal with both. Toei will try to balance it for the audience as it is the only way to adapt the manga. You simply cannot change the pacing unless you want to ride that train into the sun.
Everyone here is so concerned about the adaption of the chapters, but there's only so much Toei can do with the budget, time, material and creativity.
Fans shouldn't complain if they've gotten this far, they've judged enough episodes by now to know how the anime rolls. 
I quit coming to the anime section of new episodes, since I already know all people will do is b*tch about it like they always do every week, only came here to confirm the break…
Big MoM ate - 2012
CC for nakama.
Hate to clog up this episode's discussion with this, but oh well:
Good points, dropper, and to an extent I agree. I still think Toei could do way, WAY better than they have been, though. Heck, compare the One Piece anime to some of the other long-running Shonen anime out there, especially Naruto and Bleach; sure, they tend to have more fillers, but the animation and pacing also tends to be better than One Piece, and at a more consistent rate. Adapting this material to be well-paced and well-animated isn't impossible, and fans who whine about fillers often forget how necessary they are. Sure, Naruto and Bleach are terrible at choosing WHEN to have fillers, but the actual adapted material tends to be far better because of it.
I understand fans want to see the manga material as soon as possible, but when Toei rushes to the manga material and drags out with poor pacing and meh quality animation, then the fans complain that about how much better the manga is. That isn't balance at all.
Also, yes, we've gotten this far, so we should know how the anime rolls now, right? Except Toei used to be better at this. In fact, it's because we've gotten this far that we know Toei used to be better at this. And maybe (probably) we just need to wait and see how this arc will turn out as a whole. But I told myself that with Fishman Island, and I was seriously let down, unlike any other arc I had seen before. Seriously, the only reason I held out hope throughout the climax was because I was assuming Toei was saving their budget for the final attacks, and that they would be awesome. We all know how that turned out.
Of course I get excited whenever a new arc starts. Of course seeing the manga first messes with my judgement of the anime. Of course Toei has to try and please as many people as they can, which can be difficult. But I've never felt so negative about the anime before, and that should say something. I read Thriller Bark, Sabaody, and all subsequent arcs in the manga before I saw them in the anime, and was able to enjoy them for the most part (Impel Down and Marineford weren't handled that well, I'll admit, but even then I didn't think they were too bad). I've stood up for the anime in the past, and I'll still watch it and try to enjoy it. But I've had way more fun with the anime in previous arcs than I have the past year.
I don't like saying so many negative things about the anime, and honestly I'm probably coming across far more negative than I actually feel about it. So I'll say this much: the anime does do a lot really well, and they tend to pull through when it really matters (usually, at least). As heart-breakingly disappointed as I was with Fishman Island, it still had its moments, and no matter how this arc goes, there will definitely be at least a few scenes I'll want to re-watch several times. So I'll stay optimistic.
Edit: And just so people stop telling me to "stop bitching", I'll try and keep this as my last long rant about how the anime's been doing. Again, I'm still going to watch it, and I'm still going to get some enjoyment out of it. I'm sure people are tired of hearing people complaining about similar things each week, and I don't blame them, so I'll knock it off for now.
This episode made me realize just how much I have missed Law's voice, I must admit. I also laughed a lot more than I have in a long time while watching the anime (usually only the manga gets me to that point). Seeing the torso go as a rolling snowball into the lake was one of the funniest things I've seen in a good long while, and Brook's reaction was well played! Meanwhile the chaos of Nami's team interruption the tense meeting of Smoker and Law… while it could have been a little better, I don't think it failed to get across its point. Smoker and Law's silence during the entire thing worked really well.
So there, positive things for me. And I'd like to keep focusing on them because that makes me happier.
@Dahaka.:
God, when will people understand that pacing won't change. It's been like that for FIVE FCKIN YEARS.
More like 7-8 years, this is the pacing since Water 7/Enies lobby.
I quit coming to the anime section of new episodes, since I already know all people will do is b*tch about it like they always do every week, only came here to confirm the break…
Yeah, some people whine even before they watch the episode. That's not being a smartass, it's just sad.
I suggest others to always watch it at least before reading anything here, it's always more fun this way.
I'm getting Thriller Bark vibes from these latest episodes aaaall up and down my booty tract. It's that whole.. "hey, we're too close to the manga and the upcoming content is really action packed, so let's just stretch these insignificant scenes now for as long as possible" mentality. I think the whole Brownbeard/banana boat interaction only lasted for one page in the manga, and here they made it into this whole.. thing. And he STILL hasn't even sunk them.
That being said, I did enjoy some of the Brook stuff (which showed a nice filler transition on what happens to the torso) and some of the earlier Chopper-Nami stuff. I also guess Toei decided to decide on their own who and what the frozen people were. They gave them the striped Impel Down-esque clothes of prisoners.. so.. I guess they're prisoners. But that's fine; it's what I imagined, anyway. Not like Oda felt like explaining what those were much, either.
Oh and one more thing..
! Doesn't the Nami/Sanji group run OUT of the facility after seeing Law and get their hearts shifted in the process while running away? I.. thought that's what happened in the manga; not them running back in. I could be wrong, though. It's been a while.
@Miss:
That being said, I did enjoy some of the Brook stuff (which showed a nice filler transition on what happens to the torso) and some of the earlier Chopper-Nami stuff. I also guess Toei decided to decide on their own who and what the frozen people were. They gave them the striped Impel Down-esque clothes of prisoners.. so.. I guess they're prisoners. But that's fine; it's what I imagined, anyway. Not like Oda felt like explaining what those were much, either.
Oh and one more thing..
! Doesn't the Nami/Sanji group run OUT of the facility after seeing Law and get their hearts shifted in the process while running away? I.. thought that's what happened in the manga; not them running back in. I could be wrong, though. It's been a while.
they had those uniforms in the manga too.
! that too was the same in the manga,they went back inside looking for another exit
Still kind of slow, but I enjoyed this episode much more than the past couple of weeks. At the very least, that scene with Nami's group and the SUPERRR combined with Smoker's reaction took the cake. Now the set up for next episode looks good, and an extended fight between Law and Smoker could prove to be good if it's handled correctly.
Still no new opening…
^No, the anime got that part right, I'm pretty sure.
sigh I should've known people would think I'm blindly bashing the anime or something. I saw the episode before I made my first post in this thread, thank you. I still stand by that Toei's gotten even worse at handling the pacing recently.
Who knows, maybe I'm just getting more cynical or something. Whatever. As long as the anime doesn't royally screw something up, I guess I shouldn't complain too much. Episode wasn't even bad enough for me to rant for as long as I did (it was decent, I suppose), so I don't know why I even bothered.
I wish the animation is like this every week. Does anyone know who directed this week?
Just to add a bit to this talk of pacing. Some of the water seven and Enies lobby episodes used the same amount of chapters, but the pacing seemed fine/good. And there are some punk hazard episodes and very few fishmen island episodes that seem to have fine pacing. It really depends on the director more than the amount of chapters used.
@Miss:
I'm getting Thriller Bark vibes from these latest episodes aaaall up and down my booty tract. It's that whole.. "hey, we're too close to the manga and the upcoming content is really action packed, so let's just stretch these insignificant scenes now for as long as possible" mentality. I think the whole Brownbeard/banana boat interaction only lasted for one page in the manga, and here they made it into this whole.. thing. And he STILL hasn't even sunk them.
That being said, I did enjoy some of the Brook stuff (which showed a nice filler transition on what happens to the torso) and some of the earlier Chopper-Nami stuff. I also guess Toei decided to decide on their own who and what the frozen people were. They gave them the striped Impel Down-esque clothes of prisoners.. so.. I guess they're prisoners. But that's fine; it's what I imagined, anyway. Not like Oda felt like explaining what those were much, either.Oh and one more thing..
! Doesn't the Nami/Sanji group run OUT of the facility after seeing Law and get their hearts shifted in the process while running away? I.. thought that's what happened in the manga; not them running back in. I could be wrong, though. It's been a while.
I KNOW RIGHT?! omg when they showed the scenes with the frozen bodies I literally got chills and thought Thriller Bark!
Just watched the last two episodes in a row. The first one was better than this one. The animation was great in both, especially whenever Smoker is in the scene. Pacing was much better for the first episode, but they need to stop jumping around so much and just stick with one set of characters for more than two minutes.
The pacing of this episdoe is fine. Some of you just complain about the episode because of its 1-episode-1-chapter strategy, ignoring the pacing itself.
I just rewatched Ep. 44 yesteray on Fuji TV (One Piece Special Edition). I have to say that the pacing this week is faster than Ep. 44.
The storyboarder of this episode is Naotoshi Shida. He is not only a top-class animator, but a good storyboarder. After seeing this thread, I just feel sorry for him.
@Miss:
I'm getting Thriller Bark vibes from these latest episodes aaaall up and down my booty tract. It's that whole.. "hey, we're too close to the manga and the upcoming content is really action packed, so let's just stretch these insignificant scenes now for as long as possible" mentality. I think the whole Brownbeard/banana boat interaction only lasted for one page in the manga, and here they made it into this whole.. thing. And he STILL hasn't even sunk them.
I wouldn't have minded them expanding on the Browbeard deal a bit but some parts of that segment were so stupid Brownbeard could have ordered his men to surprise the SHs by suddenly opening fire on the water and catching them of guard, but instead the guys take aim, Robin acknowledges their plan right away, "We have two users on board! That'd be terrible!", individual shots of each person looking distressed, and then Luffy just clenching his teeth like he's angry that he can't do anything?
It's hard to suspend disbelief in moments like that because in the two minutes they spent looking dumbfounded, Robin could've just sprung arms on the guys and knocked away their weapons since she clearly saw what they were doing? Or Luffy could've stretched to land like he's done before and pull the boat in with him?
It's a small thing but it really irked me for some reason. Rest of the episode was fine I think, better animation than usual.
Oh and one more thing..
! Doesn't the Nami/Sanji group run OUT of the facility after seeing Law and get their hearts shifted in the process while running away? I.. thought that's what happened in the manga; not them running back in. I could be wrong, though. It's been a while.
I just read over those chapters again since I thought about that as well.
! Sanji orders everyone to get back into the building in the manga. But in 661 when we cut back to Law, he doesn't give them much time to get away before he does the switcheroo. In the panel the group has barely made it past the steps and the door, whereas Toei has them disappear into the building already…
I couldn't help but laugh at the end of the episode because of this.
Average episode. Despite having issues with Law, Toei failed to do him justice I mean the panel of him lifting up the ship was way more badass in the manga. The Brooke part was funny tough.
I though everyone in this episode was badass. Especially Smo-yan. cant compare everyone to crocus-san. he was part of gold rogers crew which makes him badass by default. Even buggy was badass when he was a member of rogers crew, he attacked whitebeard.
Brook: I'm gonna forget I saw that.
This, along with Franky Tank, was the best part of the entire episode.
The overall animation/art was great, too. Some of the movement was pretty fluid.
On the topic about pacing, I never wrote paragraphs about the slow pacing in the anime because the sad thing is, it wouldn't change anything.
Like goty said, the pacing has been like this for almost 7 years.
Unless you send an angry letter to the CEOs of Toei Animation, ranting about the same thing over and over again isn't going to solve the problem.
Not until we get a new series director who can handle the content better.
Just watched the last two episodes in a row. The first one was better than this one. The animation was great in both, especially whenever Smoker is in the scene. Pacing was much better for the first episode, but they need to stop jumping around so much and just stick with one set of characters for more than two minutes.
For me personally, I thought this episode was much better. But it depends on what you like. Me personally, I'm not a fan of Brook's fighting against the torso (a huge fan of Brook, but that scene just didn't do much for me). And much of the episode aside from the ending was boring to me. This episode had a lot of comedy and mystery, and that's why I enjoyed it much more. The pacing still needs to get better, but this one worked more for me.
More like 7-8 years, this is the pacing since Water 7/Enies lobby.
Even Skypiea had the problem. Most of the 160-180 range is 1 chapter paced.
^No, the anime got that part right, I'm pretty sure.
sigh I should've known people would think I'm blindly bashing the anime or something. I saw the episode before I made my first post in this thread, thank you. I still stand by that Toei's gotten even worse at handling the pacing recently.
Who knows, maybe I'm just getting more cynical or something. Whatever. As long as the anime doesn't royally screw something up, I guess I shouldn't complain too much. Episode wasn't even bad enough for me to rant for as long as I did (it was decent, I suppose), so I don't know why I even bothered.
Nah dude, I really don't see anything wrong with your posts. At least you actually point out the things you dislike and like about the episode, unlike others who'd simply shit on it.
I KNOW RIGHT?! omg when they showed the scenes with the frozen bodies I literally got chills and thought Thriller Bark!
He/she meant the pacing.
I wouldn't have minded them expanding on the Browbeard deal a bit but some parts of that segment were so stupid Brownbeard could have ordered his men to surprise the SHs by suddenly opening fire on the water and catching them of guard, but instead the guys take aim, Robin acknowledges their plan right away, "We have two users on board! That'd be terrible!", individual shots of each person looking distressed, and then Luffy just clenching his teeth like he's angry that he can't do anything?
It's hard to suspend disbelief in moments like that because in the two minutes they spent looking dumbfounded, Robin could've just sprung arms on the guys and knocked away their weapons since she clearly saw what they were doing? Or Luffy could've stretched to land like he's done before and pull the boat in with him?It's a small thing but it really irked me for some reason. Rest of the episode was fine I think, better animation than usual.
I just read over those chapters again since I thought about that as well.
! Sanji orders everyone to get back into the building in the manga. But in 661 when we cut back to Law, he doesn't give them much time to get away before he does the switcheroo. In the panel the group has barely made it past the steps and the door, whereas Toei has them disappear into the building already…
Please read Chapter 661 again. On the second page, Luffy said, "They're firing the Bazooka AGAIN!" The word AGAIN means Brownbread had already shot at SHs, but SHs didn't take effective measures.
PS, there are also lots of "they-should-have-done"s snd "they-should-not-have-done"s in the manga, but few people ever feel sick. You feel it stupid, maybe only because it's in THE anime that you don't trust in, not the manga.
Talk bout the cask savours of the first fill.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
Unless you send an angry letter to the CEOs of Toei Animation, ranting about the same thing over and over again isn't going to solve the problem.
Not until we get a new series director who can handle the content better.
It's not series director that should be to blame for the 1-episode-1-chapter pacing. It's TOEI ITSELF that ignores the One Piece TV.
Toei focus on Toriko, Precure and Seiya only. The One Piece staff are hard-working all the time. But they don't have enough money, and can't do anything they want to do, for example, making a 10-episode-long filler arc.
–---------------------------------
By the way, the new producer of One Piece TV, 櫻田博之 (Hiroyuki Sakurada), is a hard-working one. He's far away better that the last one, 柴田宏明. However, though proucers hold more rights of speech, there are a lot of things that they cannot help.
The set up of chief animation director (総作画監督) credits to Sakurada. At least in the art wise, the PH arc is better than the previous arcs.
Please read Chapter 661 again. On the second page, Luffy said, "They're firing the Bazooka AGAIN!" The word AGAIN means Brownbread had already shot at SHs, but SHs didn't take effective measures.
I'm aware, I read that part.
What I'm trying to say is that it boils down to a problem in animated presentation that comes with the need for padding. In the manga it's an over-and-done-with event (which is sort of a given I know).
They need to buy some time in the anime so they show us the SHs staring hopelessly at their attackers despite the fact that the audience is now aware of the time passing, and again it's that thing with willing suspension of disbelief.
Toei does what it feels necessary but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it when the presentation is funky.
