Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week.
read more
One Piece
Episode 697
by Sam Leach,
Well, there were basically zero expectations that last week's production values would carry over for two episodes in a row, and here we inevitably are with a perfectly average episode. Animation is limited, as in most of the episode is a series of still images, but thankfully nothing ever really goes off model nor do any of the scenes really push the animation to begin with. Like I said, perfectly average. Neither good nor detrimental.
The bulk of this episode revolves around the return of Sugar, Doflamingo's child-formed henchman who was previously responsible for turning large chunks of Dressrosa's population into living toys and forcing them to be forgotten by their loved ones. Luffy and Law are merely feet away from their rematch with Doflamingo, but one more drawn out conflict awaits them as Sugar tries to turn the two of them into toys using her Devil Fruit powers.
This episode very much borrows from the DBZ school of logic where we kind of have to assume that what we are seeing is the super dramatic slow-mo version of events, since really not a lot happens for 90% of the run time beyond Sugar walking slowly up to our heroes, Luffy and Law just standing there confused (Law really should recognize Sugar as a member of Doflamingo's crew) and Usopp and Viola watching them from a far distance, preparing Usopp's big sniper attack to disengage Sugar.
The big kicker here is that on top of using Viola's “all seeing eye” powers, Usopp discovers another supernatural means of honing his sniper skills. This episode marks the very first implication that Usopp has Observation Haki, the ability to see and sense spiritual energy. This kind of power is usually reserved for stronger guys like Luffy, so the fact that Usopp, the notorious weakling of the Straw Hats, has hints of the power is pretty exciting for fans of the long nosed marksman.
Usopp's been through some tough times in the Dressrosa arc, so this episode's primary purpose is to finally give him a big win moment. He was the one who beat Sugar earlier on, kicking off all the chaos seen in the country to this moment, but it was a pathetic victory that kind of happened on accident. This time, Usopp successfully snipes Sugar, firing a “doll” of sorts that mimics the terrifying face he made earlier that shocked Sugar into unconsciousness to begin with. It's a win, but kind of a joke of a win that repeats a gag that was funnier the first time.
Really, the most exciting thing to happen this episode is when things kick back into high gear and Luffy and Law are immediately barging in on Doflamingo in person once again. It's cathartic to know that the final battle is really here and really about to begin (taking into account that there's no way it's going to be a short battle.) The scene is accompanied with a great music track from the Strong World score, which definitely got my blood pumping. Luffy and Law versus Doflamingo and Trebol. Super average episode, but hey, it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Some older mysteries inch closer to resolution as the true nature of the Abyss slowly comes into view, and long-posed questions start to be answered.― Sometimes, being a fan of Akihito Tsukushi's acclaimed Made in Abyss series means acclimating to suffering. Like many Western devotees, I was introduced to this bizarre, squishy, disturbing world via the 2017 first season of Kinema Citrus' fantastic a...
60th, final episode of previous anime streamed on YouTube on Friday― The official Twitter account for the anime of Penguin Box's Odekake Kozame (Little Shark's Outings) manga announced on Friday that the manga will get a new anime series. Update: The staff revealed a visual for the new series in a press release on Saturday. The previous anime series debuted on YouTube last August, and its 60th and f...
Recently ended manga follows middle school student living with mysterious bird-looking creature― Shogakukan announced on Friday that Akira Konno's Kujima Utaeba Ie Hororo manga is inspiring an anime. The "bird(?) home comedy" manga's story starts when first-year middle school student Arata Kōda meets a mysterious bird-looking creature named Kujima in autumn. Hungry and craving Japanese food, Kujima ...
Anime premieres in 2024― Adult Swim's YouTube channel began streaming a first look video for the Rick and Morty: The Anime series on Saturday. The show will premiere on Adult Swim and Max in 2024, and will also run on Adult Swim Canada. The anime will be an original work, with adapted themes and events from the main Rick and Morty animated series. Takashi Sano (Tower of God) is writing and directing...
As Slam Dunk reached its final stretch, I can see why this series is considered the sports classic that it is today.― This is the largest batch of Slam Dunk episodes that I've reviewed thus far. Originally, I wanted to review the show in more even seasons, but given its overall pacing and release, it wasn't easy to find a moment where it felt right to stop and start again. However, as we approached ...
2nd part opens in Japanese theaters on June 7― The staff for the four-part Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (originally titled Gode Geass: Z of the Recapture, or Dakkan no Zetto) anime project revealed a trailer and a visual on Saturday for the second part in the project. The below video previews MIYAVI's opening theme song "Running In My Head." The anime's first part premiered in Japan on Friday. ...
James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY.― Yatagarasu Gets Violent! James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu, in which Wakamiya plays his hand to find out the truth behind his older brother's scheming to obtain the throne. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY; Hunter x Hunter manga is on its ...
Making a sequel to Code Geass is a daunting task. But with its fantastic main character and a story that doesn't undercut what came before, Rozé of the Recapture is on the right track.― Making a sequel to Code Geass—especially one set close to the end of the series—is a daunting task. Any story that involves an ongoing war massively undercuts both the finale of the original anime and the sacrifices ...
The Switch sequel console is finally happening! The details are scarce, but you can find out more in this week's column. Also: an interview with El Shaddai's Sawaki Takeyasu, Microsoft layoffs, and more.― Welcome back, folks! What a wild week this has been for the gaming industry. We'll go further into it, but jeez. This past week also saw the disappearance of Capcom's Dark Void and Dark Void Zero. ...
The Code Geass creator discusses his new project with Web3 company Azuki, Enter the Garden, and his hope that this new path could help the medium evolve.― Los Angeles-based Web3 anime-styled brand Azuki and advertising conglomerate Dentsu debuted the first nine-minute episode of their joint anime endeavor, Enter the Garden, on April 30. The episode, which has already racked up a quarter of a million...
If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.”― If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.” Shiki and Fuyuki's interactions are a mixture of playful (and sometimes sexual) teasing and heartfelt feelings as the two come to value each other. They have real chemistry—and that drives the anime stra...
Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it.― Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...