The beginning of the Enies Lodge Arc and Nico Robin’s past is to be revealed in an exciting, action-packed “One Piece: Season Five, Voyage One”. Highly recommended!
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DVD TITLE: One Piece: Season Five, Voyage One
DURATION: Episodes 264-275 (Duration: 320 Minutes, 2 DVD’s)
DVD INFORMATION: 4:3, English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, English and Japanese stereo
COMPANY: FUNimation
RATED: TV 14
Release Date: July 23, 2013
Originally created by Eiichiro Oda
Directed by Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Munehisa Sakai
Series Composition by Hirohiko Uesaka
Script by Hirohiko Uesaka, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Junki Takegami, Michiru Shimada, Naoki Koga, Ryota Yamaguchi, Suminori Takegami, Yoshiyuki Suga
Music by Kouhei Tanaka, Shiroh Hamaguchi
Character Design by Kazuya Hisada, Noboru Koizumi
Animation Production by Toei Animation
Featuring the following voice talent:
Mayumi Tanaka/Colleen Clinkenbeard as Monkey D. Luffy
Akemi Okamura/Luci Christian as Nami
Hiroaki Hirata/Eric Vale as Sanji
Ikue Ohtani/Brina Palencia as Tony Tony Chopper
Kappei Yamaguchi/Sonny Strait as Usopp
Yuriko Yamaguchi/Stephanie Young as Nico Robin
Kazuki Yao/Patrick Seitz as Franky
Izo Oikawa/Philip Weber as Iceburg
Takahiro Yoshimizu/David Wald as Paulie
Monkey D. Luffy refuses to let anyone or anything stand in the way of his quest to become King of All Pirates. With a course charted for the treacherous waters of the Grand Line, this is one captain who’ll never drop anchor until he’s claimed the greatest treasure on earth: the Legendary One Piece!
Along for the ride are his loyal crewmates, a wonderfully bizarre collection of outcasts and misfits from the far corners of the world. Each member has their own special talent, and they’ll utilize their skills to help Luffy achieve his dream! Together, the rubberman and his crew can conquer any challenge and defeat any foe!
Story and art by 264-275.
The Straw Hat Pirates go after their former teammate Nico Robin and also Franky in the government’s stronghold island known as Enies Lobby. With the secret assassination group Cipher Pol No. 9 (CP9), will the Straw Hat Pirates find them in time?
Find out in “One Piece: Season Five, Voyage One”, available now on DVD courtesy of FUNimation!
What is “One Piece”?
“ONE PIECE” is a popular anime series based on the popular manga series serialized in Shonen Jump by Eiichiro Oda. Suffice to say, “ONE PIECE” is the highest selling manga for Weekly Shonen Jump and its popularity has extended to various anime (via the TV series, OVA and films) and video games in America and also worldwide. The series is so popular, the episode count currently in Japan is at 629 episodes and despite receiving a heavily edited version in North America via 4Kids Entertainment earlier on, FUNimation Entertainment began releasing the original, uncut versions since May of 2008 and here we are now with the DVD release of “One Piece: Season Five, Voyage One”, available now, courtesy of FUNimation.
“ONE PIECE” is an adventure anime about a 17-year-old boy named Monkey D. Luffy who gained enormous strength (and stretching abilities) after eating a magical demon fruit. He eventually teams up with a group of pirates and have the name “The Straw Hats”. Luffy’s driven to one day obtain the most sought out treasure known as “One Piece” and eventually become the King of the Pirates.
The Straw Hat Pirates consists of:
Monkey D. Luffy – A 17-year-old guy who is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and dreams to be a pirate king by getting his hands on the “ONE PIECE” artifact. When he was young, he accidentally ate a devil fruit which made his body rubbery and can stretch and blow up. An airhead of sorts, loves to eat but always believes and fights for his friends.
Roronoa Zoro – A 19-year-old skilled swordsman. A skilled and very strong fighter. Wants to be the greatest swordsman in the world.
Nami – The navigator of the group. The main female crew member and really good at weapons.
Usopp – A 17-year-old marksman. A talented inventor and artistic. Known by his long nose, his marksmanship with slingshots and weapons are great.
Sanji – The chef of the crew. A skilled fighter that uses only kicks in battle and is passionate towards Nami.
Tony Tony Chopper – A reindeer with a blue nose. Ate a devil fruit known as human-human fruit which makes him human in someways but keeping his reindeer look. Able to speak to humans, walk upright and also able to have transformations to become a huge beast. But his talent is his medical skills as he was trained by the Doctrine to become a doctor. Has very low self-confidence because he had been treated badly not only by his kind but also by humans and has not really had a friend but the Doctor and Doctrine.
Nico Robin – The former Vice President of Baroque Works who has become the newest member of the Straw Hat Pirates despite some of the crew not trusting her since she was a former enemy. Has the ability to use her body parts and project them elsewhere and other mysterious abilities not yet known.
While the FUNimation DVD release is listed as season five for America, in Japan, episode 264 is the first episode of season 9.
The “One Piece: Season Five, Voyage One” DVD comes with episodes 264-275 on two DVD discs. Here are the spoilerless summaries of each episode:
DISC 1:
- EPISODE 264 – The Straw Hat pirates reach the island Enies Lobby and know that to save Robin, they must pass through the Gate of Justice.
- EPISODE 265 – As Luffy makes it to the second gate, the marines summon the giants Oimo and Kashi, the front gatekeepers to prevent the Franky Family from getting through.
- EPISODE 266 – The Galley-La foreman and Franky Family arrive to the second gate. Luffy makes his way to the Courthouse Plaza.
- EPISODE 267 – Law’s Watch Dog Unit joins the marines in the fight against the Galley-La foreman and Franky Family.
- EPISODE 268 – The Straw Hat Pirates get into a little argument with one another, meanwhile Nami tests a new weapon.
- EPISODE 269 – Robin finds out that the Straw Hat Pirates are coming to save her. Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates and the Franky Family make it to the Courthouse Plaza.
- EPISODE 270 – Blueno vs. Luffy – The fight begins!
DISC 2:
- EPISODE 271 – The Franky Famiily take on the next units in Enies Lobby.
- EPISODE 272 – Luffy vs. Blueno and the Franky Family take on Baskerville.
- EPISODE 273 – The Franky Family take on Baskerville and the fight between Luffy vs. Blueno continues!
- EPISODE 274 – Luffy finds Robin, but does she want to be rescued?
- EPISODE 275 – Robin’s history when she was a child growing up on the island of Ohara.
VIDEO :
For most television series, because they are created nearly before they are aired on television, unlike film and OVA’s, there typically is not much detail involved in a Japanese animated television series. “ONE PIECE” is probably one of those rare exceptions in that it has really cool character designs and very detailed artistic backgrounds. Of course, since it is on DVD, you will see some artifacting, combing and edge enhancement but it’s not so noticeable unless you are really looking for it.
The anime series is presented in standard 4:3 definition but for a television series, “ONE PIECE” sports cool and unique character designs and beautifully painted artistic backgrounds. Definitely one of the better looking anime series that has remained consistent and has not downgraded since it first aired on television. Character designer Kazuya Hisada (who worked on the “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball GT” series) and Noboru Koizumi (who worked on “Giant Robo”, “Dragon Ball GT” and “Tenchi Universe”) have been very good of capturing “One Piece” creator Eiichiro Oda’s unique style.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
As for the audio, the series is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, English Stereo and Japanese Stereo. Of course, the English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound is the better audio choice to listen to, although one who has a receiver that can set their audio to all channels can definitely enjoy the Japanese stereo track as well. But both audio tracks are done very well and I have to admit that “ONE PIECE” has one of the most solid English dub tracks for an anime TV series. Very well done on both audio tracks but again, have been very impressed by the voice talent for the series thus far.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“One Piece: Season Five, Voyage One” comes with the following special features:
DISC 1:
- EPISODE 265 Audio Commentary – Audio commentary by Mike McFarland (Line Producer/ADR Director) and voice talents Colleen Clinkenbeard (Luffy), Alexis Tipton (Fukuro) and Phil Parsons (Jabura)
DISC 2:
- On the Boat: Behind the Scenes of One Piece with Sonny Strait – (14:19) Featuring a video interview between Mike McFarland (ADR Director/Line Producer) and Sonny Strait (Usopp).
- On the Boat: Behind the Scenes of One Piece with Patrick Seitz – (14:34) Featuring a video interview between Mike McFarland (ADR Director/Line Producer) and Patrick Seitz (Franky).
- EPISODE 273 Audio Commentary – Audio commentary by Mike McFarland (Line Producer/ADR Director) with Eric Vale (Sanji) and Brina Palencia (Chopper).
- Textless Songs – Textless opening song for “Brand New World” and closing song for “Adventure World”.
- Trailers – Trailers for upcoming FUNimation releases.
When we last saw the Straw Hat Pirates, we watched as Nico Robin left the group in order to protect them. They know that she doesn’t want them to follow her but as a Straw Hat Pirate, Luffy and team will always be there for each other and that means following Nico Robin to hell and back.
In the case of season five, this hell is the Enies Lobby which is heavily protected by the government, especially Chief Spandam and the rest of CP9. As deadly as CP9 are, the Straw Hat Pirates along with help from the Galley-La foremen and also the Franky Family will do all they can to help Luffy and friends get through the feared “Gate of Justice”, so they can rescue Nico Robin and Franky.
The first episodes of Season Five (in Japan, it’s season 9) features the Straw Hat Pirates, Galley-La Foremen and Franky Family trying to get past the first two gates but knowing that the marines are sending out their giants, Oimo and Kashi, the front gate keepers to take them on.  As Luffy, takes on Enies Lobby’s 10,000 men. And what other surprises does the marines have waiting for them behind each gate?
Meanwhile, another important factor for the Enies Lobby Arc is that people get a chance to see the past of Nico Robin and as a youngster, she had a difficult childhood. Her aunt and her family treats her as unimportant and having to do chores constantly, while the children on the island tease her. But there is one thing that makes her happy, archaeology but also discovering forbidden research and we learn how she and a giant known as Jaguar D. Saulo became friends.
This is only the starting point of the season but already, there is so much action included and for Robin fans, this is a season that fans will not want to miss as the story delves deep into her past.
As for the DVD, you get 11-episodes and picture quality is very good. Especially in Japan, all “One Piece” episodes since 2007 have been broadcast in HD and widescreen in Japan, it would be interesting if that means the series would get a Blu-ray release in the United States. But for the DVD, picture quality is colorful, vibrant and looks good as one can expect on DVD. Audio is good, dialogue is clear. And for special features, it’s awesome to see FUNimation featuring more special features and in this case, two one-on-one video interviews between Mike McFarland (ADR Director/Line Producer) and main cast members. There are also two fun audio commentaries featuring the English dub voice talent, textless opening and ending themes plus trailers.
Overall, I enjoy the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates and I’m in it for the long haul. While, we are 275 episodes down, with a total of 612 episodes have been show in Japan, it will be a long while until we catch up. But the fact that we are getting “One Piece” in the U.S. is fantastic.
It is the longest running action anime series in Japan and the fact that young and old continue to read and watch this series, its a testament of how addictive “One Piece” really is and how people gravitate towards this series.
For this latest arc, it’s about Nico Robin and her mysterious past and it’s one thing that fans have been wanting, to know more about her character. And for those into the action, immediately starting with episode 264 and kicking off the new season, there is action galore with each episode.
“One Piece” is definitely one of the most entertaining, exciting and action-packed series that continues to have a strong presence in Japan for nearly a decade.”One Piece: Season Five, Voyage One” is recommended!
