I've always had a soft spot for One Piece, Eiichiro Oda's long-running manga about a gang of goofy pirates. With its mix of action and nonstop comedy, bizarre-yet-engaging character designs plus genuine moments of emotion, it's a charmingly warped series that has been going strong since 1997. Toei Animation adapted One Piece for the anime audience in 1999, and has kept it going over 13 years and eleven feature films.
After 4Kids' disastrous attempt to bowdlerize the series for North America (replacing Sanji's cigarettes with lollipops and toning down the violence), FUNimation acquired it in 2007 and started releasing unedited DVD collections in 2008.
Like One Piece Collection 3, the new One Piece Collection 4 DVD gathers two previously-released sets into one 4-disc collection. While the storyline drags in places and the animation cuts some corners, this DVD set is still worth checking out for fans, or anyone interested in the series.
FUNimation Presents One Piece Collection 4 DVD, Based on Eiichiro Oda's Shonen Jump Manga
I previously reviewed these episodes when they were released as the Season Two Third Voyage and Season Two Fourth Voyage DVD collections. After viewing them again, my comments still stand: while Chopper's backstory is a touching one, Toei could have trimmed the story by about half and still maintained its emotional impact. The story of how Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates keep a despot from reconquering his kingdom and convince the shape-shifting doctor to join his crew
Luckily, things get back on track for the second half of this set when the Straw Hat pirates journey on to the desert kingdom of Alabasta to help Princess Vivi prevent the evil Baroque Works organization from taking over her father's kingdom. The Marines' Captain Smoker (an officer who can turn his body into smoke) wants to capture the Straw Hats, while rival pirate Fire Fist Ace (love the misspelled tattoo on his left arm) is there to help his younger brother Luffy.
One of the best aspects of One Piece is the fact that you have to expect the unexpected. Heck, where else can you find a villainous ballerina who can change his body to resemble anyone he touches, or a reindeer doctor who can change his shape werewolf-style? Monkey D. Luffy is a charmingly clueless hero (accidentally slamming an enemy and his brother through several walls just so he can get a seat at a restaurant) who still manages to stay at the emotional center of the series despite all the cool and downright bizarre characters that surround him.
Animation-wise, Toei was still cutting some corners: several sequences feature the camera jiggling a static image (to be fair, this are Second Season episodes). Check out the movie Strong World to see the Straw Hats in action using higher production values.
One Piece Collection 4 DVD Extras
Two episodes get decent audio commentaries from FUNimation cast and crew.
One Piece Collection 4 DVD: Flawed But Still Worthy
One Piece has lasted this long for very good reason: it's an endlessly creative series with occasional touches of real emotional depth. While Collection 4 shows a temporary dip in quality for the show, fans and newcomers alike will find something to like. It gets a 3/5.
Dominic von Riedemann - Dominic is the Animated Film Feature Writer, and winner of 11 Suite 101 Editors' Choice Awards.
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