TheOne Pieceanime is officially back, and it’s made a phenomenal return. The back-to-back premieres of episodes #1123 and #1124 were the perfect way of welcoming fans back to the series, and it shows that the hiatus will lead to plenty of great content from here on out until the Egghead arc finally comes to a close.
One Piece’s return has been nothing but great, and the new opening and ending themes are a big part of that. The return of the Egghead arc is emphasized with a new opening and ending theme, and in addition to both of them looking and sounding good,One Piece’s new theme songs perfectly set up how the anime is about to explore the story’s most emotional arc to date. Said story was a major highlight of the manga, and if the new theme songs are anything to go on, the anime will more than do it justice.
How One Piece’s New Theme Songs Set Up Its Most Emotional Story Arc
Why One Piece’s Next Story Will Be Its Best
In a rare diversion from the norm,One Piece’s new theme songs focus less on the Straw Hats’ new adventures and more on Bonney and Kuma, with the Straw Hats not even so much as appearing in the new ending theme. With that framing, it’s made clear that the main focus will be on Kuma’s life from childhood up through the present, and thanks to the stellar visuals and emotional lyrics,One Piece’s new theme songs showcase thatKuma’s backstorywill be even more emotional than in the manga thanks to the anime’s stellar direction.
The biggest star, however, is Bonney. As much as the incoming story is about Kuma’s tragic life, it’s also about how Bonney reacts to learning everything Kuma suffered through and her fluctuating belief in Nika and how Luffy restores it simply by being himself. All of that is perfectly emphasized in the new theme songs, with the ending focused exclusively on Bonney, and the fact thatOne Piece’s new theme songs know to put the focus on Bonney’s emotional journeyshows that it will be just as great in the anime, if not more so.
Why Kuma And Bonney Are The Stars Of Egghead
If there’s anything to take away from the new theme songs, it’s that the anime’s staff perfectly understands that the Straw Hats aren’t the stars of the Egghead arc. As much of a major draw that the big fights the Straw Hats will get into are, the emotional core ofthe Egghead arclies solely with Kuma and Bonney’s tragic backstories, as that’s what ultimately gives the conflict personal stakes.The backstories of Kuma and Bonney and how they’re resolved makes them the true stars ofOne Piece’s Egghead arc, and the new theme songs are right to emphasize that.
All of that, of course, provides plenty of confidence in the new direction the anime will go in following its return. Legendary director Tatsuya Nagamine has stepped down from series director after over five years, with Wataru Matsumi succeeding the role, but if the new theme songs are anything to go by, thenOne Piece’s new director is perfect successor to Tatsuya Nagamine for how well he understands the core of the Egghead arc’s story.One Pieceis perfectly geared up for its most emotional story in years, and hopefully, the anime will deliver on all fronts.
