One Piece

So I finally got around to watching movie 8(the one that is essentially an Abridged version of the Alabasta arc with some tweaks). I liked it and it helped remind me why Alabasta is still my favorite arc...but I'm starting to grow more annoyed with the Pell sacrifice thing. It was ultimately pointless. Pell didn't die and the bomb didn't hurt anyone. So why not just leave it when Vivi cut the fuse? All it does is make Crocodile look more thorough and even though it does in a way help reinforce the contrast between Vivi and Crocodile, I can't help but not feel it. Maybe if Pell had died but as is...

Still love the arc though.

Originally posted by wakkawakkawakka
Thanks! I have a crush on Robin's VA because of it and wanted to know if anymore dubded ones from Funi came out. Though Luffy's voice and, as you have stated, Crocodile's voices could've had better alternatives.

Stephine Young? Yeah she's a fantastic Robin (they mis-wrote her dialog at first, but they fixed that in the DVD releases, and the pre-Skypiea stuff was written very accurately, so she sounds great in those episodes), I'm looking forward to seeing her performance during Eneies Lobby. Luci Christian did such an amazing job during the Arlong Arc, I'm confident that Young will do an equally good job with Robin's big dramatic arc.

Eneru is another great english voice (Micheal Tatum). His Eneru is per-fect. It's booming and godlike with the perfect balance of arrogance and assholishness, the only thing he's missing is the 'Ya' at the start of his laughter.

Bon Clay is another great one, just spot on perfect, in fact I think the actor (Barry Yandall) is gay in real life (Tatum actually is), so that just makes it even better 😉 In the JP version, Bon Clay, Franky and Django are all played by the same guy who really only seems to have one voice, so they all sound the same, but FUNi used 3 different actors so they all sound different, which I like.

As much as I like Colleen Clinkenbeard as an actress (she clearly gets the role and enjoys doing it), her Luffy is a bit off, but I honestly don't blame her, Luffy (a 17 year old male) should not have been voiced by a woman. I know that the seiryu is a woman (and I'm pretty sure that's why Toei required them to cast a woman), but that voice is very distinct and very japanese and sometimes voices like that just don't carry over from one language to the next. Colleens not awful, she still provides a sincere performance and unlike the 4KIDS version i can stand to listen to her, but I would have preferred a guy.

So I finally got around to watching movie 8(the one that is essentially an Abridged version of the Alabasta arc with some tweaks). I liked it and it helped remind me why Alabasta is still my favorite arc...but I'm starting to grow more annoyed with the Pell sacrifice thing. It was ultimately pointless. Pell didn't die and the bomb didn't hurt anyone. So why not just leave it when Vivi cut the fuse? All it does is make Crocodile look more thorough and even though it does in a way help reinforce the contrast between Vivi and Crocodile, I can't help but not feel it. Maybe if Pell had died but as is...

I agree about Pell, it's the one time I felt that Oda's unwillingness to kill was off. He should have stayed dead, it just ruined his "death" scene, plus he wasn't that interesting of a character anyway, so really it didn't matter that much if he was dead. It seemed like the only reason he existed was to get his ass kicked by Robin and then get rid of the bomb. Purpose served Pell, you can die now =/

Yeah the VA's Funimation has are all pros from what I can recall. I enjoyed their dubbing of OP for the most part though it is kind of annoying they haven't gotten to Water 7 or Enes Lobby yet.

I also found it weird that Luffy's voice just had to be played by a female but apparently it Clinkenbeard's most iconic role right now(personally I would've figured it would be Riza but oh well). I had no idea Tatum was gay; weird since he a Brina are joined to the hip in a bunch of anime roles but still cool nonetheless.

So, I'm thinking the Marines, Luffy, and Blackbeard will each end up with a weapon of mass destruction. Probably Pluton for the Marines, definitely Poseidon for Luffy, leaving Blackbeard with Uranus(though he could have Pluton and switch with the Marines).

Originally posted by wakkawakkawakka
Yeah the VA's Funimation has are all pros from what I can recall. I enjoyed their dubbing of OP for the most part though it is kind of annoying they haven't gotten to Water 7 or Enes Lobby yet.

I also found it weird that Luffy's voice just had to be played by a female but apparently it Clinkenbeard's most iconic role right now(personally I would've figured it would be Riza but oh well). I had no idea Tatum was gay; weird since he a Brina are joined to the hip in a bunch of anime roles but still cool nonetheless.

Well the next set (which comes out Tuesday) will be the start of the CP9 Saga (namely the Davy Back Fight) so we're getting there. I spoke with the FUNi rep last year when I worked their booth at Kamoricon (it's an Oregon Anime Con) and he explained that there is a lot of Toei red tape to cut through, that's why it took so long to get season 4 out. I think the biggest issue was Blu Ray, as the Davy back Fight is the start of the HD episodes. For some reason, OP still hasn't been released in Blu Ray in Japan, so apparently they were unwilling to let FUNi release the show in Blu Ray here. Just another reason to hate Toei.

Yeah it seems like it's her most well known role now, though I think it's more to do with OP's large fan base then her performance. I think Hawkeye is still a more important role (it was sort of her break out role) to her career, but Luffy is a bigger (and longer) role and will most likely be remembered longer, like Sabat as Piccolo, or Sabat as Vegeta, or Sabat as Yamcha 😛

I was a little surprised to hear Tatum was gay (mostly because he lives in TX =/ ), but that's what the FUNi rep told me when we were talking about voice actors (apparently he is also a very long winded story teller, often turning simple anecdotes into long epics) .

Probably Pluton for the Marines, definitely Poseidon for Luffy, leaving Blackbeard with Uranus(though he could have Pluton and switch with the Marines).

Hahaha, it seems a bit of a slap in the face for the marines to get Pluton after everything that happened during Enies Lobby 😉 I don't know, I could see Black beard and the World Government with one, but the Straw Hats (especially Robin) seem unlike to want or use such a thing. Also, I just can't see there being a huge vehicle battle, given the normal focus on melee combat (with the minor exception of Franky, but I'm doubtful we'll see the bike and tank show up again for a while if at all). The weapons would just create a big naval battle, which could be cool, but it seems counter intuitive to the series.

Ok, let's do this: Favorite Fishman/Merfolk.

Hachi, easily lol. After him, probably Keimi(she's just a really sweet girl) and...well I'd be lying if I said I liked Jimbei more than Arlong. Krieg was my favorite of the early villains but Arlong is a close second.

So I bought the new set yesterday, though I've only watched half of it so far. It's a good set, filler aside (it's annoying because the filler is IN the canon, so you can't actually skip it) and the new voices all fit really well (Hamburg and Porche sound exactly like they should). Foxy is an odd case; he sounds like the JP voice, yet he's completely different. Basically the tone and over all sound is the same (he even has the proper laugh, which actually a first for the dub), but he has a mild Spanish accent for some reason. It kind of reminds me of Brak's dad from "The Brak Show", but deeper. It works, it's just a bit surprising at first is all.

My real issue with the set is the fact that they stopped dubbing the songs. This annoys me for 3 reasons: 1) When they stopped dubbing the songs in Detective Conan is when the series bit the dust, 2) while I won't say the songs were better in English, it gave you a reason to listen to them again (after all I've already heard these songs in Japanese a million times, so I don't need to hear them again), and 3) I was personally looking forward to hearing the English cast sing "We Are!" during Enies Lobby, it just seemed like it would be fun, not to mention it would give me a reason to watch what is otherwise a complete waste of 6 episodes (the song airs during what is basically re-runs of the crew's back stories which is so cheap and lazy that words fail to describe how lame it is). Anyway, it's a minor issue really, but still disappointing 🙁

The next set I think is going to be a let down since it will be mostly filler (the god awful "Ocean's Dream" Arc aka the flashback arc -_- ). If it was all filler I could just skip the set, but it should have (assuming it's 12-13 episodes like all the other sets) 5 and half canon episodes, so basically I'll be paying full price for half the content. This was such a bad spot for the anime since they went all of Skypiea without any filler, so they had to barf a whole chunk of it onto the Davy Back Fight. Still, at least it's not as bad as Naruto or Bleach which got 40-80 episodes of filler at various points (that's like 2 seasons of DVDs not worth buying).

Favorite Fish-person? I suppose Camie, she's cute (but not overly sexualized like Shirahoshi), and also pretty funny to boot.

New bounties! Interesting that Apoo passed Basil. Not totally shocking, Basil doesn't seem like he'd be quite as active a troublemaker despite his strength.

And Kid's is of course huge.

Apoo is awesome. Trolling Kid all day everyday. And Basil's just all "God I feel like the only sane person in the world."

And Killer is like, Kid's parent. "Now Kid, play nice with the other Supernovae."

Course, I've given up on trying to understand bounties. I just have to wonder what Kid could have done to get such a high bounty.

Though I wonder what this Alliance will be for? Law and Luffy are planning to take on a Emperor and while I wouldn't put it past Kid to do the same, I can't be entirely sure. I hope a clash between Alliances happens, with Luffy and Law gaining a third ally. Of the remaining Novae, who seems to be the best fit for a third? Urouge would be cool.

Originally posted by AuraAngel

Course, I've given up on trying to understand bounties. I just have to wonder what Kid could have done to get such a high bounty.

Remember, he's known for going around killing people en mass, unlike most of the others. And immediately on coming to the grand line, the first thing he did was string up a major pirate crew, Brownbeard's.

That, plus being one of the strongest supernova, and having another supernova for backup (meaning he can go into more dangerous situations than even someone of his strength should). Makes sense for him to be 30mil above Law to me.

Though I wonder what this Alliance will be for? Law and Luffy are planning to take on a Emperor and while I wouldn't put it past Kid to do the same, I can't be entirely sure. I hope a clash between Alliances happens, with Luffy and Law gaining a third ally. Of the remaining Novae, who seems to be the best fit for a third? Urouge would be cool.

I like X-Drake.

Originally posted by Q99
Remember, he's known for going around killing people en mass, unlike most of the others. And immediately on coming to the grand line, the first thing he did was string up a major pirate crew, Brownbeard's.

That, plus being one of the strongest supernova, and having another supernova for backup (meaning he can go into more dangerous situations than even someone of his strength should). Makes sense for him to be 30mil above Law to me.

I like X-Drake.

Dunno how far being a psycho goes though. And wasn't it Basil that pwned Brownbeard?

Well, I still don't get Law's bounty to begin with lol.

I do as well but I couldn't see him working with Law or Luffy. Urouge is the type of guy I could see being chill with it. Dude seems to have Luffy's love for adventure. Drake has his own plans.

So let's see: 4 Nova from this chapter, 3 between the Straw Hats and Law, Drake, Urouge, Bonney, and Kapone. The last four are unaccounted for but we know of their last movements before the timeskip. Drake was taking steps to antagonize Kaido, Urouge was at the lightning island, Bonney had been captured, and Kapone had...something happen to him.

Well it looks like Zoro has work to do now that Killer has passed up his bounty.

I like X-drake as well, and he also has a bone to pick with one of the emperors so I'd like to see him. The other three just don't really matter: funny how Oda effectively weeded out the weaker novas from the stronger crew.

Originally posted by AuraAngel
Dunno how far being a psycho goes though. And wasn't it Basil that pwned Brownbeard?

Hm, was it? I guess so.

Kid still strung up some crew.

Well, I still don't get Law's bounty to begin with lol.

I think the large parts are, (1) raw strength, and (2) beating a series of foes, no doubt including quite a few Navy captains and so on, as well as famous pirates. Law took down one *hundred* pirates as an offering, and before it was discovered to be an offering that'd certainly worry the Navy.

Their strength is Shichibukai level now, without question, and multiple Shichibukai are in the 400k range. Jinbei isn't the type to rampage and he's still up there.

So let's see: 4 Nova from this chapter, 3 between the Straw Hats and Law, Drake, Urouge, Bonney, and Kapone. The last four are unaccounted for but we know of their last movements before the timeskip. Drake was taking steps to antagonize Kaido, Urouge was at the lightning island, Bonney had been captured, and Kapone had...something happen to him.

Maybe there'll be three alliances in the 'worst generation'.

Originally posted by Q99
Hm, was it? I guess so.

Kid still strung up some crew.

Kid messed with Big Mom's crew lol. So still more impressive.

Really wishing Basil had finished the job with Brownbeard. He basically gave him a death threat. :T

Originally posted by Q99
I think the large parts are, (1) raw strength, and (2) beating a series of foes, no doubt including quite a few Navy captains and so on, as well as famous pirates. Law took down one *hundred* pirates as an offering, and before it was discovered to be an offering that'd certainly worry the Navy.

Their strength is Shichibukai level now, without question, and multiple Shichibukai are in the 400k range. Jinbei isn't the type to rampage and he's still up there.

No names the lot of them I'm sure.

Jimbei is much cooler than them though. And a Fishmen. Could be argued they were being racist.

Originally posted by Q99
Maybe there'll be three alliances in the 'worst generation'.

I dunno, Drake doesn't seem to be the type and the other three(sans Urouge I guess) seem incapacitated. I'm wondering who, if anyone, tried to become a Shichibukai besides Law.

No names the lot of them I'm sure.

I'm sure there were plenty of bounties in them, though probably not super high ones. People in the sub-100s are casual for someone of his level to beat.

And that wasn't all he did during the timeskip, I'm sure.

Oh yea, in his case, he publicly rescued Luffy in the Whitebeard War too.

I dunno, Drake doesn't seem to be the type and the other three(sans Urouge I guess) seem incapacitated. I'm wondering who, if anyone, tried to become a Shichibukai besides Law.

I could see Drake leading an alliance rather than being an equal partner.

Berge is a mob boss, he'll make deals when needed, I'd think.

Hm, lesse, highest known bounties at this point, in order:
Ace (550)
Kid (470)
Law (440)
Jimbei (400+)
Luffy (400)
Apoo (350)
Doflamingo (340, frozen due to shichibukai)
Pekoms (330)
Moria (320, frozen due to shichibukai)
Basil (320)
Caesar (300)

Discuss.

Luffy's is too low.

I mean seriously, this isn't like some kinda fanboy thing where Luffy is my favorite and I want him to be higher because of that. The dude has from the beginning done nothing but troll the government directly. Be it making them look stupid by beating up their Shichibukai(Moriah, Crocodile), attacking them directly at Enies Lobby, punching a Noble in the face and escaping, humiliating them at Impel Down by releasing hundreds of criminals, almost costing them all of their dignity at Marineford(if Ace hadn't been so stupid, Luffy would have destroyed pretty much all of the Governments credibility. The Son of Dragon, a rookie, would have just freed the only child of the Pirate King in front of the world while the Marine Admirals failed to stop him), and doing several actions that amount to effectively declaring war on the marines. And of course he has Robin as a part of his crew, that lady who can translate Poneglyphs. That practice that can get a whole island nuked.

It's to the point where Luffy can't go to an island without pissing on the Government.

But Luffy doesn't actually kill Marines so I guess that factors in. It should still be higher than Jimbei's I think. More importantly I wonder why exactly was Ace's bounty so friggin high. I mean only a few people knew he was Roger's son before MarineFord(least I think), and he didn't do that much other than make/dispand the Spade Pirates.

Oh and I think Q99 is forgetting Cariboo's 2 billion berri bounty 😛

I agree it's stupid. I think Oda is trying to show that there are people out there that even Luffy isn't above and who are also doing important stuff, but since we don't see them doing it it feels unearned and cheap. Maybe if we actually knew some of the things that Law and Kid have gotten up to that justify their bounty, it wouldn't feel like that.