Warning: Spoilers For One Piece Anime And Post Wano Manga Material
The latest One Piece anime opening pays a tribute to the Wano arc while also dropping subtle hints about significant events that fans can expect to see after the intense battle between Gear 5 Luffy and Kaido. Wano is the longest arc in One Piece, featuring four impressive openings in the anime's adaptation. Opening 25, which premiered in episode #1074, caught the attention of keen-eyed fans who noticed several clues about the upcoming battles that will shape the world of One Piece.
While the anime is steadily approaching the climax of the epic showdown between Luffy and Kaido, readers of the manga are aware that Eiichiro Oda's story continues to captivate after the Raid on Onigashima. Previous anime openings have occasionally included hints and even significant spoilers of future events in the series, like portraying Robin as a member of the Straw Hat Crew before the Alabasta arc concluded. Fortunately, Opening 25 doesn't blatantly reveal any major spoilers. However, it tantalizes fans by offering glimpses of highly anticipated moments from the manga that they are eagerly waiting to see brought to life in the anime.
7 Opening 25 Reveals Who Died During The Raid & More
One Piece is often criticized for its lack of character deaths, but the Wano arc proved to be an exception. In the new opening, almost half of the content serves as an effective epilogue for the Raid on Onigashima, showcasing the survivors enjoying their time in the samurai land. However, upon closer examination, certain notable heroes of Wano are noticeably absent from the introduction, such as Ashura and Izo from the Red Scabbards. While characters like Kin'emon, Zoro, and Luffy faced significant injuries during the arc, Ashura and Izo did not manage to recover from their wounds. This easily explains their absence from the post-raid celebrations. Nevertheless, several loyal vassals can be seen raising a toast in honor of their fallen comrades.
6 Kaido's Fiery Fate
5 Wano's Next Threat: Admiral Green Bull
proved to be an opponent like no other that Luffy had ever faced before in the world of One Piece. His incredible resilience and unwavering determination earned him the well-deserved title of the World's Strongest Creature, as evidenced by the immense amount of damage he endured during the Raid on Onigashima. While episode #1076 of One Piece will capture the climactic events of the Wano arc, manga readers already know the ultimate fate of this formidable Beast Pirate Captain. In fact, even the 25th opening of One Piece includes a brief glimpse of Kaido, consumed by a fiery aura. It is here where Kaido meets his scorching demise, catapulted by Luffy's devastating punch deep into the heart of the island, directly into the molten pools that lie beneath Wano. However, the threat to the island would soon resurface once more.Despite the arduous efforts of the Wano heroes to reclaim their land, they were given only a brief respite before a formidable new adversary emerged. Following Kaido's absence from the scene, the World Government's latest addition to their ranks, Admiral Ryokugyu (also known as Green Bull), surreptitiously infiltrated the healing land. The newest opening showcases a grandiose silhouette of the Admiral and his awe-inspiring Woods-Woods Fruit abilities. Although his initial objective was to eliminate Straw Hat Luffy in order to garner approval from the Navy's Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki, his plans were thwarted by Wano's newfound Shogun and his loyal retainers. Astonishingly, the Admiral found himself overpowered and visibly daunted by the arrival of yet another captivating character from the One Piece universe, as depicted in the latest anime opening.
4 Shanks and His First Mate Benn Beckham
Wano's new guardians face their first test, but struggle until they are confronted with a formidable blast of Conqueror's Haki. This powerful attack is unleashed by none other than Shanks, a character introduced in the new One Piece anime opening. The impact of the assault is felt all the way from Wano Island's distant shores, catching the attention of Luffy as he watches Momonosuke demonstrate their ability to protect their homeland. Shanks's appearance is a significant moment for fans, as it marks the long-awaited return of Luffy's mentor. However, this display of power is just a glimpse of what is to come in an upcoming battle, which may bring sorrow to another member of the Worst Generation Pirates, teasing their future struggles.
3 Kid's Frustrating Future
Kid, Law, and their respective crews played a crucial role in the success of the Raid. This was especially evident when they managed to bring down Pirate Emperor Big Mom in what is arguably one of the best episodes of One Piece's Wano arc, Episode #1066. However, despite this remarkable victory, Eustass Kid's good fortune proved to be short-lived. After leaving Wano and arriving on Elbaf, Kid encountered a shocking turn of events. Manga readers were left astonished as Kid found himself on an island occupied by none other than Shanks's Red Haired Pirates. What happened next came as an even bigger surprise, as Shanks effortlessly crushed Kid Pirate's dreams. The devastating impact this had on Kid's life is skillfully foreshadowed in his appearance in opening 25. Here, the character is seen clutching his face in anguish, contrasting sharply with the wild celebrations occurring in the background.
2 Momonosuke's Adult Human Form
Oden's son, Kozuki Momonosuke, who is only eight years old, suffered more than just the loss of his family members and close companions throughout the series. In order to assist Luffy, Momo pleaded with his retainer Shinobu to utilize her Ripe-Ripe fruit powers, which caused him to age rapidly and transform into a fully grown dragon to aid in the Raid. This transformation revealed what the next Shogun of Wano would look like, leaving fans eagerly awaiting his return to his human form. Towards the end of Opening 25, viewers catch a glimpse of Momonosuke resembling his father as a 28-year-old adult. However, the final anime opening of Wano holds even more exciting Easter eggs.
1 Luffy Hiding Behind Logo
With the Wano arc coming to an end, the debut of Luffy's Gear 5 in One Piece was a momentous occasion. It only felt right to feature this new form in the anime's latest opening. Throughout Opening 25, we catch glimpses of Luffy's awakened Human-Human Fruit Model: Nika, as he takes center stage. However, amidst all the action, there's a delightful surprise towards the end of the opening. In a brief moment within the iconic One Piece logo, we see a miniature version of Luffy in his white-haired form. Looking surprised, he scampers off to the left side of the screen. While this playful addition doesn't necessarily foreshadow any significant developments in the series, it certainly adds to the overall stylish and hint-filled intro.
As the Wano arc of the One Piece anime nears its end, it is captivating to reflect on the series' longest story arc and the many compelling moments it has offered. This is exactly what Opening 25 accomplishes, presenting a beautifully illustrated portrayal of the well-deserved respite enjoyed by Luffy and his comrades. Surprisingly, despite featuring hints about Green Bull, Kid, and Shanks, the opening lacks any indication of the upcoming adventure awaiting the Straw Hats on Egghead Island. Nonetheless, it does showcase thrilling imagery that nostalgically recaps the captivating arc and offers teasing glimpses of what lies ahead in Eiichiro Oda's epic pirate tale, One Piece.
Stream the latest episodes of the One Piece anime on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
Source: ONE PIECE Official YouTube Channel/YouTube
One PieceManga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast. |