A Piece of My Childhood, Found Again at Animezing North: ONE PIECE

Being an anime fan in the Philippines wasn’t always as easy as it is today. For many of us who grew up watching anime on television, it meant rushing home to catch the late-afternoon timeslot before the news, waiting patiently for the next episode, drawing the characters in notebooks, and getting whatever merchandise or physical media we could find at the bazaar. Enjoying anime was “weird”, but looking back, it was such a nostalgic and chaotic cultural experience. Today, things feel different. Anime has become a more visible part of pop culture. There are local conventions, collaborations, and social media spaces that give fans a place to come together and celebrate what they grew up with. That’s why, to me, the Animezing North: ONE PIECE activations at SM North EDSA feel special.

Every anniversary of the series, Animezing North brings ONE PIECE to life with its iconic supersized themes, displays, and merchandise. It’s truly so much fun and a wonderful place to be. Personally, I feel a wave of deep awe, appreciation, and nostalgia for a series I’ve grown alongside through the years. So many wacky adventures and great moments that I carry in my heart. 

Perhaps what makes this event all the more meaningful is that many of us are no longer children. We’re adults with the freedom to go for things we once could only dream about. That journal, the card pack, or that Going Merry plushie– it all fulfills our childhood whimsy and simple joys. We also get to stand beside characters and bring home photos as souvenirs. To enjoy our fandom freely and share it with the community. For Filipino fans who grew up with anime, experiences like these offer something deeply personal, a chance to reconnect with the childhood memories that comforted and shaped us, and to celebrate them in ways we couldn’t do before.

The Animezing North: ONE PIECE activation this year is especially poetic because it highlights the land of the giants, Elbaph. In case you missed it, we first met the brave warriors Brogy and Dorry in Episode 71, and then later in Episode 1131 as we headed into the Elbaph arc (that’s 24 years apart in real time). It tugs at my heart so because it fulfills the destination that fans have waited decades to see. Getting to stand in the middle of these two giants feels so surreal. It’s peak storytelling, absolute cinema.

And just like Robin’s emotional reunion with Saul (“I don’t want to talk about sad things; I want you to praise me for being alive”), I feel like it’s a full-circle moment; this event is something that has turned my deep childhood emotions into profound joy.

Where will my life be in five years? What will I be doing as I read that final chapter? I’m not sure myself, but I’d love to stick around until the end of the journey. Being a ONE PIECE fan today is an incredible feeling because of the major global milestones, upgrades, and projects happening simultaneously. It is truly an honor to be a part of the world that Eiichiro Oda-sensei created. His dedication, imagination, and storytelling have brought joy to millions of people not just across the Philippines, but all around the globe. 

Thank you, SM North EDSA, for making our ONE PIECE dreams possible. By creating spaces that capture the excitement and atmosphere of anime event culture in Japan, you’re giving fans here a chance to experience a little piece of that world without having to leave the Philippines. Most of all, you’re creating a space where both the child we once were and the adult we’ve become can enjoy the things we’ve always loved.

I came to Animezing North as a ONE PIECE fan, but I left feeling like I had found small pieces of myself again. It reminded me that growing up doesn’t mean leaving things behind. Sometimes they stay with us, waiting to remind us who we were and who we still are. To my younger self, to the little girl with her Straw Hat, we made it to the Grand Line.

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Don’t miss out on the last weekend of the Animezing North: ONE PIECE, which will run until August 30 at The Block Atrium, SM North EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines. For more updates, check out the SM Supermalls website and SM City North EDSA’s Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

Special thanks to SM North EDSA and SM Supermalls for having me at the event!