The One Piece anime’s Wano Arc nears its end after Kaido’s defeat, and creator Eiichiro Oda revealed just how emotional the series’ adaptation makes him in this week’s Mangaka Musings (October 15 edition). These are comments from mangaka that are released every week in Weekly Shonen Jump issues. Oda says:
“Lately I cry every time I watch the One Piece anime. The Wano arc is soooo good! Thank you for the wonderful performances!!“
The Wano arc began airing over four years ago in 2019, and it was an arc Oda voiced particular excitement to see on social media:
Tatsuya Nagamine directed the iconic Gear 5 episode 1071 “Luffy’s Peak – Attained! Gear 5.” The arc has seen the introduction of the first ending song in 17 years and also seen animators like Vincent Chansard and directors in Megumi Ishitani explode into stardom within the One Piece community. The upcoming Egghead arc is expected to premiere before the end of the year.
Crunchyroll holds the license for the One Piece anime and describes the Wano arc as:
Wano Country is under the control of Kurozumi Orochi, Kaido of the Yonko, and his crew the Beasts Pirates. The Straw Hats form an alliance with the Heart Pirates, the Mink Tribe, and the Kozuki Family to liberate the Land of Wano, but when an old foe reappears their mission is made much more difficult.
Luffy, after facing defeat at the hands of Kaido, is locked in Udon Prison where a surprising member of the Worst Generation is also being kept! Meanwhile, Robin gets an opportunity to go undercover and spy on Wano’s Shogun Orochi as the rest of the Straw Hats and their allies begin working toward the coup they plan to stage on the night of the Fire Festival.
Luffy’s journey takes him and his group to the ruins of Oden Castle where Kin’emon tells them about the past and his plans to battle at Onigashima. The Straw Hats search for allies in Wano Country, but Kaido isn’t going to let them operate freely under his watchful gaze.
Source: VIZ Media
©Eiichiro Oda, Shueisha, Fuji Television, Toei Animation