HIGHLIGHTS

 The Wano Country arc revitalized One Piece anime with new filters, eye-catchers, and animation, drawing fans back in.
 Fans were awestruck by Luffy’s Gear 5th debut in the Egghead arc, anticipating more thrilling battles and animations.
 Episode 1100 of the Egghead arc may be the best action episode in the series, showcasing top-tier animation and breathtaking sequences.

Ever since the story reached the Wano Country arc, One Piece anime has taken things up a notch. Before the arc, many fans complained about the lack of quality in the anime. There was some truth to it, as Toei did not put too much focus on the series. However, the studio decided to change their approach to the anime.

When the Wano Country arc started, they changed the filter, added new eye-catchers, and used new soundtracks. This made it easier to sit through the episodes that were lacking in action. The most notable thing about Wano was definitely the animation. The fights in the arc were nothing short of breathtaking. The impact frames, the music, and the clean animation made sure that the audience was glued to the screens.

The Concerns

Towards the end of the Wano Country arc, fans saw the debut of Luffy’s Gear 5th. There was a great deal of hype around its debut, and when the episode finally released, it crashed the Crunchyroll servers. Fans were in complete awe of the animation, the direction, and the music used in the particular episode. After the arc ended, fans were worried whether the subsequent arc would have the same level of animation. This was a genuine concern, as Toei had outdone all of its previous work. Fans wanted to know if the Egghead arc would be anything like the previous arc.

A Strong Start

Before the Egghead arc started to air, a teaser was released, which gave the audience an idea of what they could expect in the arc. The teaser looked promising, which gave fans hope that Toei would keep the same quality. The Egghead arc had a different feel about it from the Wano Country arc. This was needed because the setting was completely different. The new style really helped to encapsulate the futuristic setting of the Egghead Arc. Using the same filters and style would have not worked well with the new arc.

Hype Around Episode 1100

One Piece Episode 1100 was being teed up as the most spectacular episode of the Egghead arc. Before this episode, fans saw the tension between Luffy and Lucci escalate. The two characters have a lot of history, which goes all the way back to Water 7, where Rob Lucci showed his true colors and attacked the heroes. Lucci managed to win the first encounter against Luffy, but their rivalry was far from over. The two would meet again in Enies Lobby in an enthralling fight that would decide the future of Nico Robin.

Luffy used Gear 2nd and Gear 3rd to beat Lucci in the subsequent fight. With his victory, the Straw Hats were able to leave Enies Lobby in One Piece. Luffy’s success also meant that his name would be known throughout the world. Things went from bad to worse for Rob Lucci as he was kicked out of CP9 by Spandam. Most fans were under the impression that this particular fight would be the end of Rob Lucci and Luffy’s rivalry. However, it turned out that there was still one more round left. This particular fight took place on Egghead Island. Both wanted to win the fight for different reasons. Lucci was seeking to get back at the pirate for the humiliation he suffered. Luffy, on the other hand, wanted to punish Lucci for hurting Atlas, who had given him food.

Is It The Best Action Episode?

​​​​​​Luffy started the fight on the front foot. He entered Gear 5th and began attacking the Cipher Pol agent. Lucci had no response to the pirate’s initial attacks, but then he decided to use his Devil Fruit awakening. Lucci’s transformation was spectacular, and it was followed by a cool sequence where he evaded almost all of Luffy’s strikes. The animators working on the fight gave their best, and that was evident from the beautiful action scenes.

It may be considered a tad controversial, but Episode 1100 is definitely the best action episode in the series. From the transformations to the impact frames, it was excellent from start to the finish. Every frame was so exquisite that it was impossible to take the eyes off the screen. Such was the quality that it became one of the highest-rated One Piece episodes on IMDb. This speaks volumes about its grade.

Will It Ever Be Topped?

After getting to witness such an amazing episode so early in the arc, fans will want to know if Toei can supplant it. While it makes sense to be skeptical, the studio has already demonstrated that it has the resources and the talent to create incredible episodes. The Egghead arc has only just started, and there are many more fights on the way. But for now, fans will have to be patient and wait till the new episodes are released to see if anything can overtake Episode 1100.