One Piece is all geared up with the Elbaf Arc, and Episode 1156 was released recently. It was a true banger with its fair share of rollercoaster moments. This one’s going to be a deep dive into the episode and its nitty-gritties, so let’s unpack this!
Episode 1156 echoes Usopp’s dream
Episode 1156 started on such a beautiful note, especially with the vibrant visuals. It echoed Usopp’s dream of visiting Elbaph, and it’s lovely how Toei transitioned it completely. We see Usopp and Luffy celebrating and making merry alongside Giant Warrior Pirates.
There are flashbacks to the Little Garden Arc, where we see Usopp finally finding his dream. This episode reflected that childlike glint in his eyes as he praises Oimo. We also see him banter and bicker with Nami, and honestly, nothing has changed except for Toei’s continuity.
Toei’s craftsmanship shines through
More often than not, Toei gets shaded by people for using impact frames, but no. Their finesse and brilliance are unmatched for a very good reason. Impact frames are what add to the extra oomph of this anime, and right from the get-go, we see Toei use those frames as a narrative device.
From the initial scene that echoes Usopp’s dream to the flashback scenes from the Little Garden Arc, Toei perfected it to the T. Not to mention the scene where Yasopp fires shots at Bartolomeo. It was animation at its finest, and this is one of those moments where Toei stands out. Be it Garp’s Galaxy Impact or Zoro’s fight against King, Toei Studio has outdone itself in many aspects. Not to mention, Blackbeard’s poster, which makes its appearance in a microsecond, was bang-on! This also adds to the characters’ charm and their menacing aura in this episode.
Blackbeard and his boundless ambitions
Blackbeard is an iconic character in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece universe. He isn’t one to give away his spot for free, and this episode cements him as a notorious villain. With Koby and Gecko Moria freed, Blackbeard has other cards up his sleeve. Teach has now secured his means to decipher the poneglyphs through Charlotte Pudding. He also has Garp as a hostage, but here’s the twist. It wasn’t a one-man job, considering how powerful Garp is, and even Aokiji knows when to put some respect on the Admiral’s name. With Pudding as hostage, Blackbeard now plans to seek One Piece. He is cheered on by the crew as Catarina Devon, Van Augur, and Caribou arrive at the Pirate Island of Beehive, and they’re taken in by Pizzaro.
World Government is slowly collapsing
Let’s be real, One Piece fans hate Celestial Dragons! They stand for everything and anything wrong that goes on in the Pirate Universe. The revolutionary army led by Dragon and Sabo is actively working to destroy the food supplies that are on board for Mary Geoise. What I loved about this episode is how Laffitte chuckles about and sits back while the ships are burned to the ground. He’s at the Marine Shipment facility when he is contacted by Teach, and he laughs off the starvation.
We see the Celestial Dragons getting payback for what they did to innocent civilians, pirates, and scholars alike. Not to mention, the Ohara Buster Call, in case anyone forgot, which brings us back to the present moment!
Sunny side down
It is a sunny day down, especially with the Straw Hats’ disappearance. Everyone on the ship has no clue where Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Chopper are. What’s funny about the whole deal is Robin’s intrusive thought of them being mauled by a fish. The episode closed in on them, wondering where their crew is, but other highlights deserve an honest mention: the episode pays a tribute to the rich worldbuilding through food. We got Absinthe, a popular Swiss distilled spirit, and also hákarl, an Icelandic delicacy. Oda never fails to surprise me, or the fans, with his showcasing of various cultures, and Toei did the same.
The Elbaf Arc will be done in two courses with 13 episodes each, where each episode will cover each chapter from the manga. The anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
