One Pace [Season 1 Episode 1071-1072]

One Pace [Season 1 Episode 1071-1072]: The Ridiculous Power of Gear 5 and the Return of Joy Boy

If you’ve been following One Piece for years—or even just recently caught up—you know that Episode 1071 and 1072 are historic. These episodes mark the long-awaited debut of Luffy’s Gear 5, a transformation so absurdly powerful and cartoonishly chaotic that it’s been breaking the internet since its manga debut. And thanks to One Pace, a fan project that trims the anime to match Eiichiro Oda’s manga pacing, these episodes hit even harder.

The Hype Was Real

The moment Luffy’s heart started pounding like the Drums of Liberation, fans lost their minds. For over a year, since Chapter 1044 dropped in the manga, the community has been buzzing about how Toei Animation would adapt this game-changing moment. And let me tell you—they delivered.

The episode opens with Zunesha declaring the return of Joy Boy, while Luffy, now fully awakened, stands atop the Skull Dome with his hair and clothes turned white, embodying the Sun God Nika. The Gorosei’s narration, paired with Whitebeard’s iconic OST, sent chills down everyone’s spines. It’s not just a power-up; it’s a mythical revelation that rewrites everything we thought we knew about Luffy’s Devil Fruit.

Gear 5: Peak Goofiness, Peak Power

Gear 5 is ridiculous—in the best way possible. Luffy’s movements are straight out of a Looney Tunes cartoon, complete with exaggerated sound effects and physics-defying antics. Kaidou, the strongest creature alive, gets manhandled like a ragdoll, his eyes popping out of his head in disbelief.

Fans are divided on the tone—some love the Tom & Jerry vibe, while others expected a more serious showdown. But honestly? The sheer joy (pun intended) of seeing Luffy bounce around, laughing like a maniac, is what makes this form so special. As one Redditor put it: “Oda had fun writing this, the animators had fun, Luffy’s voice actor had fun, and I had fun watching it.”

The Animation Debate

Tatsuya Nagamine, the director behind One Piece Film: Z and Dragon Ball Super: Broly, helmed this episode, and the animation is stellar. The fluidity of Luffy’s movements, the dynamic shifts in art style, and the sheer sakuga moments (like Kaidou’s dragon form getting tossed around) are breathtaking.

That said, some fans criticized the overuse of close-up shots and flashing colors, which made certain scenes hard to follow. And yes, CGI Kaidou makes a brief, unfortunate return. But let’s be real—when the episode ends with Luffy laughing like a madman while the Gorosei panic, you know you’ve witnessed something legendary.

The Fandom’s Reaction

The online discourse has been wild. MyAnimeList forums exploded with comments like:
– “This is PEAK fiction. One Piece is currently the best anime.”
– “Gear 5 is the perfect mix of epic and goofy. This felt like being a kid again.”
– “Crunchyroll crashed because Gear 5 broke the internet.”

Even the haters couldn’t deny the cultural impact. Whether you loved the silliness or wanted more action, everyone agreed: this was a milestone.

What’s Next?

Episode 1072 promises even more insanity, with Luffy fully embracing his new power. If you thought this was peak, brace yourself—it’s only the beginning.

Final Verdict: 10/10

One Pace’s edit of these episodes removes any filler, making the pacing tight and the impact unmatched. Gear 5 isn’t just a transformation—it’s a celebration of everything One Piece stands for: freedom, creativity, and unbridled joy.

So, if you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for? The Drums of Liberation are calling.

Written by a fellow Nakama who’s still recovering from the hype.