One Piece Volume 11

Episodes 255-275, may contain spoilers.

“And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone” – Elton John

The story so far… 

Nico Robin, who has revealed herself to be a member of secret government agency CP9, agrees to take the sea train to Enies Lobby, a government-controlled island to accept her punishment for crimes she has previously committed, dating back to when she was a child. She does so on the understanding that the lives of the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates will be spared.

Also on board the sea train are several government agents and marines, plus two other prisoners: Franky the cyborg shipwright, who has the blueprints of the most destructive weapon in the world, something which Robin knows how to operate; and Usopp, who was with Franky at the time he was arrested. However, Sanji has also smuggled himself on the sea train, and given that he is rescuing a woman, Sanji is prepared to take on everyone on board to free her. Sanji kicks everyone who attacks him into submission and rescues Franky and Usopp, but Usopp refuses to help, being unable to face Robin. Luckily however a mysterious masked stranger, who looks a lot like Usopp then appears. He claims he is “Sogeking”, or “Sniper King”, from the Island of Snipers, and he will bravely help them. Although it seems that Robin is keen on not being helped…

Before the sea train departed the city of Water Seven, Sanji left details of what was going on for Nami, so she and Tony Tony Chopper go off to find their fellow comrades, but… there is a bit of a problem as Monkey D. Luffy is stuck between two buildings, Roronoa Zoro is stuck in a chimney, and a gigantic tidal wave is about to strike Water Seven. Luckily everyone survives and everyone manages to regroup. The problem however is catching up with the sea train. Luckily there is one way they can catch up: by using an earlier, much faster, experimental sea train called Rocketman. It does have a few problems, like having no brakes, but it will allow them to catch up. The Straw Hats decide to use it, while Franky’s gang and the Galley-La shipbuilders both team up with Luffy.

Ultimately, everyone arrives at Enies Lobby, with the Straw Hats and their allies trying their hardest to free their friends. Meanwhile several people at Enies Lobby, including Nico Robin, discover that they have been horribly lied to.

There are many enjoyable moments in this collection, the main one of which is the debut appearance of Usopp’s alter-ego of Sogeking, which is comically marked with him having his own mock opening titles and theme music, like an old 1970s anime series. There are also other developments. For example the final episode begins to detail Robin’s childhood years, something which appears to be continued in the next collection. But perhaps the biggest development of all is in the battles. Most of the major action takes place in Enies Lobby, where one scene sees Luffy taking on one of the CP9 agents. In this battle we see him performing a technique for the first time, as Luffy moves into “Second Gear”.

The beginning and ends of some of the episodes are slightly mixed in my opinion. A few episodes start with a competition which is not really explained, but the endings of these episodes are more interesting, as they consist of various examples of One Piece fan art, including some rather sweet pictures from young children. It shows that this is an anime that appeals to both younger and older viewers.

Regarding extras, there are episode commentaries, textless opening and closing, and several behind the scenes interviews with the English-language voice cast, featuring Christopher R. Sabat (Zoro), Colleen Clinkenbeard (Luffy), Sonny Strait (Usopp) and Patrick Seitz (Franky).