English Professor’s Thoughts on the Skypiea Saga of One Piece
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
- I have finished reading the Skypiea Saga, the third saga of Oda Sensei's One Piece, and I am eager to share my thoughts! While this is not meant to be a comprehensive breakdown of the many allusions and themes woven into the tale, I give my impressions and try to convey a sense of my appreciation for the rich storytelling as well as the characters' development. You can find all my One Piece videos in the "One Piece" playlist on my channel.
There's nothing a one piece fan enjoys more than seeing someone enjoy this story for the first time, the way we once did
It is fun to relive such an experience!
The way we once did at that point in the story. I'm excited for him to catch up and experience the finale with all of us, too
The word "vicariously" was specifically to describe veteran One Piece fans, when they see someone discovering the joy of experiencing One Piece for the first time
I'm pretty sure
I've been doing this more lately, it makes me feel nostalgic
Supporting the journey is literally the spirit of the series :D gotta love it
I'm talking to you, my fellow one piece nerds: we must protect this man at all cost. We all know how this fanbase can potentially be toxic, but this pure, wonderful individual must be protected
This is the truest reading comprehension check; do you think either Luffy or Robin would be mean to him? If your answer is "no", act accordingly.
@@PurplesttCoffeeRobin would respect him, Luffy could very possibly see the amount of books behind him and see this man talking about books and simply fall asleep
I never really experienced this toxicity you are talking about, I dont know where you have to be on the internet to experience that, but all I ever read from the community is postive, productive and kind.
@@MineCraffLPthen you have been very lucky
@@MineCraffLPI’ve had a similar experience.
He got all the symbolism in the arc. My friend, most reviewers doesn't see half of you saw.
Thank you! I’m really enjoying Oda’s masterful storytelling. All the best!
I actually can’t believe I never saw the irony of the Skypeians having a boarder on land they colonized from the shandorians. It’s so obvious in hindsight but I just missed it
@@AlphalVerd As Philip said in the video, Oda probably clearly thought about the colonization and expropriation of the original people of North America.
The sad part, is that You can still see examples of colonization like that with occupation and imperialistic resource gathering (Congo, Burkina Faso, Iraq, Guinea Bissal, Palestine etc.). I think that the connection between our real past and real present is a great part of One Piece.
@@diegokabal14 I know its a lil late but this is more true than you could know at the time
=
Fun fact: Oda revealed one of his favorite panels is in Skypiea, in chapter 253, the panel when the bonfire party took place. In fact he also specified that his purpose to drawing Skypiea is to draw that very specific scene.
Oda looooves parties 😂
I love that! Thank you for sharing it!
Yooo!! Only recently does this make any sense as to why. Anyone who says to skip Skypiea because it’s “filler” deserves to get bonked
Also the small foreshadowing
🧐
Do you smell what the ODA is cooking?
Skypiea is very important to me as someone who is religious. I went into this arc expecting your typical “bad god must be defeated” that is often the source of conflict in anime and video games. But what shocked me was when everyone started praying at the end. They weren’t praying to Enel. “What else can we do but pray?” That cemented Skypiea as one of my favorite arcs, because it’s so rare to see affirmation of religion (or faith, rather) in the same breath as denouncing cruel gods like Enel. It’s not denying the existence of a god, but Enel specifically. And that made me extremely happy.
Beautifully said! I agree with your assessment of that moment. Faith comes in various forms, and it’s a big part of our existence.
Funny thing: "Kami" means god. "Kaminari" means lighning. There's an inherent pun there between Eneru's ability and him calling himself a god.
Nice! Thank you for sharing that!
Said another way, when Enel says "I am lightning" it sounds like he is saying "I have become God" or "I am God".
I always thought “kaminari” directly (roughly) translated to “god making sound”, but turns out it’s one kanji, so either it’s a coincidence or that’s how it got it’s name a long time ago. Idk. Either way, “kaminari” is a really fitting word for lightning considering many cultures draw a connection between lightning and god
@@eliben4066 You're actually correct about that Japanese meaning; kanji are deceptive in that regard, because it's a writing system borrowed from Chinese, so it doesn't necessarily match the Japanese word's etymology. "Kaminari" roughly translates as "the sound of gods," and in Japanese mythology, thunder is made by gods hitting drums, so gods associated with thunder and storms are often portrayed playing the drums. Which is why Enel is wearing a set of drums set into that weird ring on his back.
*Wano Spoiler*
Reminds me of when Luffy grabs lightning against Kaido and called the attack: Gomu gomu no kaminari
Right after he awakened his “God” fruit
The story of Noland shows the power of narrative and the importance of who is telling the story. Winners write the story of the future. In this case a good man's name was ruined for making a king feel foolish.
We already saw at the end of Alabasta that the World Government will spin the narrative in order to maintain their aura of power and giving themselves credit for saving the country instead of the Strawhat pirates.
There is absolutely no way that the world government would ever admit pirates do good stuff for the broader world...
"justice will prevail? Of course it will! Whoever wins the war becomes justice!"
I loved the bit where Nami looked right at Usopp when she finished reading the story of Noland the liar.
Also there was the small bit of foreshadowing when Sani revealed that he was from the North Blue.
its crazy how you just nailed down robin’s character so succinctly right off of the cuff. shes the center of a certain arc that the fandom tends to place at the very top, but youre already so primed for it- i think its gonna blow you away.
I’m loving her character!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasydude love the vids cant wait to see you review the arc this guys talking about its PEAK
Seriously, the accuracy here with pretty much 0 context is nuts
The part where the snake is having the worst day of it's life when Luffy's inside it cracks me up so hard
Poor snake! And Luffy not realizing he's inside it . . . Ha ha!
That snake is one of those characters that only Oda could create. It seems simple but the flashback does such a good job showing us who that guy was when he was little and he's kinda a foil for Enel in a lot of ways. The snakes a God who chose to be a friend. Enel was a man who gave up all his friends to be a God.
And yet then the best day of his life when Luffy rings the bell.
@@riatsila144 haha true
This arc genuinely has some of the strongest senses of adventure in all of One Piece. And the comedy is just so good. "A placre we're not supposed to go... heheheheh." Peak.
Ha ha! You've got to love Luffy's reactions to things like that!
Love seeing people who truly "get it" why this arc is so damn good. So many people are like "oh .. X arc is better because it had more action.. Skypiea is boring in comparison".
I have been saying skypea is my favourite ark for 10 years now and everyone thinks that I am just trying to be a hipster.
@@moxopal5681 I can definitely can see how it is your favourite, even if it isn't mine personally. It has so many fun, cool and heartwarming moments packed into this whacky ride. Also Luffy punches god, so yeah.
wyper is great
Blackbeard’s debut is such a wonderful scene. He and Luffy have exact opposite opinions on the lemonade and cherry pie, but in the end, he’s the only one in the bar who understands the value and power of dreams. Establishes right away that this is someone totally unlike Luffy in personality who still sees the world in the same exact way underneath that all and takes that in his own direction - a perfect nemesis. And this one arc after we meet Ace, presented as this ideal version of Luffy who lacks many of his faults as another aspirational figure. It’s always so clear how Oda thinks about Luffy’s place in the world and what characters can best highlight his strengths and his faults.
Beautifully said! Cheers!
I think that scene is the one that started the "opposite faces of a coin" or "inverted themes" thing that many theories based on.
I love how wyper gets his own main character arc where he almost kills enel. Its a pretty respectful take on colonisation and how shandians are portrait, and that they had the right to be angry, and ganford, is also complicit and did . I mean thats a great portrayal in fiction.
I agree!
glad theres love and no spoilers, this is a special series im sure you will enjoy the ride more and more as you keep reading! Much love from Portugal to everyone! X
My deepest thanks!
Wow, um tuga...
If you plan to continue the series till the end, I strongly recommend that you get someone who reads comments for you. The series is so big that sometimes people can throw at you a spoiler because they misremembered when something happened. And of course, there are others who have bad intentions and purposefully spoil things.
Edit. Seeing you document your thoughts on the series as you go through it is also a really fun experience, I hope you keep doing these reviews saga per saga.
Thanks so much! I might switch to reviewing arcs as the sagas get longer.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Some of the sagas end up just being one long arc so you might end up splitting those too
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I definitely recommend doing that eventually. Not necessarily because the sagas get longer, but eventually, I imagine you’ll more than likely have *a lot* to say about each individual arc that could make for a video of its own. That said I really enjoy the current format of the videos!
I just love the way you put this story into your own words. It is like I’m reading the story again for the first time.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Skypiea is microcosmos of One Piece and is preparing us for the future, even small scene now can be super important later in the manga 😀 I really enjoyed listening to you!
Thank you so much! 😊
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasyyes, Oda had planned to end the Manga only 5 years after Skypia at this point so we can also surmise that there is foreshadowing to the final arc of one over going on in this arc.
It makes me so glad to see you're reading the SBS corners, not everybody does. Between that and the cover stories, it's one of the best parts of reading the manga that doesn't make it into the anime. They reveal so much information that doesn't have an organic way to make it into the story, and it shows that Oda's mind is exploding with creativity and ideas. The world building in the series is incredible, and these Q and As are a perfect compliment to that. Sure, it's not always particularly interesting information, but even when it's just juvenile humor, it's great to see Oda interact with his readers. It's insane, but even with how popular the series is now, he claims he still reads all his fan mail.
I actually enjoy Oda’s humor in the SBS Corners. 😁 Cheers!
Noland (No Land) and Kalgara backstory is one of my favorites. It has pretty clear parallels to Pocahontas and definitely El Dorado. And interesting thing about that backstory is that it is subtly a piece of the puzzle to the clue of what the One Piece might be in that it is an inversion of Gol D Roger. Both reached a vast treasure, a place that no one believed in, both returned to be executed. Roger returned as a hero, Noland returned as a liar. Roger smiled at his execution, Noland frowned. Noland told the truth at his execution and died anyway. Was Roger lying before he died?
The coincidence of part of Jaya getting knocked up by the Knock Up Stream at that specific time and then getting framed by people that lied about being in his crew is also an interesting tidbit I think is something to ponder about.
Shandians seem to be based on Inca, Mayan, and Aztec cultures. The ruins are even a real place in Mexico - Mayapan. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more connections though Aztec lore and mythology.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is that it isn’t “magic” in this world to go into the sky. There is an explanation for everything in story, just not always exactly when you want it. While things can seem random or like “it’s One Piece so it can be randomly absurd.” But this arc introduces that idea that the absurd can be justified. Were given explaination in-universe how the Merry can fly, how a ship can get into the sky. We’re even given an explanation of how we are able to be on clouds and how it’s possible to stand on clouds. Oda is giving us logic for things that should have no logic in the real world. Bellamy says dreams can’t come true and it’s impossible. Not only is it possible, it is also explained through science and understanding.
I believe that Oda wants us to believe that everything is random at first, only to find that the world is deeper than what is on the surface. Thats a theme in this story you’ll find time and time again. You think you know someone or something, but it turns out to be unexpectedly different. The surface isn’t always reflective of what’s inside. “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” And since you are new to manga I think this is something that is definitely reflective of your experience. I also think that is what stops a lot of people from reading something so dauntingly long or something that has artwork that isn’t appealing to everyone.
There is a ton of foreshadowing in this arc, a lot of small subtle moments of foreshadowing too. This is an arc people farther into the story frequently go back to.
Excited as always to see you continue the journey.
Havent read the rest of it but just had to say, Roger Lying! That's a big call for any theory to make. It would break many hearts both on the page and off!
@@mtandazomoyo7840I think we really have to think about it more than simply "the one piece was a lie" and ask what else could Roger have been lying about? Perhaps lying by omission? Maybe the one piece is just bait for something even bigger and more incredible.
It makes me think... What if there is a secret even bigger than the one piece? And why would Roger lie about that?
Another thing I was wondering, if they are both telling truth, then what is the part that is opposite in the truths they spoke? Noland said that the thing exists, yet it couldn't be found because it was shot into the sky. The opposite of that would be that the one piece hadn't been found because it was shot into the ocean depths. Cricket searched the seas for Noland's truth which was up in the sky, while pirates searching for the one piece searched above water - in the air - for the one piece which was under the ocean.
I don't see how it could be true but I think there's many ways to interpret Noland's parallel with Roger.
"As above so below" pretty much sums up Skypiea
Lovely!
Pretty much, it has a lot of biblical references as well.
A lot of people dislike this arc and even skip it because of its overall detachment from the greater story, and some people defend it because of its relevancy to the future story that is only seen through hind sight. Personally I think this is miss guided. We shouldn’t only enjoy one piece because of what will happen at the end, rather the components that make up this story are what matter which is why I think Skypiea is one of the better sagas. It feels like Oda also believes this and tries to spread it as one of his messages. Overall it’s great to see you enjoying the series and I think everyone should see this saga the way you do.
Personally it's one of my favourite arcs and has been since I first read OP (I caught up while they were in TB in the manga). The relevancy it has in the future has only enhanced my love of it, but I don't think you need to love it for itself - you can 100% like it because it is relevant in the future, on looking back. The anime version did make it drag a fair bit and a lot of people experienced it that way first, so their view of it is coloured. If they needed future relevance to the plot to make them appreciate it, then I'm down with that - as long as they eventually understand and love it more than hate it, it's all good in my book.
And yes, I'm that oddball that loves PH and FI and Skypeia - the arcs people didn't like as much. XD
I am Part of the fraction that doesnt like the Skypia arc - the Saga is okay -
But I dont like it for completely different reasons than most people... (And I was an Anime watcher who didnt even know Manga exist)
And I would never skip any Part of this Epic Story (fillers included)
To the Arc itselfe:
The Story is great
The theme is brilliant
The fights are okay
I love the world and the concept of an Island in the skies
The tech they invented and the creative ways the use it is phenomenal...
BUT... You can remove the main cast completely and you basicly have the very same story...
I dont like that at all...
Just give Wiper the final blow on Enel and Highlight some of the shandians more by letting them defeat the priests and thats it...
Its a beautyfull Tale on its own but the strawhats themeselves hardly participat in it and thats a pitty...
@@naviro6672that’s Luffy’s whole thing, though. He acts in ways that may have global ramifications, but that’s never his reasoning. He and the crew didn’t participate in this battle to assist the natives in their battle against colonialism. They were there to save Nami and ring a bell. But you couldn’t really just sub them out, especially not Luffy. He was the only one who could defeat Eneru because he’s made of rubber and is therefore the *natural enemy of this “god”*, which is actually a wonderful piece of foreshadowing.
It was Luffy and the Straw Hats’ arrival and involvement that directly led to the citizens of Sky Island learning to question authority instead of blindly trusting in it or letting the fear of an authority figure’s wrath dictate their every move.
Their interactions with the Shandeans was also used as a parallel to the relationship between Calgara and Noland, and the ringing of the bell was revealed to be as, if not more, important to Wyper as it was to Luffy.
For these reasons, I think the idea that the Straw Hats “barely participated” in the way this arc played out is unfounded.
You could say the same thing about what happened in Cocoyashi Village, or really anywhere throughout the story.
@@maniachaelchallenges
First things first...
WYPER HAD ENERU ALREADY DOWN...
Remember... The combination of seaprism and reject? He was defeated... But Luffy didnt have a real fight yet so he got resurected... (Absolutely dumb decision imo)
Then half of the crew is constantly out of consciouness or simply doing nothing...
In the first half (the better one) Nami Zorro and Robbin are just walking aimlessly through the jungle while chopper guards the ship and Luffy Sanji and Usopp make a dangerous boat trip...
In the second half Sanji and Usopp are knocked out; Luffy is trapped inside a snake and Zorro is once more walking aimlessly through the jungle... Robbin discovers the ruins and chopper fights priests... Nami is doing nonsence...
And what do you mean by the strawhats caused the fight? They were fighting for 400 YEARS over this place... This was almost a daily thing... The strawhats didnt START anything here... Even Eneru arrived here years prior to the shown events...
IMO they added nothing new to the conflict, the circumstances or the resolve...
I have always liked Skypiea, but will admit that the heavy foreshadowing in it that only becomes apparent in recent arcs does add to an already underrated arc.
I like how shadows are used as a visual motif throughout the arc, specifically shadows of people celebrating/partying. It starts on Jaya when Cricket and the SH decide to try to get to Sky Island and follows all the way through the saga to that final big two page spread at the end. The musical motif with the chapter titles was fun too
Very cool observation!
Huh, I did not think of that. How shadows were a recurring focus in this arc. I wonder if it means anything.
Your face fits so well on gan fall's body 😂
Keep it up man, love hearing your thoughts and opinions on the series 👍👍
Ha ha! Ganfor and I are kindred spirits. I'm a medievalist, and he looks medieval.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy he is depicted from Cervantes Don Quixote de la Mancha.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasybro got that wise old man demeanor
I didn't even notice! 😂❤
the warlord’s meeting imo is one of the most insane lore drops we’ve had, and Doflamingo is such a cool character
It was a formidable gathering!
They all play important roles in the story, some in some very unexpected ways.
Jaya-Skypea is the most important arc of all the series in my view, the metaphors and parallels are spot on. I look at this arc as a short of a map oda drew ;) (the small detail of chapter 222, the 3 seagulls fly over merry, are shot down by Augur, hitting the deck of the boat, that symbolises the start of a theatre play with the 3 strokes on the stage, and after that all actions are scripted, that is why Augur talks about fate in that way. This story is truly a masterpiece!)
When Oda thought of the story, he envisioned a 5 year story and Skypiea was to be the final arc.
Very cool, and beautifully said about One Piece!
I love One Piece...
But imo Skypia is Oda Senseis weakest Arc...
And I know I am quite alone with this opinion... But I need to say it... Because this is actually a Statement to the Level of writing we recive from this Story
Oda just showed us something in the last manga chapter 1114, witch i wont spoil, but the ssed for that are in the cover page of chapter 472, that was 22 years ago, no plot holes, this is know going into inhumane ability to tell a story with over 1000 character each with is own prsonality and everithing fits toghether like a clock. I might be an ignorant, but i trully belive he deserves a nobel prize in literature. There is nothing quite like this. :) Have fun all!
@naviro6672 perhaps you need to re read it again now that it's been some time.
The One Piece fandom used to look down on this arc as being 'Canonical Filler', however as time has gone on it's become clear that this is one of the most important arcs in the entire series.
I'm glad that its importance is being recognized -- I think it's brilliant!
i think its also worth mentioning how luffy is enerus perfect counter, not just because rubber beats electricity, but luffys loyalty and trust he has with his companions is the perfect rebuttal to enerus authoritarian control on his subordinates
Beautifully said, and I agree that’s an important insight!
I really enjoy seeing people who are not into anime/manga and hear their thought on the story, because the anime/manga fandom is your typical comic fans most of the time arguing who is stronger than who and it kinda makes the discussions of the story a bit bland because people are often powerscaling the characters and all of that, so seeing people actually paying attention to the story itself is really refreshing. Just wanted to say this because i've enjoyed your videos and it reminded me of Merphy when she started one piece and how refreshing it felt hearing her thoughts on the story.
I’m happy to be following in Merphy’s footsteps!
This exactly, along with Mama Drawk this is may favorite Channel for One Piece rn
To me the Noland/Calgara flashback is so interesting too, because it talks about the differences between more ancient cultures and current societies, and how, despite the differences, we all just want to overcome the world.
You have the ancient Shandians who are sacrificing people to their snake god to heal those afflicted by the tree disease, and then you have Noland, who just wants them
to not cut off bonds just because of some stupid ideology. Noland representing more modern cultures who understand science as opposed to religion. God or no God, we’re all just people, looking to survive. Looking to lend a hand.
And that idea of brotherhood that can survive even through generations, through time itself, that crying out of, “You’re not alone, brother.”
Skypiea is truly phenomenal.
Well said!
What’s so fun about these videos is that I feel like I’m back in literature class, but the lessons are on my favorite piece of fiction. Your insights are incredibly enjoyable and well said. This story only gets better as well. Very excited for more reviews!
Thank you for your kind words!
Your presence within the grand fleet is a beacon for some,, please keep sharing your one piece thoughts and experiences with us ❤
Thank you for your kindness! I'm happy to be here!
I believe here is where one piece starts getting heavy on the lore. It's awesome that you like it so far man! Love your videos!
Thanks so much!
I love unintentional foreshadowing. I'll say nothing but you friend are very spot on.
Cheers! 😊
I loved how you expressed all of the different themes and meaning especially near the end of the video when referencing the "bell" and the meaning of dreaming and dreams in the Jaya arc in mock town. Great saga thats rather underappreciated by the community as this saga is seen as a "Mixed Bag" that people either love or hate.
Thank you! Oda handled that bell symbolism just beautifully -- it gives the story such universality.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy quick note: I'd say almost everyone who is sour on skypeia is an Anime first consumer. The pacing was quite slow. But manga Skypeia is magnificent.
@@WafflesHouse8993 Thank you for confirming that!
Skypiea is an arc that aged extremely well. I think some people were sour on it initially because they couldn't see how it fit together in the rest of the story. Of course we know now that it's extremely important.
I think that last part is so strange because this was THE arc that really kicked everything off and acted as the first huge elevation of an opponent’s power that had you thinking “what’s next? How does it get more imposing than this?” And then you find out, again and again and again. Arguing over what parts of a story like this can/should be skipped seems like a pretty silly pursuit. It’s one of the reasons I can be a huge fan of something and never get into the fandom. Everything has to become a debate, plus there’s the fact that people will just outright spoil things without consideration. I’d almost rather pretend I’m the only one that knows about it, experience it on my own time, and appreciate it without being subjected to premature reveals and hot takes.
I’m glad I found these videos and this comments section because I’ve honestly never been exposed to good One Piece fans like this.
Have been checking for this everyday! So excited for the journey to continue.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your support!
Man glad you're catching up. Maybe biased but if theres any parts of the anime to watch just for experiencing it the black beard quote, the history of Noland and Calgura and the next arc as a whole is just those moments that finally set the series in stone that never can be done justice without the original takes, the voice work and emotion is permanently stained in my mind.
Cheers!
I watched most one piece when I was in middle school, so a lot of the symbolism went completely above my head. Really like how you talk about the series, it’s fun hearing your take and dissection!
Thanks so much! 🙏
All of these have been great, but this one is a real testament to your ability to analyze media… without spoiling anything, you are really latching on to things that have a ton of importance as the story goes on. Excited to keep watching!
Thanks so much, Dylan! I thoroughly enjoyed the thematic work in this saga.
So nice to see you made it to Skypeia. I watched this Saga early in High School almost 20 years ago so it resonated with me as well. I'm from the Philippines so the Strawhats defying a deity really sparked a sense of rebellion inside me. I was always adverse to blind obedience and societal constraints. I was a cartoon by nature and I saw that within Luffy and his friends. His very essence of being a Rubber Man (which also harkens to old cartoon animation styles) renders him impervious against a God's power (in which I love the irony). So it led me to believe that if I stay true to myself and accept that my own nature can work within this world if I do. So I became a comic book artist and cartoonist preaching the great stories I've come across from Batman: The Animated series to Bojack Horseman to even One Piece.
That is so cool! It's wonderful when we see ourselves reflected in fictional characters and get inspired by them.
been following one piece for the last 17 years , This is one of the best analisys of skypea , thank you
Thank you for your kind words - much appreciated!
I really love your review on OP. One of the biggest critisism I see online by new OP reader/watcher recently is that Luffy's character is very naïve, a dufist, goofy and hungry all the time besides the time where he just randomly get serious. It made me think that maybe I was looking back at it with rosetinted glass when I first watched the series. But everytime you describe a scene or character it tugs a string within me, of how I emotionally feel when I was first experiencing the series.
Skypeia is one of my favorite arcs in the entire series. The worldbuilding, mini magic systems, lore reveals, *chef's kiss* So glad you enjoyed it. But it'll only get more insane from here.
I’m ready for the insanity! Cheers, Marco!
don't take comments like " the anime drags on" " it has terrible pacing" etc etc to heart too much. A lot of people who make those comments are people who have rewatched or re-read one piece 3 or 4 or even 8+ times over and over again. those people tend to forget that for first time audiences, the pacing is actually very fast especially now that you can binge watch and binge read instead having to wait weekly.
I’ll keep that in mind!
Completely true! Plus the anime really makes some of the things quite well, sometimes add up things that make the story better. The music definitely makes it better.
I cant wait to see your room slowly have more and more one piece in the background as you get further into the story. i think thats happened with every single youtuber ive seen start the series from the start and its funny.
Ha ha! That would make me look more cool, no doubt!
After learning more of the One Piece story, this arc shows incredible significance
I look forward to that viewpoint!
Hi, I subscribed to your channel because you started covering this series
I have a few tips and I'm keeping this spoiler-free
1. The next arc (Long Ring Long Land) will be a short funny arc. A lot of people don't like it but I don't agree. The next arc after the short one is another huge one with big stakes so Long Ring Long Land is a great break
2. Some people will advise you to watch anime here. There is an anime-only arc called G-8 and while it's filler (doesn't change anything in the storyline) it is really well written and if you decide to watch it it will help you imagine the crew's voices.
About your video because I loved it too
Oda wrote about colonization better than anybody I saw. While he showed its bad sides he also showed that not everybody under the colonialist flag was an evil-doer. Both Noland (who served the colonialist kingdom) and Gen Fall are good people who were born on the side that is far from perfect but their actions speak louder than history itself.
I think it also connects with Luffy's idea of not acting about the past. Luffy doesn't care about your past. He knows you have it and you are shaped by it but in the end, he cares about who you are which is very well shown when Nojiko wanted to tell Straw Hats about Nami's past and he refused.
Luffy didn't fight Enel because of Skypeia's history. He thought him because the man was threatening his friends (old and new like Conis) and because he wanted to ring the Bell so Cricket could hear it - because it was Cricket's dream. Luffy stands in the way of people who enslave others and destroy dreams. Believe me, it's a theme you should keep your eye on
Oda tells us that the way forward is in the future not in the past.
Robin is an interesting one here because this is her first adventure with SHs and this is where she regains hope. By the end of Alabasta she said she lost hope in her dream and yet on the first adventure with those misfits she finds a piece of her dream
I also love the flashback of Noland and Calgara. I think they are kind of based on Gilgamesh and Enkidu
I whole heartedly agree with you 💯
Beautiful comments -- thank you so much! Also, I appreciate the advice and will gladly watch G-8.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasyG8 is widely considered the best filler arc in the series. That being said, the anime doesn't contain many "anime-only" arcs and instead stretches the existing content. This really becomes a problem during a specific section of the story. However early OP and modern OP are often enhanced by the anime. I would highly recommend watching specific episodes as you get further along into the story (notably episode 1015). The series is extremely long, but it is well worth it to see where things go and how the world/characters develop.
@@Clone895 god I love 1015 so much. It’s one of my favorite episodes in that arc 😭
@@Dwarfenthusiast1874 Imo it's the best episode in the series. However, I would avoid even saying the names of certain arcs to help with spoilers. Some people don't like to know anything beforehand, and tbh I think that's the best way to consume One Piece's story. Knowing even the smallest spoilers can give away information that isn't ideal for newcomers (hence why my previous post was fairly censored).
The next saga is the reason why so many one-piece fans are so obsessed!
The main reason why so many people love these read-throughs is because of getting to this section and seeing how people react!
You would absolutely not have any of this amount of dedicated community or positivity going on whatsoever if you didn't come in after The next saga came out.
We didn't even know that Oda was considered a great author and a genius at this point one piece itself had only really critical acclaim with the Alabasta ark and when Skipea was first printed the week to week pacing wasn't alway the most engaging.
It was only after reading the next saga that that many of us became so in love with this manga and people started naming their kids after characters,
An official wing of the emporers Royal Palace became a dedicated one piece museum. There's even an official national holiday in Japan one piece day.
We had to go back and reread everything because we just noticed all the layers, clues and foreshadowing for the first time because we didn't know what kind of story it was at the time.
Oda even said that the story was half way over at the end of Alabasta so we had no reason to believe it would be as big as it is now 20 years later at this point.
Thank you for all that context and history - it’s very helpful to know!
I think the main drawback of reading everything first is that you miss out on the soundtrack that is so wholesome and adds so much to the show. Trying listening to a couple of the songs and feel that vibe with it!
I’ll check out some scenes with the music - cheers!
I still cry when I think about Norland 😭. It was in the sky Norland! THE SKY!!
Poor guy!
My nakama, we have a good one sailing with us. Such insight, such story-telling view. This is refreshing, too.
Let's enjoy the ride with him until we all find where the poneglyphs lead us!
I deeply appreciate your company, my friend!
Ah. So true Hawkeye!
skypiea is one of my favorite arcs! hope you enjoyed it
I loved it! Cheers!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I'm so glad to hear that!
Im so happy youre continuing the story, my only sadness is youll never experience how the big moments pair so amazingly with the sound track the anime uses, but at least you dont suffer the pacing issues
Thank you! I’ll watch some episodes so I get a taste.
I've been reading OP since 2001 and it's been with me for more than 2/3 of my life. To this day, I still read Skypiea arcs from time to time, it's my favorite arc. Although there's "better" arc in OP, better story, better art, but I think Skypiea is the microcosm of the whole OP and that's what I like about it. All of the characters involved in this arc from Norland, Calgarra, Wiper, Gan Farr, even Enel is just perfect for their role.
I thoroughly enjoyed this part and think it exhibits brilliant storytelling. Cheers!
Im so happy that this is getting continued, easily the most exciting videos to watch this year for me!
It makes me happy that you're enjoying the videos! Thank you!
An english professor saying 'Anna-may' brought me joy in a humble weeabo way lol
Great videos! Excited to see you in Egghead!
Cheers!
Just finished taking my SAT and was a pleasure to see that this video finally came out. I’m glad you’re enjoying one piece and let me just say this it will get far better than you can possibly imagine
I hope the SAT went well! I’m not a fan of all the standardized testing they give to students these days because they have warped how high school is taught toward tests that are not good predictors of learning in college. But that’s another subject! Cheers!
That thumbnail is genius, Philip. 😂
Ha ha! Thanks so much, my friend! I feel like Ganfor is a kindred spirit.
I am loving these theme discussions from you. One Piece is a series that massively benefits from attentive reading. The effort you are putting in now will pay off in spades later in the series and it is impressive to me that you are absolutely nailing certain aspects of the story that some people only catch onto on second or third readings with the benefit of knowing what comes in the future.
Thank you! I really enjoy the rich and beautiful storytelling that Oda is delivering here. It’s a delight to read!
BOY this show and analysis brings me so much JOY
It's interesting to see in retrospect how Oda pics up a theme by starting several stories which relate to it at the same time, for example the unreliability of historical records as you mentioned here, or uncertainty in the Arabasta arc!
It's really brilliant storytelling!
Ngl, I had to do a double take when I saw the thumbnail. It looks so good and quite authentic!
18:45 I think Enel/Eneru looks like Eminem just because Oda is a fan of him. No further reasons
I really enjoyed your thoughts and opinions especially on the themes and questions of the respective arcs! Thank you for reviewing this saga!
Just some head-ups: the filler arc in the anime (meaning that Eichiiro Oda has not written/drawn the arc, and is anime exclusive) right after Skypiea is called G-8 arc. This anime filler arc is beloved in the fandom, thus this arc is often recommended to be watched and I agree! So if you want to watch some anime episodes to learn their names, hear the voice acting and get a good grasp on the comedic timing, I highly recommend to watch G-8 arc (episodes 196-206)!
Sadly the next canon arc is not so loved, but the rest of the saga is crazy loved and you might want to start arc-reviews instead of saga-reviews. But you do you, and I wish you a fun and good experience!
I'm glad you like that thumbnail! Also, I really appreciate the advice. I will watch G-8!
For me, till this day, it's the best saga in One Piece.
I second the recommendation of the G8 filler arc! Best filler arc in all anime i've ever watched! Just thought i'd read through the comments first.
Agree with all the stuff above!
I must say I have become a huge fan of your commentaries! They are so cool and profound on something I really enjoy as it is One Piece. Thank you for your videos!
Ps: one thing I like about this arc is that when they find “el dorado” it is not longer covered in gold. However, no one seems to really care, they still see the beauty in this ancient city. As if saying that money is not really the ultimate dream
I appreciate you watching!
I love watching people fall in love with One Piece and your joy for the story is radiating through the screen. I hope you can continue to enjoy One Piece like this! Even as a long time One Piece fan you still managed to point out some references and connections I hadn't realized before, really loving your analysis so far!
Thank you so much! I’m putting the finishing touches on my video about the Long Ring Long Land arc and Water 7 arc right now and will release it tomorrow. All the best!
i love jaya arc. i love how the town where luffy's dream was mocked is called mock town, the town of mockery. i kinda like to imagine that it was named mock town as a reminder that this is the town where pirate king luffy's dream was mocked, it kinda becomes a fable kids in the future just know about. even tho its just my head canon ahaha
I love that association -- thank you!
I think more literally, it's a mock town, meaning it's not a real town because it's so chaotic because pirates hang out there
There is usually a recommendation to check out the G8 anime filler that occurs right after Skypiea. It is not canon but many fans consider it to be ascended canon because of how good the characterization everything is and just the good story it tells. Otherwise, up next, a devisee arc for the fanbase, Long Ring Long Land.
I'll definitely check out G8 -- thanks so much!
Just echoing what they said, G8 is great, even for manga only readers. Long Ring Long Land is better in the manga, but it is considered one of the harder arcs to get through. After that, though... is one of the best!
It is my favorite filler arc.
I love watching you break down my favorite show and talk about what makes it so great :) Keep up the spectacular work Philip!
Thanks so much! I appreciate you watching!
Love this video. Can’t wait for the following arcs
Thank you!
I love how meticulously you analyze what Oda-sensei wanted to show. This is a very correct way and when you read further, you will understand why (especially with this saga)!
Maximum support to your channel and your One Piece journey!
If you have any questions to One Piece community about SBS/spoilers/any other info feel free to ask! We will answer (or not) without spoilers of course.
My deepest thanks!
I never knew what that french phrase meant. Never even paid attention to it. It's such a beautiful subtle addition to that spread. Thank you for pointing it out and translating. I love that I can learn new things about the series by watching your vids.
I’m glad that added a little something for you. I thought it was a beautiful statement in light of Robin’s earlier despair and her newfound place among the Strawhats. Cheers!
Im glad Philip does these thoughts and take away video of OP arcs, brings a smile to my face, but i know, the OP geeks that we all are, thinks that 35min vids are too short to discuss the entirety of this behemoth of an Arc of Skypeia, and i know if this vid would be been atleast 5hrs longer, we'd be religiously watching this video with the same smile on😅😁
You are very kind! Thank you!
The bell's symbolic value and meaning is very underrated. The way it ties together every single theme of this arc is masterful. Quite like the strawhat placed on Nami's head in the East Blue arc. Two very elegant (and eloquent) symbols that are incredibly powerful and compelling.
Beautifully said!
Skypia is a very important saga, as you said it its about believing in the impossible.
I love that luffy learn from Shanks to fight the right way, and not to has unnecessary conflicts something that now in day is hard to see
I love that Luffy learns too - he’s a fantastic and unique character! Thank you for watching and commenting!
This was the arc that first pulled me into one piece
Thanks for sharing your experience with it, its so cool to hear it fresh again
@@CM-ck4nl Thank you for watching!
Your on an amazing journey. I'll see you in wano. Be there
I look forward to seeing you there!
Love this. If this guy was my English professor I would’ve been front row. This is such an amazing POV of how others digest one piece especially a Professor! BRAVO 🎉
I'm happy that you enjoyed the video! Thank you for watching!
Philip! Your segment about the symbolic importance of ringing the bell was incredibly moving. It's a precious thing to hear you put into the words these resonant moments. Well done!
Thank you for the kind words!
6:35 I love that moment too and the translation I had read said “A MAN’S DREAM NEVER DIES” and it hit me hard
It’s a fantastic moment!
Everytime he shows up on my feed I get giddy
You are very kind!
I am currently watching a Canadian Teacher reading One Piece, Mom Piece lol so this will be just as interesting. Hope you enjoy your Journey, The Community is mostly great and please do just think about everything. Lead us too the One Piece.
One of my favorite things in this entire manga is the panel of Luffy imeadiatly getting along with the two other monkey dudes. Its so cute
Cute is the perfect word! Cheers!
Omg the thumbnail 🔥😂 This saga has one of the best storytelling i have liked in one piece in terms of connecting the dots of the past. So mindblowing.
When you caught up, I hope you do a ranking of your favorite characters and arcs 😊
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the thumbnail! 😁
One thing I love about skypea is how gunfall is dressed like quixote (Spanish character) and all the shandia theme is maya like (South American) making a direct reference to Columbus reaching America
Colonialism is a big theme here, for sure!
I’m really enjoying seeing the way you break things down and your thoughts on everything. Your thumbnails are perfect 😂
Thank you, Devon!
Heso!!!🤙
In comparison with Lord Of The Rings, you are at Rivendell, just after Frodo decides to be the ring bearer, the moment in the story where you can start to see the journey ahead and the mission to Mount Doom. At the ending of skypiea you see Roger and I think its the first time you can really start to guess the most important question of the series "What is the One Piece?"
Also, I love the bell symbolism. Through the story you can see how different people give the bell a different meaning:
-For the ancient Shandians, the sound of the bell was used to guide their ancestors souls to the trees where they believed rested. After Nolan cut down the trees due to the plague and Kalgara apologized for the misunderstanding, the bell rang to guide Nolan again to Jaya saying "We are here", as a promise of "We will see each other again".
-When the island rose to the sky, the bell rang and the inhabitants of Skipea called it "the song of the island". After years of war, creating the legend that "when the island sings again, the war with the Shandians will end and all of Skypiea will be at peace"
-For Wyper was the symbol of the greatest regret of his ancestor kalgara, for not being able to keep his promise to ring the bell and say "we are here", so he wants to ring the bell so that the souls of Kalgara and Nolan can rest in peace.
-And for Luffy ringing the bell was a way to let know the Cricket that his ancestor was not a liar so that he stops searching at the bottom of the sea since the island is in the sky. (because Cricket has divers disease and will die if he continues)
So every promise was made full when Luffy punched the bell, the promise of peace for the island, the message to the souls of Kalgara and Nolan and Cricket knowing the truth.
I also think I didn't mention it in your alabasta video but I think you would like to hear a couple of songs, the first is the song they used in the anime when Luffy defeated Crocodile and the second its the song the anime uses when they are navigating or in moments of discovery, both are full on Orchestra!!! . (You can get spoil if you search in youtube but they are on spotify)
-Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, B. 178 "From the New World": IV. Allegro con fuoco by Antonín Dvořák
-World's Number One Oden Store performed by Lars Sorensen (not the original of the anime but pretty close)
Finally, I don't know if anyone has warned you, but using manga panels on video can be dangerous because the publisher is known for claiming videos, so I would recommend not using them, just to protect yourself.
Thank you for all the tips and the heads up! Much appreciated!
Next arc is my favorite can’t wait for you to read it.
I look forward to it!
Long ring long land is your favorite?
More like saga (I forgot about long ring long land)
@@camer888 pro I call that arc canon filler. It's okay to skip it imo
So I just found you today, but I try and keep up with people doing reviews and read through of one piece, one piece is an amazing story that is filled with depth and wonder and joy you haven't even scratched the surface of yet, and it is a joy to experience them. The story is so layered and well established that every new piece of information youlearn changes everything you read before. You can only read one piece the first time once but it is always a joy to get to experience someone else read it for the first time
Thank you! I’m excited to continue this journey!
hey just got recommended this video! love how you retell the story and i can hear your appreciation for it. welcome to the journey!!!!
Thanks so much! I’m thoroughly enjoying the journey that is One Piece so far!
There's a official colored version of the manga. You might also want to see it there's a lot of small details that pop up that we sometimes miss.
I love all the support the fellow One Piece fans in these comments are giving you. I adore walking down memory lane with you. I’ve only watched the anime (I’m on the Punkhazard arc for those who know). You’re doing great, and I’m so happy for you to love this story as well. ❤
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement!
"Gives her smiles" Luffys Gift to the World
So true!
You're the best, I was an exchange student in the US for a year and had and English teacher who was just as passionate as you about his job. Every your video just reminds me of my high school teacher who inspired me heavily. Keep it going, I find your videos the most enjoyable thing on whole RUclips!
That is a wonderful compliment! Thank you so much!
When I first read Skypiea, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favourite arc. As the series has gone on I've been more and more impressed with how it ties into the rest of the story; I reread it recently after being caught up in the manga and I think its really something special.
Always a pleasure to hear your take on it and see someone experience it for the first time! Hearing you talk about the characters makes me so excited; I'm positive you will love Enies Lobby :)
I’m excited to see those connections to future arcs. Cheers!
I love the story of Nolan and the irony and misinformation. The weight and gravity given to the past, and the cyclical nature of things as you discussed. Sins of our fathers or ancestors. And redemption! Perseverance. The part w the Bell is amazing. I like the thumbnail a lot
Thanks so much! There’s so much to love about this story!
dreams never end and a man only dies when he is forgotten
Beautiful!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy guess this means if you finish this review series on RUclips you're good for a few millennia huh?
@@warmpancaxe Ha ha! Perhaps! I’ll just enjoy the ride while I’m around, and try to do some good while I’m at it. All the best!
i was starting to think youtube is too young for me. until i happened upon your channel. i’m gonna eat up your content like there’s no tomorrow
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos!
so glad to hear the comments are keeping this experience spoiler free for you, cant wait for you to catch up and to hear your thoughts on the foreshadowing and overall structure of this massive story. happy reading!
Many thanks! 😊
Im sure you've noticed, a lot of people calling Eneru "Enel".
Not certain, but pretty sure thats also some classic Oda wordplay, En(ergy)El(ohim).
Skypiea has truly become one of my favorite sagas in the series.
Noland and Calgara's story isnsuch a beautiful story of friendship. I could probably read and watch it over and over.
As always, glad to hear your thoughts on it all, and happy to see youre enjoying this series we all hold so dear.
Thanks so much! I'm excited to continue!
Bros about to be shook after water 7
I love your breakdowns, as someone who’s just about to finish the anime, hearing you breaking down things is so captivating. The story develops so much and has so many things relevant to the current state of the world, the way they go about the subject is so brilliant. I don’t know if you’re planning to go more in depth at a later date, but I notice you start talking about something and then say you’re going to go more in depth later on and I want to hear your thoughts! I’d love for you to break down the things Luffy learns from his fights and the different fighting styles you’ll see throughout and how they overcome them.
I’ll be on the lookout for all that. In the meantime, thank you so much for watching and commenting, Aurora, and congratulations in advance on finishing the anime!
Oh my goodness, I just finished the last video and upon a page refresh I saw that you had uploaded this 10 minutes ago. Here we go! I really enjoy your thoughts on this as you are fresh to the shonen manga tropes and storytelling ways. It's very interesting and honestly lends more insight on how nuanced Oda's writing is seeing people less experienced in the genre that can still take away the same if not more out of it from experienced readers
Thank you so much for watching the videos!
I'm so happy watching you read this for the first time in a teacher/professors view, i always look forward to the next arc you read
Thank you! I appreciate you watching and commenting!