Anime Reviews (2010-2019): One Piece: Episode of Sabo - The Three Brothers' Bond - The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will (A Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray review) (2015)

Delightful and action-packed, “One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will” is recommended!

TITLE: One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will

ORIGINAL TV AIR DATE: 2015

DURATION: 107 Minutes

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, English and Japanese Dolby TrueHD5.1, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: FUNimation

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: March 19, 2019

Originally created by Oda Eiichiro

Directed by Koga Gou

Script by Uesaka Hirohiko

Storyboard by Komaki Aya, Koga Gou

Music by Tanaka Kohei, Hamaguchi Shiroh

Character Design by Ichikawa Keiichi

Art Director: Watanabe Yoshito

Chief Animation Director: Ichikawa Keiichi

Animation Production by Toei Animation

Featuring the following voice talent:

Mayumi Tanaka/Colleen Clinkenbeard as Monkey D. Luffy

Akemi Okamura/Luci Christian as Nami

Hiroaki Hirata/Eric Vale as Sanji

Ikue Ohtani/Brina Palencia as Tony Tony Chopper

Kappei Yamaguchi/Sonny Strait as Usopp

Yuriko Yamaguchi/Stephanie Young as Nico Robin

Kazuki Yao/Patrick Seitz as Franky

Nagashima Yuichi/Ian Sinclair as Brook

Furuta Arata/Greg Carson as Byrnndi World

Mitsuishi Kotono/Lydia Mackay as Boa Hancock

Shimada Bin/Paul Slavens as Burndy Byojack

Furukawa Toshio/Travis Willingham as Portgas D. Ace

Furuya Toru/Vic Mignogna as Sabo

Tanaka Hideyuki/Robert McCollum as Donquixote Doflamingo

Umezu Hideyuki/Brad Hawkins as Diamante

Charles Campbell/Sawaki Ikuya as Fujitora

Horiuchi Kenyuu/Chris Ryan as Kin’emon

Christine Marie Cabanos/Hayashibara Megumi as Rebecca

Sonozaki Mie/Cristina Vee as Viola

From a brotherhood bound by three cups of sake, one brother’s story has yet to be told! Visiting Dressrosa under orders of the Revolutionary Army, Sabo’s top-secret mission derails when Doflamingo announces the grand prize for battling in the Colosseum. The tragedy at Marineford still weighing on his mind, Sabo reunites with his little brother to protect the promises they made with Ace. Now, they’ll fight in disguise for the Colosseum’s ultimate prize: Ace’s Flame-Flame Fruit.

“ONE PIECE” is a popular anime series based on the popular manga series serialized in Shonen Jump by Eiichiro Oda. Suffice to say, “ONE PIECE” is the highest selling manga for Weekly Shonen Jump and its popularity has extended to various anime (via the TV series, OVA and films) and video games in America and also worldwide.

The series is so popular, the episode count currently in Japan is in its 18th season and a total of over 880 episodes having been aired in Japan. Several animated films, many video games and for the most part, a very successful anime/manga series worldwide.

“ONE PIECE” is an adventure anime about a 17-year-old boy named Monkey D. Luffy who gained enormous strength (and stretching abilities) after eating a magical demon fruit. He eventually teams up with a group of pirates and have the name “The Straw Hats”. Luffy’s driven to one day obtain the most sought out treasure known as “One Piece” and eventually become the King of the Pirates.

In the last special, “3D2Y”, the story focused on Luffy getting stronger after the death of his brother Ace. The special gave light on the brotherhood pact which Luffy made with Ace but a third kid named Sabo and with this 2015 special “One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will”, the manga focuses on the past of Luffy, Ace and Sabo and the reunion between Luffy and Sabo and the special is essentially an abridged remake of the Dressrosa Story Arc.

The special takes place after Ace’s death during the time of the Marineford War. Sabo appears at Ace’s grace and heads to Dressrosa to investigate on weapon smuggling and finds out that Doflamingo is holding a tournament at a coliseum and the winner will win Ace’s Flame-Flame devil fruit. Sabo is determined of getting Ace’s devilfruit, but also arriving at Dressrosa is Luffy and the Strawhat Pirates.

Luffy is also intending to get Ace’s devilfruit and dresses up as an old man and goes by the name of “Lucy”.

We then see through flashbacks of how Luffy, Ace and Sabo are each tied to each other as brothers. But while they are not real brothers, how did these three become friends and brothers?

VIDEO:

“One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will” is presented in 1080p High Definition and the special looks vibrant. While a TV special, the animation looks fantastic and not too soft. Colors look great! Animation production from Toei Animation is magnificent!

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will” is presented in Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 . Both Japanese and English dub soundtracks are fantastic and dialogue and music are both crystal clear through the center, front and surround channels. But of course, with the English track having a 5.1 soundtrack is the better of the two.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will” comes with no special features.

EXTRAS:

“One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will” comes with the Blu-ray and DVD version of the film.

The 9th “One Piece” TV special makes its way to North America and this time, the special focuses on Luffy and Ace’s other brother, Sabo.

Someone who has not been seen and thought to be dead long ago, Sabo is a person who has been traveling with no recollection of his memories until he discovers the death of Ace which triggers his memories from the past.

Determined not to let Ace’s “Flame-Flame Fruit” being taken by anyone, he arrives at Dressrosa to makes sure the one who wins the tournament, does not obtain it.

But also in Dressrosa is Luffy and friends and Luffy is determined of winning the devil fruit by fighting in the tournament.

But how are Luffy, Ace and Sabo tied to each other? If anything, “One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will” is a special that focuses on the other brother.

While the anime series does a good job of setting up what led to this two year training (an intro for those who have never watched the anime series or missed many episodes), the anime special is no doubt one of the more emotional animated films featuring Luffy but also seeing how he became stronger within the two year break and his commitment of becoming stronger for the sake of his friends, their goals and to be the King of the Pirates.

For the most part, the special is like other “One Piece” films with a balance of humor and action and it’s what makes the series popular and also exciting to watch.

For those who are watching the anime series or reading the manga series and don’t know what happened to Portgas D. Ace, then I recommend watching the series or reading the manga arc first and then watch “3D2Y” and then “One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will”.

As for the Blu-ray, surprisingly there are no special features. It’s a barebones Blu-ray release that looks awesome and sounds good in HD.

Overall, an action-packed, entertaining and fun “One Piece” TV special worth watching. Especially if you are a big fan of the anime/manga series! But learn more about Luffy’s past with Ace and Sabo and the promises that these three kept.

Delightful and action-packed, “One Piece: Episode of Sabo – The Three Brothers’ Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will” is recommended!