Fresh from a conflict with what may become some of the biggest villains of the series, we find ourselves in the sky amongst the angels and priests of Skypiea. Whether or not you’re familiar with the series, you may realize that we are on a bit of a departure. Thankfully it’s not the kind of departure seen in sets like Season Two, First or Seventh Voyage (both jam-packed with filler episodes), but it does feature some of the slower episodes of the series. That being said, these episodes are pretty crucial to the arc set up in Season Three, and presents some of our favorite characters in the series. So with that said, let’s get into the review for the second set of Season Three:

For the Sailors (Newer/Casual Viewers):

Hah…ha..HA!

New fans, one word describes what you probably need a lot of in this set: patience. Without a doubt, these are the slowest episodes in the One Piece anime canon. We follow Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp as they attempt to recover Nami, Zoro, Chopper, and Robin from being sacrificed at God’s altar. Meanwhile the Shandorians (AKA Native Americans) begin their invasion of God’s Land, Upper Yard. For those watching the series for the first time, there’s a lot to appreciate in this set: rich scenery, and a rich new world. You also see God and his priests for the first time, which is probably one of the best payoffs in this set. For those who like rich characterization and adventure this set will quench your thirst. For those action seekers, Third and Fourth Voyage will probably be more to your liking. However, there are some major concepts introduced in this set that will be important later on, and much later on, and even later than that. So pay close attention.

For the Officers (Diehard/Older/Caught-up Fans):
 You guys know the deal: Luffy impersonates Sanji and Zoro, nothing happens, we find out what Upper Yard is, nothing happens, we see God Eneru, shit goes down. Unfortunately for us, things really heat up at the tail-end of this set. Lets break down the important events that happen in this set, though: we have the introduction of the dials as weapons (the impact dials, reject dial, flame dial, etc.,), we have the Klaubatermann (for those who don’t know about this, read the above section and not this one), and of course the recently-explained Mantra. This set has the all important exposition that brings us the realization that Upper Yard was part of Jaya, that the Sky Knight was the former god of Skypiea, and that the Strawhats really, really like camp outs. We also have the introduction of “Family,” where we have the entire One Piece cast singing in the background of “The Wolf and Strawhat BBQ Bash.” So in essence, this set has some very important introductions that are conceptually essential, but ultimately not entirely necessary. However, the story itself should not be your impetus for buying this set…

Now that's an Impact!

Japanese (SUB)
 Nothing all that remarkable is introduced in this set in the Japanese version. The original “Family” is wonderfully done, and there are no complaints in that character. Toshiyuki Morikawa, also the voice of Hatchan in the Arlong Arc, does a solid job as Eneru. Yasuhiro Takato captures the role of Satori in a way I would have preferred never to hear (you’ll understand once you finish up the entire first disc Satori is featured on). The Strawhat voice actors continue their work as per usual, which is surely not an insult.

English (DUB)
Unlike the previous set, there really are only two big introductions in this set. The first is by the now-illustrious J. Michael Tatum who plays the arch-villain Eneru in this set. For those familiar with the podcast, you’ll know that we’re quite fond of his job as God of Skypiea. The entrance of his character, however, heralds the start of a ramping up in the Season Three story. The other big character in this set is Satori played by Chris Cason who does an eerily fantastic job. Cason captures the Japanese Seiyuu’s voice to a tee, which can bring about some vitriol emotions towards a character who is probably on the screen for a little too long.

That's not a S'more

When it comes to the Strawhats, the cast does a pretty superb job in general, aside from the rendition of “Family” which was a bit of a letdown compared to what I expected from the FUNimation voice cast. The adaptation of the new themes were probably some of the best we’ve seen thus far. Bon Voyage by Brina Palencia is probably one of the most accurate and well-done songs I’ve heard from FUNimation’s library. Vic Mignogna’s A-Z also ranks up near the top in the One Piece adapted music library. Overall, One Piece continues to be well adapted and true to the original, yet exist as its own entity that can provide enjoyment for fans as a new way to see the same story.

Packaging and Extras
This set includes some of the best packaging and extras we’ve seen in a One Piece set. The packaging itself is both eye-grabbing, and well put together. We don’t have the ordinary compilation of random characters, but instead an image that captures both the events and the attitude present in this set. It’s the best we could hope for: a well-drawn, appropriate image choice. I’ll leave it at that.

When it comes to the extras, I can say it’s a big step up from the previous set as we see two openings (Hikari E and Bon Voyage) as well as two endings (Free Will and A to Z) all of which are creditless. The only unavoidable problem is that the FUNimation sets are forced to use the stagnant, gold One Piece logo instead of the animated one originally used in the fourth opening. It’s a shame, but as I said, it’s unavoidable.

The commentary features ADR Director Mike McFarland, once again leading a discussion with leading ladies Luci Christian (Nami) and Stephanie Young (Nico Robin). As we haven’t heard from either voice actor in quite some time in the One Piece commentaries, it’s a fun and fresh discussion going back to the beginning of their recording sessions for the series.

Final Thoughts

Fight the Mantraki!

At the beginning of this review I referred to this set as one which requires an immense amount of patience. The reason for that is because the whole first disc involves what is essentially  an inconsequential fight, and afterwards we’re treated to a little time with the Strawhats that really doesn’t advance the plot at all. The setup begins to pay off in the final three episodes of the set, however the real benefits will begin manifesting themselves in Season Three, Third Voyage. This set brings us away from the truly important plots of Season Three, First Voyage that set up big-picture events and bring us instead to Skypiea, which is a fun arc, but is far from what is pertinent in this series. So now the big question is: is it worth it to buy this set? While this may distract the big-picture plot, this set is an important part of something we don’t see often enough in One Piece: a bit of adventure and fun unrelated to the trouble of the world below. We recommend you buy this set, because if you’re a true One Piece fan, you know that you need to see every single episode and pay attention to every single detail to benefit from all the big payoffs later on. For new fans, you may not quite understand this lesson, but any old fan can tell you that One Piece is a series very much worth the investment. Every little character comes back or plays an important role. This is something I wouldn’t have said even a year ago: these episodes introduce concepts that seem important only in the short term, but I give you my word that everything pays off in the long-run…big time.

Audio Grade (JPN): B
Audio Grade (ENG): B
Story: B-
Visuals: B+
Packaging: A+
Extras: B-
Commentary: A
Overall Grade: B

Buy It!

One Piece Season Three Second Voyage

Available Now!

The Straw Hats traveled to Skypiea in search of adventure, but they may have gotten more than they bargained for. It took less than a day for Luffy to earn the title of public enemy number one, and now his crew is subject to the harsh judgment of an angry god and the four lethal priests of Upper Yard!

Zoro, Nami, Chopper, and Robin are trapped aboard the Going Merry when it’s commandeered by a crustacean and marooned on a sacrificial alter. Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp are quick to mount a rescue mission, but they’ve got a problem of their own: a dancing dango of madman with an endless supply of agonizing ways to die! It’ll take more than a miracle for this crew to be reunited – especially all in one piece!

Buy from: Rightstuf