The tenth season of the One Piece anime series, the "Thriller Bark Chapter", was produced by Toei Animation, and directed by Konosuke Uda and Munehisa Sakai based on Eiichiro Oda's manga by the same name. It deals with the meeting and recruitment of Brook in a mysterious mist. There, the crew comes across Thriller Bark captained by Gecko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea who uses shadows to create a crew of zombies.
The season began airing on Fuji Television on January 6, 2008 and ended on December 14, 2008, lasting 44 episodes. Thirteen compilations of the season has been released so far as of July 7, 2010[1] The first DVD release for the season was released on October 7, 2009.[2]
The season uses two pieces of theme music. The first opening theme, titled "Jungle P", is performed by 5050. The second opening theme, starting with episode 373 onwards, is a cover of the series' first opening "We Are!" (ウィーアー!) by Hiroshi Kitadani, performed by TVXQ.
Contents |
| No. | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 337 | "Venture Into the Devil's Sea! The Mysterious Skeleton Floating Through the Fog" "Ma no Umi Totsunyū! Kiri ni Ukabu Nazo no Gaikotsu" (魔の海突入! 霧に浮かぶ謎のガイコツ) |
January 6, 2008[3] |
| In search of food, the Straw Hats attempt octopus hunting before discovering a barrel in the middle of the ocean. After opening the barrel, Thousand Sunny gets thrown into the foggy Florian Triangle where it encounters a ruined ship and a skeleton man named Brook, whom Luffy immediately asks to join the crew. | ||
| 338 | "The Delight of Having Met People! The Gentleman Skeleton's True Colors" "Hito ni Aeta Yorokobi! Gaikotsu Shinshi no Shōtai" (人に逢えた喜び! ガイコツ紳士の正体) |
January 13, 2008[4] |
| Onboard the Thousand Sunny, Brook tells his story of being a musician before being killed. However, his spirit was able to reanimate his skeleton due to the power of the Revive Revive Fruit. He also tells of having his shadow stolen, and thus cannot be out in open sunlight. A ghost suddenly appears in the galley, and the Straw Hats find out that they have been targeted by the ghost isle Thriller Bark, which has found them. | ||
| 339 | "One Phenomenon After Another! Disembarking at Thriller Bark" "Kai Genshō Zokuzoku! Surirābāku Jōriku" (怪現象ぞくぞく! スリラーバーク上陸) |
January 20, 2008[5] |
| Brook bids farewell to the Straw Hats and leaps overboard, revealing that he can dash across the ocean's surface. Nami, Usopp, and Chopper sail out to explore the island using the Mini-Merry II, and encounter a cerberus. Back on the ship, the remaining crew members are harassed by an invisible creature. After fleeing the cerberus, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper encounter Hildon, a vampiric creature who offers to take them to the mansion of Doctor Hogback. | ||
| 340 | "The Man Called a Genius! Hogback Appears!" "Tensai to Yobareta Otoko! Hogubakku Awararu!" (天才と呼ばれた男! ホグバック現る!) |
January 27, 2008[6] |
| Usopp, Nami and Chopper traverse through the forest of Thriller Bark, where they are attacked by a platoon of zombies before finally reaching the mansion of the bizarre surgeon Doctor Hogback and his female assistant Victoria Cindry. While immediately hospitable, the doctor starts acting strange after it is mentioned that Brook has arrived on the island. The Thousand Sunny, meanwhile, gets caught in a giant spiderweb. | ||
| 341 | "Nami in Big Trouble! The Zombie Mansion and the Invisible Man" "Nami Daipinchi! Zonbi Yashiki to Tōmei Ningen" (ナミ大ピンチ! ゾンビ屋敷と透明人間) |
February 3, 2008[7] |
| After the meeting with Hogback, Nami is assaulted by an invisible creature in the shower, but Usopp and Chopper manage to drive it off. The rest of the Straw Hats set foot on the island and encounter more zombies. Elsewhere, Hogback meets with Absalom, the invisible man who attacked Nami, and a ghost referred to as Perona, to discuss what to do with the Straw Hats. Back in the manor, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper find themselves surrounded and trapped by the Surprise Zombies: zombies that strike from paintings, taxidermied heads, and even floor rugs. | ||
| 342 | "Mystery of the Zombies! Hogback's Nightmarish Research Laboratory" "Zonbi no Nazo! Akumu no Hogubakku Kenkyūsho" (ゾンビの謎! 悪夢のホグバック研究所) |
February 10, 2008[8] |
| Escaping from the Surprise Zombies of the mansion, Nami, Chopper and Usopp discover the truth about Victoria Cindry's true identity and Doctor Hogback's experiments before being approached by a mysterious samurai zombie with Brook's voice. Meanwhile, Luffy's group are ambushed by ghosts who make them become depressed but then depart. They destroy a platoon of outside zombies with a group team attack. | ||
| 343 | "His Name is Moria! Trap of the Great Shadow-Stealing Pirate" "Sono Na wa Moria! Kage o Nigiru Daikaizoku no Wana" (その名はモリア! 影を握る大海賊の罠) |
February 17, 2008[9] |
| After beating the zombies, the Straw Hats learn that one of the Shichibukai, Gecko Moria, has been stealing people's shadows and using them to revive zombies. After they leave, Absalom rallies the zombies together for the Night Attack, while the ghosts from before return to their master, a Gothic Lolita-style Ghost Princess Perona. Gecko Moria himself, a massive, giant-like man, is awoken. The Straw Hats come to the realization that Thriller Bark is not an island, but rather, a massive ship! | ||
| 344 | "Feast of the Zombie Song! The Bell of the Night Raid is a Sound of Darkness" "Zonbi Songu no Kyōen! Yōchi no Kane wa Yami no Oto" (ゾンビ歌の饗宴! 夜討ちの鐘は闇の音) |
February 24, 2008[10] |
| Usopp, Nami and Chopper are effortlessly incapacitated by the General Zombie Ryuuma, a samurai with an eerie resemblance to Brook, and are locked inside a coffin. Luffy and the others enter the mansion and defeat the Surprise Zombies with ease, but Sanji goes missing, so they force Buhichuck to act as their guide by taking him with them. While the zombies of Thriller Bark celebrate the start of the Night Attack, Absalom awakens the other General Zombies to handle the Straw Hats. | ||
| 345 | "Filled with Animals!? Perona's Wonder Garden" "Dōbutsu Ippai? Perōna no Wandāgāden" (動物いっぱい? ペローナの不思議の庭) |
March 2, 2008[11] |
| After awakening the General Zombies, Absalom is accosted by Lola, a zombie warhog obsessed with making him her husband. After learning that he's chosen Nami to be his bride, Lola sets her sights on the navigator. Nami, Usopp, and Chopper manage to escape their coffin and find themselves in a garden, surrounded by animal zombies, including one that talks and acts a lot like Sanji. The other Straw Hats, meanwhile, discover a hallway lined with suits of armor, and realise that Zoro is now missing as well. | ||
| 346 | "Disappearing Strawhat Crew! The Mysterious Swordsman Appears!" "Kieru Mugiwara Ichimi! Arawareta Nazo no Kenshi!" (消える麦わら一味! 現れた謎の剣士!) |
March 9, 2008[12] |
| The three remaining Straw Hats are lured by Buhichuck into a room where they are forced to face an army of armored General Zombies, but are able to handle them until the zombies are joined by a strange swordsman named Jigoroh (who appears to act and fight like Zoro) and Luffy is captured by the zombie forces. Franky and Robin are left to face against a massive monkey-spider. Meanwhile, Absalom forces Lola's anger on Nami while Perona invades the Straw Hats' ship for treasure. | ||
| 347 | "Leftover Chivalry! The Traitorous Zombie who Protects Nami" "Nokoru Kishidō! Nami o Mamoru Uragiri Zonbi" (残る騎士道! ナミを守る裏切りゾンビ) |
March 16, 2008[13] |
| The Sanji zombie, a bizarre cross between a penguin and a bulldog, turns against his allies when they try to attack Nami, claiming that he'd rather die than attack her, but is blasted into a wall for his insolence by Absalom. Nami barely manages to escape another kidnapping attempt by Absalom, but is chased out of the garden by Lola. Franky and Robin, meanwhile, buy some time against the spider-monkey Taleran and the General Zombies by destroying the bridge they are standing on, when suddenly Brook himself falls from the sky. | ||
| 348 | "Coming from the Sky! That Man is the "Humming" Swordsman!" "Sora kara Sanjō! Kenkyō Hanauta wa Ano Otoko!" (空から参上! 剣狭ハナウタはあの男!) |
March 23, 2008[14] |
| Nami finally gets Lola off of her tail by claiming to be a transvestite. She, Usopp, and Chopper hide from Absalom inside Bearsy, and overhear Absalom, Hildon, and Perona talking about being summoned by Moria. From within his chambers, Gecko Moria himself reveals to Luffy that he'll use his strength to become Pirate King. Outside, Franky gets the upper hand against Taleran, but he and Robin are immoblized by his underlings, the Spider Mice. Brook, however, slices the spider-monkey through before he realizes it. | ||
| 349 | "Luffy in an Emergency! The Living Place of the Strongest Shadow!" "Rufi Kinkyūjitai! Saikyō no Kage no Ikisaki!" (ルフィ緊急事態! 最強の影の行き先!) |
March 30, 2008[15] |
| After defeating Talaran and releasing his shadow soul from within, Brook explains to Robin and Franky the truth regarding the zombies of Thriller Bark, particularly of the manipulations of Shichibukai Gecko Moria and his using the Shadow Shadow Fruit to steal shadows for his zombie army. Meanwhile, Moria meets with the rest of the Mysterious Four (as well as the hidden Straw Hats in Bearsy) where he uses his powers to steal Luffy's shadow, which he plans to use for his ultimate Special Zombie. | ||
| 350 | "The Warrior Called a Demon!! The Time of Oars' Resurrection" "Majin to Yobareta Senshi!! Ōzu Fukkatsu no Toki" (魔人と呼ばれた戦士!! オーズ復活の時) |
April 20, 2008[16] |
| With Luffy's shadow, Moria and his followers head into the freezer holding his ultimate special zombie that he believes will help him gain power in the New World: the massive ancient warrior known as Oars. At the same time Brook parts ways from Franky and Robin after giving further crucial advice regarding the zombies so he can go forth to accomplish his own goal: defeating the zombie Ryuuma and reclaiming his shadow from the samurai fencer. | ||
| 351 | "Awakening After 500 Years!! Oars Revives!!" "Gohyakunen Buri no Mezame!! Ōzu Kaigan!!" (500年ぶりの目覚め!! オーズ開眼!!) |
April 27, 2008[17] |
| Moria implants Luffy's shadow inside the corpse of Oars, making the massive zombie come to life. The zombie immediately shows his similarity to Luffy, yelling out for food at the moment of awakening! Oars calls out for Sanji to make him some food, but then is confused by his own sentence, not remembering who Sanji was, the shadow's personality and memories already starting to be worn away. Usopp, Chopper and Nami are discovered by Moria's band, upon which Nami is abducted by Absalom for marriage and the others are left to fend for themselves against another platoon of zombies until they are saved by Franky and Robin. | ||
| 352 | "Conviction Strong Enough to Beg for One's Life!! Brook Protects his Afro" "Shinnen no Inochigoi!! Afuro o Mamoru Burukku" (信念の命乞い!! アフロを守るブルック) |
May 4, 2008[18] |
| Brook confronts Ryuuma, recalling his time on Thriller Bark five years prior - and his first battle with Ryuuma and how he lost to a zombie with his own shadow. Ryuuma mocks Brook for being so careful about his afro, and the two engage in another battle. Oars meanwhile continues to exhibit traits of Luffy as he devours most of Thriller Bark's food and declares his desire to be pirate king! | ||
| 353 | "A Man's Oath Never Dies!! To the Friend who Waits Under a Far-Away Sky" "Otoko no Chikai wa Shinazu!! Tōi Sora de Matsu Tomo e" (男の誓いは死なず!! 遠い空で待つ友へ) |
May 11, 2008[19] |
| Usopp, Chopper, Robin and Franky return to the Sunny, discovering their ship had been ransacked but Luffy, Zoro and Sanji returned to them without their shadows. After updating the other three of their current status and Nami's abduction, Franky reveals what Brook told him why he was still alive and drifting after fifty years, which was in order to return to Reverse Mountain where one of his most valuable crewmates waits for him: the whale Laboon. | ||
| 354 | "We will Definitely Meet Again!! Brook and the Cape of the Promise" "Kanarazu Ai ni Iku!! Burukku to Yakusoku no Misaki" (必ず会いに行く!! ブルックと約束の岬) |
May 18, 2008[20] |
| Luffy, Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro tell the rest of the crew how they got to meet Laboon as they started their new journey, while Brook reflects on his promise to return to Laboon amidst his duel with Ryuuma. Luffy declares his intention to make Brook a part of their crew, and the Straw Hats prepare to counterattack the forces of Thriller Bark in order to reclaim what was stolen from them. | ||
| 355 | "Food, Nami and Shadows!! Luffy's Angry Counterattack" "Meshi to Nami to Kage!! Luffi Ikari no Daihangeki" (メシとナミと影!! ルフィ怒りの大反撃) |
May 25, 2008[21] |
| Having decided to help Brook and recruit him into their crew, the Straw Hats split up to help him recover his shadow, rescue Nami and defeat Gecko Moria. Hogback, frustrated with Absalom holding a wedding with the General Zombies as guests, becomes the second commander of the zombie forces. An enraged Luffy and Sanji decimate most of the zombies, but are stopped by Perona's Negative Hollow attack. When Oars jumps from the mast onto the stairs, Luffy, Chopper and Robin are cut off from Usopp and Sanji, who fall down below to where Zoro and Franky are. | ||
| 356 | "Usopp the Strongest? Leave the Negatives to Me" "Usoppu Saikyō? Negateibu wa Makasetoke" (ウソップ最強? ネガティブは任せとけ) |
June 1, 2008[22] |
| Luffy continues on to take on Moria while Chopper and Robin remain behind to take on Hogback and his loyal zombie servants. After Oars runs off with a new pirate hat from his destruction, the remainder of the crew end up in Perona's room where she uses her negative powers on them. However, Usopp reveals that he's immune to her attacks because he's already got a negative personality, staying behind to take on the ghost princess while the others continue towards Absalom and Ryuuma. | ||
| 357 | "Sudden Death of the General Zombies!! Oars in an Adventurous Mood" "Jeneraru Zonbi Shunsetsu!! Ōzu wa Bōken Kibun!!" (将軍ゾンビ瞬殺!! オーズは冒険気分!!) |
June 8, 2008[23] |
| Usopp continues to stand up to Perona's Negative Hollows while wiping out Wild Zombies, while Brook is held at the mercy of Ryuma, who finally proves his superiority over the original by defeating the skeleton in battle before the arrival of Zoro. Meanwhile, Oars continues to cause chaos on Thriller Bark, forcing Absalom to send his entire General Zombie audience to stop him. But Oars annihilates all of them with a "non-Gum-Gum" Gatling, leaving their boss at the mercy of the newly arriving Sanji. | ||
| 358 | "Sanji, the Knight of Flames!! Kick Down the False Ceremony" "Honō no Naito Sanji!! Keri Tsubuse Itsuwari no Kyoshiki" (炎の騎士サンジ!! 蹴り潰せの偽り挙式) |
June 15, 2008[24] |
| Luffy attempts to attack Gecko Moria, but instead is forced to face his shadow clone: Doppelman, while Usopp continues to maneuver around the Wild Zombies to get to Perona only to now face Bearsy's wrath. Sanji saves Nami from Absalom, who doesn't see him as a threat due to the power of his zombie, but Sanji unleashes his own rage against the lion-faced man, both for harming the women of the crew as well as an unknown connection between the two of them. | ||
| 359 | "Invisibility Connection? Sanji's Stolen Dream" "Suke Suke no Innen? Ubawareta Sanji no Yume" (スケスケの因縁? 奪われたサンジの夢) |
June 22, 2008[25] |
| It looked like the end for Sanji as Absalom used his devil fruit ability, but Sanji comes back with his anger and starts beating Absalom to death, after revealing he always desired the See-through See-through Fruit the devil fruit which allowed Absalom to turn invisible. Meanwhile Luffy is still having trouble with Gecko Moria's Shadow the Doppleman who uses him to turn into bats, Luffy finally finds a way to attack Moria by using Gum Gum Stamp! The Hollow Hollow fruit user, Perona, is still being chased by Usopp who in turn is being chased by Bearsy, but Perona gets away. Usopp stops Bearsy and catches up to Perona who is floating in mid air out the window, she then calls herself the "Ghost Princess". | ||
| 360 | "Saving Hero!! The Enemy is the Invincible Princess" "Tasukete Hīrō!! Teki wa Fujimi no Purinsesu" (助けて英雄!! 敵は不死身のプリンセス) |
June 29, 2008[26] |
| Usopp is forced to go through a gauntlet of Perona's Horo-Horo powers, including an untouchable body, size manipulation, passing right through him and creating mini-Hollows that slowly rip away at his stamina and body. Temporarily turning into Sogeking to finally remove Bearsy's shadow, Usopp is forced up against a desperate wall until he finally discovers Perona's weakness: her own room, where her real body lies helplessly while using her abilities! | ||
| 361 | "Perona's Terror!! The U in Uso is the U in Usopp" "Perona Kyōfu!! Uso no U wa Usoppu no U" (ペローナ恐怖!! 嘘のウはウソップのウ) |
July 6, 2008[27] |
| The battle between Usopp and Perona continues; Usopp fires something at Perona's real body which seems to miss it, giving Perona the confidence to fight back again. This time she produces a huge hollow, at least four times the size of Usopp, which grabs Usopp in its mouth and won't let go, leaving Perona time to go and return to her body. She detonates it, but the explosion gets sucked into the impact Dial, which Usopp cleverly brought out. He uses this on a Zombie-Hippo which was sneaking up, breaking his arm, but he then reveals that he stuck Perona's arm to the wall; he wins the battle by firing hundreds of little moving fake cockroaches onto her, and then smacking her over the head with an inflatable ten-ton hammer. | ||
| 362 | "Slashes Dancing on the Roof!! Finale – Zoro vs. Ryuma" "Yane ni Mau Zangeki!! Ketchaku Zoro VS Ryūma" (屋根に舞う斬撃!! 決着ゾロVSリューマ) |
July 13, 2008[28] |
| Zoro duels Ryuma in Hogback's lab, while Franky guards over the injured Brook. Neither Zoro, nor Ryuma, can gain any advantage over the other, as they keep matching the other's attack. Their attacks quickly destroy the lab, forcing them to escape the room and continue their fierce duel on the roof. As Brook watches on, he comes the conclusion that Ryuma was never taking their fights seriously. After an intense sword fight, during which the entire roof collapses to the ground below, Zoro finally defeats Ryuma using a technique which sets him ablaze. Zoro lands hard on the lip of the roof below. Ryuma manages to land on a higher ledge. Ryuma staggers slightly, then acknowledges his defeat at Zoro's hands. Sheathing Shunsui, Ryuma throws it to Zoro. Ryuma collapses in a bout of flames and Brook's shadow is finally returned to him, to his great joy. Zoro acknowledges Ryuma's skill as a swordsman and says he wishes he could have met Ryuuma before he died. He also agrees to forget the outcome of their fight. | ||
| 363 | "Chopper's Rage!! Hogback's Demonic Medical Practice" "Choppā Gekido!! Hogubakku Ma no Ijutsu" (チョッパー激怒!! ホグバック魔の医術) |
July 20, 2008[29] |
| Chopper and Robin are outmatched by Zoro and Sanji's zombies, both of whom have almost completely lost the personalities they acquired from their shadows. Chopper tells Hogback that he had once respected him, but does not anymore after realizing the true nature of Hogbacks experiments. Hogback, however, argues that the zombies are truly alive, and recalls that he had fallen in love with Cindry while she was alive, only to have her reject him in favor of her fiancé. After her death, Hogback agreed to serve Moria in exchange for reviving her. Chopper becomes furious and attempts to attack and purify Cindry, but Cindry's strength, and Zoro and Sanji's zombies prevent them from doing so. Zoro's zombie and Sanji's zombie begin fighting each other, still unable to get along, and Robin tricks Hogback into telling them to jump out of the tower. Hogback orders Cindry to attack, but Cindry, having temporarily regained her original self, is unable to move. Elsewhere, Luffy is still unable to hit Moria, and Oars arrives at their location. | ||
| 364 | "Oars Roars!! Come Out, Straw Hat Crew" "Ōzu Hoeru!! Dete Koi Mugiwara no Ichimi" (オーズ吼える!! 出て来い麦わらの一味) |
August 3, 2008[30] |
| Oars appears declaring his submission to Moria. Moria instructs him to hunt down the Straw hat pirates. Oars attacks Luffy. Luffy escapes and starts chasing Moria who flees the scene. Hogback without Cindry's support tries to run away. Chopper catches him and is helped by Robin against him. The fight is interrupted by Oars' attack smashing through the ceiling. Sanji, distracted by all this, lets his guard down letting Absalom take Nami away. Everyone runs out of the mansion and Oars calls out for the Straw hat crew to come forth and face him. | ||
| 365 | "The Enemy is Luffy!! The Strongest Zombie vs. the Straw Hat Crew" "Teki wa Rufi!! Saikyō Zonbi tai Mugiwara no Ichimi" (敵はルフィ!! 最強ゾンビ対麦わらの一味) |
August 10, 2008[31] |
| Oars begins fighting Sanji, Zoro, Franky, Brook, Robin, Usopp and Chopper, having inherited Luffy's fighting style but lost his memories. The crew tries to fight against him, but learns that he is incredibly strong and fast, even if he is unable to stretch like Luffy can. Oars manages to apparently knock out all seven of his opponents. Elsewhere, Absalom attempts to resume his wedding to Nami, and Luffy continues pursuing Moria, as the chase leads him into the forest. | ||
| 366 | "Defeat Absalom!! Nami's Lightning Attack of Friendship!!" "Taorero Abusaromu!! Nami Yūjō no Raigeki!!" (倒れろアブサロム!! ナミ友情の雷撃!!) |
August 17, 2008[32] |
| Perona finally wakes up and is brought up to date with the current events on Thriller Bark. She decides to run away. Nami also wakes up to see that she is in a wedding ceremony with Absalom. Lola interrupts the wedding giving Nami a chance to escape. Absalom brings Lola down. Nami takes revenge by beating Absalom. Luffy continues chasing Moria and Oars who is looking for the rest of the Straw hats. But everyone who he thought he had defeated is back up on their feet ready for a second round. | ||
| 367 | "One Down!! Sure Kill Straw Hat Docking?" "Ubae Daun!! Hissatsu Mugiwara Dokkingu?" (奪えダウン!! 必殺麦わらドッキング?) |
August 24, 2008[33] |
| The Straw Hats attempt a "docking" maneuver by hanging onto Franky in order to form a "Giant Robot Warrior", but it fails when Robin refuses to participate, as she considers it too embarrassing. The Straw Hats combine their strengths to get Oars off-balance and cause him to fall to the ground, enraging him. Brook is absent from the battle, as he leaves to find milk to drink to heal his wounds. Elsewhere, Nami attempts to find the treasure of Thriller Bark, but discovers that it is empty. Perona's subordinates load the treasure and food onto the Thousand Sunny when they see the Shichibukai Bartholomew Kuma aboard, looking for Moria. | ||
| 368 | "Soundless Invasion!! The Mysterious Visitor: Kuma the Tyrant" "Ashioto Naki Shūrai!! Nazo no Bōmonsha: Bōkun Kuma" (足音なき襲来!! 謎の訪問者•暴君くま) |
August 31, 2008[34] |
| Taking advantage of several weaknesses, including his stupidity and similarities to Luffy, the Straw Hats continue to wear away at Oars, yet his continued persistence allows Zoro to test his new sword Shuusui for battle. Meanwhile, Kuma tries to find out Moria's location from Perona, yet her defiance forces him to make her disappear with an ungloved hand before speaking with Nami about his "choice to be here". Luffy appears to catch Moria again, only to discover it is Doppelman. | ||
| 369 | "Oars + Moria – The Greatest Combination of Brains and Brawn" "Ōzu Purasu Moria – Chikara to Zunō no Saikyō Gattai" (オーズ+モリア 力と頭脳の最強合体) |
September 7, 2008[35] |
| Moria's shadow escapes, leaving Luffy stranded in the forest, as some strange people reveal that they are looking for him. Zoro begins the fight against Oars, revealing the new 108 Caliber Phoenix with his newly-obtained sword, but Oars manages to avoid his attacks. Kuma informs Moria of the appointment of Blackbeard as Crocodile's replacement, and warns him that the Straw Hat pirates may defeat him, too. Moria refuses Kuma's offer to help him, and enters Oars' stomach to guide him against the crew. The crew realize that as Luffy failed to catch and defeat Moria, it is up to them to defeat Moria and Oars before dawn. Usopp runs to the kitchen to gather more salt to purify Oars, but Oars strikes out at him, destroying the passage to the kitchen. Brook, his injuries healed, manages to save Usopp and bring the Straw Hats a large bag of salt. | ||
| 370 | "A Secret Strategy to Turn the Tables – Nightmare Luffy Appears" "Gyakuten e no Hisaku – Naitomea Rufi Kenzan" (逆転への秘策 ナイトメア•ルフィ見参) |
September 14, 2008[36] |
| With Moria's guidance, Oars is better able to counter the Straw Hats' strategies and turn their attacks against them. Franky is knocked unconscious after a failed attempt to fire himself at Oars with a giant slingshot known as Kuwagata and shoot him at point-blank range with Weapons Left. Nami arrives and joins the battle, but Oars demonstrates that he can somehow stretch his limbs, which the crew realizes is Moria's doing. Elsewhere, Luffy meets up with the Rolling pirates, whose shadows have been stolen by Moria. They plant shadows into him in order to multiply his fighting strength and grant him new skills so that he can defeat Moria. | ||
| 371 | "The Straw Hat Crew Annihilated – Full-Throttle Shadow Shadow Abilities" "Kaimetsu, Mugiwara Ichimi – Kage Kage no Chikara Zenkai" (壊滅, 麦わら一味 カゲカゲの能力全開) |
September 21, 2008[37] |
| Moria explains that he enabled Oars to stretch by stretching his shadow, thereby forcing his body to stretch along with it in order to ensure that the body and shadow are the same shape. Usopp fires Brook out of Kuwagata, with Robin making him spin and Nami electrifying him, but he only does minor damage to Oars and is knocked out when Oars retaliates. Robin attempts to use her powers on Moria, but he attacks her with his shadow and then switches places with it, rendering her attack useless. He then takes her shadow, rendering her unconscious. Chopper discovered that Oars died of frostbite, and that while he does not feel any pain, he can still take damage from their attacks. Sanji and Chopper launch a combo attack on Oars, who then knocks out both of them with Gum Gum Gatling, leaving only Nami, Zoro and Usopp standing. | ||
| 372 | "The Battle for Superiority Starts! Luffy vs. Luffy" "Chōzetsu Batoru Sutāto! Rufi Tai Rufi" (超絶バトルスタート! ルフィVSルフィ) |
September 28, 2008[38] |
| Zoro tries attacking Oars' arm again, but Oars knocks him out by kneeing him into a wall. Usopp shoots Brook's salt into Oars' mouth with Kuwagata, but Moria's shadow catches it and throws it out, breaking the bag and preventing them from using it again. Oars tries to stomp Usopp and Nami, but Nightmare Luffy arrives and gets them to safety in an instant. While the Rolling pirates take the unconscious Straw Hats to safety, Luffy begins attacking Oars, and with his shadows, is far stronger than his opponent. Moria attempts to escape, but Luffy punches him out with Gum Gum Pistol and sends Oars flying with Gum Gum Storm. The shadows leave Luffy's body, but he appears to have won. | ||
| 373 | "The Conclusion Arrives! Deliver the Finishing Blow" "Ketchaku Semaru! Tatakikome, Todome no Ichigeki" (決着迫る! たたき込め, とどめの一撃) |
October 5, 2008[39] |
| Oars recovers from Nightmare Luffy's attack. However, the Strawhats all get back on their feet, from Luffy to Brook, and launch a final devastating attack on Oars, which ends with Luffy smashing a Gigant Bazooka into Oars' face from above, breaking his spine and finally defeating the demon. Moria, however, gets out of Oars' stomach moments later, and prepares himself for his ultimate technique, Shadows Asgard. By sucking up all of the shadows of all of the zombies on Thriller Bark, totaling one thousand shadows, Moria becomes a grotesque monster, as big as Oars in size with short spindly legs, gigantic arms, and a huge bloated neck pulsating with veins. | ||
| 374 | "The Bodies Vanish! The Morning Sun Pierces Through the Nightmare Island!" "Karada ga Kieru! Akumu no Shima ni Sasu Asahi!" (肉体が消える! 悪夢の島に射す朝日!) |
October 12, 2008[40] |
| Luffy begins fighting Moria, entering Gear Second in the process, but the blows that he deals to Moria are not enough to force him to release the shadows. Moria attacks Luffy with a devastating blow, but he manages to continue fighting, and activates Gear Third while Gear Second is still active. With a new technique, Gum Gum Gigant Jet Shell, he knocks Moria under the collapsing mast of Thriller Bark and forces him to release all his shadows just as dawn arrives. However, the ones who had their shadows stolen start to vanish. | ||
| 375 | "The Endless Crisis! Orders to Obliterate the Straw Hat Crew" "Owaranai Kiki! Mugiwara Ichimi Massatsu Shirei" (終わらない危機! 麦わら一味抹殺指令) |
October 19, 2008[41][42] |
| All of Moria's victims recover their shadow and celebrate regaining their ability to enter daylight. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Robin recover their shadows in time to avoid being disintegrated. Luffy lies unconscious from his wounds and using Gear Second against Moria, and Usopp worries about him endangering himself by having to use the technique on the stronger enemies ahead. Kuma receives orders from the World Government to kill everyone on Thriller Bark in order to cover up Moria's defeat. He attacks the survivors with a strange move that sends several people flying backwards, before turning his attention to Zoro. | ||
| 376 | "Kuma's Paw-pad Paw-pad Abilities That Deflect Everything" "Subete o Hajiku Kuma no Nikyu Nikyu no Nōryoku" (すべてを弾くくまのニキュニキュの能力) |
November 9, 2008[43][42] |
| Zoro attacks Kuma, who reveals that he has eaten the Paw-pad Paw-pad fruit, and shows his ability to repel attacks, move considerable distances almost instantly and repel the air to attack his opponents. Zoro is quickly outmatched, and Sanji and Usopp's attempts to help him are rendered futile by Kuma's hard body and ability to block projectiles. Kuma then offers to spare the survivors of Thriller Bark if they turn over Luffy, but they unanimously refuse. He then detonates a paw print full of compressed air, devastating the island. | ||
| 377 | "My Companions' Pain is My Pain – Zoro Prepares to Die" "Nakama no Itami wa Waga Itami – Zoro Kesshi no Tatakai" (仲間の痛みは我が痛みゾロ決死の戦い) |
November 16, 2008[44][42] |
| While almost everyone on the island is knocked out in the blast, Zoro slashes Kuma with Shishi Sonson, but sees that it is ineffective, as Kuma is a Pacifista, a cyborg whose body is harder than steel. Seeing that he can no longer fight, Zoro offers his life to save Luffy, saying that he cannot hope to become the world's best swordsman if he cannot protect his captain. Sanji attempts to take Zoro's place, but Zoro knocks him out. As part of his agreement with Kuma, Zoro takes in all of Luffy's pain and fatigue, which Kuma says would kill him if he suffered it on top of his already severe wounds. Zoro takes in the pain, and Kuma leaves, remarking on how Luffy has a loyal crew. Luffy regains consciousness, surprisingly energetic, while Zoro emerges from his sacrifice near death. | ||
| 378 | "Promise on a Day Long Ago – The Pirate's Song and a Tiny Whale" "Tōi Hi no Yakusoku – Kaizoku no Uta to Chīsa na Kujira" (遠い日の約束 海賊の唄と小さなクジラ) |
November 23, 2008[45][42] |
| Hogback and Absalom escape Thriller Bark with the unconscious Moria, and reveal that Blackbeard gained his status as a Shichibukai by defeating Ace. The next day, the Straw Hats celebrate their victory over Moria, but do not know why Zoro is so badly wounded. Sanji hears the story from the Risky Brothers, but prevents them from telling anyone else, saying it would trouble Luffy greatly to hear that Zoro suffered for his sake, but Robin eavesdrops on the conversation. Luffy tells Brook that Laboon is alive, and he is overjoyed to hear it, and begins to think about the time 50 years ago when he and his pirate crew first met Laboon. | ||
| 379 | "Brook's Past – Sad Farewell to the Cheerful Crew" "Burukku no Kako – Yōki na Nakama Kanashiki Wakare" (ブルックの過去 陽気な仲間悲しき別れ) |
November 30, 2008[46][42] |
| Brook recalls his past, when the whale Laboon started following his pirate ship and befriended the crew. When the crew headed toward the Grand Line, they had no choice but to leave Laboon behind because the danger the sea would present to a young whale like him, but Laboon followed them over Reverse Mountain, anyway. Brook and his captain convince Laboon to stay behind, promising that after they traveled through the entire Grand Line and he grew strong enough to follow them, they would come back and bring him on their adventures. They were unable to fulfill the promise, though. | ||
| 380 | "Binks's Brew – The Song that Connects the Past and Present" "Binkusu no Sake – Kako to Ima o Tsunagu Uta" (ビンクスの酒 過去と現在をつなぐ唄) |
December 7, 2008[47][48] |
| Brook recalls the Rumbar Pirates' journey through the Grand Line, where they faced many dangers but still managed to enjoy themselves. The captain contracted an illness and attempted to leave the Grand Line through the Calm Belt with the other infected crew, leaving Brook in charge of the remaining pirates. The journey continued until some powerful enemies defeated the Rumbar Pirates in the Florian Triangle, fatally poisoning them. As they were dying, they sang Binks's Brew one last time, recording it in a Tone Dial in the hopes that Brook would revive with his Devil Fruit power and deliver the shell to Laboon. Back in the present, Brook silently hopes Laboon will wait just a little longer for his return. | ||
| 381 | "A New Crewmate! Musician – The Hummer Brook" "Aratana Nakama! Ongakuka – Hanauta no Burukku" (新たな仲間! 音楽家·鼻唄のブルック) |
December 14, 2008[49][48] |
| Brook tells Luffy that he is glad to be alive and asks if he can join the crew, which Luffy approves of. All the Straw Hats are shocked by this, except for Zoro, who is sleeping, and Robin, who knew Luffy would accept him no matter what, but they nevertheless welcome him to the crew. Two days later, Usopp and Franky make a grave for the dead Rumbar Pirates, and Zoro lays the broken Yubashiri at the grave. Nami gets a Vivre Card from Lola, which points the way to Lola's mother, a pirate in the New World. Luffy takes out the piece of paper he received from Ace, which is also a Vivre Card, and learns that as it is burning and shrinking, Ace's life is in danger. Believing that Ace can get out of trouble on his own, Luffy decides to head onward rather than go to rescue him, and the Straw Hats sail away from Thriller Bark. As the Luffy and his crew sail away, three enormous and mysterious figure appears in the fog, looking over Thriller Bark. | ||
|
||||||||||||||