One Piece: Episode of Sabo - Bond of Three Brothers, A Miraculous Reunion and an Inherited Will
Synopsis
The special will revisit the childhood past of the three sworn brothers Luffy, Ace, and Sabo, when they all dreamed of becoming pirates. In addition, it will depict how Sabo originally came into the kingdom of Dressrosa (which was not depicted in Eiichiro Oda's original manga or the television anime), as well as his reunion with Luffy from his point of view.
Audience Consensus
The special is a mixed bag, praised for its animation updates but criticized for its heavy reliance on recycled content and lack of substantial new material focusing on Sabo. Many felt it was a missed opportunity to explore Sabo's character and his interactions with other revolutionaries. The pacing issues and the rehashed Dressrosa arc were also major points of disappointment for viewers seeking fresh content.
Strengths
- Updated animation on Dressrosa scenes is well-done.
- Good for catching up with the story.
Weaknesses
- Too much recycled content.
- Not enough new Sabo content.
- Pacing is too fast and feels like padding.
- Animation and art quality are inconsistent.
- Storyline feels like a 'cop out' with the amnesia plot.