Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

One Piece: Collection 26 Blu-ray Movie Review

One of the best anime series of all time arrives on Blu-ray.

One Piece: Set 26 is an action-packed collection of the fan-favorite anime series. The 26^th collection contains episodes 615-641. Based on the original manga by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a thrilling adventure unlike any other. The series is licensed by Funimation in North America.

Produced by Yoshihiro Suzuki (Dragon League, Turn A Gundam), One Piece: Set 26 is broadcast on Cartoon Network in the United States. The series animation is produced by Fuji Television Network and Toei Animation. A must-see series for anime fans.

One of the best elements of the One Piece series is the expansive cast of characters: Monkey D. Luffy (Mayumi Tanaka), Nami (Akemi Okamura), Sanji (Hiroaki Hirata), Tony Tony Chopper (Ikue Ōtani), Usopp (Kappei Yamaguchi), Franky (Kazuki Yao), Roronoa Zoro (Kazuya Nakai), Miss Wednesday (Misa Watanabe), Brook (Yūichi Nagashima), and Nico Robin (Yuriko Yamaguchi) are the primary characters on the anime. The series revolves around the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates and the unique adventures the group has at sea.

An epic battle ensues in Caesar's laboratory. As the epic confrontation reaches its last legs, the epic stage for what is to come next unfolds. Doflamingo and his henchmen begin to fight back against everyone in the Straw Hat Pirates group.

Can Luffy and company defeat Doflamingo and find a semblance of peace? With Destination Dressrosa on the next horizon, the Straw Hat Pirates ultimately find more challenges await them than ever before: rampaging toys and a challenging new competition. Who will win the battle stage?

"Set sail!"

The animation remains one of the most thrilling components of the production. One Piece is a gorgeous looking anime. The series has outstanding background animation and the layout designs make a solid impression. The chief animation direction by Kazuya Hisada (Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT) is a remarkable component of the production. Hisada helps the series find the perfect aesthetic.

The character designs by Kazuya Hisada showcase the vibrancy of the cast of characters. Based on the original manga character designs, the cast shines brightly: showcasing the unique personalities of the characters. The elasticity of Luffy remains one of the trademarks of the series and the charming character design manages to stand out from the crowd as a remarkable achievement in anime.

The action sequences are stunning. There is a sense of high-octane energy in each action sequence. Luffy remains the affable hero of the series and his elasticity remains one of the most charming components of the production. The fight scenes are intense and engaging. This keeps the series enormously entertaining.

The score composed by Kōhei Tanaka (Angelic Layer, Desert Punk) and Shiroh Hamaguchi (Final Fantasy: Unlimited, Ah! My Goddess) is energetic fun. There is a sense of excitement in the score throughout the franchise. The music makes a bold statement – matching the energy of the story. Composers Tanaka and Hamaguchi craft outstanding score selections.

Written by Hirohiko Uesaka (One Piece Film Strong World, One Piece Episode of Sabo), One Piece: Set 26 is another powerhouse. As based on the original manga, Uesaka does a solid job adapting the characters and the world inhabited. The storytelling has an energetic pace and sense of rhythm. An exciting journey unfolds.

Directed by Hiroaki Miyamoto (One Piece: Film Gold), One Piece continues to impress as one of the most entertaining and legendary anime series of all time. The series has exciting energy that helps to usher in the story. Miyamoto has a keen directorial eye and showcases the world of the Straw Hat Pirates with a unique vision. One Piece: Set 26 has more exciting fun for fans of the franchise.

One Piece: Collection 26 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation Entertainment, One Piece: Collection 26 is presented in 1080i MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series makes its high-definition debut on the Blu-ray format with these series adventures. The presentation is significantly better in high-definition than it is in standard-definition. Color, clarity, and detail are all greatly enhanced. The encoding is reasonably impressive as well. The video looks sharp and vibrant.

One Piece: Collection 26 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless, high-resolution audio sound mixes are quite impressive. The clarity of the audio is crisp and clear – helping to showcase the exceptional performances of the voice actors. Dialogue is easy to understand. The music is given superb clarity.

One Piece: Collection 26 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes an exclusive Funimation convention panel:

Funimation Con 2020: One Piece Panel – Part 1 (HD, 17:35)

Textless Opening Song "Wake Up!" (HD, 2:32)

One Piece: Collection 26 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One Piece: Set 26 is an exciting collection of episodes. The series remains one of the best in anime history. The ensemble cast of characters makes the series one of the most engaging productions on television. The adventures of Monkey D. Luffy (Mayumi Tanaka), Nami (Akemi Okamura), Sanji (Hiroaki Hirata), Tony Tony Chopper (Ikue Ōtani), Usopp (Kappei Yamaguchi), and the rest of the gang, make One Piece a pure joy to experience.

The 26^th collection of One Piece is the first time episodes have been released on the Blu-ray format in collection sets. Sets 1-25 were released on DVD only. The 26^th collection is the first to showcase the series in high-definition (as these episodes represent the beginning of the native high-definition series run). One Piece is one of my favorite anime series and it is a blast of high-octane energy. What a gem of an animated series. Highly recommended.