One Piece: Episode of Sabo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

One Piece: Episode of Sabo Blu-ray Movie Review

An entertaining entry in the ongoing One Piece anime franchise that shouldn't be missed!

One Piece: Episode of Sabo: The Three Brothers Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will is an action-packed adventure which has plenty to offer fans of the long-running anime series (based on the blockbuster manga series created by Eiichiro Oda). With the usual splash of stunning animation, stellar action, and laugh-out-loud comedy hi-jinks, this is an exciting television special diehard fans won't want to miss. It's an adventurous journey of epic proportions (and Scott Pilgrim would approve).

The story of One Piece: Episode of Sabo: The Three Brothers Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will delves into the past and present while exploring the special connection between Sabo, Luffy, and Ace. The television special explores their early adventures together as children while simultaneously focusing on the journey which is taken in the now. The blend of past and present ultimately makes for a compelling entry in the ongoing saga. 

As the fan-favorite characters reunite, Luffy and co. become disguised in humorous attire as they enter the land of Dressrosa and prepare for an epic experience on the battle-stage with a Colosseum fight against ruthless baddies in order to win the highly coveted Flame-Flame Fruit. Who will emerge victorious? Will Luffy take the grand prize? Tune in to find out!

"Ahoy, mates! Adventure await! Wa-hoo!"

Featuring rousing animation, One Piece: Episode of Sabo: The Three Brothers Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will is another effective example of how the One Piece universe remains a vital example of modern anime productions strengths. The fight scenes are especially enticing with a non-stop blast of excitement during the Colosseum fights. Luffy battles the villains with as much gusto as any fan would hope to experience from the showdowns. The spectacle of it all is something that can make any One Piece fan smile with a sense of enormous glee.

The screenplay by Hirohiko Kamisaka (One Piece: Strong World) doesn't break any new ground in the lore of the One Piece storytelling but it is another entertaining side-story in the ongoing saga of Luffy and his companions. The film does have some nice call-backs to the time Luffy spent with both Ace and Sabo as a youth and these scenes add much to the overall enjoyment of the film. The heart of it resides in these scenes while the rest of the story is full of non-stop, unadulterated action and pure excitement with splashes of comedy interwoven into the seams.

Directed by Gou Koga (Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters), fans of the beloved One Piece anime franchise will feel right at home with the entertaining sequences of badass fights on display in constant spades (and impeccably orchestrated by Koga). While the film might not stand as one of the best side-stories in the One Piece series canon it's a highly effective one which won't leave viewers feeling any sense of disappointment. A great blast of energy that offers fans exactly what they want: beautiful animation, outstanding action sequences, and a wonderful cast of characters to lead the way. Don't miss this great installment in the series!

One Piece: Episode of Sabo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation Entertainment, One Piece: Episode of Sabo: The Three Brothers Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio. The release does an excellent job of reproducing the beautiful artistry of the animators. Line art looks remarkably crisp and detailed.

The feature-presentation is consistently beautiful and engaging with the animation practically leaping off the screen with the fluidity of colors on display. This release is a great example of superb color reproduction. The anime has great character designs and layouts and the art is properly presented. There are occasionally minor signs of banding on the image but these slight blink-or-you miss it moments don't detract much from what is a highly satisfying experience.

One Piece: Episode of Sabo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release includes two audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0. Either one of these tracks will provide viewers with a lossless audio sound presentation. English subtitles are provided for the original Japanese language presentation.

Without a doubt, the English dub cast continues to prove why One Piece is one of the best dubs being produced in the anime industry. The release does a solid job of reproducing the sound with clarity and overall high fidelity on the track. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The track has strong reproduction for highs. The mix is a bit less heavy on bass reproduction. Nonetheless, a worthwhile sound design that works well for the release.

One Piece: Episode of Sabo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release only includes a selection of trailers (HD, 6:24) promoting other releases available from Funimation Entertainment on Blu-ray: Dragon Ball Super: Part 6, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card – Part One, Star Blazers 2199: Part Two, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions, In Another World With My Smartphone, and The Ancient Magus' Bride: Part One – Limited Edition.

One Piece: Episode of Sabo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One Piece: Episode of Sabo: The Three Brothers Bond – The Miraculous Reunion and the Inherited Will is a entertaining action-packed experience which is sure to delight fans of the fun anime series in spades. With Luffy remaining just as awesome as he always is, One Piece continues to be the coolest long-running anime around. There's just something so downright cool about it! It's easy to sit back and enjoy the fun factor on display with this series. Another excellent entry in the ongoing saga: make sure to not miss it! Luffy doesn't want you to.