I'll admit this up front: my first exposure to One Piece was the 4Kid's dub. I'll also admit that I liked it. Being the stupid kid I was back then, I was oblivious to all of the rampant censorship and butchering of the story that the dub was infamous for. So I liked it. And frankly, I think that is a testament to how amazing this anime is.
The characters are all incredibly lovable. At first glance, they can seem pretty two-dimensional, but they all have complex backstories and Character Development throughout the series. It's not just the characters themselves that are great either, but their interactions with each other. The Straw Hats really feel like a family, and that makes them so much easier to connect to.
The story manages to be both hilarious and emotionally deep, and you will be surprised at how quickly it jumps back and forth between the two. Seriously, it takes Mood Whiplash to a whole new level. If there's any complaint I have about the story, it's that it is looooong. And while I don't have a problem with that in itself (just more fun to be had), the pacing can get incredibly slow at points. There's plenty of filler too, but most of it is actually pretty entertaining.
Despite all of this, I dropped One Piece entirely after the 4Kids dub died a slow, painful death, and I pretty much forgot about it for while. It was only recently that I learned Funimation (who I was already fond of for bringing me DBZ) was taking over the reigns, and I decided to give it another go. Needless to say, I fell in love with it all over again, and am now in the midst of the Funi dub at Enies Lobby, awaiting the next box set.
I give it a 9/10
P.S. I have to recommend those box sets if only for the extras. The Funimation crew are some hilarious people.
Yes, It Really Is That Good
I'll admit this up front: my first exposure to One Piece was the 4Kid's dub. I'll also admit that I liked it. Being the stupid kid I was back then, I was oblivious to all of the rampant censorship and butchering of the story that the dub was infamous for. So I liked it. And frankly, I think that is a testament to how amazing this anime is.
The characters are all incredibly lovable. At first glance, they can seem pretty two-dimensional, but they all have complex backstories and Character Development throughout the series. It's not just the characters themselves that are great either, but their interactions with each other. The Straw Hats really feel like a family, and that makes them so much easier to connect to.
The story manages to be both hilarious and emotionally deep, and you will be surprised at how quickly it jumps back and forth between the two. Seriously, it takes Mood Whiplash to a whole new level. If there's any complaint I have about the story, it's that it is looooong. And while I don't have a problem with that in itself (just more fun to be had), the pacing can get incredibly slow at points. There's plenty of filler too, but most of it is actually pretty entertaining.
Despite all of this, I dropped One Piece entirely after the 4Kids dub died a slow, painful death, and I pretty much forgot about it for while. It was only recently that I learned Funimation (who I was already fond of for bringing me DBZ) was taking over the reigns, and I decided to give it another go. Needless to say, I fell in love with it all over again, and am now in the midst of the Funi dub at Enies Lobby, awaiting the next box set.
I give it a 9/10
P.S. I have to recommend those box sets if only for the extras. The Funimation crew are some hilarious people.