As the Egghead Arc takes a pause, One Piece has taken a bold step by releasing a remaster of the Fishman Island Arc. However, the necessity and execution of this remake have sparked a debate among fans. While the initial excitement was palpable, it appears that the remaster has become a point of contention, with many expressing valid concerns regarding its overall quality.
Despite significant enhancements in visuals and animation, the remaster of Fishman Island has not been well-received. Critics largely attribute this to its awkward direction and rushed pacing, which have hindered viewers from fully appreciating the new content. Given the lack of fresh material during the Egghead Arc hiatus, the move to revisit Fishman Island feels unwarranted—a missed opportunity for an effective adaptation.
Potential for a Revolutionary Remaster
Toei Animation’s Strides in Animation
One undeniable achievement of the remaster is its superior animation quality. As an iconic animation studio in Japan, Toei Animation has significantly evolved over the last 25 years. One Piece has been a canvas showcasing this transformation, particularly coming into play with the post-time skip arcs like Fishman Island. The success of the Wano Arc highlighted Toei’s capabilities, setting high expectations for future projects.
Regrettably, the potential of the Fishman Island remaster to redeem a less favorable arc in the One Piece legacy is overshadowed by flaws in direction and pacing. With a well-executed remaster, Toei could have solidified its reputation alongside emerging studios such as MAPPA and WIT Studio.
Visual Success But Overall Shortcomings
Visually Stunning but Lacks Depth
Since the Wano Arc, One Piece has seen a remarkable leap in animation standards, thanks largely to Tatsuya Nagamine’s direction and Midori Matsuda’s character design. Maintaining this fresh art style in the Fishman Island remaster is commendable, as it visually aligns with the recent quality expectations.
OG vs Remaster https://t.co/yyAuXVw9Te pic.twitter.com/jlgkQrEJe4 — Pookie Piece (@PookiePiece) November 24, 2024
Although the remaster successfully incorporates enhancements such as thicker line work, enriched color palettes, dynamic lighting, and richer shadows, these visual upgrades unfortunately do not compensate for deficiencies in storytelling. The compressed format—reducing 57 original episodes to just 21—has exaggerated earlier pacing issues, leading to choppy transitions that undermine emotional impact.
The removal of filler scenes, once deemed unnecessary, has inadvertently reduced the cohesion of storytelling, leaving viewers devoid of vital context and nuance. This has led to moments that could have been breathtaking now feeling diluted, demonstrating that the remaster, although visually stunning, would have greatly benefited from a more generous episode count to effectively explore its narrative arcs.
Neglected Remake Opportunities in One Piece
The Need for a Dressrosa Arc Remake
Initial excitement for the Fishman Island remaster was buoyed by hopes for further remakes of subsequent arcs. However, there exists a strong case for the Dressrosa Arc to undergo a transformation of its own. Covering approximately 108 chapters and 118 episodes, it suffers from slow pacing and uneven animation quality.
A remaster of Dressrosa poses a unique challenge, requiring a longer production timeline; however, given the arc’s rich narrative and memorable battles, it could significantly benefit from Toei’s latest animation advancements. Enhancing this arc could introduce audiences to its thrilling moments with a renewed impact, making it a worthy endeavor for the studio.
One Piece is currently available for streaming on both Netflix and Crunchyroll.
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