The eighth season of the One Pieceanime series contains the "Water Seven" Chapter. Its episodes are directed by Kōnosuke Uda and Munehisa Sakai and produced by Toei Animation. The episodes are based on Eiichirō Oda's One Piecemanga series, and adapt the 34th through 39th volumes of its source material over thirty-five episodes. They initially ran from April 17, 2005 through April 30, 2006 on Fuji TV. Twelve DVD compilations, each containing three episodes, were released by Toei between January 10 to December 5, 2007.[1][2] In October 2011, Funimation announced they had acquired this season, along with the entirety of the previous season for release as part of their own US "Season Four".[3] The press release stated that the episodes would be featured in 16:9 widescreen. The press release also mentioned that the episodes would be released in "HD" hinting at a possible Blu-ray release, but made no direct mention of the high definition disc format. However, the Japanese analog broadcasts are still in 4:3 fullscreen format.
The season centers around the intrigue of Water Seven as Nico Robin leaves the crew to seemingly join up with Cipher Pol No. 9, a hidden organization under the world government as the Straw Hat Pirates are accused of an attempted assassination on Iceberg, the leader of Water Seven and the Galley-La Company. Meanwhile, most of their money is stolen from Usopp by Franky's henchmen before they could use it for repairs. Later, after finding out the Going Merry was unrepairable, Usopp leaves when Luffy reluctantly admits that the ship is done for.
The season uses five pieces of theme music: one opening theme and four ending themes. The opening theme is "Kokoro no Chizu" (ココロのちず) by BOYSTYLE. The four ending themes are "Mirai Kōkai" (未来航海) by Tackey & Tsubasa, used in the first two episodes; "Eternal Pose" (エターナルポーズ) by Asia Engineer, used to end episodes 231 to 245; "Dear friends" by TRIPLANE, used for episodes 246 to 255; and "Asu wa kuru kara" (明日は来るから) by TVXQ, which was used for the remainder of the season. In English speaking territories, "Mirai Koukai" was replaced with "Eternal Pose" due to music licensing issues.[4]
"The Dashing Sea Train and the City of Water: Water Seven!" Transliteration: "Shissō umi ressha to mizu no miyako Uōtā Seven" (Japanese: 疾走海列車と水の都ウォーターセブン)
Directed by : Munehisa Sakai Storyboarded by : Kenji Yokoyama
After the Going Merry narrowly escapes being hit by a "sea train" which knocks away the giant frog attempting to derail it, the Straw Hats meet the stationmaster Kokoro along with her granddaughter Chimney and her bunny-like cat Gonbe. Kokoro assures the crew that the frog, Yokozuna, was perfectly fine and that it was always testing its strength against the Sea Train Puffing Tom, which connects several of the nearby islands. She also explains that the Log Pose would lead them to Water Seven, a canal city of shipwrights where they could fix their ship, providing Luffy with a map and letter of introduction to the shipwrights' leader Iceburg. The Straw Hats reach Water Seven, the group splits up with Luffy, Nami and Usopp leaving to exchange their gold and rent boats driven by fish-like sea monsters called Yagaras.
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"Adventure in the City on the Water! Head to the Mammoth Shipbuilding Plant!" Transliteration: "Suijō toshi no bōken! Mezase kyodai sōsen kōjō" (Japanese: 水上都市の冒険!目指せ巨大造船工場)
Directed by : Kōnosuke Uda Storyboarded by : Takahiro Imamura
Luffy, Nami, and Usopp get strange greetings from the residents and they get to experience the roller coaster-like channels of Water Seven. Luffy find out that some pirates had been beaten at the hands of some powerful craftsmen; the Galley La Company. Meanwhile, Chopper loses Robin when she is approached by a masked figure when Zoro encounters strange figures that came to the Going Merry.
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"The Franky Family and Iceberg!" Transliteration: "Furankī ikka to Aisubāgu-san" (Japanese: フランキー一家とアイスバーグさん)
Zoro awakens and drives off the "Franky Family", a gang of hoodlum pirate hunters. Luffy's group gets the gold they acquired from Skypeia exchanged for 300,000,000 berries. They soon reach Dock No. 1 and meet a man who resembles Usopp, Galley La's carpenter foreman Kaku, who jumps off to inspect the Going Merry while they speak to Iceberg. Usopp loses the money in his care to the Franky Family.
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"Galley-La Company! A Grand Sight: Dock #1!" Transliteration: "Garēra Kanpanī! Soukan ichiban Dokku" (Japanese: ガレーラカンパニー!壮観一番ドック)
Directed by : Kōnosuke Uda Storyboarded by : Ken Koyama
The Franky Family nearly escape with the Straw Hats' money were it not for untimely intervention of Galley La's Paulie while he was evading debt collectors, with another member named Rob Lucci keeping him from running off with the money. Iceberg's aide Kalifa shows Luffy, Nami, and Usopp around Dock No. 1 and tells them how Iceberg founded the Galley La Company. Usopp and the 200,000,000 berries he was carrying go missing as Kaku returns from the Going Merry and tells them that their keel is irreparably damaged.
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"Pirate Abduction Incident! A Pirate Ship That Can Only Await Her End!" Transliteration: "Kaizoku yūkai jiken to shi o matsu dake no kaizokusen" (Japanese: 海賊誘拐事件と死を待つだけの海賊船)
Directed by : Hiroaki Miyamoto Storyboarded by : Kenji Yokoyama
Luffy refuses to believe that Galley La cannot repair the Going Merry before he and Nami realize that not only is Usopp missing now, but the two brief cases that were returned to them are empty. Nami decides to head to Franky House and finds Usopp on the way in a pitiful state, heading back to the ship for help while Usopp goes to the Franky House himself.
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"Rescuing Our Friend! Raid On the Franky House!" Transliteration: "Nakama kyūshutsu! Nagarikomi Furankī Hausu" (Japanese: 仲間救出!殴りこみフランキーハウス)
Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, and Chopper follow Usopp's bloody trail to the Franky House, where they find him passed out in front after being beaten up in an attempt to get the money back from the Franky Family's leader Franky, who left with the money. The four of them proceed to overpower the Franky Family and destroy the Franky House, deducing that the money is likely gone while Luffy accepts that the Going Merry is beyond repair.
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"Big Fight Under the Moon! The Pirate Flag Flutters With Sorrow!" Transliteration: "Gekka no dai kenka! Kanashimi ni hirugaeru kaizoku hata!" (Japanese: 月下の大喧嘩!哀しみに翻る海賊旗!)
Once they're back on the ship, Luffy explains to a guilt-ridden Usopp that the Going Merry can no longer be repaired and has chosen to get a new ship instead. Usopp believes that Luffy has abandoned the dignity of their ship and says he's leaving the crew, challenging Luffy to a duel at nighttime.
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"Luffy vs. Usopp! Collision of Two Men's Pride!" Transliteration: "Rufi VS Usoppu! Butsukaru otoko no iji" (Japanese: ルフィvsウソップ!ぶつかる男の意地)
Usopp fights Luffy in order to decide who keeps the Going Merry; going all out while keeping a hesitant Luffy on his toes as he and others remember their time with Usopp. Even after taking a harsh beating, Luffy defeats Usopp before he and the crew leave him and the ship behind.
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"Severe Shock Hits the City of Water! Iceberg Targeted!" Transliteration: "Gekishin mizu no miyako! Newareta Aisubāgu" (Japanese: 激震水の都!狙われたアイスバーグ)
The Straw Hats get themselves a hotel room as Nami finds the crew on the roof and informs them that Iceberg has been shot. As the Galley La Company frantically search for answers, Nami and Luffy decide to check on his condition – only to be met by closed gates. At the same time, Franky returns to Water Seven and goes after Luffy to exact his revenge for destroying the Franky House – with style.
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"Gum-Gum Human vs. Fire-Breathing Cyborg!" Transliteration: "Gomugomu ningen VS hi o fuku kaizō ningen" (Japanese: ゴムゴム人間VS火を吹く改造人間)
In the streets outside of the hospital, Luffy fights Franky as the latter reveals himself to be a cyborg. Inside, Iceberg recalls seeing Nico Robin and another tall man before he was shot. The Galley La company run outside and stop Franky and Luffy and tell them that they suspect the Straw Hat Pirates of the crime.
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"The Straw Hat Pirates Are the Culprits? The Protectors of the City of Water!" Transliteration: "Hannin wa mugiwara kaizokudan? Mizu no miyako no yōjinbo" (Japanese: 犯人は麦わら海賊団?水の都の用心棒)
The Galley La Company continues to fight Luffy with an enraged Franky attempting to take both sides out. An incredibly high tide called the "Aqua Laguna" is coming and Chopper and Sanji rush to warn Usopp. Luffy raises some chaos in order to meet with Iceberg and he demands to know what's happening. Iceberg says he wants to see Robin one more time.
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"Eternal Farewell? Nico Robin: The Woman Who Draws Darkness!" Transliteration: "Eien no wakare? Yami o hiku onna Niko Robin" (Japanese: 永遠の別れ?闇を引く女ニコ·ロビン)
In a bar, while recharging his soda reserves, Franky talks with Kokoro about her theory that Iceberg was shot by an agent of World Government's shadow organization CP9. The rumors she speaks of seem to have some truth as we see Robin meeting with CP9 members. While the crew hide from angry residents, Sanji and Chopper indirectly warn Usopp of Aqua Laguna before discovering Robin, who informs them of what they've feared: she's responsible and she wants to part ways.
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"Capture Robin! The Determination of the Straw Hats!" Transliteration: "Robin o tsukamaero! Mugiwara ichimi no ketsui" (Japanese: ロビンを捕まえろ!麦わら一味の決意)
Chopper reunites with the others without Sanji and they discuss what's happened. Luffy decides that they need to catch Robin to know the full truth. Usopp attempts to repair the ship enough to withstand the Aqua Laguna and the Straw Hats make their way to the Galley La Company.
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"Cannon Fire Is the Signal! CP9 Goes Into Action!" Transliteration: "Aizu wa hōgeki to tomo ni! Ugokidashita CP9" (Japanese: 合図は砲撃と共に!動き出したCP9)
The Straw Hats rush to Galley La as three CP9 agents commence their raid. Robin and the mysterious man that shot Iceberg enter Iceberg's room due to the latter's Devil Fruit powers. The masked-man informs him that CP9 framed the pirates and seeks blueprints he kept hidden and would've passed down to Paulie. Luffy separates from his group.
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"CP9 Takes Off Their Masks! Their Shocking True Faces!" Transliteration: "Kamen o totta CP9! Sono odoroki no sugao" (Japanese: 仮面を取ったCP9!その驚きの素顔)
Robin speaks with Iceberg while the masked man leaves to keep anyone from interfering. She learns that Iceberg possesses the blueprints to the ultimate warship, Pluton. Elsewhere, Luffy is tied up with Paulie after the latter reveals to masked CP9 agents that the blueprints are fake. This forces the CP9 agents to regroup in Iceberg's room to interrogate him while revealing their true identities as Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Blueno.
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"Secret Bond! Iceberg and Franky!" Transliteration: "Hisometa kizuna! Aisubāgu to Furankī" (Japanese: 秘めた絆!アイスバーグとフランキー)
Lucci tells Iceberg their hypothesis from learning of the decoy blueprints and has Kaku check Iceberg's pulse to confirm that he gave the blueprints to another: a fellow apprentice of his mentor Tom named Cutty Flam, who now goes by Franky. The Straw Hat Pirates and Paulie break into the room where they find Iceberg and CP9. Meanwhile, Franky learns of Usopp working on the Going Merry and decides to capture him.
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"Come Back, Robin! Showdown With CP9!" Transliteration: "Kaette koi Robin! CP9 to no taiketsu!" (Japanese: 帰って来いロビン!CP9との対決!)
Luffy and the others request that Robin comes back to the crew. She refuses and tells them that she cannot accomplish her "wish" if she were to stay with them. Robin turns to leave and while CP9 hold the pirates back while intent silence them, Iceberg, and Paulie. Robin successfully escapes and Lucci decides to use the remaining time before the building goes up in flames to unveil his "transformation".
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"The Straw Hat Pirates Annihilated? The Menace of the Leopard Model!" Transliteration: "Mugiwara kaizokudan zenmetsu? Moderu hyō no kyōi" (Japanese: 麦わら海賊団全滅?モデル豹の脅威!)
Lucci explains he acquired the power of a Zoan Devil's Fruit; the Cat-Cat Fruit: Leopard-Type, before quickly disposes of Luffy and Zoro while CP9 tie up Paulie and Iceberg, leaving them alone as the building slowly burns down around them. In Franky's underground hideout, Usopp tells him his story and Franky is finally touched. In return, Franky tells him a little about Tom's contributions to Water Seven.
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"The Man Who Is Loved Even by His Ship! Usopp's Tears!" Transliteration: "Fune kara mo aisareta otoko! Usoppu no namida!" (Japanese: 船からも愛された男!ウソップの涙!)
Usopp believes that the person who repaired the Going Merry in Skypeia was really the ship itself, with Franky explaining that the ship was inhabited by a spirit who manifests on ships who are dearly cared for and the Going Merry repaired itself so the Straw Hats can reach the next island. When attempting to stop Franky from destroying the Going Merry in an act of mercy for the ship's sake, Usopp admits he knows be cannot bring himself to abandon the ship. The doorbell rings from the sea side and the CP9 agents enter, after attacking Franky's men.
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"Franky's Past! The Day the Sea Train First Ran!" Transliteration: "Furankī no kako! Umi ressha ga hashitta hi" (Japanese: フランキーの過去!海列車が走った日)
The CP9 agents overpower Franky and discover a hidden room that they tear through to Franky's dismay of them trampling his memories. A long flashback ensues, covering Franky's past in Tom's Workers and how he and Iceberg helped create the Sea Train so Tom can save their city while not be held accountable for creating Gold Roger's ship.
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"Spandam's Scheme! The Day the Sea Train Shook!" Transliteration: "Supandamu no inbō! Umi ressha ga ureta hi" (Japanese: スパンダムの陰謀!海列車が揺れた日)
Eight years prior to the Straw Hats reaching Water Seven, a CP5 agent named Spandam seeks to acquire the Pluton blueprints from Tom by any means to give the World Government an advantage against all pirates. As Franky walked into the town on the day that Tom would be a free man, Spandams flunkies stage an attack with the battleships that Franky personally constructed. Tom and Iceberg run to their shipyard where they're attacked by two ships which also destroy the others, they and Franky brought before the judge for trial. Franky denounces his ships with a provoked Tom punching him, taking him to acknowledge every ship he ever made or he'll never forgive him.
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"The End of the Legendary Man! The Day the Sea Train Cried!" Transliteration: "Densetsu no otoko no saigo! Umi ressha ga naita hi" (Japanese: 伝説の男の最期!海列車が泣いた日)
After telling Franky to take pride in the ships he created, Tom takes a swing at Spandam before confessing to the attack while asking the judge to alter the arrangement to resolve him and his apprentices of the crime while taken to Enies Lobby and be executed for building Roger's ship. Franky, after disfisguring Spandam with the butt of a rifle, falses in his attempt to stop the train to Enies Lobby with his bare hands and was presumed dead by everyone. In the present, after being restrained, Franky learns that Spandam is now the leader of CP9.
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"The Truth Behind Her Betrayal! Robin's Sorrowful Decision!" Transliteration: "Uragiri no shinsō! Robin no kanashiki ketsui!" (Japanese: 裏切りの真相!ロビンの哀しき決意!)
Chopper escapes the burning building with Paulie and Iceberg on his back and collapses outside. Iceberg tells Nami that CP9 threatened to destroy the Straw Hats if Robin didn't cooperate with them. Nami rushes to tell Chopper so they can go looking for the rest of the crew. Elsewhere, the CP9 agents let go of the Going Merry so she would be destroyed at sea.
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"The Steam Whistle Forces Friends Apart! The Sea Train Starts to Run!" Transliteration: "Nakama o hikihanasu kiteki! Hashiridasu umi ressha" (Japanese: 仲間を引き離す汽笛!走り出す海列車)
Directed by : Yukihiko Nakao Storyboarded by : Kenji Yokoyama
Paulie helps clear the name of the Straw Hats but doesn't tell the mob everything he knows. He gets the mob to follow Chopper so they can search for the rest of the crew. Nami goes her own way so she can rush to the Sea Train. As Nami nears the station, Sanji, ahead of her, approaches the train.
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"Sanji Barges In! Sea Train Battle in the Storm!" Transliteration: "Sanji totsunyū! arashi no naka no umi ressha batoru!" (Japanese: サンジ突入!嵐の中の海列車バトル!)
Nami and the conductors are rescued by Paulie when the Aqua Laguna floods the main station. A man hands Nami a letter he found from Sanji. It informs her that Usopp, Franky, and he are on board the train that had just departed. On board, he storms the cars. High up in the city, Nami speaks with Kokoro and spots Luffy, stuck in between two buildings, in the back streets where the Aqua Laguna will hit first.
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"Nami's Soul Cries Out! Straw Hat Luffy Makes a Comeback!" Transliteration: "Nami tamashii no sakebi! Mugiwara no Rufi fukukatsu!" (Japanese: ナミ魂の叫び!麦わらのルフィ復活!)
Nami finally reaches Luffy and tells him that he needs to hurry before Robin reaches Enies Lobby. Chopper finds Zoro and hands him the Sandai Kitetsu so he can escape the chimney. Luffy pushes apart the buildings he was stuck between and Paulie grabs them all so they can escape the Aqua Laguna's massive wave.
Sanji fights his way through another train car and finds Usopp and Franky. Seeing how determined Luffy is to save Robin, Kokoro and Iceberg lends the Straw Hat crew the use of another sea train, Rocket Man. The Franky Family shows up, pleading with Luffy to let them join them because they'll do anything for their leader.
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"Rescue Our Friends! A Bond Among Foes Sworn with Fists!" Transliteration: "Nakama o sukue! Kobushi ni chikatta teki dōshi no kizuna!" (Japanese: 仲間を救え!拳に誓った敵同士の絆!)
The Rocket Man finally makes it out to sea. As the train connects with the tracks, Luffy has to rescue Chimney before she's thrown off by the wind. In the meanwhile, Iceberg has a flashback about when he finally met Franky again in Water Seven. With Luffy and Chimney safe in the train, Paulie tells his fellow carpenters who the real culprits were. The Straw Hats, Franky Family, and Galley La Company form an alliance.
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"Smash the Wave! Luffy and Zoro Use the Strongest Combo!" Transliteration: "Nami o sake! Rufi to Zoro no saikyō gattai waza" (Japanese: 波を砕け!ルフィとゾロの最強合体技)
Luffy and Zoro perform a move that acts similar to a cannon and blasts a hole through the wall of the tidal wave ahead of them, opening up a channel for them to pass through. They miraculously pass through unscathed and the passengers rejoice. Sanji contacts the rest of the crew and fills them in on his current situation. Usopp separates from them but later, when Sanji and Franky are spotted, a mysterious masked man named Sogeking comes to their rescue.
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"A Mysterious Man Appears?! His Name Is Sniperking!" Transliteration: "Nazo no otoko tōjō!? Sono na wa Sogekingu!" (Japanese: 謎の男登場!?その名はそげキング!)
Sogeking makes his grand entrance. Franky and Sanji aren't fooled by his costume but they try to humor him. They devise a plan first, then detach the last two cars and fight their way through the rest. Back in the Rocket Man, Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Chopper get an outfit change; Nami shows off the weapon Usopp upgraded for her while he was still with them.
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"Showdown Between Cooks! Sanji vs. Ramen Kenpo" Transliteration: "Kokku taiketsu! Sanji VS Rāmen kenpō" (Japanese: コック対決!サンジVSラーメン拳法)
Kalifa updates the CP9 on the situation with Franky, Sanji, and Sogeking. Sanji tells Franky and Sogeking to go on without him so he can fight Wanze and his "Ramen Kenpo". Franky begins to fight Nero, CP9's "Weasel", and Sogeking meets with Robin.
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"Rooftop Duel! Franky vs. Nero" Transliteration: "yane no ue no kettō! Furankī VS Nero" (Japanese: 屋根の上の決闘!フランキーVSネロ)
Franky's fight with Nero continues. Nero discovers that Franky's weak spot is his back, so Franky lies down flat so he can't get to it. Nero demands that he fight seriously, so Franky gets up to transform into his "Centaur" form. Sogeking talks with Robin and tells her that the crew knows about her reasons for leaving. Those on the Rocket Man encounter the discarded cars and Zoro slices them so they can pass, before coming across a bisected Sea king.
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"Clash! Demon-Slasher Zoro vs. Ship-Slasher T-Bone!" Transliteration: "Gekitotsu! Onigiri Zoro VS funegiri T Bōn" (Japanese: 激突!鬼斬りゾロVS船斬りTボーン)
Directed by : Morio Hatano Storyboarded by : Makiko Orimoto
Zoro clashes with "Ship Cutter" T-Bone. The fight is short and Zoro joins the crew again in the Rocket Man. On the Puffing Tom, Sanji beats Wanze beautiful, though Wanze thinks he's ruined his face. Franky finally gains the upper hand against Nero and defeats him. After beating their respective opponents, Franky and Sanji stand to fight against the other CP9.
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"Scramble over Robin! A Cunning Plan by Sniperking!!" Transliteration: "Robin sōdatsusen! Sogekingu no kisaku!!" (Japanese: ロビン争奪戦!そげキングの奇策!!)
After hiding under Robin's cloak, Sogeking finally shows himself. They stumble into the room with the CP9 and meet with Sanji and Franky. Sogeking produces a smokescreen. The four head into another car, detach it, and escape. It's not long before Bluno pulls their car back, though. Franky knocks down the wall so they can escape but ends up on the enemy car. Blueno opens a door then back in the Straw Hat car.
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"The Judicial Island! Full View of Enies Lobby!" Transliteration: "Shihō no shima! Eniesu Robī no zenbō" (Japanese: 司法の島!エニエス·ロビーの全貌!)
Robin willingly follows Blueno into his improvised door and Sogeking and Sanji are left alone. For a while, Blueno explains a little of Robin's past involving the Buster Call. Back at the Rocket Man, Yokuzuna the frog jumps onto the front of the train, knocking them from the rails. After Kokoro speaks with him, he joins the group. The CP9, Franky, and Robin finally reach Enies Lobby and disembark.
In North America, this season was recategorized as part of "Season Four" for its DVD release by Funimation Entertainment. The Australian Season Four sets were renamed Collection 18 through 21.
Funimation Entertainment (USA, Region 1), Manga Entertainment (UK, Region 2), Madman Entertainment (Australia, Region 4)
^Episodes were initially released in English on DVD, but to correspond with the Japanese column, the air dates refer to their first English television airings on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block. For information on DVD releases, please refer to the "Home Releases" section of this page.