Movies / Animé and Toons

One Piece Season 3, Third Voyage

By Chris Zimmerman
June 14, 2010 - 08:03

As a child, Monkey D Luffy desired nothing more than to be a great pirate, idolizing the famed Red Hair Shanks. After consuming the Gum Gum Fruit, he was endowed with the ability to contract and expand his entire body in exchange for the capability to swim. After some time on the sea, the upstart pirate assembled himself a crew made up of individuals pursuing their own hopes and dreams, and gained great notoriety when they freed the East Blue Sea from other rival pirates.

After the lackluster series of filler episodes that made up the last set, Season three returns its focus to the main story, with the straw hats learning of the existence of an island residing in the sky, known as Skypiea. Unfortunately, their only clue as to how to reach the island is an ancient fable told by an infamous liar. Their travels lead them to the town of Jaya, whereupon they are confronted with some of the most notorious pirates yet, including the malevolent Bellamy and the boastful Black Beard. Their inquiries regarding Skypiea result in Luffy and Zolo taking the full brunt of Bellamy’s cruelty.

Later on, the crew encounters an eccentric group devoted to finding the lost city of gold. As it turns out, the group’s leader, Montblanc Cricket, is the descendant of the notorious liar responsible for the story of Skypiea. While staying with the wizened explorer, the straw hats learn the truth behind Skyiea’s legend and become even more determined to reach it, but not before Bellamy steals Cricket’s gold, prompting another confrontation with an infuriated Luffy.

As previously stated, this round of episodes follows closer to the story laid down by the manga than the last release.  As a result, the series gets back on track in continuing to develop the story, introducing key characters that will play larger roles as the show progresses. The continued search for Skypiea also adds a heightened sense of adventure, as the straw hats actually spend some time before even learning how to reach the fabled island.

Those looking for the famous fights One Piece is notorious for will probably be in for a disappointment, as the series gears up for a new arc, concentrating on developing future plot points. That is not to say that there aren’t a handful of excitingly unique battles, most notably between Luffy and Bellamy, but they are mostly short and sporadic.

This release keeps in line with those that have come before, sporting a marathon play and textless opening and closing songs. The image is presented with a full frame aspect ratio, which is a shame given the epic nature of the show.

One Piece Season Three, First Voyage is a must have for fans of the series. The episodes offered here incorporate all the traits that has made the show a must watch series. Over one hundred episodes in and it’s amazing that the series still manages to deliver a story that is as compelling as it is inventive. As it stands, this is definitely a series worthy of everyone’s attention.

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Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51