One Piece Anime: Time Skip

According to the 2011 Japanese schedule for One Piece, time skip episodes will start airing in October. The Anime spent quite some time during the long Marineford (海軍本部, Marinfōdo) arc (followed by Luffy's past and lament for Ace's death). It's about time Anime fans get to see what's been going on in the New World (新世界, Shinsekai). As the Anime starts off with the regrouping of the Straw Hats, Oda is likely getting ready to finish up the Fishman Island arc in the Manga. This is the beauty of One Piece because unlike Bleach and Naruto Shippuden, the Anime truly makes up for its slow pacing. In other words, it has shown little to no fillers during gaps between arcs.

Many questions, however, have been brought up which have not yet been answered in the Manga:

• Exactly what was in the letter that Buggy received from the World Government (which Mr. 3 also read)?
• Rumored to be a request to join as a Shichibukai (七武海, Shichibukai)
• Rumored to be a request to join as a Yonko (very unlikely)
• When will Big Mom (ビッグ・マム Biggu Mamu?, シャーロット・リンリン, Shārotto Rinrin) make an appearance and on what terms is she protecting Fishman Island (besides the free candy)?
• Big Mom is rumored to be Lola's mother
• How is Blackbeard able to maintain two Devil Fruit abilities when we've been told a person will die if eating more than one Devil Fruit (悪魔の実, Akuma no Mi)?
• He is likely to gain another Devil Fruit ability (As rumors suggested by many fans; especially the Cerberus theory derived from the 3 heads shown in his jolly roger or flag)
• Who will replace Edward Newgate (白ひげ, Shirohige) as the next of the 4 Yonko?

Stay tuned.

Sabo: Dead Or Alive?

Being born a noble, Sabo (サボ) is a character introduced in One Piece after the Marineford arc. Oda decides to take us back to Luffy's past and how the three brothers (Luffy, Ace & Sabo) first met. After the fire erupted at Gray Terminal, a World Noble (天竜人, Celestial Dragon) arrives at Goa as Sabo is shown sailing away from the island. The World Noble shoots a rifle at Sabo's ship, causing a huge explosion. A second shot destroys the ship completely and Sabo's signature hat is shown flying away.

Is Sabo alive or dead? Some fans strongly believe Trafalgar Law (トラファルガー・ロー) is actually Sabo. What about the cover of chapter 596 which shows Ace, Luffy & Sabo (as adults) running from a gorilla? Oda is sure to have something up his sleeve as there is no proof of Sabo's death. Moreover, the appearance of Monkey D. Dragon (モンキー・D・ドラゴン) and the Revolutionary Army in Goa had to have meant something. Who knows? Maybe Sabo is actually a part of the revolutionaries (provided he joined to find the so-called "freedom" he always searched for).

Bleach Manga: Kubo's New Direction

After the battle with Aizen ended, Tite Kubo has added a new twist to the Manga. Instead of uncovering the back-stories of mysterious characters like Isshin Kurosaki (黒崎 一心) and Kenpachi Zaraki (更木 剣八), Kubo has decided to throw in new characters instead. Kugo Ginjo (Ginjō Kūgo, 銀城 空吾) is part of an organization called Xcution in which its members use an ability called Fullbring. Similar to the dolls used by the Bounts (バウント, Baunto) during the longest Bleach filler arc, Fullbring is a new kind of power where an object can be used as a weapon if the user has a "natural liking" to it. Being newly wrapped up in Xcution, Ichigo Kurosaki (黒崎 一護) intends to get his Shinigami powers back by undergoing special training.

Many fans following Bleach Manga seem disappointed in Kubo's new approach, but unexplained secrets and plot holes can't be hidden forever. For starters, the conversation between Isshin Kurosaki (黒崎 一心) and Kisuke Urahara (浦原 喜助) is sure to set off a spark as if they are preparing a new shinigami (Bleach, chapter 448). Many believe it is Karin Kurosaki (黒崎 夏梨), since she has been visiting Urahara's candy store quite often recently. Anyway, let's just count on Kubo to bring back Bleach to where it needs to be soon (provided he does not plan to stall any further). It would be great if he can take us back to the TBTP arc after Urahara's exile.

Bleach fans: stay tuned.