One Piece: Episode of Alabasta - The Desert Princess and the Pirates

This takes place during the Alabasta Arc. when the StrawHat Pirates help out Vivi (a valiant princess)save her kingdom from the Baroque Works' conspiracy plot. The Kingdom of Alabasta is a dessert island that hasn't had a drop of rain for 3 years. King Cobra(Vivi's father) tried every he could to help his people and kingdom from falling. After all the unsuccessful promises on rain. Most of the locals and villagers plan to start a war against the kingdom itself. But little do they know is that the whole thing is a setup made possible for them all to kill each other.

Those who seen the Alabasta episodes would be familiar with the whole story and what happens. Only difference is that this movie only shows you the important events and side stories in an edit way.

You might ask what is so great about watching a movie that retells a story we already seen from the TV series. Well I'll tell you why. This movie is an alternate retelling of the Alabasta episodes. When it comes to alternate you see events and small elements that weren't in the TV episodes.

Such as different animation quality since it's a cinema film. The flow of the story is slightly different. The battles are much more massive. The drama has a bit more suspense. The background and locations are richer with the use of CGI. And the fights and visual effects are more complex. All of this makes the whole Alabasta story entirely different from what we've seen before on TV.

Another good reason in seeing this film is those who miss Vivi will get to see her again in this movie. And those who like to see Luffy fight Crocodile will be able to see it again in an entirely different view.

Overrall, Toei Animation did a great job in alternating this story arc. It be a masterpiece if it included more events and characters that were left out. If that happened it be a much longer movie. To all One Piece fans, this movie will be released by Funimation in 2008. Be sure to check it out sub or dub by then.

Another one of these One Piece "movies" or "films" that are more like a condensed version of an arc. But I get why you'd call it a movie or film as opposed to condensed version. Better for marketing. Still I find it a little funny that these are made as a sort of necessity now since this series is so ridiculously long that it doesn't even expects own fans to keep up with it so it makes these films to keep you caught up. But I also thought the purpose of these films were to highlight the important bits minus all the filler. To me the most important bits are the great fight scenes which is (to me) this series saving grace but it even rushed that.

If you haven't seen the series this movie gives a really rushed recap of one of the better arcs of One Piece in my opinion. It introduces Croc who is a great villain/character with a super cool power and also introduces mama Robin who is more than waifs material with an equally cool power and better character.

Everything felt really rushed and focused too much on the cheesy elements of the princess trying to compel her people to choose peace by merely yelling/pleading to them and existing. Then it basically just said, "oh and there were some really cool fights with Zoro, Nami and Luffy but yeah this girl cried for her country and became tattoo buddies with the Straw Hats. Should've shown more of the fights. 5.57/10.

It's merely a synopsis of the Arabasta Arc, which had a fantastic plot and deserves at least a nine on its own. However, numerous amazing moments, such as Ace's cameo and Mizu Mizu Luffy, are missing from the film. A lot of elements were trimmed and rearranged, which diminished some of its brilliance (particularly the crew's fight scenes). It was not a fantastic idea to make the eighth movie a recap of an arc, especially one that was very long and had a lot of content, but since it is a movie, I was expecting some things to be cut and left out. Some find the artwork of One Piece to be distinctive and interesting. Some find it repulsive, believing it to be drawn and unattractive. I rate it an eight since I like it. The film did include some lovely visual effects that enhanced the animation. Characters received tens, and appearances were included. Like Ace's, those pirates that cruise on their boat on the sand, and those turtle-looking guys. It did, of course, include the main characters and everything, and they are all amazing. Since I hadn't seen the Arabasta Arc in a while, this kind of brought back memories of it, which is probably why most One Piece fans would also love it. But as I've already mentioned, it omitted some excellent scenes, and I believe I would have preferred an entirely new film to serve as the eighth film. Just like every other film that came before it, this one deviates from the plot.

This One Piece movie takes place in Alabaster which is a fictional city in the One Piece Anime world. All the usual heroes team up to fight the known Crocodile bandit and many other Pirates. The best part of this is a newer character named Vivi (a princess) who adds much needed emotion to balance out the awesome brutal fight scenes! One Piece is an awesome Anime. It's also very rocky, but it always seems to hang on the cliff and pull it's self back up. That's the verbal message found throughout the film. Which I find kind of funny. It practices what it preaches.

DUB; I have to say I know there were some problems with the English dub on the external level. There were two dubs. One bad, one amazing. When you would watch the T.V. series online for free you had a 50/50 chance of getting one or the other and I have to say it seems like this movie is the bad. Luffy sounds like a stupid little kid who has no power behind his voice but he does pull off the emotion it just seems a tad wimpier than the other dub which brings me to my next point.

ANIMATION: A lot of people are saying the Animation is better. I'm not convinced. I thought there was a lot of crappy CG here, and a lot of still shots which are a sign of cheapness (or making little kid films). But most importantly Luffy seems like he is drawn by the x**-holic artist and he looks more wimpy than I remember. Yet I do want to say the Animation is still very cool overall.

BOTTOM LINE: One Piece teaches us that even though a movie can have a ton of characters and story lines it doesn't necessarily mean it will be confusing, and that despite some obvious flaws it can still be better than a lot of other Anime out there. The emotional depth of the characters made this great. The scenes with Vivi and Luffy are emotionally pummeling and make you feel like you are in the best 90's Disney movie ever. There are no strings left untied, except for one or two which makes you want more.

RATING: During the movie many times I thought this was like a 6 or 7 but One Piece fought it's way to an 8 because it had a lot to say. I would still recommend sticking with the "good dub" in the first season of One Piece. That I believe is more enjoyable. Hopefully in the future One Piece can take some notes from Inu Yasha which is a little less crazy but sucks you in unpretentiously. If it does this One Piece could be one of the best Animes around. But like I said I think the T.V. series does this already so watch that first.

Okay, I, just yesterday, went to my local Wal-Mart to buy One Piece The Movie: The Desert Princess and The Pirates Adventures in Alabasta. Being the One Piece buff I am, it's only natural that I anticipate. I mean, this is the new One Piece movie, right. I got home right after buying it, popped it into my DVD player, and sat down on my couch to watch.

Shortly after pressing play, my ears were greeted by a billowing wisp of air from my television speakers, as well as a beautiful orchestral blare. The movie kept going on like this and it was a truly beautiful thing to see and hear.

The animation has greatly improved from the TV anime. Though it's not on the same level as Miyazaki's critically acclaimed Spirited Away, it doesn't mean it can't startle you now and then.

The voice-overs are expertly done, and will blow you away once you hear them. I especially loved Pell's voice, as it suited the character so perfectly, I nearly jumped up from the couch and shouted, "Yes! Do it again!" The score has been crafted by careful hands here, and expertly comments the mood of each individual scene.

This movie is entertaining and I recommend it to anybody who is a One Piece fan or likes a good action film.

10/10 (Highly Recommended)