# One Piece season 1

The first season of the One Piece anime series was produced by Toei Animation, and directed by Kounosuke Uda. The season is adapted from the first twelve volumes of the manga by Eiichiro Oda and aired on Fuji Television from October 20, 1999, through March 7, 2001, totaling 61 episodes. The first season depicts the exploits of the pirate captain "Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy and as he gathers his crew and heads to the Grand Line in search of the legendary titular treasure "One Piece" to become the King of the Pirates.
In 2004, 4Kids Entertainment licensed the series for a heavily edited English dubbed broadcast. 4Kids edited the episodes for content, merged one episode and left out 18 episodes, thus reducing the season's episode count to a total of 53 episodes. The series made its U.S. premiere on September 18, 2004, on Fox as part of its FoxBox TV programming block, lasting until July 30, 2005. Funimation Entertainment later licensed the series and released the first season in four unedited and uncut, bilingual-language compilations; the first was released on May 27, 2008, and the last was released on March 31, 2009.
The season uses four pieces of theme music: two opening themes and two ending themes. The first opening theme is the award-winning title "We Are!" (ウィーアー!, Wī Ā!), performed by Hiroshi Kitadani in Japanese and Vic Mignogna in English (Funimation dub; Russell Velazquez initially performed the English version for the 4Kids dub before replacing it with the "Pirate Rap") for the first 47 episodes. The second opening, which was used for the rest of the season, is "Believe" by Folder5 in Japanese and Meredith McCoy in English. The first ending theme, titled "Memories" for the first 30 episodes, and was performed by Maki Otsuki in Japanese and Brina Palencia in English, who also performed the second ending theme song, titled "Run! Run! Run!" in Japanese, for the rest of the season. Caitlin Glass performed the English version of the second ending theme. 4Kids used original music in their adaptation, while Funimation opted for English-language versions of the theme music pieces.

## Episodes

| Orig. | 4Kids | No. in season | 4Kids title Original Japanese & Funimation titles | Directed by | Written by | Rank Rating | Original release date | English air date |
| Romance Dawn |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | "I'm Gonna Be King of the Pirates!" "I'm Luffy! The Man Who's Gonna Be King of the Pirates!" Transliteration: "Ore wa Rufi! Kaizoku Ō ni Naru Otoko Da!" (Japanese: 俺はルフィ!海賊王になる男だ!) | Kōnosuke Uda | Junki Takegami | 6 12.4 | October 20, 1999 (1999-10-20) | September 18, 2004 |
| In the ocean, Alvida and her pirate crew attack a cruise ship. Coby, a slave of Alvida, discovers a barrel. One of Alvida's pirates attempts to open the barrel, but a young boy emerges and accidentally hits him. The remaining pirates attack him, but the stranger stops them and says that his name is Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy drags Coby to the storage cellar of the ship, where he eats and converses with Coby, who reveals his dream of being a marine as Luffy revelas his dream to become the King of the Pirates. Alvida confronts Luffy, but he escapes and knocks her pirate crew down with his Devil Fruit power. Luffy explains that he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, therefore he has the properties of rubber. Coby, inspired by Luffy, stands up for himself when Alvida confronts them. Luffy uses his Gum-Gum Pistol technique on Alvida, defeating and flying to the sea. Luffy and Coby sail away in a "borrowed" boat from Alvida's crew. Luffy asks about the pirate hunter that Coby mentioned earlier. Coby says that he was captured by the Marines, and Luffy announces his intention of asking him to join his crew. |||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 2 | "Roronoa Zoro: Pirate Hunter" "Enter the Great Swordsman! Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!" Transliteration: "Daikengō Arawaru! Kaizokugari Roronoa Zoro" (Japanese: 大剣豪現る!海賊狩りロロノア·ゾロ) | Tetsuji Nakamura | Michiru Shimada | 9 11.7 | November 17, 1999 (1999-11-17) | September 25, 2004 |
| Luffy and Coby arrive at a place with a large Marine base, where Luffy discovers the great swordsman, the "Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro tied to a pole. Rika, a young girl, offers Zoro some rice balls that she made herself. Helmeppo, the son of Marine Captain Morgan, discovers this and has Rika thrown out. Luffy asks Zoro to join his crew, but Zoro refuses and has Luffy give him the rice balls. Luffy and Coby meet Rika in town, who is happy to hear that Zoro enjoyed the rice balls. She tells them how Helmeppo brought his vicious pet dog into their bar and that Zoro knocked it out to protect everyone inside. He then made a deal with Helmeppo: if he can survive being tied to a pole with no food or water for thirty days, then Helmeppo will spare the little girl and her mother. However, Helmeppo says that he will execute Zoro the next day despite his word. Luffy punches him, and Helmeppo runs off to tell his father. While Luffy invades the Navy base to find Zoro's swords, Coby attempts to untie Zoro and explains the situation to him. Morgan orders that they are both to be executed. The soldiers open fire, but before the bullets can reach them, Luffy leaps from the base and uses his rubber body to block the bullets. |||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 3 | "An Unlikely Pair: The Pirate & The Pirate Hunter" "Morgan versus Luffy! Who's the Mysterious Pretty Girl?" Transliteration: "Mōgan tai Rufi! Nazo no Bishōjo wa Dare?" (Japanese: モーガンVSルフィ!謎の美少女は誰?) | Hidehiko Kadota | Michiru Shimada | 7 13.3 | November 24, 1999 (1999-11-24) | October 2, 2004 |
| Luffy hands the three swords to Zoro in exchange for Zoro joining his crew. Luffy and Morgan engage in battle. All of Morgan's attacks miss and Luffy knocks Morgan to the ground. Meanwhile, Helmeppo takes Coby hostage. But Coby declares that he will not stand in the way of Luffy's dream, even if it means death. Luffy strikes Helmeppo, while Zoro takes out Morgan right before he can kill Luffy. As Morgan collapses, the Marines toss their weapons into the air in celebration of their captain's defeat. Later, Luffy, Zoro, and Coby are in the town restaurant with Rika and her mom. Marines step into the restaurant, and as Luffy and Zoro are pirates, they must leave the island immediately. Luffy and Zoro get ready to go, and the head of the Marines asks if Coby is with them. Luffy goes on to explain that Coby spent time aboard Alvida's pirate ship as her slave, and this makes Coby angry as it will ruin his chances of enrolling in the Marines. Coby punches Luffy, in response Luffy beats Coby to near death. The Marines see Coby is not with them, and so order Luffy and Zoro to leave. As they do, Coby asks to join the Marines, and is accepted. Outside, Luffy and Zoro climb into their boat, and as they set sail, the Marines salute them for saving the town, including Coby. Coby vows to meet Luffy again, as a Marine meeting a pirate. |||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | "The Passing Of The Hat" "Luffy's Past! Enter Red-Haired Shanks!" Transliteration: "Rufi no Kako! Akagami no Shankusu Tōjō" (Japanese: ルフィの過去!赤髪のシャンクス登場) | Munehisa Sakai | Junki Takegami | 9 12.9 | December 8, 1999 (1999-12-8) | October 9, 2004 |
| In a flashback, a seven-year-old young Luffy sits in a bar filled with the pirate crew of the "Red-Haired" Shanks, begging him to take him out to sea. But the pirate captain laugh and refuses. A bandit named Higuma enters and orders several barrels of booze. Shanks offers him the last bottle but Higuma smashes it and humiliates Shanks. After the bandit leaves the bar, all of the pirates start to laugh. Luffy gets angry by the crew's laughs that Shanks did not fight back and in a huff eats a purple fruit lying on the bar. Shanks notices this and tries to make Luffy spit it out, but it was too late. an enraged Shanks tells Luffy that he just ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, a Devil Fruit, and now he is a rubber human and won't be able to ever swim again. Later, Luffy gets attacked by Higuma and his bandits. He is about to be killed, when Shanks and his crew arrive and effortlessly defeat Higuma's men. Frightened, Higuma throws down a smoke bomb and makes his escape, taking Luffy with him. He flees out to sea in a boat. There he throws the non-swimmer into the water. As Higuma laughs at Luffy's plight, a Sea King appears behind him and devours him whole. The sea monster then goes for Luffy, but Shanks stops the sea monster as it takes a bite, and with one look, drives the beast away. Luffy clutches Shanks and starts crying, since Shanks's arm was bitten off by the creature. Shanks replies that it is fine, as long as Luffy is safe. As the pirates get ready to leave, Luffy decides he will become a pirate on his own, that he will gather a own crew that will beat Shanks's crew, and that he will become King of the Pirates. Shanks gives his straw hat to Luffy and promises him to return it some day, as a great pirate. Back in the present, Luffy slingshots into the sky to catch a bird. Instead he is caught himself. Zoro, now alone in their boat, tries to keep up, paddling. On his way he picks up three castaways from Buggy the Clown's crew. The bird, carrying Luffy flies over a town, where it is shot down by Buggy's men. Luffy falls down and lands right in front of Nami, who is running away from Buggy's crew for stealing their precious map to the Grand Line. |||||||||
| Orange Town |||||||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | "The Circus Comes To Town" "A Terrifying Mysterious Power! Captain Buggy, the Clown Pirate!" Transliteration: "Kyōfu Nazo no Chikara! Kaizoku Dōke Bagī-senchō!" (Japanese: 恐怖!謎の力·海賊道化バギー船長!) | Junichi Fujise | Junki Takegami | 8 13.5 | December 15, 1999 (1999-12-15) | October 16, 2004 |
| Nami pretends that Luffy is her boss, using the distraction to escape from Buggy's men. After Luffy beats them, she asks him to join her. Then Luffy finds out that she is a navigator, and asks her to join his crew of pirates. But as she hates pirates, she refuses. Then she tricks Luffy into letting himself be tied up and brought to Buggy, where he is locked up in a small cage, while Nami fakes joining Buggy's crew. As proof of loyalty, Buggy demands of Nami to kill Luffy, but she cannot bring herself to do it. As Buggy's pirates attack her, Zoro arrives to save his captain and her. Buggy recognizes Zoro as the pirate hunter and attacks him. Zoro cuts Buggy into pieces. Believing Buggy to be dead, he sheaths his swords and is stabbed in the back by Buggy who reveals he ate the Chop-Chop Fruit and can separate his body and is impervious to being cut. The wound puts Zoro at a disadvantage. He picks up the cage with Luffy inside and the three escape. |||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | "The Beast Breaker" "Desperate Situation! Beast Tamer Mohji vs. Luffy!" Transliteration: "Zettai Zetsumei! Mōjūtsukai Mōji VS Rufi!" (Japanese: 絶体絶命!猛獣使いモージvsルフィ!) | Shigeyasu Yamauchi | Mitsuru Shimada | 1 12.3 | December 29, 1999 (1999-12-29) | October 23, 2004 |
| Still trapped in the cage, Luffy meets a small dog named Chouchou guarding his master's store, despite knowing that his owner is dead. Mohji the Beast Tamer's lion, Ritchie, inadvertently breaks Luffy's cage open, and sends him flying. Chouchou tries to protect the store, but is no match for the much stronger Ritchie, and Mohji burns the store down. Angered by Mohji destroying what the dog finds precious, Luffy mercilessly punches him out. Moved by Luffy's concern for the dog, Nami agrees to work with Luffy for the time being. |||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 7 | "The Desperate Duel" "Epic Showdown! Swordsman Zoro vs. Acrobat Cabaji!" Transliteration: "Sōzetsu Kettō! Kengō Zoro VS Kyokugei no Kabaji!" (Japanese: 壮絶決闘!剣豪ゾロvs曲芸のカバジ!) | Tetsuji Nakamura | Mitsuru Shimada | 1 12.3 | December 29, 1999 (1999-12-29) | October 30, 2004 |
| Enraged by the actions of Buggy's crew, the city's mayor Boodle rushes to fight Buggy himself, but the Straw Hat Pirates come to his rescue, with Luffy knocking him out to prevent him from getting himself killed. Zoro fights Cabaji, despite still being wounded from his previous encounter with Buggy and defeats him. Nami leaves to search for the map to the Grand Line. Luffy begins fighting Buggy, who knows that he can injure Luffy's rubber body by cutting him, and enrages him by damaging his straw hat. |||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 8 | "Who Gets the Last Laugh?" "Who is the Victor? Devil Fruit Power Showdown!" Transliteration: "Shōsha wa Dotchi? Akuma no Mi no Nōryoku Taiketsu!" (Japanese: 勝者はどっち?悪魔の実の能力対決!) | Kōnosuke Uda | Michiru Shimada | 1 12.3 | December 29, 1999 (1999-12-29) | November 6, 2004 |
| Buggy reveals that Shanks accidentally caused him to eat the Devil Fruit he had been planning to sell while they were apprentice pirates on the same ship, preventing him from finding an underwater treasure. Nami manages to steal Buggy's body parts and Luffy sends him flying with Gum-Gum Bazooka. Luffy, Nami and Zoro are forced to flee town as the villagers discover that Luffy knocked out Boodle and that Luffy is a pirate, but Boodle thanks the three as they leave. |||||||||
| Syrup Village |||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | "The Teller of Tales" "The Honorable Liar? Captain Usopp!" Transliteration: "Seigi no Usotsuki? Kyaputen Usoppu" (Japanese: 正義のうそつき?キャプテンウソップ) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 8 11.4 | January 12, 2000 (2000-1-12) | November 13, 2004 |
| When Luffy, Zoro, and Nami land on another island, Usopp appears to greet them, with three children hiding in the bushes. After a failed attempt on Usopp's part to scare the pirates away they talk about Shanks and his marksman Yasopp, Usopp's father. Usopp brings them to a restaurant, where after a meal, he leaves them to head for a mansion outside town. The mansion belongs to the sickly young woman Kaya. She and Klahadore, her butler, talk about Usopp and Klahadore forbids her to see him. Usopp comes anyway and he tells Kaya a story about fighting a giant goldfish with droppings the size of islands. Back at the restaurant, Usopp's small friends, the Usopp Pirates enter in search of their captain. They bring Luffy, Zoro, and Nami to Kaya's mansion, and tell them how Usopp tells Kaya lies to cheer her up since her parents died and she became ill. Luffy decides they should ask her for a ship and as there are bodyguards guarding the gate, he slingshots the whole group over the fence. They crash into the ground near Usopp, and as they get up, Klahadore comes out and calls them intruders. |||||||||
| 10 | 10a | 10 | "The Bluff and the Bluffer" "The Weirdest Guy Ever! Jango the Hypnotist!" Transliteration: "Shijō Saikyō no Hen na Yatsu! Saiminjutsushi Jango" (Japanese: 史上最強の変な奴!催眠術師ジャンゴ) | Munehisa Sakai | Junki Takegami | 9 12.7 | January 19, 2000 (2000-1-19) | November 20, 2004 |
| At Kaya's mansion, Klahadore goes on about how Usopp's father is a filthy pirate, making Usopp livid and punch him in the face. Klahadore continues taunting Usopp, who eventually leaves. Later, Kaya is crying in her room. Klahadore enters to bring her a meal and reminds her of the day he came to the mansion, when he was battered and her father took him in. He then claims that if anything happened to Kaya, he would not forgive himself. The Usopp Pirates, Nami, and Zoro encounter Jango , who claims to be only a passing hypnotist. He then hypnotizes the Usopp Pirates — and accidentally himself — into falling asleep in the middle of the road. Later, by a cliff overlooking the ocean, Luffy and Usopp witness Jango and Klahadore — whose true identity turns out to be that of the infamous pirate Captain Kuro—plotting a raid of the village and a murder of Kaya. Luffy yells at them not to get rid of Kaya, but Jango uses his hypnotism to put Luffy to sleep, causing him to fall off the cliff. He lands on his head and appears to be dead. They do not worry about Usopp knowing, because of his reputation as a liar. |||||||||
| 11 | 10b11a | 11 | "The Bluff and the Bluffer" / "The War at the Shore" "Expose the Plot! Pirate Butler, Captain Kuro!" Transliteration: "Inbō o Abake! Kaizoku Shitsuji Kyaputen Kuro" (Japanese: 陰謀を暴け!海賊執事キャプテンクロ) | Shigeyasu Yamauchi | Junki Takegami | 8 12.1 | January 26, 2000 (2000-1-26) | November 20, 2004 |
| 11 | 10b11a | 11 | "The Bluff and the Bluffer" / "The War at the Shore" "Expose the Plot! Pirate Butler, Captain Kuro!" Transliteration: "Inbō o Abake! Kaizoku Shitsuji Kyaputen Kuro" (Japanese: 陰謀を暴け!海賊執事キャプテンクロ) | Shigeyasu Yamauchi | Junki Takegami | 8 12.1 | January 26, 2000 (2000-1-26) | November 27, 2004 |
| Zoro, Nami, and the Usopp Pirates are still waiting around for Luffy and Usopp. The Usopp Pirates mention how Usopp always goes to the coast. They then spot Usopp running up to them, but he does not respond to any of their questions and runs right past them. Usopp is unable to convince the villagers that pirates are coming and that they have to abandon their homes. Meanwhile, Zoro and the others find Luffy. At Kaya's mansion, Merry shows Kaya the glasses that she got him to buy for Klahadore's third year of being a caretaker. Usopp is unable to convince Kaya of Kuro's assassination attempt and leaves, but gets shot by Merry in the process. Kuro announces his plans to attack the village at dawn. At sunset, Usopp remembers the stories he would tell Kaya, when Luffy and the Usopp Pirates arrive. Usopp tells about Kuro's plan, but then says that he was joking about it. The Usopp pirates abandon him. Nami asks Usopp why he said he made everything up. Usopp replies that it is because he is a liar. He says how he loves the village and wants to protect it, so he will stand against the pirates. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami decide to join him, and so Usopp stands up, declaring that even though he is scared, he will fight. |||||||||
| 12 | 11b | 12 | "The War at the Shore" "Clash with the Black Cat Pirates! The Great Battle on the Slope!" Transliteration: "Gekitotsu! Kuroneko Kaizoku-dan Sakamichi no Daikōbō!" (Japanese: 激突!クロネコ海賊団坂道の大攻防!) | Junichi Fujise | Junki Takegami | 9 13.2 | February 2, 2000 (2000-2-2) | November 27, 2004 |
| Usopp, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami formulate a plan on the slope for when the pirates come. Meanwhile, Kuro breaks the glasses Kaya gave him and injures Merry with his clawed glove. Kuro then steps into Kaya's room, and he holds his blood-stained claw over Kaya's head, remembering the deed he has to commit the following day. By the coast, the Black Cat Pirates's ship approaches Syrup Village. Jango reiterates the plan to his men. Meanwhile, Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, and Nami stand on the slope leading to the village, and have poured a barrel of oil on it to make it slippery. The plan is that when the Black Cat Pirates slip on the oil, the four will spring out and attack them. Dawn breaks, and so the Black Cat Pirates land on the coast, spotting Luffy's boat. At that moment, Luffy and the others are waiting for the pirates as the sun has now risen, and Nami hears the pirates coming from the north. Usopp notes that there is an identical slope at the north end of the village, and they realize they are at the wrong coast. Panicking, Nami then realizes that their ship is located at the north coast, and their treasure will be robbed by the pirates. Luffy and Usopp take off running for the coast. Zoro and Nami start to leave, but Nami slips on the oil and drags Zoro down the slope, stepping on him to climb back up. Zoro is unable to get up the slippery slope, and he slides to the bottom, but eventually uses his swords to pull his way up. At the north coast, Usopp arrives, surprised that Luffy hasn't come yet, who is now lost. The Black Cat Pirates arrive, and Usopp stands up to them, but realizes he can't beat them by himself. He sees the pirates taking the treasure from the Straw Hats's ship, and he says that the treasure belongs to him, and he'll give it to them if they leave. Jango decides to hypnotize Usopp instead, but an enraged Nami arrives in the nick of time and whacks Usopp in the head, knocking him over, refusing to give up her treasure. Usopp then reports that Luffy has not arrived yet, and is probably lost. The Black Cat Pirates then charge, and Usopp stands up to them, but they knock him down swiftly. Usopp struggles to fight them, but there are far too many. He is shocked when they are all sent flying back, and sees that Luffy and Zoro have arrived. Zoro yells at Nami about leaving him there, and Luffy yells at Usopp for not telling him which was north. However, united, the four face off against the invading Black Cat Pirates. |||||||||
| 13 | 12 | 13 | "The Black Cat Pirates" "The Terrifying Duo! Meowban Brothers vs. Zoro!" Transliteration: "Kyōfu no Futarigumi! Nyāban Burazāsu VS Zoro" (Japanese: 恐怖の二人組!ニャーバン兄弟VSゾロ) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 7 14.7 | February 9, 2000 (2000-2-9) | December 4, 2004 |
| Jango kneels beside the fallen pirates and starts to hypnotize them. Once the hypnotism takes effect, the pirates became wild and ravenous, and foaming at their mouths, they charge at the Straw Hats. One pounds down a cliff with his fist. Zoro says that he and Luffy will handle it, but Luffy was also hypnotized, becoming a wild animal himself. Luffy charges down the slope and uses his Gum-Gum Gatling technique to plow through the pirates with ease. Luffy keeps charging, and soon runs past the pirates, causing Jango to fear that he will be the next target. Luffy takes the bow of Kuro's ship in an attempt to kill him, but Jango hypnotizes Luffy, and so Luffy falls asleep, the bow falling on top of him and squishing him as he does this. With Luffy out of the way, Jango prepares for the next attack. Seeing the pirates are defeated, he calls for Siam and Butchie and orders them to attack. They turn out to be cowards, but after some heavy persuasion they charge for Zoro. Zoro blocks their claws with his sword, and engages in a great fight with the two Meowban Brothers. Zoro slashes Siam through the lowersection, but finds out Siam has a very thin waist. He sits on top of Zoro and Buchie leaps down, but Zoro manages to avoid the bone-crushing attack that leaves a crater. Butchie then uses his cat-like abilities to steal Zoro's two swords, and throws them away. Zoro has no chance to grab them and faces another assault by the Nyaban Brothers. Usopp decides to help and fires at the brothers, but Zoro blocks it with his back, yelling at Nami and Usopp to not get themselves killed. Nami then runs for Zoro's swords, picking them up, but Jango reacts swiftly and slashes her in the shoulder with his chakram. Just as Jango and the others are about to kill the Straw Hats, Kuro appears, enraged that his plan has complety foiled. |||||||||
| 14 | 13 | 14 | "Good Pirates vs. Bad Pirates" "Luffy Back in Action! Miss Kaya's Desperate Resistance!" Transliteration: "Rufi Fukkatsu! Kaya-ojōsama no Kesshi no Teikō" (Japanese: ルフィ復活!カヤお嬢様の決死の抵抗) | Yukio Kaizawa | Junki Takegami | 10 12.8 | February 16, 2000 (2000-2-16) | December 11, 2004 |
| The episode begins with Kuro standing impatiently. Siam and Butchie decide that Kuro, having been inactive for three years, has lost his edge, and that they can defeat him. They charge at Kuro but only swing at thin air, and Kuro appears behind them, holding his claws to their necks. He says that everyone has five minutes to finish their job, or he will kill them all. He releases the Meowban Brothers, pushing them so that they can continue their battle with Zoro. However, Nami sees her chance and kicks Zoro's swords through the air. Zoro catches them, and as the Meowban Brothers charge at him he unleashes a great Toragiri, taking both of them down with one mighty swing. He turns to Kuro and declares he won't even need five minutes. Nami realizes how dangerous Kuro is, and so runs to wake up Luffy. As she runs, Jango spots her, and hurls a chakram at her. Nami turns and steps on Luffy's face, waking up Luffy abruptly. He springs up, pulling Nami down just as the chakram strikes him right in the mouth. Luffy stays standing, though, and he breaks the chakram with his teeth. He then sees Nami is wounded, and furious, prepares for battle with Kuro. At the mansion, Kaya wakes up from a nightmare, and she heads down the stairs to find Merry leaning against the wall, bloody and wounded. Merry explains the whole situation to Kaya, how Kuro is planning to kill her and take her money in a will. Kaya realizes that Usopp was telling the truth the entire time, and so she puts on her overcoat and sets out. She arrives at the top of the slope, and tells Kuro to stop immediately, and that Merry told her everything. Kuro turns to her and wonders why Merry isn't dead, and Kaya sees the state Usopp is in. Usopp charges in and aims a punch at Kuro's face, but Kuro avoids the swing and so Usopp careens into the ground. Kaya then pulls out a gun and points it at Kuro, ordering him to leave the village. Kuro reminds Kaya of the fun times they had together, and Kaya hesitates. Kuro takes the gun from Kaya's hands, knowing she won't shoot, and he drops it to the ground. Usopp picks up the gun and fires at Kuro, but Kuro sidesteps the shot and knocks Usopp down. From out of nowhere flies Luffy's fist, striking Kuro in the face. As Kuro falls back, Luffy retracts his Gum-Gum Pistol and declares that he has a hundred more where that came from. |||||||||
| 15 | 14 | 15 | "The Purr-fect plan" "Beat Kuro! Usopp the Man's Tearful Resolve!" Transliteration: "Kuro o Taose! Otoko Usoppu Namida no Ketsui!" (Japanese: クロを倒せ!男ウソップ涙の決意!) | Kōnosuke Uda | Junki Takegami | 6 14.4 | February 23, 2000 (2000-2-23) | December 18, 2004 |
| Siam and Buchie (of the Meowban Brothers) face off once again against Zoro, as Luffy and Kuro begin their fight. Usopp orders the Usopp Pirates to run away with Kaya and keep her safe, but Jango goes after them, and Zoro goes after both while carrying Usopp in order to find the way. A flashback reveals that Captain Kuro faked his death by hypnotizing one of his men into claiming to be him, and hypnotizing Captain Morgan to think that he caught him, before becoming Kaya's butler. |||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 16 | "The Long Arm of the Claw" "Protect Kaya! The Usopp Pirates' Great Efforts!" Transliteration: "Kaya o Mamore! Usoppu Kaizoku-dan dai Katsuyaku!" (Japanese: カヤを守れ!ウソップ海賊団大活躍!) | Munehisa Sakai | Junki Takegami | 8 13.9 | March 1, 2000 (2000-3-1) | January 8, 2005 |
| The episode begins with the Usopp Pirates and Kaya running from Jango through the forest. Jango hurls his chakram and cuts down many trees, searching everywhere for them, and Kaya falls down. She tells the Usopp Pirates to run before they are killed, but they stay and fight, deciding to follow their captain's orders and fight to the death for Kaya. Back at the slope, Kuro claims that he hated being a pirate. Luffy refuses to be like him and Kuro uses his Silent Step to move quickly. Luffy gets the timing right, however, and pounds Kuro down. Kuro gets back up and announces that he is going to kill his entire crew, and that it was part of his plan from the beginning. Luffy claims that Usopp could beat Kuro. Kuro laughs it off and uses Shakushi, causing him to disappear. As Luffy wonders where he went, Nami finishes up looting the Black Cat pirate ship, disappointed by the amount of treasure. She then wonders if the battle is over, but sees that Kuro slashes through several of his crewmates, taking them down quicker than the naked eye can see. Luffy gets even more angry, but just after Kuro slashes him in the chest, he grabs Kuro's arm and slams him onto the ground. Kuro stands up and says that now his crew is suffering because Luffy wouldn't let them die quickly, and so Kuro uses Shakushi once again to disappear. In the forest, at that moment, Jango continues searching for the Usopp Pirates, and they toss him a white flag. Jango walks forward and so the Usopp Pirates launch their ambush. Jango trips over a rope and one of the Usopp Pirates showers him with pepper, making him sneeze. The second jumps out and strikes Jango in the groin with a frying pan. The third leaps down from a large rock and takes a swing at Jango's head, but Jango sits up in time and knocks his attacker away. Kaya then comes out, telling Jango not to hurt the kids, but Jango reports that it was his orders from Kuro to kill the children. Kaya then grabs Jango's chakram and holds it in front of her throat, threatening to kill herself without writing the will. Jango agrees, and so he gets Kaya to write the will. Once finished, he grabs her by the neck and holds her against a tree, holding up a chakram to kill her. Zoro is still running through the woods with Usopp on his back, and Usopp spots Jango. Kuro slices up the rocks, followed by cutting up Luffy's left shoulder as he glances in anger as the episode ends. |||||||||
| 17 | 16 | 17 | "The Cat's Ninth Life" "Anger Explosion! Kuro vs. Luffy! How it Ends!" Transliteration: "Ikari Bakuhatsu! Kuro vs Rufi Ketchaku no Yukue!" (Japanese: 怒り爆発!クロVSルフィ決着の行方!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 9 14.1 | March 8, 2000 (2000-3-8) | January 15, 2005 |
| Kuro's ultimate attack, "Shakushi", attacks everything in the area, whether friend or foe, and Luffy becomes enraged by his lack of regard for his crew. Luffy manages to catch Kuro by binding his limbs and headbutts him with Gum-Gum Bell, while Usopp shoots Jango with an Exploding Star, saving Kaya. Usopp convinces Kaya and the Usopp pirates to keep the incident a secret in order to enable the village to stay peaceful. Kaya gives the Straw Hats the Going Merry as a gift, and Luffy invites Usopp into the crew, having befriended him. |||||||||
| 18 | 17 | 18 | "The Scrub in the Shrub" "You're the Weird Creature! Gaimon and His Strange Friends!" Transliteration: "Anta ga Chinjū! Gaimon to Kimyō na Nakama" (Japanese: あんたが珍獣!ガイモンと奇妙な仲間) | Junichi Fujise | Michiru Shimada | 9 12.0 | March 15, 2000 (2000-3-15) | January 22, 2005 |
| The episode opens with Usopp pretending he is in a great battle as captain of the Going Merry, fending off attacking pirates. As he is doing so, Luffy announces that he has finished the pirate flag for their ship, and holds it up. It's a terribly drawn skull and crossbones, of course. The others are horrified of the artwork, and so Usopp tells them that he is a great painter. He paints a pirate flag with his own face on it, but the others reject it so he paints a proper pirate flag, a very nice one at that. They fly it on the mast and continue to sail. As they are sailing, Nami spots an island in the distance with her telescope, saying it is Legendary Treasure Island. Usopp says how he heard that there is a valuable treasure on the island, but if one tries to claim it they will face God's wrath. As the Straw Hats draw nearer to the island, the weather turns foul and the waters very choppy. After a tough sail they make it to the island. The Straw Hats head into the jungle, looking for treasure. Zoro lies down and starts to nap, and as Usopp is shocked at how he can sleep in a creepy place like this, the Straw Hats find themselves surrounded by strange animals, creatures that are combinations of two or more animals. A voice booms through the jungle, claiming to be the Guardian God of the island and telling them to leave. Luffy picks up a lion pig that bites him on the face. The voice is shocked and Luffy explains he ate the Devil's Fruit. A gun then pokes out through a bush and shoots Luffy in the back, but Luffy bounces the bullet into the air with his Gum-Gum powers. Luffy then spots a twitching green bush, and the owner of the voice takes off running. Luffy, Usopp, and Nami catch up to the man in the treasure chest, named Gaimon. Luffy explains to him how he wants to go to the Grand Line and claim One Piece to become the King of the Pirates, but Gaimon doesn't think he can do it. Luffy and Gaimon converse about how they can't read a map, and Nami is angered by this. Gaimon then explains how he became trapped in the treasure box as Zoro finally joins them. He explains that twenty years ago, he was with his crew in search of the treasure, and as they were leaving, he noticed how the captain never searched on top of a large cliff. Gaimon scaled the cliff but slipped and fell, getting stuck in a treasure box. He found that his crew had left, and he thought he would have the treasure on the ridge to himself, but found he could not climb in the box. When Luffy tries to pull Gaimon out of the box, he explains that his body grew to match the shape of the box, and his body will be ruined if the box is broken. Luffy then realizes that Gaimon uses the strange animals of the island to ward off visitors. Inspired by Gaimon's story, the Straw Hats decide to help Gaimon find the treasure. They come to the ridge and Luffy uses Gum-Gum Rocket to launch himself up to the top, where there are five treasure chests. He refuses to hand them over to Gaimon, and while this shocks and angers Nami and Usopp, Gaimon realizes that the treasure boxes must be empty. Luffy confirms this, and so Gaimon begins to cry, saying that he's been guarding nothing for twenty years. Luffy says it could be worse, as he could have died guarding nothing, and he offers Gaimon to join their crew. Gaimon decides to stay with the strange animals of the island, however, as he has decided to protect them instead of the treasure. With this adventure behind them, the Straw Hats set sail in the Going Merry once again, waving goodbye to Gaimon as the episode draws to a close. |||||||||
| Baratie |||||||||
| 19 | 18 | 19 | "Zoro's Pledge" "The Three-Sword Style's Past! Zoro and Kuina's Vow!" Transliteration: "Santōryū no Kako! Zoro to Kuina no Chikai!" (Japanese: 三刀流の過去!ゾロとくいなの誓い!) | Kōnosuke Uda | Junki Takegami | 4 14.3 | March 22, 2000 (2000-3-22) | January 29, 2005 |
| While Usopp & Luffy fool around with the ship's cannon one day, Zoro dreams about his childhood. He had joined a dojo after losing to the teacher's daughter, Kuina. Despite training and growing stronger, he still was unable to defeat her. When she told him that he would one day defeat her as she grew weaker, Zoro grew upset over her defeatist attitude, and made her promise that one of them would be the world's greatest swordsman. She died soon afterward, and Zoro surpassing Kuina's death dedicated himself to fulfilling the promise. Back in the present, a bounty hunter attacks the ship, but Zoro recognizes him. |||||||||
| 20 | 19 | 20 | "King of the Busboys" "Famous Cook! Sanji of the Sea Restaurant!" Transliteration: "Meibutsu Kokku! Kaijō Resutoran no Sanji" (Japanese: 名物コック!海上レストランのサンジ) | Yukio Kaizawa | Junki Takegami | 3 15.0 | April 12, 2000 (2000-4-12) | February 5, 2005 |
| After a review of the ending of the previous episode, the episode begins with Marine Lieutenant Iron Fist Fullbody pouring a drink to a beautiful lady on his marine ship and saying how he is taking her to the greatest restaurant in the world. The lady then questions if the restaurant is in the middle of the ocean, which Fullbody answers by telling her to just look forward to it. In the meantime, on the Going Merry, Zoro recognizes the intruder who got beat up by Luffy from the last episode as Johnny. Johnny then brings the straw hat pirates' attention to Yosaku, who lies ill on his and Johnny's small ship. Turns out that Johnny, Yosaku, and Zoro used to be bounty hunter partners some time ago. Johnny then proceeds to tell the straw hat pirates that he took Yosaku to a small rock island to rest, which was coincidentally blown up by Usopp and Luffy for target practice in the last episode. Usopp and Luffy quickly apologize. Johnny, however, was more worried about Yosaku's condition, which Nami quickly diagnosed as scurvy caused by a lack of Vitamin C. Luffy and Usopp then shove a bunch of lemons into Yosaku's mouth and Yosaku is revived!... or at least for 5 minutes. The straw hat pirates conclude that they need a cook for their potential nutritional problems. Johnny points out that they probably can find a good candidate in the floating sea restaurant known as Baratie. He also states that the one Zoro has been looking, the world's greatest swordsman Dracule Mihawk, is near there too. Thus they head to Baratie, which actually is pretty much right next to where they were. They are then passed by Fullbody's marine ship. Fullbody doesn't recognize the straw hat pirates mark, but he recognizes Johnny and Yosaku as worthless pirate hunters. Johnny responds by shouting "this is what pirate hunters do" while throwing a bunch of wanted posters in the air. Nami takes note of the Arlong poster with an angry look and crumbles the poster in her hands. Fullbody then orders his crew to sink the pirate ship. Luffy attempts to deflect the cannon but after losing his grip accidentally deflects it to the head chief's room in Baratie, where the head chief was subsequently injured and demands that Luffy work off his crime by working for the restaurant for one year. In Baratie, while attempting to impress his girlfriend, Fullbody instead becomes humiliated by Sanji's witty remarks. Turns out that Sanji is actually the Assistant Head Chef. Frustrated, Fullbody destroys his table full of food. Sanji, who is angry that Fullbody wasted precious food, beats Fullbody up. |||||||||
| 21 | 20 | 21 | "Respecting Sanji" "Unwelcome Customer! Sanji's Food and Ghin's Debt!" Transliteration: "Manekarezaru Kyaku! Sanji no Meshi to Gin no On" (Japanese: 招かれざる客!サンジの飯とギンの恩) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 3 15.0 | April 12, 2000 (2000-4-12) | February 12, 2005 |
| After a review of the last episode, the episode begins with Patty, a cook for Baratie, picking his nose in the bathroom while making a monologue about how serving the customers who have money is the number one concern for a restaurant. Upon leaving the bathroom, Patty becomes furious when he sees that Sanji is beating up Fullbody, who is a customer. Sanji replies that customer or not, Fullbody insulted a chef and his food. At this moment, the head chef and Luffy come crashing down from the ceiling because the head chef was kicking Luffy too hard while trying to convince him that he has to work at Baratie for a whole year to pay off his debt. The head chef then kicks Sanji to calm him down and also kicks Fullbody out of the restaurant. Fullbody's subordinate then comes running into the restaurant yelling that their prisoner, a member of Don Krieg's pirates, has escaped. The customers are terrified because Don Krieg is supposedly the strongest pirate in East Blue. The pirate shoots the marine from behind and comes in to order food. Patty recognizes the pirate as a customer and asks if the pirate has any money on him. The pirate points a gun at Patty and says "is a bullet okay?" Patty then beats the pirate up and doesn't recognize the pirate as a customer since he has no money. Sanji, on the other hand, heads to the kitchen and starts making a meal. Fullbody in the meantime, leaves the restaurant sneakily (along with the subordinate who got shot earlier, guess he is still alive). Sanji brings his meal to the pirate, who was thrown out by Patty. Sanji states that, for him, a customer is anybody who is hungry. He also states that he understands the feeling of starvation more than anybody else. The pirate then grabs the meal and gobbles it up, while crying and saying that this is the most delicious dish he has ever had in his entire life. Luffy, who was watching the whole thing, attempts to recruit Sanji as the cook for his crew. After refusing and some conversing, we find out that the head chef used to be a notorious pirate and the restaurant often comes into conflict with other pirates after his fame. Luffy, as always, is stubborn and insists that Sanji joins them. We also find out that the other pirate's name is Gin. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, we learn that Don Krieg is the captain of a fleet of 50 ships. Gin thanks Sanji for the meal and leaves. Sanji throws the dishes into the ocean to get rid of the evidence that Sanji is giving out food for free, which makes Gin even more grateful. Luffy is then sent back to work, where he ends up breaking even more dishes and makes a big commotion in the kitchen. The rest of the crew, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp, turn out to be eating a meal at the restaurant. Sanji, after seeing Nami, is captivated by her beauty. While flirting with Nami, the head chef tells Sanji that he's annoying and that he doesn't need him anymore. Meanwhile, Gin informs Don Krieg of the restaurant, where Don Krieg makes clear his intention to "visit" the restaurant. |||||||||
| 22 | 21 | 22 | "Recipe for Disaster" "The Strongest Pirate Fleet! Commodore Don Krieg!" Transliteration: "Saikyō no Kaizoku Kantai! Teitoku Don Kurīku" (Japanese: 最強の海賊艦隊!提督ドン·クリーク) | Yukio Kaizawa | Junki Takegami | 8 12.2 | April 26, 2000 (2000-4-26) | February 19, 2005 |
| Ghin returns to the Baratie with his captain, Don Krieg, on a nearly destroyed ship, and begs the cooks to feed him. Sanji feeds him again, despite knowing that he is evil but Krieg betrays him and demands 100 meals for his men, as well as the restaurant ship. The cooks oppose Sanji, but Zeff agrees to prepare the food. |||||||||
| 23 | 22 | 23 | "The Red Footed Pirate" "Protect Baratie! The Great Pirate, Red Foot Zeff!" Transliteration: "Mamore Baratie! Dai Kaizoku – Akaashi no Zefu" (Japanese: 守れバラティエ!大海賊·赫足のゼフ) | Munehisa Sakai | Junki Takegami | — | May 3, 2000 (2000-5-3) | February 26, 2005 |
| It is revealed that Chef Zeff was a great pirate known as "Red Foot" Zeff who sailed in the Grand Line, but lost his leg at some point. Ghin explains the catastrophe the fleet met in Grand Line when they encountered "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk, who destroyed all but one of their ships. Krieg feeds his men and is about to begin to attack the Baratie when Mihawk, having followed Krieg and his men, destroys Krieg's ship. Things are more dire when Luffy, Zoro and Usopp learn from Johnny and Yosaku that Nami stole the Going Merry and has escape. |||||||||
| 24 | 23 | 24 | "The Better Swordsman" "Hawk-Eye Mihawk! The Great Swordsman Zoro Falls At Sea!" Transliteration: "Taka no Me no Mihōku! Kengō Zoro Umi ni Chiru" (Japanese: 鷹の目のミホーク!剣豪ゾロ海に散る) | Hidehiko Kadota | Mitsuri Shimada | 8 11.9 | May 10, 2000 (2000-5-10) | March 5, 2005 |
| As Nami steals the Going Merry and escape, Mihawk has returned to finish the job, but Zoro challenges him to a duel in order to achieve his dream of being the world's greatest swordsman. Despite his best efforts, Zoro is easily outclassed by Mihawk and loses. Seeing potential in the young swordsman, Mihawk tells Zoro he has much to learn and will hold the title as the world's greatest swordsman until they duel again. Following his defeat, Zoro apologizes to Luffy for disappointing him and swears that until the day he defeats Mihawk, he will never lose another duel again. Luffy aceppt the promise and sends Zoro, Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku ahead to follow Nami so that he can defeat Krieg to pay his debt to the Baratie. |||||||||
| 25 | 24 | 25 | "Pearl Jam" "The Deadly Foot Technique Bursts Forth! Sanji vs. The Invincible Pearl!" Transliteration: "Hissatsu Ashiwaza Sakuretsu! Sanji vs Teppeki no Pāru" (Japanese: 必殺足技炸裂!サンジVS鉄壁のパール) | Yuji Endo | Mitsuri Shimada | 5 13.7 | May 17, 2000 (2000-5-17) | March 12, 2005 |
| Mihawk leaves after defeating Zoro, so Krieg continues his invasion. He has Pearl, one of his stronger crewmates, attack, and Sanji reveals his fighting skills with his kicking-based fighting style, gaining the upper hand on Pearl, but Ghin takes Zeff hostage. |||||||||
| 26 | 25 | 26 | "Stranded" "Zeff and Sanji's Dream! The Illusory All Blue!" Transliteration: "Zefu to Sanji no Yume Maboroshi no Ōruburū" (Japanese: ゼフとサンジの夢·幻のオールブルー) | Mitsuru Shimada | Munehisa Sakai | 7 13.1 | May 24, 2000 (2000-5-24) | March 19, 2005 |
| With Zeff held captive by Ghin, Sanji has no choice but to take Pearl's hits. He reveals that he worked on a cruise ship that Zeff attacked, and when a storm hit, the two were the only survivors. Zeff sacrificed his leg to save Sanji and gave Sanji food, as both shared the same dream of finding the legendary ocean, All Blue (supposedly the only place in the world all four seas (North, South, East and West) meet and where the seas' respective aquatic species also meet). No longer able to fight with his legs and be a pirate, Zeff founded the Baratie. Sanji reveals that he will defend the Baratie with his life, and an enraged Luffy responds by attacking the ship's porch with Gum-Gum Axe. |||||||||
| 27 | 26 | 27 | "Here We Go A Ghin" "Cool-headed, Cold-hearted Demon! Pirate Fleet Chief Commander Ghin!" Transliteration: "Reitetsu Hijō no Kijin Kaizoku Kantai Sōchō Gin" (Japanese: 冷徹非情の鬼人·海賊艦隊総隊長ギン) | Kōnosuke Uda | Junki Takegami | 3 14.2 | May 31, 2000 (2000-5-31) | March 26, 2005 |
| Ghin finishes off Pearl, claiming that he wants to kill Sanji himself. A lengthy battle ensues but Ghin eventually gains the upper hand after Sanji breaks his ribs. Ghin, however, comes to terms with himself, realizing he does not have the strength to kill the man who saved him from malnutrition. He then begs Krieg to leave the Baratie alone but Krieg is just disgusted with this show of emotion. Because of this, Ghin is no longer a member of the Krieg pirates and Krieg decides to have him executed. He then pulls off one of his shoulder pads, attaches it to his hand and it turns into a launcher for one of his deadliest weapons, the MH5 Poison Gas Bomb. Even Ghin and the Krieg pirates are shocked at this length of execution and are quick to put on their masks (except Ghin who throws his in the water). The Baratie chefs swim away while Patty and Carne run inside with Zeff and Luffy attempts to make a beeline for Krieg but is thrown back by the Needle Gun concealed in the launcher shoulder pad. Krieg fires the MH5 while Luffy steals two masks from two Krieg pirates and throws them to Sanji and Ghin. He turns round to get another for himself but the pirates have vanished to the sea and he enters in panic. Out of nowhere, a gas mask lands in Luffy's lap and he puts it on, just as the MH5 impacts and explodes. |||||||||
| 28 | 27 | 28 | "Blitz Krieg" "I Won't Die! Fierce Battle! Luffy vs. Krieg!" Transliteration: "Shinanee yo! Gekitō Rufi vs Kurīku!" (Japanese: 死なねェよ!激闘ルフィVSクリーク!) | Junji Shimizu | Junki Takegami | 9 12.1 | June 7, 2000 (2000-6-7) | April 2, 2005 |
| It is revealed that the mask Luffy was wearing was Ghin's while he held Sanji's to his face. Krieg succeeds in poisoning Ghin and Patty and Carne pull him inside the Baratie to administer first aid. Outraged once again, Luffy runs for Krieg who pulls out his Needle Gun again but they don't even hinder Luffy as he prepeares his Gum-Gum Pistol. Krieg pulls out his spiked Porcupine Cape and covers himself but Luffy punches right into Don Krieg in the face. Luffy seems to have the advantage in the fight until Krieg pulls out his explosive Battle Spear. |||||||||
| 29 | 28 | 29 | "The Crack of Don" "The Conclusion of the Deadly Battle! A Spear of Blind Determination!" Transliteration: "Shitō no Ketchaku! Hara ni Kukutta Ippon no Yari!" (Japanese: 決闘の決着!腹にくくった1本の槍!) | Junichi Fujise | Junki Takegami | 10 10.6 | June 21, 2000 (2000-6-21) | April 9, 2005 |
| Even after taking several hits from the Krieg's Battle Spear, Luffy refuses to give up and die. |||||||||
| 30 | 29 | 30 | "New Crew" "Set Sail! The Seafaring Cook Sets off With Luffy!" Transliteration: "Tabidachi! Umi no Kokku wa Rufi to Tomo Ni" (Japanese: 旅立ち!海のコックはルフィとともに) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 6 13.2 | June 28, 2000 (2000-6-28) | April 16, 2005 |
| After the deadly battle ends in Luffy's favor, Ghin decides to go back to the Grand Line with an unconsions Krieg despite still being poisoned, and Sanji makes the difficult decision on whether to stay or to go with Luffy just as Yosaku comes back with news that he knows where Nami is. |||||||||
| Arlong Park |||||||||
| 31 | 30 | 31 | "The Mermen" "The Worst Man in the Eastern Seas! Fishman Pirate Arlong!" Transliteration: "Higashi no Umi Saiaku no Otoko! Gyojin Kaizoku Āron!" (Japanese: 東の海最悪の男!魚人海賊アーロン!) | Yuji Endo | Michiru Shimada | 8 11.5 | July 12, 2000 (2000-7-12) | April 23, 2005 |
| The crew chases after Nami, who stole their ship, and Yosaku takes time during the trip to explain about Arlong and his Fishmen to Luffy and Sanji. Meanwhile, Usopp, Johnny, and Zoro arrive at the island Nami docked at. |||||||||
| 32 | 31 | 32 | "The Thief With a Heart of Gold" "Witch of Cocoyashi Village! Arlong's Female Leader!" Transliteration: "Kokoyashi Mura no Majo! Āron no On'nakanbu" (Japanese: ココヤシ村の魔女!アーロンの女幹部) | Munehisa Sakai | Michiru Shimada | 2 13.1 | July 19, 2000 (2000-7-19) | April 30, 2005 |
| Zoro is captured by the fishmen after Usopp and Johnny ditch him, and it's revealed that Nami was part of Arlong's crew the entire time. When a group of Fishmen attack Cocoyashi Village, Usopp comes to the rescue. |||||||||
| 33 | 32 | 33 | "The Marked Marksman" "Usopp Dead?! When is Luffy Going to Make Landfall?!" Transliteration: "Usoppu Shisu? Rufi Jōriku wa Mada?" (Japanese: ウソップ死す!?ルフィ上陸はまだ?) | Yukio Kaizawa | Michiru Shimada | 2 13.1 | July 19, 2000 (2000-7-19) | May 7, 2005 |
| After Zoro escapes with Nami's help, she tries to prove her loyalty to the Arlong Pirates by appearing to kill Usopp. Meanwhile, Luffy's group finally arrives at the island. |||||||||
| 34 | 33 | 34 | "It Takes A Thief" "Everyone's Gathered! Usopp Speaks the Truth About Nami!" Transliteration: "Zen'in Shūketsu! Usoppu ga Kataru Nami no Shinjitsu" (Japanese: 全員集結!ウソップが語るナミの真実) | Junji Shimizu | Michiru Shimada | 5 12.7 | July 26, 2000 (2000-7-26) | May 14, 2005 |
| Johnny tells the others about Nami killing Usopp, and an angry Luffy doesn't believe them until Nami appears herself and confirms it. She tells them to stay out of her business and leave without her, but Luffy stubbornly decides to stay on the island. Usopp returns, revealing that Nami only pretended to kill him, and Nami's older sister, Nojiko, starts to explain why Nami is acting the way she is. |||||||||
| 35 | 34a | 35 | "The Belle of the Brawl" "Untold Past! Female Warrior Bellemere!" Transliteration: "Himerareta Kako! On'nasenshi Berumēru!" (Japanese: 秘められた過去!女戦士ベルメール!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Michiru Shimada | 6 11.5 | August 2, 2000 (2000-8-2) | May 21, 2005 |
| Nojiko starts her story about Nami's childhood and their adopted mother, Bellemere, a former Marine. After a bloody battle in a small village between pirates and Marines that left her the only apparent survivor from both sides, Bellemere finds a toddler Nojiko holding an infant Nami. Taking the girls back to her home Cocoyashi, Bellemere decides to adopt Nami and Nojiko as his daughters. Despite being poor and none of them being related by blood, they had a happy life. It is shown that as a child Nami was a prodigy in cartography (the study and making of maps and charts) and navigation. |||||||||
| 36 | 34b | 36 | "The Belle of the Brawl" "Survive! Mother Bellemere and Nami's Bond!" Transliteration: "Ikinuke! Haha Berumēru to Nami no Kizuna!" (Japanese: 生き抜け!母ベルメールとナミの絆!) | Kōnosuke Uda | Michiru Shimada | 5 12.2 | August 9, 2000 (2000-8-9) | May 21, 2005 |
| Nojiko continues her story, explaining how their life was ruined when the Arlong Pirates first took over the village. Arlong forces the villagers to pay him in tribute or be killed (100,000 berries per adult and 50,000 per child). When the Fishmen arrive at Bellemere's house, she tries to fight back but is easily subdued. Having only 100,000 berries, Bellemere uses it to save Nami and Nojiko, which results in Arlong killing her. Seeing a map skillfully drawn by Nami, Arlong kidnaps her and shanghaies her into joining the Arlong Pirates to make maps and charts for them. Arlong does make a deal with Nami: if she can gather 100,000,000 berries for him, Arlong will free Cocoyashi Village. It is shown that for the last eight years Nami has stolen countless amounts of money from other pirates, thus explaining why she stole the Going Merry from the Straw Hats. |||||||||
| 37 | 35 | 37 | "You Dirty Rat!" "Luffy Rises! Result of the Broken Promise!" Transliteration: "Rufi Tatsu! Uragirareta Yakusoku no Ketsumatsu!" (Japanese: ルフィ立つ!裏切られた約束の結末) | Junichi Fujise | Michiru Shimada | 5 11.4 | August 16, 2000 (2000-8-16) | May 28, 2005 |
| When a marine officer under Arlong's pay confiscates all the money Nami stole over the years, in order to one day buy the village from Arlong, the villagers decide that enough is enough and fight back, despite Nami's pleads. Despite knowing they'll be killed, the villagers rush to Arlong Park. Upon seeing Nami's sorrow, the Straw Hats head for Arlong Park but not before Luffy put his straw hat on Nami's head. |||||||||
| 38 | 36 | 38 | "War of the Species" "Luffy in Big Trouble! Fishmen vs. the Luffy Pirates!" Transliteration: "Rufi Dai Pinchi! Gyojin vs Rufi Kaizoku-dan" (Japanese: ルフィ大ピンチ!魚人VSルフィ海賊団) | Yuji Endo | Michiru Shimada | 3 13.6 | August 23, 2000 (2000-8-23) | June 4, 2005 |
| The Straw Hats face the Fishmen themselves as the villagers watch from the sidelines. However, after using a new move to take out the Fishmen's sea king Momoo, Luffy gets his feet stuck into the ground. |||||||||
| 39 | 37a | 39 | "Arms Against Arms" "Luffy Submerged! Zoro vs. Hatchan the Octopus!" Transliteration: "Rufi Suibotsu! Zoro vs Tako no Hatchan" (Japanese: ルフィ水没!ゾロVSタコのはっちゃん) | Junji Shimizu | Michiru Shimada | 5 14.4 | August 30, 2000 (2000-8-30) | June 11, 2005 |
| Arlong has trapped Luffy in the ocean and Zoro faces the six-sword–wielding octopus Hatchan. Using Johnny and Yosaku's swords and fighting through his injuries, Zoro is able to defeat Hatchan. |||||||||
| 40 | 37b38a | 40 | "Arms Against Arms" / "The Comeback Kid" "Proud Warriors! Sanji and Usopp's Fierce Battles!" Transliteration: "Hokori Takaki Senshi! Gekitō Sanji to Usoppu" (Japanese: 誇り高き戦士!激闘サンジとウソップ) | Yoko Ikeda | Michiru Shimada | 8 13.6 | September 6, 2000 (2000-9-6) | June 11, 2005 |
| 40 | 37b38a | 40 | "Arms Against Arms" / "The Comeback Kid" "Proud Warriors! Sanji and Usopp's Fierce Battles!" Transliteration: "Hokori Takaki Senshi! Gekitō Sanji to Usoppu" (Japanese: 誇り高き戦士!激闘サンジとウソップ) | Yoko Ikeda | Michiru Shimada | 8 13.6 | September 6, 2000 (2000-9-6) | June 18, 2005 |
| With Hatchan defeated, two of the fishmen battle Sanji and Usopp. Things look grim for Sanji as he attempts to face Kuroobi underwater, and Usopp gets the chance to prove that he too is a brave warrior by facing Chew. |||||||||
| 41 | 38b | 41 | "The Comeback Kid" "Luffy at Full Power! Nami's Determination and the Straw Hat!" Transliteration: "Rufi Zenkai! Nami no Ketsui to Mugiwara Bōshi" (Japanese: ルフィ全開!ナミの決意と麦わら帽子) | Munehisa Sakai | Michiru Shimada | 4 13.6 | September 13, 2000 (2000-9-13) | June 18, 2005 |
| Arlong's officers have been defeated, but Sanji and Zoro prove to be no match for Arlong in their current state. However, with Luffy finally free and recovered, he just may be able to defeat the "most wicked man in the East Blue". Meanwhile, Nami finally gathers the courage to face Arlong. |||||||||
| 42 | 38c39a | 42 | "The Comeback Kid" / "Wanted!" "Explosion! Fishman Arlong's Fierce Assault From the Sea!" Transliteration: "Sakuretsu! Gyojin Āron Umi Kara no Mōkōgeki!" (Japanese: 炸裂!魚人アーロン海からの猛攻撃!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Michiru Shimada | 2 15.0 | September 27, 2000 (2000-9-27) | June 18, 2005 |
| 42 | 38c39a | 42 | "The Comeback Kid" / "Wanted!" "Explosion! Fishman Arlong's Fierce Assault From the Sea!" Transliteration: "Sakuretsu! Gyojin Āron Umi Kara no Mōkōgeki!" (Japanese: 炸裂!魚人アーロン海からの猛攻撃!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Michiru Shimada | 2 15.0 | September 27, 2000 (2000-9-27) | June 25, 2005 |
| Luffy returns to the fight, and the final battle with Luffy versus Arlong begins. |||||||||
| 43 | 39b | 43 | "Wanted!" "End of the Fishman Empire! Nami's My Friend!" Transliteration: "Gyojin Teikoku no Owari! Nami wa Ore no Nakama da!" (Japanese: 魚人帝国の終り!ナミは俺の仲間だ!) | Junji Shimizu | Michiru Shimada | 2 15.0 | September 27, 2000 (2000-9-27) | June 25, 2005 |
| The battle spreads into Arlong Park itself and Arlong is no longer holding back. Luffy realizes that Nami was forced to draw charts for Arlong during eight years and becomes enraged. With one massive Gum-Gum Axe blow he defeats Arlong and destroys Arlong Park, freeing Nami and the village. |||||||||
| 44 | - | 44 | "Setting Out with a Smile! Farewell, Hometown Cocoyashi Village!" Transliteration: "Egao no Tabitachi! Saraba Kokyō Kokoyashi Mura" (Japanese: 笑顔の旅立ち!さらば故郷ココヤシ村) | Kōnosuke Uda | Michiru Shimada | 5 13.2 | October 11, 2000 (2000-10-11) | — |
| With Arlong's defeat by Luffy, Arlong's reign of terror is over and no one has anything on their mind except to party the fall of Arlong. As the crew celebrates, Nami reflects on her hometown and decides to officially join the Straw Hat Pirates. |||||||||
| 45 | 39c | 45 | "Wanted!" "Bounty! Straw Hat Luffy Becomes Known to the World!" Transliteration: "Shōkinkubi! Mugiwara no Rufi yo ni Shirewataru" (Japanese: 賞金首!麦わらのルフィ世に知れ渡る) | Yoko Ikeda | Junki Takegami | 6 13.6 | October 25, 2000 (2000-10-25) | June 25, 2005 |
| As a result of defeating Arlong as well as defeating Buggy the Clown and Don Krieg, "Straw Hat" Luffy now has the highest bounty in East Blue at 30,000,000 berries. News quickly spreads to both friend and foe, including Luffy's childhood idol Shanks, who celebrates Luffy's arrival into the world of pirates. |||||||||
| Buggy's Adventure |||||||||
| 46 | — | 46 | "Chase Straw Hat! Little Buggy's Big Adventure!" Transliteration: "Mugiwara o Oe! Chiisana Bagī no Dai Bōken" (Japanese: 麦わらを追え!小さなバギーの大冒険) | Munehisa Sakai | Junki Takegami | 6 14.4 | November 1, 2000 (2000-11-1) | — |
| After his defeat by Luffy, Buggy was sent flying to another island with several body parts missing. Thus, Buggy begins his journey to find his crew and his body parts to gets revenge for Luffy, making some unlikely friends with Gaimon. He is eventually picked up by a mysterious beautiful woman with a pirate ship, who wants him to help her looking for Luffy. |||||||||
| 47 | — | 47 | "The Wait is Over! The Return of Captain Buggy!" Transliteration: "Omachi Ka Ne! Aa Fukkatsu no Bagī Senchō" (Japanese: お待ちかね!ああ復活のバギー船長) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 8 13.5 | November 8, 2000 (2000-11-8) | — |
| With Buggy assumed to be dead, his crew fights over who will be the new captain, only to be captured by a tribe of cannibals. Buggy arrives in time to save them and regains his missing parts. |||||||||
| Loguetown |||||||||
| 48 | 40a | 48 | "Roguetown" "The Town of the Beginning and the End! Landfall at Logue Town!" Transliteration: "Hajimari to Owari no Machi – Rōgutaun Jōriku" (Japanese: 始まりと終わりの町·ローグタウン上陸) | Junichi Fujise | Michiru Shimada | 5 15.7 | November 22, 2000 (2000-11-22) | July 2, 2005 |
| The crew arrives at the last large town before the entrance to the Grand Line: Loguetown, the place where the King of the Pirates Gol D. Roger was both born and executed. They stock up on supplies and sightsee. As Luffy heads for the execution platform where Roger was killed, old enemies are searching for him. |||||||||
| 49 | 40b41a | 49 | "Roguetown" / "Switched Blades" "Kitetsu III and Yubashiri! Zoro’s New Swords and the Woman Sergeant Major!" Transliteration: "Sandai Kitetsu to Yubashiri! Zoro no Shintō to Josōchō" (Japanese: 三代鬼徹と雪走!ゾロの新刀と女曹長) | Yoshihiro Ueda | Michiru Shimada | 5 15.7 | November 22, 2000 (2000-11-22) | July 2, 2005 |
| 49 | 40b41a | 49 | "Roguetown" / "Switched Blades" "Kitetsu III and Yubashiri! Zoro’s New Swords and the Woman Sergeant Major!" Transliteration: "Sandai Kitetsu to Yubashiri! Zoro no Shintō to Josōchō" (Japanese: 三代鬼徹と雪走!ゾロの新刀と女曹長) | Yoshihiro Ueda | Michiru Shimada | 5 15.7 | November 22, 2000 (2000-11-22) | July 9, 2005 |
| While searching for new swords to replace the ones shattered by Mihawk, Zoro meets a woman named Tashigi, a marine Sergeant Major with a passion for swords, who looks exactly like an older Kuina. She notices that Zoro is carrying a rare sword. Zoro, who has little money, inquires about a cheap sword, which the owner says is cursed. After an impressive test of the sword, the owner lets him have it for free, along with another rare sword he said should belong to a true swordsman. |||||||||
| 50 | — | 50 | "Usopp vs. Daddy the Parent! Showdown at High!" Transliteration: "Usoppu vs Kozure no Dadi Mahiru no Kettō" (Japanese: ウソップVS子連れのダディ真昼の決闘) | Katsumi Tokoro | Michiru Shimada | 5 15.2 | November 29, 2000 (2000-11-29) | — |
| Usopp manages to anger the daughter of bounty hunter Daddy the Father, and finds his own life at stake when he challenges Daddy to a duel, which he proceeds to lose. When Daddy discovers that Usopp is the son of Yasopp, he recounts how he lost to Yasopp, Usopp's father. Upon embarrassment of hearing this, Usopp issues a new challenge. Daddy challenges him to shoot a weather vane or he will kill Usopp. Usopp shoots the vane through the crown and wins the sniper goggles that were in dispute. |||||||||
| 51 | 41b42a | 51 | "Switched Blades" / "Sanji Sizzles" "Fiery Cooking Battle? Sanji vs. the Beautiful Chef!" Transliteration: "Honō no Ryōri Batoru? Sanji vs Bijin Shefu" (Japanese: 炎の料理バトル?サンジVS美人シェフ) | Munehisa Sakai | Michiru Shimada | 6 14.0 | December 6, 2000 (2000-12-6) | July 9, 2005 |
| 51 | 41b42a | 51 | "Switched Blades" / "Sanji Sizzles" "Fiery Cooking Battle? Sanji vs. the Beautiful Chef!" Transliteration: "Honō no Ryōri Batoru? Sanji vs Bijin Shefu" (Japanese: 炎の料理バトル?サンジVS美人シェフ) | Munehisa Sakai | Michiru Shimada | 6 14.0 | December 6, 2000 (2000-12-6) | July 16, 2005 |
| Sanji enters a cooking contest against a cooking woman named "Five-Alarm" Carmen for a fish that he has always dreamed of cooking. Meanwhile, Buggy and Alvida show up and capture Luffy. Sanji is able to win against Carmen. However, Luffy is about to be executed! |||||||||
| 52 | 42b43a | 52 | "Sanji Sizzles" / "Buggy's Back" "Buggy's Revenge! The Man Who Smiles On the Execution Platform!" Transliteration: "Bagī no Ribenji! Shokeidai de Warau Otoko!" (Japanese: バギーのリベンジ!処刑台で笑う男!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Michiru Shimada | 5 14.7 | December 13, 2000 (2000-12-13) | July 16, 2005 |
| 52 | 42b43a | 52 | "Sanji Sizzles" / "Buggy's Back" "Buggy's Revenge! The Man Who Smiles On the Execution Platform!" Transliteration: "Bagī no Ribenji! Shokeidai de Warau Otoko!" (Japanese: バギーのリベンジ!処刑台で笑う男!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Michiru Shimada | 5 14.7 | December 13, 2000 (2000-12-13) | July 23, 2005 |
| Zoro and Sanji show up too late to stop Buggy but a bolt of lightning shows up Buggy just in time to cancel the execution. Then Smoker catches Buggy and Alvida and gets on a Dune Buggy to follow Luffy. Meanwhile, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji run into Tashigi. Zoro defeats her reluctantly. Then Smoker catches up and tells Luffy that he must get through him to go to the Grand Line. Luffy isn't able to effectively fight Smoker due to the latter's Plume-Plume Fruit powers allowing him to turn into smoke. Just when Smoker is about to finish off Luffy a mysterious man with a green cloak named Dragon saves him. A green gust of wind blows through that lets Buggy and Alvida escape. Then Luffy and company can get away. Smoker, Tashigi, Alvida, and Buggy all depart to chase the Straw Hats into the Grand Line. |||||||||
| 53 | 43b | 53 | "Buggy's Back" "The Legend Has Started! Head for the Grand Line!" Transliteration: "Densetsu wa Hajimatta! Mezase Idai Naru Kōro" (Japanese: 伝説は始まった!目指せ偉大なる航路) | Ken Koyama | Michiru Shimada | 6 14.1 | January 10, 2001 (2001-1-10) | July 23, 2005 |
| Miraculously saved from death by an unnatural green gust and a lightning bolt to Buggy, the Straw Hats rush out of Loguetown, only for Zoro to be stopped by Tashigi and Luffy to be stopped by Captain Smoker and saved by Dragon. The Straw Hats are able to escape Loguetown and proclaim why they are going to the Grand Line: Sanji to find the All Blue, Luffy to become King of the Pirates, Zoro to become the master swordsman, Nami to chart a map of the entire world, and Usopp to become a brave warrior of the seas. |||||||||
| Warship Island |||||||||
| 54 | — | 54 | "Precursor to a New Adventure! Apis, a Mysterious Girl!" Transliteration: "Arata Naru Bōken no Yokan! Nazo no Shōjo Apisu" (Japanese: 新たなる冒険の予感!謎の少女アピス) | Kōnosuke Uda | Junki Takegami | 8 14.1 | January 17, 2001 (2001-1-17) | — |
| On a stormy night, a mysterious girl called Apis escapes from the Marines and is found drifting by the Straw hats. Upon learning that they are good pirates, Apis hides some of the reasons why she is being pursued by the Marines. When the marines locate them, Apis tells the Straw Hats of an impending gust of wind. While this allows them to escape the Marines, it winds up sending them into the Calm Belt. |||||||||
| 55 | — | 55 | "Miraculous Creature! Apis' Secret and the Legendary Island!" Transliteration: "Kiseki no Seibutsu! Apisu no Himitsu to Densetsu no Shima" (Japanese: 奇跡の生物!アピスの秘密と伝説の島) | Harume Kosaka | Junki Takegami | 7 15.3 | January 24, 2001 (2001-1-24) | — |
| Nami explains that The Calm Belt is revealed to have no winds or currents as well as being the home of many giant sea kings. Apis forms a plan with Luffy's help and escapes the sea kings by riding with one's sneeze. Later, the crew reaches Battleship Island, where they listen to the soporific story of the island's creation. Afterwards, Luffy & Nami follow Apis into a cave where a dragon is hidden. When Luffy is somehow able to understand the dragon, Apis tells them she ate the Whisper-Whisper Fruit and can read the minds of animals, Luffy and Nami find the reason why Apis is being chased. |||||||||
| 56 | — | 56 | "Eric Attacks! Great Escape from Warship Island!" Transliteration: "Erikku Shutsugeki! Gunkanjima Kara no Dai Dasshutsu!" (Japanese: エリック出撃!軍艦島からの大脱出!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 6 14.7 | January 31, 2001 (2001-1-31) | — |
| Now that the crew understand why Apis was followed, they hurry to escape the island so Ryuuji can be saved, but they meet with Erik and the Marines. During the conflict Eric reveal he ate the Sickle-Sickle Fruit which allows him to create blades of wind. Zoro and Usopp bring the ship to a thin rock at the side while Nami and Apis get Ryuuji onto a cart. Luffy and Sanji fight the Marines to buy time for all preparations. In the end, the ship pulls the cart away on the search for Lost Island. |||||||||
| 57 | — | 57 | "A Solitary Island in the Distant Sea! The Legendary Lost Island!" Transliteration: "Zekkai no Kotō! Densetsu no Rosuto Airando" (Japanese: 絶海の孤島!伝説のロストアイランド) | Yoko Ikeda | Junki Takegami | 8 14.6 | February 7, 2001 (2001-2-7) | — |
| After arriving at what seemed to be Lost Island, the Straw Hats find an old Temple with paintings that might indicate where the Lost Island really is. Erik arrives and announces he overheard everything and intends to steal their dragon. Luffy breaks a wall so they can escape while Zoro engages Erik. |||||||||
| 58 | — | 58 | "Showdown in the Ruins! Tense Zoro vs. Eric!" Transliteration: "Haikyō no Kettō! Kinpaku no Zoro tai Erikku!" (Japanese: 廃虚の決闘!緊迫のゾロVSエリック) | Munehisa Sakai | Junki Takegami | 5 16.6 | February 21, 2001 (2001-2-21) | — |
| Zoro tries to fight Erik, but Erik is more interested in chasing the dragon. Zoro manages to trip him up long enough to the rest to make it to the ship. Luffy then uses his long arm to pull Zoro onto the ship. |||||||||
| 59 | — | 59 | "Luffy, Completely Surrounded! Commodore Nelson's Secret Strategy!" Transliteration: "Rufu Kanzen Hōi! Teitoku Neruson no Hissaku" (Japanese: ルフィ完全包囲!提督ネルソンの秘策) | Junichi Fujise | Junki Takegami | 5 16.6 | February 21, 2001 (2001-2-21) | — |
| Admiral Nelson, who never fully trusted Erik, has mobilized the full extent of the 8th fleet. He has his ships surround the Going Merry, and deploys chains between them to prevent escape. They then begin shelling. Meanwhile, Erik boards the raft with Apis and Ryuuji and begins to row the raft away. Nelson orders his ship to shell Erik. When Erik knocks Apis out, Ryuuji comes to her aid. He then calls out and takes flight to attack Nelson. Nelson has him shot down. |||||||||
| 60 | — | 60 | "Through the Sky They Soar! The 1000 Year Legend Lives Again!" Transliteration: "Ōsora o Mau Mono! Yomigaeru Sennen no Densetsu!" (Japanese: 大空を舞うもの!甦る千年の伝説) | Yoshihiro Ueda | Junki Takegami | 4 16.3 | February 28, 2001 (2001-2-28) | — |
| Luffy talks to Ryuuji in his final moments and comes to understand just what is going on. The flock of dragons returns just as Lost Island (which was really Battleship Island) begins to resurface. An angered Luffy uses them to launch an attack that destroys Nelson's flagship. The resurfacing Lost Island destroys the rest of the Marine ships, which were still chained together. |||||||||
| 61 | 44a | 61 | "Fantastic Voyage" "An Angry Showdown! Cross the Red Line!" Transliteration: "Ikari no Ketchaku! Akai Dairiku o Norikoero!" (Japanese: 怒りの決着!赤い大陸を乗り越えろ!) | Hidehiko Kadota | Junki Takegami | 4 16.0 | March 7, 2001 (2001-3-7) | July 30, 2005 |
| Apis is saddened by the death of Ryuuji but Luffy explains that the dragons come back to Lost Island be reborn. Nearby, an egg cracks open and a young dragon with Ryuuji's eyes emerges. Nelson, who has survived, is found by Erik who promptly kill him down. Erik threatens the dragons which causes Luffy to fight and defeat him sendding to flying. With the dragons safe, the Straw Hats depart for the Grand Line. They sail to Reverse Mountain, where the force of the ocean causes the current to flow uphill and down into the Grand Line. On the way up, Erik emerges to fight one more time but Nami tricks him and knocks him into the rushing waters. |||||||||

## Critical reception

The season's uncut home video release generally received positive reviews from critics due to its humor, fight sequences, characters and music. The Arlong Park storyline has been highlighted as the strongest of the season, although David Brook less favorably described these episodes as "melodramatic" for Blueprint Review. Commenting on the animation, several critics applauded the series' accuracy to the manga's art style, but noted that moments of limited animation betrayed the low budget of the series.
Both John Sinnott and Neil Lumbard rated the season "Highly Recommended" when writing for DVD Talk, with Lumbard describing Luffy as "easily one of the most endearing, comical, and fun characters in anime history". Writing for Anime News Network, Carl Kimlinger awarded the first 26 episodes "B" ratings, but found the "emotional core" of the Captain Buggy episodes to be underwhelming and commented that the early episodes of the series did not match the standard that would be set by later episodes. Writing for Starburst, Julian White claimed that the series was "likely to give you one helluva migraine" and awarded 6/10 to the first 26 episodes. IGN's David F. Smith awarded the first 13 episodes 7/10, also commenting on the slow pace of the episodes but conceding that "you might just call it a convention of the genre".
Nefarious Reviews rated the season "Medium" saying that "the early episodes don’t give a good first impression, but once the longer story begins, One Piece stretches it’s creativity to give a good opening season with promises of so much more adventure". David F. Smith writing for IGN gave the uncut home video release a 7/10 saying that "One Piece is a pretty good time. It's a colorful, funny, action-packed kids' adventure show, and Funimation's wrapped it up in a well-produced package at a price that can't be beat."

## Home media release
### Japanese
#### VHS

Toei Animation (Japan, VHS) :
| Volume | Volume | Episodes | Release date |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece1 | 1–4 | February 21, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece2 | 5–8 | February 21, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece3 | 9–12 | March 21, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece4 | 13–16 | April 18, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece5 | 17–20 | May 23, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece6 | 21–24 | June 20, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece7 | 25–28 | July 18, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece8 | 29–32 | August 22, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece9 | 33–36 | September 19, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece10 | 37–40 | October 24, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece11 | 41–44 | November 21, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece12 | 45–48 | December 19, 2001 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece13 | 49–52 | January 17, 2002 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece14 | 53–56 | February 14, 2002 |
| VHS ONEPIECE | piece15 | 57–61 | March 20, 2002 |

#### DVD

Toei Animation (Japan, Region 2 DVD) :
| Volume | Volume | Episodes | Release date |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.01 | 1–4 | February 21, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.02 | 5–8 | February 21, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.03 | 9–12 | March 22, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.04 | 13–16 | April 18, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.05 | 17–20 | May 23, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.06 | 21–24 | June 20, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.07 | 25–28 | July 18, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.08 | 29–32 | August 22, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.09 | 33–36 | September 19, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.10 | 37–40 | October 24, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.11 | 41–44 | November 21, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.12 | 45–48 | December 19, 2001 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.13 | 49–52 | January 17, 2002 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.14 | 53–56 | February 14, 2002 |
| ONE PIECE ワンピース | piece.15 | 57–61 | March 20, 2002 |
| ONE PIECE Log Collection | “EAST BLUE” | 1–17 | July 23, 2010 |
| ONE PIECE Log Collection | “SANJI” | 18–30 | July 23, 2010 |
| ONE PIECE Log Collection | “NAMI” | 31–44 | August 27, 2010 |
| ONE PIECE Log Collection | “LOGUE TOWN” | 45–61 | August 27, 2010 |

#### Blu-ray

The Eternal Log contains 16:9 versions of the episodes in standard definition Blu-ray format.
Toei Animation (Japan, Region A BD) :
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Episodes | Release date | Ref. |
| | ONE PIECE Eternal Log | EAST BLUE | 1–61 | January 22, 2021 | |

### English
#### 4Kids

4Kids Entertainment Edited TV Version: Viz Media (USA, Region 1 DVD), Madman Entertainment (Australia, Region 4) :
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Episodes | Release date | Release date | ISBN | Ref. |
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Episodes | USA | Australia | ISBN | Ref. |
| | 1 | King of the Pirates | 1–3 | February 28, 2006 | May 17, 2006 | ISBN 1-59861-000-7 | |
| | 2 | The Circus Comes to Town | 4–6 | April 25, 2006 | July 26, 2006 | ISBN 1-59861-001-5 | |
| | 3 | The Teller of Tales | 7–11 | June 27, 2006 | September 6, 2006 | ISBN 1-59861-002-3 | |
| | 4 | The Cat's Ninth Life | 12–16 | August 29, 2006 | November 8, 2006 | ISBN 1-59861-003-1 | |
| | 5 | King of the Busboys | 17–21 | October 24, 2006 | January 24, 2007 | ISBN 1-59861-004-X | |
| | 6 | The Better Swordsman | 22–26 | December 26, 2006 | March 14, 2007 | ISBN 1-59861-005-8 | |
| | 7 | New Crew | 27–31 | February 27, 2007 | May 2, 2007 | ISBN 1-59861-006-6 | |
| | 8 | Belle Of The Brawl | 32–36 | April 24, 2007 | July 18, 2007 | ISBN 1-59861-007-4 | |
| | 9 | Rogue Town | 37–41 | June 26, 2007 | September 12, 2007 | ISBN 1-59861-008-2 | |
| | 10 | Baroque Works | 42–46 | August 28, 2007 | November 7, 2007 | ISBN 1-59861-009-0 | |
| | 1-3 | Starter Pack | 1-11 | N/A | March 14, 2007 | ISBN N/A | |

#### Uncut

In North America, the final episodes of this season were recategorized as the opening of "Season Two" for their DVD release by Funimation Entertainment. The Australian Season sets were renamed Collection 1 through 5.
Uncut English & Japanese versions: Funimation Entertainment (USA, Region 1), Manga Entertainment (UK, Region 2), Madman Entertainment (Australia, Region 4) :
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Episodes | Release date | Release date | Release date | ISBN | Ref. |
| Volume | Volume | Volume | Episodes | USA | UK | Australia | ISBN | Ref. |
| | Season One | First Voyage | 1–13 | May 27, 2008 | N/A | September 1, 2010 | ISBN 1-4210-1347-9 | |
| | Season One | Second Voyage | 14–26 | September 16, 2008 | N/A | October 13, 2010 | ISBN 1-4210-1419-X | |
| | Season One | Third Voyage | 27–39 | January 20, 2009 | N/A | November 3, 2010 | ISBN 1-4210-1531-5 | |
| | Season One | Fourth Voyage | 40–53 | March 31, 2009 | N/A | December 15, 2010 | ISBN 1-4210-1796-2 | |
| | Season Two | First Voyage | 54–66 | June 30, 2009 | N/A | January 12, 2011 | ISBN 1-4210-1888-8 | |
| | Collections | Collection 1 | 1–26 | July 26, 2011 | May 27, 2013 | N/A | ISBN 1-4210-2341-5 | |
| | Collections | Collection 2 | 27–53 | September 27, 2011 | July 1, 2013 | N/A | ISBN 1-4210-2404-7 | |
| | Collections | Collection 3 | 54–78 | November 29, 2011 | September 23, 2013 | N/A | ISBN 1-4210-2405-5 | |
| | Treasure Chest Collection | One | 1–103 | N/A | N/A | October 24, 2012 | ISBN N/A | |
| | Voyage Collection | One | 1–53 | N/A | N/A | September 6, 2017 | ISBN N/A | |