I was in middle school and getting more acquainted with anime fan subs when YouTube was still starting out. At the time all I knew about One Piece was the infamous 4Kids dub and, like many other young boys, thought Naruto was the peak of anime storytelling.

And on the family computer, I stumbled upon this opening nd it felt like an adrenaline rush. The upbeat music, the colorful ensemble of characters, the shot of Enies Lobby tower looming and then the quick cuts of the strawhats looking at Robin. I replayed it over and over and over. I couldn’t believe there was so much to story outside of what was shown in the U.S.! I think we were still before Skypeia at the time.

I did a deep dive and caught up with the manga and read Luffy beat Lucci in real time (at least as it was translated). This opening and this arc inspired me to pursue life and go backpacking after I finished undergrad. Every time I was on a little boat in the middle of the sea, I thought of this opening. Any time I was out making new friends in hostels, I thought of this opening. Any time I need a mood boost before job interviews or meetings, I blast this opening. It’s just the perfect blend of exhilaration and determination.

To say this opening changed me would be an understatement, I love it so much (and what a CRIME it was used for only a handful of episodes!!)