One Piece : Épisode de Chopper - Le Miracle des cerisiers en hiver

It's not lost on me that this marks the return of filmmaker Shimizu Junji to the full-length films of the franchise for the first time since 'Chopper's kingdom on the island of strange animals' in 2002. It's also the second 'One Piece' film to have been written by Kamisaka Hirohiko, which I personally find to be a very dubious distinction as 2007's 'The desert princess and the pirates: Adventures in Alabasta' was a sloppy, incohesive mess. However, reading a smidgen of outside context, and watching for even only a few minutes, accentuates the problems with the latter flick while allaying our concerns for this one. What needed to happen in the eighth film is what actually happened with the ninth as it was written, directed, and edited with actual care, and moreover, a story that I'm given to understand derives from the manga is rewritten in some measure to reflect the needs of a cinematic adaptation. Whatever the decision-making that made its immediate predecessor such a perplexing failure, and whatever its ultimate overall quality, it's readily evident from the outset that 'Episode of Chopper plus: Bloom in the winter, miracle cherry blossom' benefited from the same mindful consideration of the first seven films, and we can meaningfully enjoy it and assess it on its own merits.

While the bulk of the narrative takes place in far-flung frosty climes, otherwise this movie boasts all that we commonly anticipate of the series, in various proportions. The predominant adventure airs are rounded out with strong flavors of action and comedy, and just enough drama and heart to keep the proceedings grounded. The character writing is a blast as always with the varied personalities and abilities the figures claim, with temporary supporting character Dr. Kureha being a joy unto herself fit for the rest; as this story serves as a point of origin for Chopper, his treatment here is extra special. To that point, even as the plot finds the Straw Hat Pirates facing long odds, difficult circumstances, and powerful enemies, as is usually the case in 'One Piece,' the thoughtful introduction of one of the series' most recognizable figures is a welcome change of pace. The narrative is compelling even as it remains fairly light on its feet, and the scene writing is arguably even more diverse and dynamic in turn as the dominant vibes shift over a wide spectrum. Excellent as the full-length features broadly are, they're not all equal, yet in this instance Kamisaka has whipped up a gratifyingly solid screenplay to retell this tale, with shrewd nuance and depth making it all the richer.

I will grant that the picture is maybe a tad imbalanced between the two parts of the story it wishes to tell, "past" and "present." Yet as the whole plays with some difficult ideas and emotions, and only in the most brilliant of fashions, that imbalance doesn't seem so dire as the two parts dovetail; even the dialogue is rather fantastic. Anyway, if that's the worst criticism I have to impart, then the title has done very well for itself. Meanwhile, in every other regard 'Episode of Chopper plus' is just as well made as we anticipate. The artists of Toei Animation turned in reliably terrific work, providing the resplendent visual experience assumed of anime. Even with the especially cartoonish slant of this franchise there's no missing the outstanding detail and creativity that fills every corner: beautiful backgrounds and environments, wild character designs, fluid action sequences, dazzling effects, and fine consideration for even lighting, shading, perspective, and vibrant color. The voice acting is adept and spirited in bringing the characters and the saga to vivid life; the original music of Tanaka Kohei and Hamaguchi Shiro is a fabulous complement to every mood, idea, and scene herein. Even the sound design is crisp and clean, allowing all the audio to ring out clearly.

As Shimizu's direction seems even more sure-footed here than it did in the first three films, and some lovely, admirable themes underlie the storytelling, the end result is surely one of the better movies in the franchise. Nitpick some odds and ends as we reasonably might, the strength of the writing speaks for itself, and all other elements come together splendidly to facilitate an absorbing, highly satisfying viewing experience. Mileage will vary by each individual according to personal preferences, but as far as I'm concerned 'Episode of Chopper plus: Bloom in the winter, miracle cherry blossom' is a minor treasure. Standing tall among its brethren, I'm happy to give this ninth 'One Piece' picture my high recommendation!

I don't know why they make this movie.

There's no twist to the original plot, no new jokes to make you laugh (far less, mind you), and no new moves the characters will make.

Oh, there's differences between the movie and the TV episodes, though. Nico Robin and Frankie have already joined the crew (as you could tell from the poster), and their ship is (of course) the Thousand Sunshine. Since princess Vivi Ayame has already returned to Alabaster, part of her dialogs and act is taken over by Nico Robin, which is a pity, because Nico and Vivi are definitely different kind of persons. It's very weird to see Nico doing all those things.

And their appearances looked strange, either. Especially for Nami, I couldn't even recognize her in the poster.

The whole movie was in a hurry, so they don't even have time to make Wapol the ultimate bad guy! No, please. Don't waste your time on this one.

One Piece: Episode of Chopper Plus is a 2008 alternate retelling of the Drum Island Arc, one of the most emotional storylines in One Piece, reimagined with elements from later sagas. While it attempts to capture the heart-wrenching origin of Tony Tony Chopper and his journey with the Straw Hat Pirates, the film takes creative liberties that both enhance and detract from the original arc's impact.

THE STRENGTHS ON THIS STORY IS 1. The Emotional Core The film maintains the emotional weight of Chopper's backstory-his tragic connection with Dr. Hiriluk and the theme of self-acceptance remain poignant. The scene where Chopper embraces his identity as a doctor, inspired by Hiriluk's dream, is still one of the most powerful moments in One Piece.

2. The Updated Animation & Character Inclusion Compared to the original anime arc, this film benefits from modernized animation. The visuals are sharper, the action scenes flow more smoothly, and the snowy landscapes of Drum Island are beautifully rendered. Additionally, Nico Robin and Franky, who were not part of the original arc, are integrated into the story. Their presence adds fresh interactions and expanded fight sequences.

3. The Villain Adaptation Wapol remains a despicable antagonist, but the film intensifies his villainy. His tyrannical rule over Drum Island and his fights with the Straw Hats are more dynamic, making his eventual defeat more satisfying.

The Weaknesses 1. The Inconsistencies & Pacing Issues By reworking the arc to fit a movie format, the pacing feels rushed. The emotional buildup of Chopper's bond with Hiriluk is not as deeply explored as in the original series, making some moments feel less impactful. Certain conflicts and character developments are also condensed, which may leave fans of the original arc feeling unsatisfied.

2. The Unnecessary Character Additions While it's fun to see Robin and Franky, their presence feels somewhat forced. Since they had no role in Chopper's original journey, their inclusion disrupts the narrative's emotional weight rather than enhancing it. Fans of One Piece might find this an odd revision, as it alters the continuity in a way that doesn't always make sense.

3. The Lack of Surprise for Existing Fans As a retelling rather than an original story, Episode of Chopper Plus doesn't introduce many new elements beyond the inclusion of later crew members. For those already familiar with the Drum Island Arc, this version might feel unnecessary since it lacks the same depth and pacing that made the original so beloved.

Final Verdict Episode of Chopper Plus is a visually appealing and emotionally resonant retelling of one of One Piece's most touching arcs, but it sacrifices depth for the sake of fitting within a movie's runtime. While it serves as a decent introduction to Chopper's story for newcomers, longtime fans may prefer the original series version for a fuller, more impactful experience.

Score: 6.9/10 - A heartfelt but imperfect retelling.

The original storyline featured only five primary characters: Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and Usopp. The filmmakers of this film made much of Franky and Robin's appearance, but most viewers are aware that they don't actually join the Straw Hats until much later. Now that those two were involved, I thought it would be fascinating to observe how the adjustments would be made!

Naturally, I watched the film, and despite my excitement, it was nothing like I had anticipated. Although they weren't even the "Main" characters in the film, Franky and Robin were present but didn't really do much.

There isn't much to see here if you have already watched One Piece. In a nutshell, episodes 78 through 91 are simply packed into two hours while Franky and Robin remain in the background.

That in no way implies that it was a terrible thing. Though there wasn't really anything new, I still enjoyed seeing it. With the exception of the very end. Alright, who is everyone's favorite "bad guy" from the anime, Wapol? It turns out that this film features a character by the name of Mushul, his brother. And that's the point of differentiation. Instead of only taking on Wapol, Luffy also needs to take down Mushul. Which, despite being brief, is actually quite an amazing fight.

A beautiful adaptation of the original with some added/changed scenes. The animation is really nice to look at and the art direction one of my favorites of the whole series.

Robin and Freaky don't really show much to develope the plot but it is nice to see them in that twisted plot.

To me it is the definitive way to see Choppers flashback.

The music is also one of my favorites. It adds much to the winter-like athmosphere.

Wapols brother is more of a second Wapol than a villain with an unique twist but I like his devilfruit power because it fits with the theme of an ill country.