One piece: Yume no sakka-o!

One Piece: Yume no Sakka-O! (Dream Soccer King!) is a short, comedic spin-off that places the beloved Straw Hat Pirates in an unconventional setting-a high-stakes soccer match. While the One Piece franchise is known for its grand adventures, emotional depth, and intense battles, this 2002 special leans entirely into humor and lighthearted fun, making it a unique but ultimately inconsequential addition to the series.

The premise is simple: Luffy and his crew face off against a team of villains, including Buggy, Bon Clay, and even a character modeled after One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, named "Odacchi." The match plays out with exaggerated, over-the-top antics, perfectly in line with the series' usual slapstick humor. Seeing these characters engage in an unpredictable soccer game rather than a battle at sea is amusing, but the novelty wears off quickly due to the short's lack of depth.

Visually, Dream Soccer King! Maintains the early 2000s One Piece animation style-colorful and expressive but not particularly refined. The animation works well for the comedic gags, but since the story lacks stakes, there's little tension or excitement compared to other One Piece films or even filler episodes.

While entertaining in the moment, this short is ultimately forgettable. It's best suited for hardcore fans who enjoy seeing the Straw Hats in outlandish scenarios, but casual viewers or those looking for meaningful storytelling won't find much here. Overall, Dream Soccer King! Is a fun but trivial side story that serves as a playful break from the main adventure.

RATING 8/10.

In this second One Piece short, we see our favorite characters compete in a soccer match. The Straw Hat Pirates(Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, & Chooper) are up against the Villain All Star Team(Jango, Mr. 2, Buggy, Hatchy) & a back up soccer player named Oddachi. They're up for a tie breaker by taking turns in kicking the ball into the goal. With Coby as the goalie. Which ever team scores that most will win the match.

This takes place before the Alabasta episodes, as Vivi & Carue are still accompanied with our heroes. I like it, just how funny it is to see the One Piece characters play soccer. And the cool thing is, they have the creator of the original comics, Oda as Oddachi the soccer player. Which is so far the only One Piece anime he's ever credited as an actor along with his "original creator" role.

It's 6 minutes of humor, soccer action, and One Piece goodness that'll entertain the fans. Only available in fan subs.