Enies Lobby Arc

Lore & Background

The arc is defined by the Straw Hats assaulting the government's stronghold island Enies Lobby to reclaim their comrades Franky and Nico Robin from the secret assassination group Cipher Pol No. 9 (CP9). After crossing the yearly occurring storm called Aqua Laguna on the prototype sea train Rocketman, piloted by sea train conductor Kokoro, the Straw Hats and their allies—the Franky Family, the Galley-La Company foremen, and the sumo-wrestling frog Yokozuna—launch their attack. Afterwards, they avoid annihilation by the dreaded military operation Buster Call. Once back on the city island Water 7, the Straw Hats add Franky to their crew and acquire a new ship, the Thousand Sunny.

Reader's Guide

The arc concludes with the Straw Hats escaping via Franky's custom ship, the Going Merry, which is pushed by the combined will of the crew and the spirit of their beloved vessel. Robin finally accepts her desire to live, rejoining her friends as they sail away from the burning island. The world watches in shock as news spreads that a small pirate crew has successfully challenged the World Government and survived.

Did You Know?

• The season initially ran from May 21, 2006, through December 23, 2007 on Fuji Television.
• Between Enies Lobby episodes there is the five episode arc "Straw Hat Theater & Straw Pirate Tales".
• The season uses six pieces of theme music: four opening themes and two ending themes.
• The opening theme for the first part of the Enies Lobby arc is "Brand New World" by D-51 for the first fifteen episodes.
• In North America, this season was recategorized as "Season Five" for its DVD release by Funimation Entertainment.