Enies Lobby Arc
A single declaration of war echoes across the world, shattering the myth of government invincibility.
The ninth season of the One Piece anime series, directed by Kōnosuke Uda and produced by Toei Animation, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates. The majority of the season covers the "Enies Lobby" story arc, adapting the manga from the end of the 39th through the 45th volumes. The Straw Hats, including Usopp disguised as Sniperking, and their allies—the Franky Family, the Galley-La Company foremen, and the sumo-wrestling frog Yokozuna—assault the government's stronghold island Enies Lobby to reclaim Franky and Nico Robin from the secret assassination group Cipher Pol No. 9 (CP9). Afterwards, they avoid annihilation by the military operation Buster Call.
- Primary Location
- Enies Lobby
- Key Antagonists
- Cipher Pol No. 9 (CP9)
- Major Protagonist Action
- Assault on Enies Lobby to reclaim Franky and Nico Robin
- Central Conflict
- Reclaiming Franky and Nico Robin from CP9
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.
In Their Own Story
The sky above Enies Lobby burned with the orange hue of sunset as the massive Sea Train Puffing Tom screeched to a halt, its steam hissing like a dying beast. Luffy stood atop the train's roof, his straw hat casting a long shadow over the stone fortress that loomed ahead. Beside him, Zoro gripped his blades, while Sanji lit a cigarette with a trembling hand, their eyes fixed on the massive gates of judgment. 'We're going in,' Luffy said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of terrifying resolve. 'And we're taking Robin back.' The air crackled with tension as the first shots rang out, signaling the beginning of the greatest rebellion the island had ever seen.
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.
More in Arcs & Timeline
Elsewhere in the One Piece universe
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