Impel Down
Six levels of hell where even the strongest pirates vanish forever.
The thirteenth season of the One Piece anime series, titled "Impel Down" (インペルダウン, Inperu Daun), was produced by Toei Animation and directed by Hiroaki Miyamoto based on Eiichiro Oda's manga. It deals with the imprisonment of Monkey D. Luffy's adoptive older brother Portgas D. Ace and Luffy's attempt with Boa Hancock's help to infiltrate the great prison Impel Down to save him. Luffy meets several old enemies prisoners from his past in this arc, including Buggy the Clown, Mr. 2 (Bon Clay), and Mr. 3. There is also a 4 episode arc set outside the current continuity titled "A Gold Lion's Ambition" (金獅子の野望 Kinjishi no Yabō), which serves as a prologue to the concurrently released One Piece Film: Strong World. This arc features Luffy and his crew's run-in with a group of pirates hired by Shiki, the film's main antagonist. Following this arc, the Impel Down story line continues where it had left off. The season began broadcasting on Fuji Television on October 18, 2009, and ended on June 20, 2010, totaling 35 episodes.
- Location
- Beneath the Red Line in Marie Geoise
- Current Warden
- Magellan (formerly)
- Primary Function
- Maximum Security Prison for Level 6 Inmates
- Guard Force Leader
- Chief Warden Hannyabal
- Notable Breach
- The Great Escape during the Summit War Saga
Lore & Background
No further details about the prison's structure, security, or history are provided.
In Their Own Story
The source does not provide any descriptive narrative about the atmosphere, corridors, beasts, or specific sensory details of Impel Down. It only states that the season covers Luffy's infiltration with Boa Hancock's help, the meeting of old enemies, and the 4-episode prologue arc "A Gold Lion's Ambition" set outside continuity.
Reader's Guide
Impel Down is the great prison where Portgas D. Ace is imprisoned. Luffy attempts to infiltrate it with Boa Hancock's help to save him. During this arc, Luffy meets several old enemies from his past: Buggy the Clown, Mr. 2 (Bon Clay), and Mr. 3. The season also includes a 4-episode arc titled "A Gold Lion's Ambition" that serves as a prologue to One Piece Film: Strong World, featuring Luffy's crew encountering pirates hired by Shiki. The season aired from October 18, 2009 to June 20, 2010, totaling 35 episodes. The opening themes are "Share the World" by TVXQ and from episode 426 onwards "Kaze o Sagashite" by Mari Yaguchi with the Straw Hats.
Did You Know?
- The season began broadcasting on Fuji Television on October 18, 2009, and ended on June 20, 2010, totaling 35 episodes.
- The season's beginning was announced in the One Piece Movie 10 Guide Book, 'One Piece-Pia'.
- The first two DVD compilations were released on June 1, 2011; the last two were released on September 6, 2011.
- The second opening theme, starting from episode 426, is 'Kaze o Sagashite' performed by Mari Yaguchi with the Straw Hats.
- In North America, the season was recategorized as the end of 'Season Seven' and the opening of 'Season Eight' for its DVD release by Funimation Entertainment.
More in World & Geography
Elsewhere in the One Piece universe
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