Ishitani has a complete and absolutely perfect understanding of what One Piece is and the heights it should achieve emotionally.

Hands down best and most beautiful opening One Piece has ever constructed. I don’t know if they will ever surpass this. All the foreshadowing to later in the arc and that Vivi shot?! Toei wanted to make a statement with the remake now in production and basically said “Don’t count us out yet”

imagine if Ishitani is made Director in The One Piece Remake, this would be a dream come true

I wish megumi ishitani knows how much the community appreciate her😭😭

That shot of kizaru nonchalantly falling upside down from the sky with his hands in his pockets will always stand out to me. Ishitani understands one piece on such a deep level it could make me cry.

What really is outstanding about the new OP is how so many big name animators worked on it even if for a sequence that's just 1 second. And that's not usual for Openings. And I feel that's cause all these big animators just want to work on a Megumi Ishitani Project no matter how small or big it is. That's the kind of power to draw incredible talent Ishitani has. So I wouldn't be surprised when Ishitani makes her full movie or series, it'll be stacked with animators who're there simply to be able to work with Ishitani.

The opening is insane you could watch it 100 times over.

I love One Piece but have to agree that seeing this new OP just reminds me how incredibly hyped I would be to see Megumi Ishitani getting a green light for her own longform directorial project.

I've only seen 3 episodes directed by Megumi Ishitani and this opening, and Ishitani is already my favorite anime director of all time. What she does isn't copy pasting the original source into animation, but she has a vision to make the events better in the anime and make them flow really well, paired with incredible camera angle and really cool looking shots, she's just incredible. 1015 is by far my favorite singular episode in all of anime, and it has less to do about what's in the episode but how the episode came to be. Phenomenal stuffs and I cannot wait for her next big project, hopefully she's working with Wit Studio crew on creating the new One Piece anime.

Ishitani for One Piece Film Blue, buggy’s ascend to yonko and his delivery business

I don't know why, but i love seeing the childish sentomaru face full of innocence being amazed by the lighting ray at 6:51 , it's just so cute and beautiful ❤

Ishitani has taught me so much about direction and storyboarding with her episodes. I keep going back to her episodes to learn about how to improve on it. I love her brains dude!

I am SO glad that so many people are recognizing just how AMAZING this intro is. Not only the music but the actual animation is incredible. This intro and song is no less than perfect. If they SOMEHOW get something better, I will be absolutely shocked

My dude the way she grasps our attention with such creative, chaotic, colorful, fun, yet clean and cinematic animation are just fucking insane. Everytime I see her work I don’t even know how else to put it in words, other than “GOD DAMN!!!!!!” Also loved how you mentioned Mori, Hosoda, Matsumoto and other insanely cool animators!

Wow I'm so glad someone out there appreciates ishitani more than me enough to make videos and even highlight masami mori, a duo that has had exponential value with both of them working together. They both really deserve this love and care that you bring!!

I hope Ishitani and Mori get to work on their own sort of series but at the same time, Vincent Chansard recently said he’s gonna be working exclusively on One Piece for an entire year, so I feel like maybe not just Chansard, but also possibly Ishitani and Mori are just as ecstatic to keep working on this series. I’m nowhere near caught up with OP at the moment but I do hope you’re right on Ishitani and Mori potentially working on the next One Piece movie because regardless I will be there day 1

8:15 this part of the opening is makes me tear up every time i see it. Seeing all of luffy’s costumes over the years just in a flash. I still remember being so hyped at the power up luffy got after the time skip and everyone is hyping him up saying he has conquerors haki etc etc.

The moment I first laid my eyes on Op 26, the memories of Movie 6 flooded back into my head, that is my favorite One piece movie and I'm so glad you referenced it in this video💙 Edit: The Kagenashi (No shadow) style really needs more recognition, it's definitely is one of the main reasons I have a passion for animation

Thanks for bringing this talented artist into my perspective of anime. Ep 1015 was amazing and now I know why

You did an incredible job pointing out the amazing individual traces of Ishitani's works and presenting all these surreal artists. Amazing video

Great video! Really appreciate the work you've done in putting the opening in context with the artists and the industry! A few notes: -Ishitani didn't actually debuted with Dragonball Super 131 but with 107, she wasn't credited at the time, but she later confirmed on social media/her personal site that she directed and partially storyboarded the ep -Mori also contributed to the storyboarding process for opening 26, as confirmed by Ishitani in a few tweets they exchanged/confronted on various ideas, what could be considered (& in other cases has been credited as) storyboard assistance. (Mori also "storyboarded" the Where The Wind Blows MV, tho that's a special case since it was more of a freeflowing creative process and there wasn’t much of a storyboard in the first place, they are simply that good) -Also in regards to how Ishitani process/visualizes light & color i think it's important to mention director of photography Naoyuki Wada and the folks at Asahi Production (also Tomoyuki Ishiyama of Studio Ignaz in regards to 1015 and a few minor works she directed since) who handled compositing in all her works including this opening and have a very distinct and striking style when it comes to processing animation, stuff like Queen's concert in 982 or Luffy's Red Roc and the whole setpiece on the roof of Onigashima in 1015 wouldn't look they way they do without Wada's involvement

I've talked with some friends about something that always catches my eyes in one piece ,especially since Wano started , THE COLORS ,idk what it is ,but i feel like Toei is one of the only studios that use such vibrant colors and i feel like this amazing opening is bringing out even more of those bright and fun colors you rarely see in animation nowdays.

Imagine if they made a prequel about joyboy's adventure at some point, I want megumi and mori to lead this movie

I love how accurately and completely you're able to convey you're opinions on anime and further back it up. Also, really nice that they tend to be similar opinions to mine.

something i love about what i have seen of their work in one piece, and just animation as a whole, is that the most jaw dropping moments of animation for me are not these grand spectacles of insane choreography and battle, but the little micromovements. the little head tilt, minor hesitation, slight breathing, all the tiny bits are just incredible! i love me a good explosion or a barrage of punches, but the way to really get me, are with little tiny micromovements that can tell you more about the personality of a character far more than a full book ever could.

This was a very insightful, educative, well done video. I loved the new OP opening and watch it every so often to see what new stuff I discover. Will also definitely look into some of the works shown herein. Thanks and kudos!

Ishitani is an absolute genius, and I've enjoyed each episode she's worked on! This Opening has so many references, easter eggs, and flows so well that you can watch it dozens of times and still find something new about it!

Absolutely love this kind of discussion around the artists making the heart and magic a reality!!! Thank you so much!

Every time you pause it with someone on the screen its a background picture. This is beautiful

Amazing work as always Phenom! You are definitely making me want to get into One Piece quicker than I first anticipated

This is my favorite opening of any anime of all time. It is a labor of love, and it beckons me to reciprocate the feeling.

This opening is truly beautiful and im very thankful for the industry insight youve provided

Aaaahhh this actually had me tearing up from the amount of genuine love and passion on display, and relit my enthusiasm for animation and art in general!!! Thank you for taking the time to make this video, it was such a treat to listen to :’)

it really takes a special eye to be able to go through credits, identify work, and break it down like this. More videos like that that explain the genius of people working their magic around us right now would be appreciated. I could watch 100000 hours of videos exactly like this

Kyousougiga mentioned! I love that anime and wish people would mention it more when it comes to these direction/animation discussions, because it's so good! The OP for it lives in my head rent free lol.

Exellent video and very well explained. Thank you.

I didn t realise it but at 8:42 as they were getting flipped,they flip to the changed age from young jinbei to elderly luffy to copper before eating the human human fruit and EVEN THE BACKGROUND SIGNIFYING JEWELRY BONNEY WITH THE HAND OF BONNEY and THE JEWELS AROUND IT BRO THE REALISATION

Favourite part of the new opening is the colouration, pace and timing of the animation with the music. Definitely the best opening of the series! ❤

It really is one of my favorite openings and something was really itching in my brain since I first saw it and when you where talking about transitions it clicked… her style of transitions is really similar to Edgar wright, who focuses on the composition of the shot and how it also match the music of the scene. she really is an amazing director and I love everything she has done so far

I don't watch One Piece, but I'm an animation student and in one my classes we spent an entire lecture focused on her work.

The emotions that Ishitani invokes... before coming to this video, I had no idea that all the episodes that really hit me hardest were directed by one incredible woman. We need to see more! I really hope we get to!

"We love you Megumi Ishitani" we all said in unison

i won't repeat what the comments have already said about the one piece content in this video but thank you so so much for mentioning rie matsumoto !!! blood blockade changed my life and i can't believe i found a mention of it in a one piece video

Crazy how this was in my top anime openings after 1 watch. What a legend.

Talent is just another word for hardwork

You make me feel comfortable with how much I love this manga because I know there are people out there who love it as mush as I do

Thanks . First time i dont scip it after some Episodes. That opening is crazy😂

Btw I really enjoyed your video years ago, I am so glad to see you make another one about this OP. Thank yu :)

I agree. It is the best anime intro of all time. Everything is perfect. The song is perfect. By far my favorite.

Hey, you are amazing with all of this insight, I appreciate the focus on these people I feel bursting with anticipation of something greater, I just want them to get the massive sandbox they deserve, i just want them to thrive man. Also i dont know where you get all this info, but I will be trying to start a channel about animation and art and oh boy i need to learn lol

What an excellent video, thank you for making it! I really appreciate the passion you have for these creators and their work! Definitely keeping an eye out for more anime/project/creator breakdowns in the future :)

This one of the craziest glazings of all time, and its 100% deserved

I think the best way I saw someone exsplain this intro is "This intro is quite literally eye candy" and man like from colors to animation to music to timing its... its art at its best

I remember watching the Yamato and Ace sequence and litterally calling my dad over to where I was at 7 separate times to show him because I was in so much awe

I like how this video is virtually impossible to only listen to, the smooth animation, the bright colors, and the lighting all intertwine together in such a way that you just have to watch it the whole way through.

😊Ishitani is the final addition to Strawhat pirate crew who everyone of us were waiting for.

I'm crying... hard... this is so so very absolutely the best storyboard explanation I have ever seen in my life. Megumi Ishitani became an alien in my mind thanks to you 🤣😭

i remember seeing this opening for the first time and i was unaware that they had changed the opening at that time, I HAD TO REWATCH IT THRICE CUZ IT WAS UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL!!

OH MY GOSH first time watching the OP I was so confused watching beginning of the video and I went back to one piece and watched the theme song and episode I AM BEYOND SHOCKED HOW DID THEY DRAW THE ANIMATIONS AND COLOR AND JUST THE WHOLE THEME SONG????!?!? And you’re telling me SHE EVEN MADE MORE EPISODES TOO??????? My excitement rn lol I’m just learning this informations about big animators making sick animations/anime’s and THATS JUST INSANE!!!🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

It's literally the only One Piece opening I've ever watched. Something about it made me watch it, and now I watch it every time.

KEKKAI SENSEN MENTIONED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Matsumoto's work on Kekkai Sensen was absolutely FANTASTIC. it's no surprise to me that the Bitter Song to Sugar Step ED was so widespread across the internet, because visually it's simpler compared to something like the Egghead opening, but the seamless transitions between the cast, the free movements, the incredible cloth animation.. it all ties in so fantastically. and as someone who often skips EDs, I found myself quite happy watching it every time

great video. as an animator I've been captivated by these artists but didn't dig into who is doing what so this was perfect, thank you

Koehei Tanaka (composer) and performer Hiroshi Kitadani (performer) are such a legendary duo too! HINT: its the same as the first opening, We Are! Such a great song.

Shout out to big news Morgan’s having the single best panel in the entire opening. The storytelling she gets across in an opening alone is crazy

I have been manga only for One Piece until recently. It seems Wano has some gems worth rewatching in the anime. Thanks for this video!

I very like your video because it sounds like love letter to animation and to talents of certain animators. I like that you not only said why opening is good but also expanded idea about artists' creativety and their potential. I also very like your visual part of the video because it's not mindless, it contains a lot of love and attention.

I'm so happy you talked about masami more, because whenever I hear about animators his name always get overlooked

MEGUMI 👊 👊 With this treasure I summon the one who left it all I am you because you are always bet on Hikari

Did you know that outfit changing for brook was also included for a split second they didn't need to do that but they did absolutely amazing 3:09

This opening is so underrated. Its has like 10M views while mash opening have over 31M views. Both openings are great but the fact that this new one piece opening have so low viewers hurts my eyes. One piece openings are so overlooked imo.

I can't imagine megumi ishitani working on story boards on the Moro arc, that would be crazy.

she is the most valuable aset of toei animation, everything she work on become the most iconic animation

u seem to forget that budget is a key factor. because of budget, there are more than one studio working on one piece. having more studios = more time = better quality

Next One piece movie with director Megumi Ishitani would be so hype

Damn. I've never really thought abt the symbolism behind the dusk representing Roger's era ending and the dawn representing Luffy's beginning. That adds somuch to the scene.

Absolutely fell in love with this opening. It literally brought tears to my eyes. It really encapsulates the journey of the straw hats and really hypes up the final saga. I can't get enough!

Imagine they were hired by Netflix/ WIT Studio to work on the one piece remake The One Piece. It would be incredible.

I started watching one piece because of this opening, it's so good

This is my favorite opening in a REALLY long time. This is like… almost it on ON PAR with We Are opening 1

shes just goated like that 1015 was imo the best one peice episode ever and this opening is now most ppls favorite SHES AMAZING

The opening gives me goosebumps almost every other episode its absolutely incredible..

I learned a few things, I learned who this amazing talented person is, how she does it, story boards, and another reason to love one piece and everyone in it!

finally someone pointed out the enormus genius of the animators and artist overall , i just recenty caugth up to one piece and i get everthing you're talking about its a masterpeice of the opening ever made in anime history , not only it imbodies the the true sprit of one piece ,but also the art of animation and story telling itself , to me its quit frankly the pinnacle of visual arts.

These videos more focused on the production are super interesting! Keep it up!

Literally man this opening is so good that i downloaded it and am trying to learn each shot by by breaking it down frame by frame in the editing software!!! Megumi Ishitani san is sooo good with what she does!!

Fricking love Ishitani, she brought me back to the anime, she gave me hope that this unbereable adaption can still have amazing episodes! I'm the type of guy, I really can't watch post Shabondy (1st go) to end of Wano... Really so many things always just annoy me when watching One Piece (so far Egg Head holds up very well but I'm just waiting for the fall back 'cause it's just impossible to keep the quality on a weekly basis) Ishitani finally brings an artistic vision to the production like you showed throughout the video. It's not just "close up-3 frames for the mouth-face to face dialogues" and it's so good! Masami Mori has the perfect artstyle for One Piece, it's bubbly and dynamic while not compromising on action and drama! With those 2, less is more, the solid colors and minimal lineart and shadows does the series really good!

imagine mori and ishitani working on the cosmic garou fight for One Punch Man.

One Piece, quite apparently, means a lot to Ishitani. One Piece the manga is a singular work by a singular man; One Piece the anime is the work of One Piece's greatest appreciators.

Great video! I would love it if you made more videos surrounding the production of anime because it’s a topic I’m not very knowledgeable on and unsure of how to learn more

There’s skill, talent and vision. Those with all of them work for the best and others become auteurs. Who know’s maybe they’ll start a studio! 👍🏾

THERE IS NO OTHER DIRECTOR LIKE MEGUMI ISHITANI, SHE’S THE GOAT FRRRR 🔥🔥🔥

Ishitani and Mori's work on 1015 created a shift in One Piece's creative direction. Even before Egghead arc's noticable stylistic change, Toei has been sprinkling more incredible and stylistic animations in One Piece. It's incredible how one episode of One Piece was able to make a lot, like A LOT of people go "wait, you mean Toei has this kind of talents all along?". As the video mentioned, Toei has helped raised a lot of talented people in the industry and i hope that the consumer's reaction to 1015 is enough of a wake up call for Toei to start give creative outlet for their talents. I know it's hopeful thinking, but hey who knows. Anime is becoming more and more prevalent in mainstream conciousness, maybe Toei will see the profit of expanding their library of original IPs

give megumi ishitani kuma's entire backstory. I want to see that come to life. because I know that she'd be so good at putting the emotion that oda was feeling writing it into her own work.

ive never watched one piece but fell in love with this new OP when i saw a clip of it on twitter. then i watched this video for more context and i wanted to learn about its director. then at 19:28 i got jumpscared by my favorite director ever, rie matsumoto! the second i heard the OST for kekkai sensen kick in along with the shot of leonardo watch running from below and him almost like "stepping" on the camera i literally cheered "YES" outloud and paused to write this comment

i can't even imagine how one goes about directing something like this! i can't even explain simple things to my friends

Something I appreciate is the amazing rotational movements. 2:40, 2:45, 2:55, (3:24 notice the change in direction as well)

Another factor you could mention owing to Ishitani’s greatness is how certain scenes in the opening work extremely well with the actual song. For example, the scene showcasing all the matchups and how they transition one by one matches very well with Kitadani’s vocals at that instant.

I don't quite agree with one of your concluding statements, to have Toe hand off more of the series as a whole to her. I think they are using her on great pinnacles, not just small projects, because the work she does requires more effort and time than other projects do. Giving her these peaks is amazing, and if their reason to keep her there only is to help her not burn out then I am happy to keep this cadence.

"I think that there are more colors in this opening than in the goddamn rainbow." has to be the best way to describe this way and Megumi's work lmao

opening so beautiful it made me cry during the video