Update: In a week time, the much awaited One Piece 3D2Y episode will be aired! Watch the official trailer and three other previews released! Watch them below!
1st preview:
2nd preview:
3rd preview:
4th preview:
Official trailer:
Could One Piece fans ask for more? Aside from the manga's current, action-packed Dressrosa Arc which might be nearing its conclusion, Mangaka Eiichiro Oda confirmed an anime special is in full steam ahead which will cover the two year time skip!
The One Piece television anime series is getting a two-hour special next month as part of the show's 15th anniversary celebrations. The "One Piece '3D2Y' Ace no Shi wo Koete! Luffy Nakama to no Chikai" (One Piece '3D2Y' Overcome Ace's Death! The Oath With Luffy's Crewmates) special will air on August 30 from 9 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. on Fuji TV stations.
According to Anime News Network, The "mysterious episode" will be a completely new work that will have content not previously shown in the anime or the manga. The special will focus on the "3D2Y" code that Luffy's crewmates must decipher, and will take place during the Straw Hat crew's two-year training period. The special will also feature Luffy's secret haki training with Rayleigh.
Toei Animation producer Hiroyuki Sakurada said that the special will not just include Rayleigh and Hancock, but also Buggy, Mr. 3, Mihawk, Perona, and Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu), among others. Original manga creator Eiichiro Oda will design a new enemy character, Bandy World, who will have the ability of the "Moa Moa" fruit. Bandy World escaped from the sixth level of Impel Down during the Marineford battle, and he is now shocking the world with his former crew by taking out Marine battleships and prominent pirates one by one. The World Government summons the Seven Warlords to take care of World, but he manages to capture them. Now World has his sights set on Boa Hancock. Oda also provided a comment on the new special, nothing that at the end of the special, "a must-see surprise for fans is waiting."
Since Luffy's haki training was mentioned, Oda was asked if fans will finally get to see the much awaited gear fourth, if there's actually any. He simply stated with a smile "it's for you to find out".
It is worth noting that Gear Second was actually first introduced in the fifth movie. He even mentioned that he's been saving it for a while and was eager to test it out. By the events of CP 9 Luffy has already mastered Gear 3rd. and was about to go into gear 3rd while fighting Bueno but soon realized he didn't need to. But it wasn't until Luffy saw the CP9 using their techniques that he learned (from watching their movements) that he could apply their techniques to his Gear 2nd form, making it more useful.
See video below:
As of writing, Luffy is about to face Doflamingo. It is plausible that in two months, fans will get to see Luffy's much-awaited new technique without the special spilling any beans.
