One Piece Episode 1146: Toei’s animation reaches new heights for the epic The Five Elders moment

One Piece Episode 1146 is one of those rare installments where everything just clicks. From the moment the episode began, you could feel that the chaos of Egghead Island was finally reaching cinematic levels of tension.

The usual pacing concerns didn’t vanish completely, but this time, they didn’t drag the story down. Instead, Toei Animation delivered a visual spectacle so intense that even the slowest moments carried dramatic weight.

After a short production break, Toei clearly came back with renewed energy. The return of veteran animator Akihiro Ota, who previously worked on the legendary Luffy vs. Katakuri fight, was the highlight of this episode.

Ota’s skill in morphing characters with exaggerated yet controlled movements made Luffy’s Gear 5 sequences shine once again. His animation style perfectly captured the balance between cartoonish freedom and intense battle choreography, something few animators can pull off. Every hit felt heavy, every transformation fluid, and the scale of destruction truly cinematic.

Luffy launching a Red Roc against Warcury and Frankie sending a Vice Admiral flying with a single punch are moments that looked as crisp as any movie scene. Toei wanted One Piece Episode 1146 to show the world how much love and sweat had gone into this final saga, and they nailed it.

The Five Elders step into the spotlight in One Piece Episode 1146

Perhaps the biggest highlight of One Piece Episode 1146 is how it completely redefines the Five Elders. No longer just shadowy figures behind the scenes, they have now entered the battlefield, each showcasing terrifying abilities.

This episode transforms them from political overseers into literal monsters, the kind that even a Yonko struggles against. Nusjuro, Warcury, and Mars each display otherworldly power. Warcury, in particular, takes a Gear 3 Red Roc like it is nothing, establishing him as one of the toughest characters we’ve seen, potentially even more durable than Kaido.

The animation makes him look unstoppable, a boar-headed behemoth that radiates primal fury. Meanwhile, Mars storms through Punk Records in a fit of destruction, giving the feeling that the entire island is doomed once these immortals go all out.

What makes their portrayal special is the balance of menace and strategy. They are not just brute forces; they are acting with intent, closing in from all directions while cutting off every escape route for the Straw Hats.

For the first time, the World Government feels like an unstoppable god-tier entity rather than a distant threat. With the Five Elders actively hunting Vegapunk’s broadcast, it is clear that Egghead’s chaos has entered its deadliest phase.

Franky, Bonnie, and the Straw Hats steal the show

Beyond the Elders’ dominance, One Piece Episode 1146 gave several Straw Hats and allies their own standout moments. Franky’s “Strong Right” punch that sends Vice Admiral Red King into orbit instantly became a fan-favorite sequence.

It is refreshing to see the Straw Hats’ secondary members shine during an arc filled with godlike enemies. Even the comic relief moments, like Luffy eating hakarl (fermented shark meat) to recharge after Gear 5 exhaustion, landed perfectly.

One Piece Episode 1146 ends with the entire island on the brink of disaster, teasing that whatever Vegapunk is about to reveal could shake the world to its core.

Final thoughts

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From Warcury tanking Luffy’s Red Roc to Franky’s knockout punch, the One Piece Episode 1146 delivers nonstop spectacle while deepening the lore surrounding the Five Elders.

The final saga of One Piece is finally moving with purpose, and if this episode is any indication, we are heading into one of the most visually and emotionally gripping stretches the anime has ever seen.

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