After struggling for the first three films with ridiculously swift pacing, and with some rough edges in the fourth time around, it's gratifying that this fifth makes a strong impression from the outset. Quite quickly after the picture begins we're given a compelling story with a deepening mystery, and a scenario facing the Straw Hat Pirates that feels fresh and especially perilous. In a long-running series where the survival of our heroes is commonly assured, to some degree diminishing satisfaction as the stakes are lowered, the harrowing circumstances here are refreshing as a viewer. With this in mind, too - even as we get the reliable mix of hearty adventure, exciting action, and lighthearted comedy that is a chief staple of 'One Piece,' this rather tends to carry itself with a darker, more dramatic tone befitting the course of events. Possibly more than was the case even in the prior features, the writing comes across as more confident and solid in 'The cursed holy sword,' including more dynamic scene writing, more polished characterizations, and sharp dialogue. While mostly a matter of opinion, it's not unfair to suggest that this is the best and most well-rounded movie in the franchise up to this point.
We have writer Suga Yoshiyuki to thank for all the welcome strength of the narrative, and as the length draws on the early impression the flick made is only confirmed, to my pleasure. Ponderous, meaningful themes and real emotional weight are layered atop complicated characters, and even with a very satisfying, absorbing tale there remains plentiful variety in the telling. And still the excellence in this 2004 piece extends well beyond the writing alone; in all other regards we get everything we want out of the series, and it's all as fantastic here as we'd hope. This includes the rich original music of Tanaka Kohei and Hamaguchi Shiro, adding terrific complement to mood or scene both light and grim, and the expressive, spirited performances of the voice cast. Fukumitsu Shinichi's editing seems notably keen to me, and in terms of the quality of both the audio and the fundamental image, the 'One Piece' films have never been better. All this is surely also a credit to filmmaker Takenochi Kazuhisa, tying all the pieces together as director more tightly than was the case for either of his forebears.
Naturally, however, it's the animation that stands out most alongside the writing, and as if we'd ever anticipate anything less, the work that Toei Animation turned in here is simply marvelous. It's not that the visual experience in 'The cursed holy sword' is special per se - but as we see time and again all over the place, Japanese animation studios can boast of a mastery that their counterparts elsewhere can mostly only dream of. As with the writing, I dare say that the artists have topped themselves with this fifth installment, as most every facet of the animation is a step up from what came before. The backgrounds and environments are truly gorgeous, and character designs have never looked better. The same goes for all other active elements for that matter, including luscious effects and fast-paced action sequences, and there is even more detail and texture in all this than we've seen before. The use of lighting, shading, and color is extra smart in this title, further enhancing the joy of the viewing experience, and brief use of alternative art styles is itself pretty clever. I can't overstate how deeply pleased I am with how superb 'The cursed holy sword' looks.
Honestly, short of invoking even more recent anime movies, like Shinkai Makoto's 'Your name' or Hosoda Mamoru's 'Belle,' I wonder if this isn't some of the best animation I've seen from the industry stalwarts. And with utterly outstanding writing that surpasses the norms of a franchise renowned for its highfalutin, humor-laden larks, it's safe to say that the sum total handily beats my expectations. I could understand how some audience members might be turned off by the significantly darker tenor in this picture that broaches dark fantasy or arguably even outright horror, but that's a big part of what makes it earnestly thrilling as every odd and end rises to the same level. We even get to see every character demonstrate their capabilities to an extent that isn't routinely the case for such fare. As far as I'm concerned the result is a tremendous 'One Piece' feature in which every last aspect has come together flawlessly for the first time. Stark, violent, but nevertheless balanced, and wonderfully engrossing all the while, I couldn't be happier with how good 'The cursed holy sword' is, and I'm glad to give it my high, hearty, and enthusiastic recommendation!
