Now for the big guns
The year was 2004 (alot happened during those year) me and my family went to Pensacola, Florida for a Big Family Reunion party with my cousins and other family members at there house. Which means lots of eating, playing and a whole lot of talking, by the time it was night time everyone said there goodbyes with hugs and kisses and went back home; except for us my family can stay in for tonigh, which means slumber party for us: eating a bunch of snacks like s'more, watching TV and Movies and playing Super Smash Bros Melee on the GameCube. It was a blast, when I gone to the kitchen to grab some Mug rootbeer the kitchen tv was still on and it was playing 4Kids and it about to premiere there licensed new series: One Piece.
That's right, I've heard about One Piece because of 4KIDS. And as little me was watching I thought it the coolest thing ever (at the time...) and I sat down and watch 2 episode of the series and was hooked! I starstuck by the Action and comedy from it's colorful world, crazy characters and outrageous powers, it had everything and As we went back home I've gone to work, I watched every 4KIDS episode just to keep up and that freakin cheesy yet, catchy theme song was all in my head all school year. At the end of 2004 and beginning of 2005 I stop keeping up with the episodes (I think I stopped on the end of Alabasta arc) I've decided to go to the Library and see if they have the manga and they did! So I checked out about six volumes and was ready to read them at home and once I did, I. was. surprised of how much the the 4KIDS version had cut out and censored! From the story arc, the violence and even the name changed! I checked online about this and needless to say I was way behind because everyone else already knows about this and they REALLY hated it.
From that moment I promise myself to just keep on reading the manga, watch some AMVs and maybe find some fansubs of the original anime and make some friends in our pretty big sized Fandom. Through 2006-2007 it was a blast: seeing all the Cool, Beautiful and downright funny Fanart, seeing the wonderful AMVs and parodies like: sail on made by MandyLemons (My first One Piece AMV) and Owned Piece and Project Piece made by LC Lapen of the AP & K-F boards, including the amazing Cosplays and its ever so growing fandom with numbers to back that up as it became the the best selling manga during April/May 2007! All I can say is: I'm glad I join at the right time.
In 2009 which was the 10th anniversary for One Piece Anime they announced a new 10th film and just any film; its the first in the series to feature a story written by original author Eiichiro Oda. The whole fandom excited doesn't even scratch the surface, there were links, fan theories and a bunch of fan art of the first poster, and that not it, one of my favorite Japanese band was going to be in the movie: Mr.Children!! (Just little sneak peek on future posts: ive been listening to them since 2005) So seeing that almost feel like fate! Once it was December 12, 2009 and everyone hype up in japan and all japanese Movies theaters were full and pretty much sold out, while me and rest of the fans in America still waiting, until one day on December 23 2009 I saw a forum saying they downloaded the whole movie ready to download, I didn't believe it at first, but I did downloaded it on my laptop and load and behold; IT REAL, so at night: I made popcorn and some drinks, went to my bedroom and watch the full 720p Movie on a Christmas eve, it was the best. By 2010s and beyond I've caught up with the anime and manga and fandom just kept on growing.
As of right now in 2025, lot has changed: we got hit by the live action sickness (and it surprisingly well done) the animation keep on improving, there more merchandise than ever and the fandom has changed...for better or worse, so just ignore the negative and just listen, Like and buy all the positive work from the fans.
As of right now, spread love, raise your voice, stay woke, and stay golden! 💛
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