Feb 19, 2025
A New Standard of Excellence for the 23-Minute Format
“Nami-san, you're my hope. In this world where power is everything, even if I get hurt and trampled on, I still want to struggle, run, and live as freely as I can. I came to think that way thanks to you.”
One Piece is a fictional world that faces many of the same issues that ours does: corrupted government, revision of history, censorship, unchecked greed, political unrest, poverty, sickness, and starvation. Fan Letter explores the individuals who inhabit that world, affected by its follies. What gives them hope? What gives them courage? What gives them empowerment? Just like
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us, in the world where One Piece is not reality, but a story, it is their heroes. In Fan Letter, I see an illustration of those like you and me — like our brothers, mothers, friends, and neighbors. Through the eyes of characters pushed around in a corrupt, hurting world, I find empowerment, hope, and the courage to keep living in my own corrupt, hurting world. That is the power of storytelling. That is the power of Fan Letter.
Megumi Ishitani is a directing marvel — peerless in her craft as far as I am concerned. I have watched Fan Letter three times now, reached an emotional catharsis I can only describe as nirvana, and noticed new details which add to that experience each time. For those overwhelmed by the pace and depth of Fan Letter, rewatching is its own reward. You will get something new out of it every time, your love for One Piece renewed. The animation and artwork itself powers the story to its fullest potential, adding to the visual depth and joy of a story which could be moving all on its own. I would be remiss not to mention the abject artfulness of the story on top of its narrative, but that could be a review all on its own.
The ultimate recommendation I have for those interested in watching (or re-watching) is to keep in mind two meanings of “fan” and “One Piece”: what they mean in the story, and what they mean to us as fans of the show. Beautifully illustrated as puzzle pieces, the characters using their “one piece” to complete an unseen puzzle. These serve as “ah-ha” moments for the characters involved; a moment where their place in the world comes into crystal clear perspective as an action — there is something they can do or become to make the world a better place. Incidentally, these are actions which aid the Straw Hats in their journey. The implication is that there is power in the small acts of good we do — the ripple effects of self-actualization and standing up for brief moments of goodness and bravery add up to the wave which is the dawn of a New Era of peace and prosperity in their world.
The narrative encourages us to consider — what is our “one piece”? Have you experienced that moment yet, or will you be encouraged to look at your life with new eyes, eager to discover it? Will you, like me, feel overwhelmed with gratitude for stories like One Piece, that encourage us to be better humans in our own world each day? It is my deepest wish for everyone to experience the power of this piece of media, and find their own power within it as well.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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