One Piece: How Gear 5 becomes the best transformation in Shonen history

One Piece’s Gear 5 breaks the internet with its two latest episodes as it becomes the best transformation in Shonen history.

One Piece is currently featuring its highly-anticipated Gear 5 transformation, where Luffy attains the powers of Sun God Nika. The battle is intense, and with the burden of Wano’s future resting on his shoulders, Luffy spares no effort to take down the notorious Yonko Kaido.

One Piece is the only anime to crash Crunchyroll servers two weeks in a row, and even now, the hype doesn’t seem to die down at all. Gear 5 will air for four more episodes before finally wrapping up.

As the series continues to break records, fans can’t help but adore the animation and the goofy appearance of their favorite protagonist. In a lot of ways, Gear 5 in One Piece surpasses other Shonen transformations.

The significance of Luffy’s true powers

One Piece takes its sweet time with each arc and fight. The story has been going on for over 26 years, and fans have witnessed Luffy’s growth over the years. From Gear 2 to Gear 5, Luffy has come a long way and continues to strive for more. 

Gear 5 is the result of slowly developing Luffy’s powers to the point where he overpowers someone as strong as Kaido. Needless to say, this transformation is the perfect fit for someone like Luffy. No one else deserves the powers of the Sun God Nika, known as the Warrior of Liberation, other than Luffy. 

Ever since the series began, Luffy has put his life on the line to help others. From Arabasta to Wano, he has saved several kingdoms and islands, gathering allies down the road. As such, the part about Luffy being the Warrior of Liberation makes so much sense.

Comparing Gear 5 in One Piece with other Shonen transformations

Gear 5 in One Piece stays true to the purpose of Shonen transformations, where the protagonist is forced into a corner. When the hero’s powers prove ineffective against the villain, he will have some sort of awakening, dramatically improving their powers. However, there’s something about Gear 5 transformation that goes beyond that, something which no Shonen series has accomplished so far.

Whenever you think about Shonen transformations such as Goku’s Super Saiyan, Naruto’s Baryon mode, or even Ichigo’s Vasto Lorde, there’s one similarity in all of them – the seriousness of the fight. No doubt these are all iconic moments in their own way, but One Piece has a different approach to Gear 5. 

The initial idea behind introducing Gear 5 was to decrease the intensity of the Wano Country Saga. The fight between Gear 5 Luffy and Kaido is goofy and entertaining, which makes sense since it draws reference from the popular nostalgic cartoon Tom & Jerry. This is what sets the Gear 5 transformation apart from the others. 

Furthermore, the transformation reflects Luffy’s character development instead of focusing on just his strength. Whether it’s Super Saiyan or any other form, they all emphasize how the protagonist increases their powers and nothing else. However, Luffy’s Gear 5 centers around his ambitions, desire for freedom, and personality rather than the basic powers of the world. 

Luffy’s Gear 5 stands at the pinnacle among the crowd of shonen transformations, perfectly portraying what happens when cohesive character development blends with satisfying long-term buildup. By incorporating the growth of the future Pirate King, a fighter, a savior, and the protagonist, One Piece has set a high bar to compare Shonen transformation for years, or maybe even decades to come.

How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2023?

Crunchyroll is the world’s best hub for streaming anime, whether it’s One Piece, Attack on Titan, or Jujutsu Kaisen. Thanks to ExpressVPN, you can access the platform’s full library even if you’re outside the US.

If you’re abroad, here’s what you need to do to access Crunchyroll’s full selection – and it really is this simple:

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN, which has ultra-fast servers and offers a secure, private connection wherever you are in the world
2.  Connect to a location anywhere in the US; Express VPN allows you to choose from 24 different spots, from New Jersey to Santa Monica
3.  Visit Crunchyroll online and start streaming all of your favorite animes – and perhaps some you’ve never watched

Accessing Crunchyroll’s US roster makes a difference. For example, Hong Kong users only have access to less than 100 titles, while the US has nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows.

You can also stream anime on Crunchyroll for free with an ad-supported plan. Or you can pay for a subscription – there’s even a 14-day free trial if you can’t quite make up your mind.

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