Episode 279

Statics

 * Air Date: 2006-10-01 (Funi DVD:)
 * Opening: We Are ~7 Strawhat Pirates variant~ (7th Opening)
 * Manga Chapters:
 * Funimation Title:
 * NOTE: The first Straw Hat Theatre episode, Chopperman, aired with this episode

Short Summary (Episode 279)
Luffy's past is shown as we are introduced to his hero, the man who gave him the straw hat, Shanks. Shanks and his crew stand up to a group of bandits in the town as young Luffy is taken by the bandits' leader and thrown into the water, where he cannot swim due to his Devil Fruit.

Short Summary (Chopperman)
Everyone's hero "Chopperman" and his lovely assistant Namifia do battle with the evil Usodabada, Onigiri mystery man Zorokiller, Mystery Flower woman Robiflowan, and the Perverted Monster Sanjilops with his talking robot, the "Giant Luffy Bomber"!