One Piece New Year Special: Special Report - Secret of the Straw Hat Pirates!

"One Piece New Year Special: Secret of the Straw Hat Pirates!" is the 2nd episode recap of the One Piece anime.

Short Summary
This is the second recapitulation episode, covering how each member of the Straw Hat Pirates (up to Nico Robin) joined the crew. It covers events from Romance Dawn Arc, Orange Town Arc, Syrup Village Arc, Baratie Arc, Arlong Park Arc, Drum Island Arc, Arabasta Arc, and Water 7 Arc, and ends as Aqua Laguna is about to hit Water 7.

Long Summary
The episode opens with the Straw Hat Pirates, mostly dressed in traditional Japanese New Year garb, wishing the viewer a happy new year. Nami announces that they will be going over how each member joined the crew, when suddenly the backdrop they were using falls on top of them, and the opening begins playing.

Luffy pops out of a barrel aboard the Alvida Pirates' ship, and quickly gets into a fight with various crewmembers. He swiftly defeats them, announcing himself to be Monkey D. Luffy, and a flashback to his time with Shanks begins.

He yells at Shanks for allowing himself to be attacked by the Mountain Bandits, stating that he's not a real man, and eats the Gomu Gomu no Mi. Shanks tries to get him to spit it out, holding him upside down, and Luffy mysteriously stretches to the floor. Shanks then explains that Luffy ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi, a Devil Fruit that turns the user into rubber and removes his ability to swim. Luffy is then shown out in the ocean, nearly eaten by the Lord of the Coast, when Shanks saves him, sacrificing his arm in the process. The Red Hair Pirates are then shown leaving Foosha Village, and Shanks gives Luffy his Straw Hat, promising to meet again once Luffy's become a great pirate.

In Shells Town, Roronoa Zoro is tied to a pole in an empty lot. Luffy, having heard of his skills as a swordsman, is looking for him to join his newly founded pirate crew. He and Koby found Zoro, but he refused to be rescued, stating that he would stay tied up for a full month. Morgan then arrives, threatening to remove Luffy, and Zoro thinks back to his childhood.

Zoro challenges Kuina to their 2001st fight, and the first with real swords. Like all their other fights, she quickly defeats him, but then she begins crying about being a woman, stating that she will never be able to compete with men. Zoro gets angry, stating that he's a man and he still can't beat her, and they promise that in the future, one of them will become the World's Greatest Swordsman. The next morning, Zoro is informed that Kuina has died, and he asks to have her katana, swearing to become the World's Greatest Swordsman for both their sakes.

Back in the modern day, Zoro is nearly shot by the Marines but is saved by Luffy, who frees him and returns his swords. Zoro agrees to join Luffy's crew, but states that he will prioritize his mission above Luffy's, which Luffy agrees to. Luffy, Koby, and Zoro manage to fight off the Marines, successfully defeating Morgan.

Out on the sea, Nami steals the Tightrope Walking Funan Bros' boat, leaving them with only a dinghy in a storm, where they quickly capsize. Later, in Orange Town, she witnesses Luffy defeat two members of the Buggy Pirates and helps him get something to eat. She mentions that she's saving up for 100,000,000, and that Buggy is currently in control of this town. When Luffy discovers that she's a navigator, he asks her to join his crew, but she gets angry and states that she detests pirates.

Nami ties up Luffy and hands him over to Buggy, asking to join his crew. However, she is unwilling to shoot Luffy with a cannon, revealing her lies to Buggy. Another crewmember goes to light the cannon, but Nami stops him and is attacked by the pirates, though Zoro saves her. Chouchou is then shown standing guard outside the Pet Shop, and Luffy gives him food, stating that it was all he could recover and making Nami willing to work him temporarily, despite him being a pirate. Later, Nami successfully catches most of Buggy's body, and Luffy sends him flying off the island, successfully freeing Orange Town.

Usopp runs up the Syrup Village main road, yelling about a pirate attack. However, nobody reacts, and it's revealed that Usopp was lying. The residents of the village run outside, angry, and he quickly runs out of town laughing. Luffy, Nami, and Zoro are then shown outside Kaya's house, and Tamanegi explains that Usopp sneaks in to tell the owner stories, since she's sick. Later, Luffy and Usopp overheard Kuro's plan to kill Kaya and steal everything she owns, but when Usopp tries to warn her, she doesn't believe him, assuming he's just lying like usual. Dejected, Usopp asks the Straw Hats for help stopping Kuro, and they agree.

The next day, Usopp is swiftly defeated by Kuro. Luffy angrily begins fighting him. In the forest leading to the fight, Jango is preparing to hypnotize Kaya, but he is interrupted by Ninjin, Tamanegi, and Piiman, which allows Usopp to snipe Jango and rescue Kaya. At the same time, Luffy defeats Kuro, smashing his head into the ground. Usopp then tearfully disbands the Usopp Pirates and prepares to leave the island, and ends up leaving as a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. As he leaves, Usopp thinks back to his sick mother, and how he used to yell about pirates to bring her hope that his father was returning.

The Straw Hat Pirates later arrive at the Baratie, the floating restaurant. While there, Luffy asks Sanji to join the crew, which he promptly refuses. They are later attacked by the Krieg Pirates, and while fighting Pearl, Sanji thinks back to when Zeff saved his life.

After attacking the Orbit, Zeff dove underwater during a storm to save Sanji, sacrificing his leg in the process, and ending up stranded on an island. During the time there, Zeff secretly gave Sanji all the food they had, and they both nearly starved to death. However, at the last minute, Sanji managed to flag down a passing ship, allowing them both to survive. Back on the Baratie, Luffy manages to defeat Krieg, and Sanji agrees to join his crew. They leave with a tearful goodbye to the chefs of the Baratie, to chase down Nami, who has stolen their boat.

Nami has returned to Arlong Park, where she has actually been a pirate member of the Arlong Pirates all along. While with her sister, she thinks back to her childhood. She remembers how one day, Bell-mère was giving Nojiko's old clothes to Nami, and during an argument, Nami stated that they weren't truly family since her and Nojiko were adopted. She ran away from home, but when in Cocoyashi Village she calmed down. As Nojiko came down to the village to bring her home, the Arlong Pirates attacked. They demand 50,000 for every child and 100,000 for every adult, and Genzo plans to take advantage of the fact that Nami and Nojiko aren't home by only having Bell-mère pay for one adult, since she can't also afford two kids. However, she pays for Nami and Nojiko instead, stating that she can't bring herself to hide their existence, and is killed by Arlong for being unable to pay for herself. Nami later joins the Arlong Pirates, and reveals to Nojiko that Arlong agreed to sell her Cocoyashi Village for 100,000,000.

Back in the modern day, Nami's stash of money is raided by Nezumi, who's being paid off by Arlong. Nami goes to complain to Arlong, who only laughs at her, and she returns to Cocoyashi Village, where the residents are preparing to rebel against Arlong. She tries to stop them, but they refuse, stating that he's finally gone too far. Nami begins stabbing her Arlong tattoo out of pure despair, and finally asks Luffy for help, which he instantly accepts. He quickly defeats Arlong, and Nami officially joins the crew.

Luffy finally achieves his first bounty, 30,000,000, and the Straw Hats enter the Grand Line.

Much later, Nami falls sick, and the crew has to stop at Drum Island for a doctor. Luffy and Sanji bring her to the top of a mountain to meet the only doctor in the kingdom, Kureha, and she is able to treat Nami. While there, they meet Tony Tony Chopper, the user of the Hito Hito no Mi, and Nami asks him to join the crew, though he refuses. He thinks back to when he was shunned by humans, and how Hiriluk was the only person who treated him well, as well as his death. However, after Luffy defeats Wapol, Chopper agrees to join the crew.

The Straw Hats finally make it to Arabasta. Nico Robin reads a Poneglyph for Crocodile, but as she does not divulge the information that he wants, he deems her useless and stabs her, leaving her on the floor. Later, Luffy manages to defeat Crocodile, which results in the building collapsing. In spite of her pleas to let her die, he saves Robin from the rubble. When the Straw Hats later leave Arabasta, Vivi stays behind to continue her duties as princess. As they sail out, they see Robin on board, and she asks to join the crew, which Luffy accepts.

Much later, the Straw Hats land on Water 7, and Robin betrays them, attempting to assassinate Iceburg. However, she informs him that she's doing it so that the World Government will not target them, which relieves the Straw Hats. She leaves the island with CP9, but the Straw Hats vow to chase her down and rescue her. Nami prepares to rescue her, wondering where Luffy is, and he's shown to be stuck between two buildings.

Anime Notes

 * While this recap reuses footage from the anime, it cuts out many important scenes, to the point where without prior knowledge of the series it would not make any sense. The most basic information is given via narrator, but it's not enough to function as a coherent story. Some examples of cut content include:
 * Luffy searching for Zoro's swords, and the reason why Zoro is tied up
 * Koby staying behind on Shells Town
 * Cabaji, Mohji, and almost the entire fight against Buggy, as well as his flashback with Shanks
 * Kuro's role as Klahadore, any details of his plan other than to kill Kaya and steal her fortune, and his entire fight
 * The introduction of Johnny and Yosaku
 * Dracule Mihawk and the Krieg Pirates arriving at the Baratie, as well as the explanation for why they're fighting against the Krieg Pirates
 * Nami stealing the Going Merry
 * Zoro and Usopp following Nami, and any of the Straw Hat Pirates landing at Cocoyashi Village
 * Nojiko meeting the Straw Hats and telling them about Arlong, and Usopp being fake-killed by Nami
 * All the fights against the Arlong Pirates except for Luffy's final blow against Arlong, as well as any context to why the Arlong Pirates want to keep Nami
 * The Loguetown, Reverse Mountain, Whiskey Peak, and Little Garden Arcs are completely skipped
 * This includes the Straw Hats meeting Nefertari Vivi, as well as their goal to get to Arabasta and the existence of Baroque Works
 * The Straw Hats landing on Drum Island and finding out about Kureha
 * Sanji and Luffy climbing to Kureha's castle
 * All of Chopper's flashback except for meeting Hiriluk, giving him the Amiudake mushroom, and Hiriluk's death
 * The entire Arabasta Arc except for Luffy's last few hits against Crocodile, him saving Robin and Cobra, and the rain starting to pour
 * The introduction of Kokoro and the Sea Trains
 * The introduction of the Galley-La Company, it's shipwrights, and Iceburg
 * The Going Merry's damage, the existence of the Franky Family and Franky, and Usopp's fight with Luffy
 * Sanji leaving on the Puffing Tom, and the existence of Aqua Laguna
 * The special included a trailer for The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle, which released a few months after this aired.