REVIEW: ‘Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation’ Is A Worthy Prequel To ‘One Piece’

Spoiler Warning: This review contains some spoilers 

Before Eiichiro Oda created his hit series, One Piece, he wrote and illustrated several one-shot manga. In 1994, he made the one-shot Monsters, which directly connects to One Piece. Now, thirty years later, Oda’s original story about a samurai with the heart of a true warrior comes to life again through an Original Netflix Anime adaptation, Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation (Monsutāzu Ippaku Sanjō Hiryū Jigoku).

Sunghoo Park, known for his work on Jujutsu Kaisen and God of High School, serves as the director. E&H Production produces the one-shot animation, and Takashi Kojima serves as the character designer, while Fuminao Akai is the art director. The music, composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi, is produced by Takeki Kobayashi.

The voice cast of Monsters 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation features Yoshimasa Hosoya as Ryuma, Kana Hanazawa as Flare, Hiroki Tōchi as Shirano (also spelled as Cyrano), Mitsuaki Madono as D.R., Katsuhito Nomura as Master, and Kazuya Nakai as Zoro.

In Monsters 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation, Ryuma, a traveling samurai, lives in a world threatened by dragons unleashing catastrophic destruction wherever they go. Ryuma is on a quest to find the person known as “The King” and challenge him to a fight. Through a series of circumstances and misunderstandings, Ryuma sets out to defeat a dragon and save a village.

Beyond its role as an entertaining standalone story, Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation is a compelling prelude to the One Piece narrative as we know it today. Offering more profound insights into Ryuma, a character that lived hundreds of years before and is of significant importance in the land of Wano and to Zoro’s lineage, this one-shot anime highlights the expansive storytelling potential within the One Piece universe.

This one-shot goes beyond centering the familiar tales of Luffy and his crew or the pursuit of the One Piece treasure. Monsters demonstrate a capacity to explore other diverse and captivating narratives within the franchise, showcasing the richness and versatility inherent in the franchise.

The animation, musical score, and overall production quality of Monsters are commendable. The anime particularly excels in its brief yet impactful action sequences. It’s worth noting that the animation and character designs are equally impressive. The animators have showcased exceptional skill in bringing diverse settings to life. Granted, this anime is based on a one-shot manga, so it will come to no one’s surprise that it is so short at only 25 minutes long. It feels more like a short film, but it will leave people, especially One Piece fans, wanting more.

Ryuma is your typical Shonen main character. He can be a bit brash and possesses unwavering determination even in the face of various challenges. Like any Shonen hero, Ryuma is on a dream that drives him forward. Ryuma is on a quest to find and defeat “The King,” the most renowned swordsman in the world. However, little does Ryuma know that people all over refer to him as “Ryuma The King” for his legendary sword skills and impressive feats. This twist reveals that the person he’s been seeking to defeat is, in fact, himself, the greatest swordsman.

Ryuma’s story resembles Zoro’s pursuit of becoming the world’s greatest swordsman in One Piece. The parallel journeys of these two characters, both driven by an unwavering commitment to mastering the art of the sword, add depth to their connection. Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation enriches the narrative by shedding light on Ryuma’s quest, offering newfound meaning to Zoro’s poignant encounter with him at Thriller Bark. This revelation implies that Ryuma, even in death, sought out the next greatest swordsman, found and faced defeat at the hands of Zoro, marking a profound passing of the torch in the world of swordsmanship.

Overall, the adaptation stays true to the source, with one exception towards the end. The story briefly flashes to a moment in the Thriller Bark Arc when Ryuma gives his sword to Zoro after their duel. Zoro and Ryuma’s exchange was a beautiful way to tie in Monsters and reaffirm that it is canon to One Piece. Furthermore, it was a great nod to Zoro’s connection to Ryuma as his ancestor and a legendary swordsman of Wano. Zoro’s accepting Ryuma’s sword represents that he, too, has the heart of a true warrior and carries on Ryuma’s spirit.

The voice cast performances in Monsters are excellent. Although audiences can go wrong watching this anime in Japanese sub or English dub. It is worth noting that the English voice actor for Ryuma, Robbie Daymond, imparts somewhat of a laid-back and youthful tone to the character, creating a distinct vibe. In contrast, the Japanese voice actor Yoshimasa Hosoya adds a touch of seriousness while still capturing a young and playful essence, showcasing the versatility of the character across different language interpretations.

Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnations is concise viewing; it is worth a watch, especially for anyone who calls themself a One Piece fan. Monsters are expertly realized by director Sunghoo Park, the talented animation team, and voice casts. Although the action is few and far between, this anime is a captivating standalone tale that will leave fans wanting to know more about Ryuma’s past.

Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnations is now streaming on Netflix.