Monkey D. Luffy is a carefree young pirate with big dreams and a body made of rubber. He may begin his journey to fame inexplicably stuffed inside a floating barrel, but one day he plans to become the Pirate King. No self-respecting pirate king would be caught dead without a crew—or more accurately, would be killed if he didn't have one—so Luffy is on the lookout for skilled partners who will share his dream.
One Piece - Season 1 Part 1 Uncut (DVD) 2008-05-27 (from $24.49)
One Piece - Season 1 Part 2 (DVD) 2008-09-23 (from $25.49)
One Piece - Season 1 Part 3 (DVD) 2009-01-20 (from $26.99)
One Piece - Season 1 Part 4 (DVD) 2009-03-31 (from $30.03)
As for those who are susceptible to that mixture, or even just think that they might be: get ready for a boatload of fun. Without doubt the series is still in its introductory phase, going through the usual Shonen Jump steps of establishing its hero's dream and expounding upon the importance of friendship. You can actually see the series finding its path as the story arcs grow progressively longer and more involved. The first two villains do little more than provide a chance to introduce Luffy and Zoro. The Buggy fight sets the series' precedent for battles that are simultaneously tense and hilarious, but inexplicably relies on a dog for its emotional core. It's the Captain Kuro arc that finally sees One Piece commanding all of the qualities that make it such addictive viewing: brutal fights with high, carefully constructed stakes, a villain that is both unspeakably cool and utterly vile, an inventive sense of humor, and an ability to ground itself in intense emotion. Plus, in true shounen style, it ends the set with a killer cliffhanger.