Warning: Contains spoilers for the One Piece manga beyond the anime
One Piece’s latest episode has finally adapted the moment fans have been eagerly awaiting, revealingImu and the Five Elders' monstrous transformationsand putting the debate aboutImu’s true formto rest at last. The newest episode finally concludes the climactic confrontation between King Cobra and Imu and the Five Elders, with the anime finally settling a highly debated topic about the scene.
Episode #1119 ofOne Piecefinally reveals Imu’s true form, confirming that thelarge silhouette seen atop the stair leading to the throne in chapter #1085 is indeed Imu. As seen in the manga, the monstrous silhouette now confirmed to be Imu has large hands, an arrow-ended tail, and a large mouth with spiky teeth.
Though the manga left fans unsure about whether the silhouette’s owner was Imu or one of the Five Elders until the final half of the Egghead Arc, the anime’s newest episode makes it quite clear that it is in fact Imu who transforms into the sixth silhouetteseen in the throne room. That said, it is difficult to say for sure what Imu’s true appearance may end up being, withImu’s unique voice in the recent episodes ofOne Piececreating more questions rather than answers about their true identity.
One Piece Finally Clears Up the Confusion About Imu’s Transformation
Chapter #1085 Initially Left Fans Divided
While this may not be the first timeOne Piece’s anime has clarified something better than the manga did, this particular instance sparked quite a heated debate among fans which wasonly recently resolved by the manga when theFive Elders finally arrived at Eggheadand revealed their true forms.
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The main reason the silhouettes caused quite a bit of confusion when chapter #1085 was first released is that the dark silhouettes mostly blended into each other. While the anime distinguishes between them by giving each silhouette a red outer glow, it was difficult to tell the six different shadows apart in the manga. The panel ofSabo standing over King Cobra in particular was quite misleading, as it seemed like there were only four silhouettes surrounding Sabo, with the one at the top of the throne room being the fifth.
Episode #1119 has avoided any such confusion, confirming that Imu also possesses a transformation that could be just as fearsome as the Five Elders.
The silhouette of Saint Ju Peter’s worm-like form and Imu’s transformation were quite similar, making it difficult to distinguish the two from each other. As such, many alsoargued that the silhouette at the top belonged to one of the Five Elders and not Imu, though it was difficult to believe that one of them had managed to move across the room in a split second. Fortunately, episode #1119 has avoided any such confusion, confirming that Imu also possesses a transformation that could be just as fearsome as the Five Elders.
What Could Imu’s Real Form Be?
Episode #1119 Hints Imu Could Really Be An Umibozu
While there are countless theories aboutImu’s real identity inOne Piece, one of the most popular ones is that Imu could be an umibozu, a sea demon from Japanese folklore, and Imu’s silhouette in episode #1119 seemingly supports this theory. Not only does Imu’s silhouette bear a striking resemblance to an umibozu but it would also make perfect sense for Imu’s true form to also be modeled after a yokai like the Five Elders.
That said, Eiichiro Oda is clearly saving the revelation of Imu’s true appearance for a big epic reveal and until then it is anyone’s guess as to what Imu’s true form could be. All the same,One Piece’s newest episodes have done an excellent job of establishing Imu’s terrifying presence going into the Final Saga, perfectly setting them up as the enigmatic yet intimidating final antagonist of the series.
One Pieceis available from Netflix and Crunchyroll.
One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history’s longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix’s 2023 adaptation.
