Hello, anime fans! I hope you’re all still feeling the gear 5 energy. If you’ve been part of this community for a while, you know that certain moments in anime history don’t just change the plot— they shut down servers.
We often debate who the “GOAT” is, but when it comes to internet-breaking moments, two names stand above the rest: Goku and Luffy.
The Standard: Goku’s Super Saiyan (1989)
Even if you haven’t watched Dragon Ball, you know the legend. I’ve known about Goku since I was a child, and his influence is undeniable.
To understand the magnitude of anime hype, we have to look back at 1989. This was the day Goku revealed his Super Saiyan form. The hype was so massive that streaming services like literally crashed. The bandwidth couldn’t handle the global surge of fans rushing to witness the tournament of power. It set the benchmark for what a “viral anime moment” looks like.
The Challenger: The Drums of Liberation (August 2023)
Fast forward to August 2023. The question on everyone’s mind was: Could One Piece do it again?
For months, manga readers had been whispering about the “Drums of Liberation” and the return of Joy Boy. The anticipation for August 6, 2023, was electric. Social media was flooded with countdowns, fan art, and the declaration that the King of Pirates was about to ascend.
Did it break the internet? Absolutely. When Episode 1071 aired, history repeated itself.
- Streaming Crashes: Just like in 2017, Crunchyroll and other streaming sites struggled to keep up with the traffic.
- Social Media Domination: Twitter (X), TikTok, and Instagram were completely overtaken by the white-haired, laughing warrior.
- The Aesthetic Shift: It wasn’t just a power-up; it was a genre shift. The Looney Tunes-esque animation style polarized some, but delighted millions. It was freedom personified.
The Verdict
The hype leading up to Gear 5 was real. We saw fan accounts like The Indian Dragon Ball Community and One Piece Daily rallying their followers days in advance.
“I felt goosebumps watching the final seconds of the previous episode. I knew something legendary was coming.”
Now that the dust has settled, we can say that Luffy and Eiichiro Oda delivered. Seeing Monkey D. Luffy tap into the ridiculous, boundless power of Gear 5 was a reminder of why we love anime: it brings the world together.
What do you think? Now that we’ve seen Gear 5 in action for a while, how does it rank against Goku’s Ultra Instinct in your book? Did the episode live up to your expectations?
Let me know in the comments below!
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