This episode is a prime example of the actual state of the anime and the management behind it.
You have important content and put the weakest director on it. (Same with 1018) While actual great directors like Tanaka get some dogshit material.
You have great animators for the episode ready, but put the best one on the worst and most unnecessary scene. A filler scene even.
But what good is it if its wasted on a non-important scene.
That's like having Takashi Kojima on episode 1015 and giving him all cuts for the Momonosuke & Yamato dialogue in the basement room. Just a pure fucking waste.
Due to the weak director, the pacing is dogshit and all scenes that were supposed to be executed quickly and in succession get dragged out to oblivion, losing their meaning and purpose
And thanks to the ugly ass godfucking awful auras the drawings get butchered and my eyes get cancer.
Horrible episode, didn't like the execution at all, Akihiro Ota god.
3/10
One Pace has to save us again. And you know what? high chance they cut out all of Ota cuz ITS FILLER.
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Next week we have the return of Ryota Nakamura, the chad behind legendary episode 1013.
Unfortunately, the preview for 1026 was extremely disappointing and his usual quirks and trademarks just were not there.
Comparing it to the 1013 there's a clear league of difference in polish and comp and more angular dynamic shots.
The animation will be great as seen in the preview, don't get me wrong, but it's sad to see such a talented director be restricted and not unleashing the potential that he posesses and couldve brought to the table for such an important episode.
And thanks to Tu's comment we know that Movie Red heavily affected the production of this episode