Episode 45: BOUNTY! Straw-Hat Luffy Becomes World Famous!
Air Date: 2000-10-25
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Run! Run! Run! (2nd Ending)
Manga Chapters: Chapter 96 (1-10, 15-18/18)
Short Summary
Due to him defeating three of East Blue's biggest pirates, a 30 million berry bounty is placed on Luffy's head, the highest in all of East Blue. News spreads quickly as Kaya, Coby, Morgan, the Kuroneko Pirates, and the chefs of Baratie all find out. The Straw Hats encounter Fullbody, who wants to defeat Luffy so he can reclaim his Marine rank, but fails. Mihawk approaches Shanks with the news of Luffy's bounty as the people of Fuschia Village celebrate Luffy's success. The Straw Hats then set their course for Loguetown, the birthplace and location of death of Gold Roger, the Pirate King.
In-Depth Summary
The episode opens with Nami mad at a delivery bird for the rising price of a newspaper. As Usopp develops his Sure-Killing Tabasco Star, he asks why it should matter, since Nami doesn't need to save up money for Arlong anymore. Nami replies that the money should be for her. She sits down and starts to read the paper, noting how the world is in chaos. Out from the newspaper flutters a wanted poster with Luffy's picture on it, causing great shock to the crew. The scene then shifts to the Marine Headquarters, where a great meeting of Marine officers is taking place. Standing at the head of the meeting is Sergeant Brandnew, with a board that has the wanted posters for Buggy, Don Krieg, and Arlong posted on it. He announces that since Luffy, a new threat to East Blue, has defeated all three pirates, he will have a bounty of 30 million berries, the highest in East Blue. A decorated Marine captain is then shown standing before an army of Marine soldiers, telling them to march out in the name of absolute justice.
News of Luffy's new bounty spreads quickly. In Syrup Village, Merry runs up to the studying Kaya, showing her Luffy's wanted poster. Kaya spots the back of Usopp's head in the picture, and is very proud. She looks out the window and sees Usopp, remembering him. In the Marine base on the island where Zoro was kept, Coby works as a chore boy with Helmeppo, and sees Luffy's poster on the wall. He realizes that if they meet again, they may be enemies. In a prison, a Marine soldier heads down to the cell of Morgan, showing Morgan the poster and causing him great rage. Aboard the ship of the Kuroneko Pirates, one pirate runs to show the poster to Captain Kuro, who sits in the cabin. At Baratie, the poster of Luffy is put up in the dining area, and as Zeff cooks, he thinks about Luffy's dream to become Pirate King and Sanji's dream to find All Blue. Back aboard the Going Merry, Luffy celebrates his new bounty with Usopp and Sanji, as Usopp is glad to see the back of his head in the shot. They dance around, while Nami and Zoro just think about how the Marines will now be after them.
In a banged-up Marine ship, Fullbody sits with a glass of wine, thinking about his former greatness after being beaten up by Sanji. One soldier brings in Luffy's wanted poster, and Fullbody recognizes him, thinking about how easy it will be to catch Luffy. He bursts out of the door and orders them to head back to Baratie, assuming that's where they'll be. As they sail, the Going Merry goes right past them, much to Fullbody's shock. He orders that they turn around, and so the Marine ship goes up alongside the Going Merry. Luffy wonders if they're pirates, and if the ship is just scrap. Fullbody yells that they are not scrap, and orders an attack on Luffy so he can claim the bounty and reclaim his rank. The Marines fire a cannonball, but Zoro steps forward and slices it in half with his sword. Fullbody orders another attack, but the cannon blows up in the Marines' faces. Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Bell to knock Fullbody down while Sanji kicks away the rest of the soldiers. After seeing Sanji, Fullbody scrambles back onto his ship. Nami complains that it's noisy, and Sanji declares that the meal is ready.
On a remote island, one pirate spots Hawk Eyes Mihawk's boat approaching. He scrambles to his captain, letting him know of the visitor. Mihawk lands, walking past a crowd of pirates as he does. He comes up to the captain, Shanks himself, and Shanks asks if he came for a match. Mihawk replies that he is not interested in facing a one-armed man, then shows him Luffy's wanted poster. Shanks grins, saying that Luffy's finally come, and tells Mihawk that he can't let him go. The whole crew starts to have a drinking celebration, and Shanks pours Mihawk a drink, getting him to chug it down. Even though Shanks has a hangover, the whole crew celebrates with more drinks. Back aboard the Going Merry, In Fuschia Village, Luffy's hometown, many of the villagers are proud to see Luffy's poster. Sonchou, an old man, is apprehensive toward the idea, but Makino tells him that Luffy is living his dream. Back aboard the Going Merry, Nami explains that they are getting very close to the Grand Line, and that the only way to enter is through Reverse Mountain. She also explains that there is a famous island nearby on which Loguetown is located. Zoro says that Loguetown is the Town of the Beginning and the End, since it is where the Pirate King, Gold Roger, was born and later executed. With their destination set, the Straw Hats set sail for Loguetown.
Meanwhile, sailing at sea is a small raft, where a very short figure looks at Luffy's wanted poster. Elsewhere, aboard Alvida's ship, a very different-looking Alvida looks at Luffy's wanted poster as the episode draws to a close.
Mumbo230’s Notes
This episode acts as one of several "check-ups" on other characters throughout the series. The anime adaptation is quite expanded over its manga source material, which was only fourteen pages.
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