One Piece Episode 70 Review — An Ancient Island! The

Kagex rating: 8.7 / 10

Episode: Season 2 · Episode 9 — “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” (overall #70)

Air date: May 27, 2001 · Runtime: ~24 minutes · Studio: Toei Animation

One Piece Season 2 Episode 9 “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” is overall TV episode 70, sitting inside the Entering into the Grand Line stretch. This Kagex page is a full destination review: spoiler-free watch advice first, then a synopsis-grounded recap, scores, and whether you should keep the binge moving.

Previous: Season 2 Episode 8 — Coby and Helmeppo’s Resolve! Vice-Admiral Garp’s Parental Affection! · Season: Entering into the Grand Line season review · Hub: One Piece

Hook

One Piece does not ask you to judge a single episode like a movie. It asks whether this 24-minute brick still earns its place in a voyage that already spans more than a thousand chapters of ambition, friendship, and absurd escalation. “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” is one of those bricks inside Entering into the Grand Line — the Wikipedia/TV season that covers overall episodes 62–77.

If you only chase peak fights, weekly Toei storytelling can frustrate you. If you care how crews, islands, and rival fleets accumulate pressure, this installment is part of the load-bearing middle (or opening, or climax) of that season’s job. The question this page answers is simple: should a sequential viewer watch “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” and what does it actually change?

Kagex scores below are for this episode only — not a grade for the entire Entering into the Grand Line saga and not a grade for the manga chapter it adapts.

Quick Information

• Anime: One Piece
• Season / Episode: Season 2 (Entering into the Grand Line), Episode 9
• Overall TV number: 70
• English title: An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!
• Runtime: ~24 minutes
• Studio: Toei Animation
• Original air date: May 27, 2001
• Arc keywords: Grand Line Reverse Mountain Whiskey Peak
• Kagex score: 8.7 / 10
• Where to watch legally: Crunchyroll / Netflix / region-dependent official platforms

Should You Watch It?

Yes if you are watching One Piece in order through Entering into the Grand Line. Skipping “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” creates holes later episodes assume you already felt — crew chemistry, island rules, or the specific threat language of this stretch. One Piece’s weekly format rewards sequential viewing more than almost any other long-running shonen.

Beginner-friendly as a random start? No. Start at Season 1 Episode 1 or use the anime hub / overall review to decide if the franchise is for you. Dropping into overall #70 cold will feel like arriving mid-conversation on a ship that already chose its captain.

Who enjoys this kind of episode? Viewers who like adventure escalation, crew banter, Devil Fruit creativity, and long-form payoff. People who only want condensed “canon movie” edits may bounce on talkier or travel hours — fair, but that is a preference about pacing, not proof the episode is worthless.

Bottom line: sequential fans should watch “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!.” Fight-only skim culture will underrate quieter setup inside Entering into the Grand Line. If you already bounced hard on Toei’s post-timeskip pacing elsewhere, judge this hour on its own beats after the spoiler line — not on internet averages.

Spoiler Warning

Spoilers for One Piece Season 2 Episode 9 (“An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!”) follow. Stop above for a clean first watch. This page does not spoil later seasons beyond light “what to expect next” framing.

Story Recap

Recap below is grounded in publicly listed episode synopsis text for overall #70. Where synopsis coverage is thin, Kagex refuses to invent fight choreography or dialogue.

Ordinary Voyage

Luffy asks if it will to snow again and Zoro responds there is no way it would. Luffy says to Zoro that it does snow, but he did not notice it last time because he was asleep. Luffy asks Vivi if she thinks it will snow and she answers that the first sea that they were at was special, since the magnetic forces mess everything up. She also warns the crew never to underestimate the Grand Line sea as an ironclad rule. Vivi gets mad about how everyone is acting, not taking anything seriously enough. Sanji leaves out the kitchen, having prepared 9 drinks for the crew. In “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” this beat sits inside the Entering into the Grand Line stretch rather than floating as a random filler hour. Watching “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” in order matters because Grand, Line, Reverse context from earlier Entering into the Grand Line episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.

Unexpected Incident

Nami assures her that when things get rough, they know how to handle it. Vivi realizes she is right when a colossal dolphin attacks them, making everyone rush to their stations to outrun the gigantic threat. After that, the crew see the mysterious Little Garden island shrouded in fog as everyone gets excited to encounter their second island in their trip on the Grand Line. The scene goes to Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek, who are seen on Kyuka Island. In “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” this beat sits inside the Entering into the Grand Line stretch rather than floating as a random filler hour. Watching “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” in order matters because Grand, Line, Reverse context from earlier Entering into the Grand Line episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.

New Pressure

3 is preparing himself an Earl Grey tea they discuss the downfall of Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. 3 talks to Miss Goldenweek on how Mr. 5 is just “an idiot with devil fruit powers” who was overconfident in his position. In “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” this beat sits inside the Entering into the Grand Line stretch rather than floating as a random filler hour. Watching “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” in order matters because Grand, Line, Reverse context from earlier Entering into the Grand Line episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.

First Discovery

He then states that they will teach whoever defeated Mr. 5 the terror of making a criminal organization their enemy. Returning to the crew, they remember what Miss All Sunday said about the island, stating that they will all be dead before they reach Arabasta. In “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” this beat sits inside the Entering into the Grand Line stretch rather than floating as a random filler hour. Watching “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” in order matters because Grand, Line, Reverse context from earlier Entering into the Grand Line episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.

Important Encounter

The crew gets restless as they see more of the island, but keeps on going due to lack of food and materials. As they enter the island, Sanji gets attacked by a gigantic bird signalling that this island is not normal at all. In “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” this beat sits inside the Entering into the Grand Line stretch rather than floating as a random filler hour. Watching “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” in order matters because Grand, Line, Reverse context from earlier Entering into the Grand Line episodes is assumed, not re-explained from zero.

Story Analysis

“An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” works or fails based on how clearly it advances Entering into the Grand Line. One Piece seasons are long by design: East Blue builds the crew, Grand Line seasons teach that every island has a rule, and later New World blocks turn those rules into wars. Episode 9 of Season 2 is one turn of that machine.

Pacing-wise, Toei’s TV adaptation mixes comedy buffers, travel, and confrontation. That can feel padded if you arrive from a manga binge, and it can feel generous if you want character reactions to breathe. Kagex does not pretend every minute is peak sakuga. We ask whether the hour changes stakes, relationships, or information. In Entering into the Grand Line, the recurring keywords — Grand Line Reverse Mountain Whiskey Peak — tell you what kind of change to look for.

Emotionally, One Piece sells sincerity harder than irony. Luffy’s dream is constant; the supporting cast rotates which wound is bleeding. If this episode centers a crewmate, an ally, or an antagonist philosophy, the comedy is usually the sugar that makes the conviction drinkable. That tone is a feature for fans and a bug for viewers who want grimdark consistency.

Structurally, overall #70 sits between “Coby and Helmeppo’s Resolve! Vice-Admiral Garp’s Parental Affection!” and “Huge Duel! The Giants Dorry and Broggy!”. Read it as a chain link. The best weekly episodes make the next title card feel inevitable rather than arbitrary.

Compared with shorter modern cours, One Piece asks for patience. The trade is cumulative awe: when Entering into the Grand Line finally detonates, earlier “small” hours become receipts. “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” should be graded as one of those receipts, not as a standalone film.

Character Analysis

Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy remains the engine: simple desire, elastic tactics, zero interest in looking cool while winning. In “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” watch whether he drives the incident, reacts to someone else’s crisis, or refuses a compromise that would be “smart” in any other series. His consistency is the point — the world escalates around a captain who will not shrink.

Straw Hat crew and allies

Entering into the Grand Line typically spotlights different crewmates depending on island rules. Zoro and Sanji handle violence and pride; Nami handles navigation and leverage; Usopp handles fear turning into courage; Chopper handles medicine and empathy; Robin handles history; Franky and Brook (when present) handle heart and hardware; Jinbe later handles tides and conscience. This episode’s title — “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” — is your hint for who the hour thinks matters.

Opposition / island forces

One Piece antagonists are rarely empty HP bars. They embody a philosophy: absolute justice, inherited will, stolen freedom, or a kingdom’s ugly compromise. Inside Grand Line Reverse Mountain Whiskey Peak, expect the opposition to teach the crew a rule of this sea. Even a mid-arc hour should clarify what winning would cost.

World Building

World rules visible in Season 2 Episode 9 stay local: how this island’s weather, government, Devil Fruit oddity, or cultural taboo constrains the crew. Entering into the Grand Line is the container; “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” is one room inside it.

One Piece lore is famous for long payoffs, but this page will not smuggle future reveals into Episode 9. If a name, poneglyph vibe, Marine rank, or Yonko shadow appears, treat it as atmosphere unless the synopsis shows it acting now.

Geography still matters. Grand Line navigation, Calm Belt fear, New World weather, and Warlord/Emperor politics are not flavor text — they decide whether a plan is brave or stupid. When “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” moves the map, it is doing franchise work even if no one throws a named ultimate attack.

Power systems stay playful: rubber, swords, weather, souls, cyborg tools, fish-man strength, and haki (when the timeline has introduced it). The episode’s job is to show a creative use or a hard limit, not to publish a wiki tier list.

Animation Review

Toei’s One Piece TV look has eras. Early East Blue is simpler and charming; Water Seven/Enies Lobby peaks still define a generation; Dressrosa and Whole Cake have famously uneven weeks; Wano and post-Wano often swing between ambitious key animation and cost-saving holds. Season 2 (Entering into the Grand Line) should be judged against its own production moment, not against a theatrical film.

For “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!,” expect the usual TV priorities: readable action, expressive faces, and comedy timing. When budget concentrates, impact frames and effects work carry the memory. When it does not, character acting and layout still sell sincerity. Kagex animation score 8.4 / 10 reflects peaks vs comfort cuts for this hour — not a YouTube sakuga compilation ranking.

Direction matters as much as raw drawings. A well-timed reaction shot after a brutal line can outrank a busy but empty clash. One Piece thrives when the camera respects silence between punches.

Music and Voice Acting

Score 8.5 / 10. The franchise’s needle drops — We Are!, brand-new world, hopeful themes, and island motifs — train your nervous system. Even without listing every OP/ED cour change, “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” either rides that recognition or undercuts it with quiet strings.

Japanese performances remain the reference: Luffy’s bright stubbornness, Zoro’s flat steel, Nami’s snap, Sanji’s theatrical flail, Chopper’s soft panic, Robin’s calm dread. English dubs vary by era; do not wait on a preferred track to judge story.

Sound design for impacts, crowd panic, and ocean weather does invisible work in voyage episodes. If this hour is talk-heavy, listen for how silence frames the joke or the confession.

Hidden Details

• Title card language in “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” often telegraphs the emotional thesis before any punch lands — read it as a chapter heading, not marketing fluff.
• Background crew reactions during big speeches are where Toei hides continuity affection; pause if you collect those.
• Island signage, wanted-poster updates, and newspaper fragments sometimes preview pressure without a monologue.
• Food scenes are not only comedy — they mark safety, scarcity, or Sanji’s caretaking role inside the arc.
• This page stays inside Episode 9; if a detail only makes sense after later episodes, it is not listed here as a “gotcha.”

Best Moments

• Title promise: the hour’s clearest delivery of what “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” claims on the tin.
• Crew beat: a character choice that could only happen because earlier Entering into the Grand Line episodes happened.
• Opposition beat: a line or tactic that clarifies the island’s rule set.
• Tone swing: comedy into sincerity (or the reverse) without breaking Luffy’s core voice.
• Exit hook: the final push toward “Huge Duel! The Giants Dorry and Broggy!” that makes continuing feel obvious.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Sequential clarity inside Entering into the Grand Line; title-led focus; franchise sincerity; cumulative world pressure around Grand Line Reverse Mountain Whiskey Peak.

Cons: Weekly TV pacing can feel slow beside manga speedruns; animation quality varies by era; not a cold-start episode for new viewers.

Final Verdict

Kagex overall: 8.7 / 10 — “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” is a solid sequential stop in Entering into the Grand Line — worth watching in order if you care how the Grand stretch builds, not a random highlight-reel skip.

• Story: 8.5 / 10
• Characters: 8.2 / 10
• Animation: 8.4 / 10
• Music: 8.5 / 10
• Enjoyment: 8.7 / 10
• Overall: 8.7 / 10

Watch it in order. Grade it as a voyage brick. Then decide whether Entering into the Grand Line still has you — not whether a random clip account clipped the coolest five seconds.

What to Expect Next

Next up is Season 2 Episode 10 “Huge Duel! The Giants Dorry and Broggy!” (overall #71). Expect the Entering into the Grand Line pressure to continue without needing spoilers beyond that title.

Next: Season 2 Episode 10 — Huge Duel! The Giants Dorry and Broggy!. Watch legally on official platforms.

FAQ

Do I need to watch One Piece Season 2 Episode 9?

Yes if you are on the main TV track through Entering into the Grand Line. Skipping “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” usually costs context, not just “filler vibes.”

What is the overall episode number?

Overall 70. Season-local number is Episode 9 of Season 2 (Entering into the Grand Line).

When did it air?

May 27, 2001 in Japan (where listed). Runtime ~24 minutes. Studio Toei Animation.

Is this filler?

Season 2 is labeled Entering into the Grand Line on the Wikipedia TV season map Kagex uses. Some seasons include TV-original blocks (notably Season 5). Judge “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” by whether it advances crew or island stakes — not by a stranger’s filler spreadsheet alone.

Where should beginners start?

Season 1 Episode 1. Use the hub and overall review for worth-watching framing.

Where is the season review?

One Piece Season 2 review — Entering into the Grand Line.

Does this spoil later arcs?

Deep sections spoil Episode 9. They avoid future-season dumps. “What to Expect Next” stays title-light.

Where are facts / spoilers for the franchise?

Fact and Spoilers on the hub. Episode pages stay local.

Who writes these?

Kagexbloging — casual, honest anime coverage for readers deciding continue / skip / binge.

Where to watch legally?

Official platforms vary by region (commonly Crunchyroll and Netflix for One Piece). Avoid illegal streams.

Keep exploring

• One Piece anime hub
• Season 2 (Entering into the Grand Line) review
• One Piece overall review
• Previous: Season 2 Episode 8 — Coby and Helmeppo’s Resolve! Vice-Admiral Garp’s Parental Affection!
• Next: Season 2 Episode 10 — Huge Duel! The Giants Dorry and Broggy!
• Fact and Spoilers
• Browse reviews

Your turn

Was “An Ancient Island! The Shadow Hiding in Little Garden!” a continue episode or a skip-risk for you? Which crew beat hit hardest? Are you riding Entering into the Grand Line weekly or bingeing?

Sources: Wikipedia List of One Piece episodes (22 TV seasons); One Piece Wiki episode summaries where available; official Toei / streamer listings.