As an observer, I’ve noticed that “One Piece” has been delving deeply into Bartholomew Kuma’s emotional backstory, a journey that has been laden with sorrow for the last several episodes. Yet, amidst all this heartache, the latest installment of the anime manages to infuse some humor by paying a delightful tribute to Willem Dafoe’s most iconic meme. Even though fans have been moved by Kuma’s tragic past, there’s always room for a chuckle as we get closer to uncovering the final pieces of his history, and these heartrending truths are only going to accumulate further.
In the latest episode of One Piece, fans are brought closer to the present day as Kuma successfully overthrows the cruel ruler who had been terrorizing his homeland. This one-man revolt against the tyrant was a revolutionary step. However, when the deposed king attempted to retake control of the country with Marine forces, Kuma declared himself a criminal and stood up to defend his home. This led to a fierce battle, causing such concern among the Marines that one of them reacted so strongly it resembled Willem Dafoe’s famous “looking up” meme.
#ONEPIECE1133
Go off Kuma— Sigmar (@sigmarshanks) June 15, 2025
Willem Dafoe Makes Surprise Cameo in One Piece
In Episode 1133 of One Piece, Kuma vigorously confronts the Marines, necessitating his departure from home to protect its peace. With a single devastating blow, he sinks every ship approaching his home. Interestingly, one Marine bears a striking resemblance to Willem Dafoe and vanishes post-attack. The meme associated with this scene also has an intriguing backstory, as it has become popular in pop culture for humorously depicting people reacting to something massive or overpowering that’s about to happen.
Willem Dafoe’s portrayal in the film “At Eternity’s Gate” (2018), directed by Julian Schnabel, was based on the life of Vincent Van Gogh during his last years. In this movie, Dafoe played Van Gogh. Interestingly, the meme originated not from the film itself, but from its trailer where Dafoe is shown gazing at the sky. This image has since become a popular and amusing reaction picture, gaining traction in the anime community, particularly within “One Piece”.
What’s Next for the One Piece Anime?
In the ongoing anime adaptation of ‘One Piece’, we’ve been delving into Kuma’s backstory to deepen his bond with his daughter, Bonney. The latest episode brings us closer than ever to the present day while simultaneously shedding light on Kuma’s ties to the Pacifistas. This week’s episode disclosed that he agreed to serve as a Marine weapon to cure Bonney’s lethal Sapphire Scales illness, indicating that the anime might have one final heart-wrenching moment before wrapping up this flashback arc.
Once the flashback concludes, viewers will be immediately plunged back into the ongoing turmoil of the Egghead saga. Luffy and his crew are currently dispersed throughout Dr. Vegapunk’s advanced island research facility as St. Saturn, one of the Five Elders, starts to showcase his formidable might. However, we won’t have to wait long to see how things unfold further; in the meantime, you can keep up with the current episodes of One Piece: Egghead Arc, which are now available for streaming on Netflix and Crunchyroll. Rest assured, the tension is only set to escalate from here!
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2025-06-16 18:39