Romance Dawn was the one shot manga made by Eiichiro, before he started One Piece. Same concept, yet it was lacking something. He found out what that was and made One Piece. The OVA tries to merge both the manga and keeps the existence of the straw hats. Story: (5/10) Luffy has an adventure on an island while the crew looks for him, allowing the manga adaptation to take place. All is well and good, and is just as lacking. That's when the crew comes and start tearing the enemy ship apart as if saying that it's "out with the old, in with the new". Art: (8/10) It's asgood as One Piece art was during the battle at Marineford. For those who don't know it, it's fast paced and fluid-like. It works seeing as Luffy is rubber. Sound: (7/10) One Piece has great ost, voice actors, and great use of them. The great ost's of One Piece did not get a chance to really shine, seeing as it's only one episode. Characters: (6/10) Silk was going to be Nami if it continued to be Romance Dawn. She is much like Nami, but is more of a fighter, even if she has no special ability. Everyone in the village has a very real reaction to Luffy. He is seen as someone who does not seem natural. What is he? As stereotypical pirates invade, Luffy and his crew do the usual. Enjoyment: (6/10) I liked it as a whole, but am glad it's only one OVA. I could not take 600+ episodes of this. Overall: (6/10) Good adaptation of what failed to be, but I'm ready to get back to what actually made it big. That is the One Piece we all know.
