An End to Kuma’s Heart-Wrenching Backstory
“One Piece” Episode 1136, titled “Kuma’s Life,” premiered on Crunchyroll on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 8:45 AM Pacific Standard Time (PST), concluding the poignant and highly anticipated flashback of Bartholomew Kuma. The episode further cemented Kuma as one of the series’ most tragic figures, eliciting strong emotional responses from viewers who lauded its masterful storytelling and direction.
The episode delves deeper into Kuma’s agonizing history, showcasing the immense hardships he endured throughout his life. From surviving slavery to losing Ginny, Kuma’s path was fraught with despair. The narrative meticulously chronicles his desperate efforts to save his daughter, Bonney, after she contracted the Sapphire Scale Disease. His relentless search for a cure ultimately led him to Vegapunk, who promised Bonney’s recovery.
The Burden of a Warlord and a Revolutionary
Following the events of Episode 1134, Episode 1135, “To the Sea Where My Father Is! The Future Bonney Chooses,” depicted Kuma’s new life as a Warlord. He began counting down the days until Vegapunk would transform him into an unfeeling cyborg, devoid of free will. Despite this grim future, Kuma secretly continued his duties as a Revolutionary.
Episode 1135 also showed Kuma encountering a 16-year-old Monkey D. Luffy, training in the Goa Kingdom, after Kuma learned that Dragon had a son there. However, Kuma was called away before he could speak to Luffy. The episode concluded with Bonney’s escape from the church, aided by her Age-Age Fruit powers and Kuma’s friends. Remembering Kuma’s tales of Nika, Bonney temporarily used her powers to gain Nika’s rubber-like body, defeating Alpha and embarking on her pirate journey.
The Emotional Climax
Episode 1136 brings Kuma’s slow-motion tragedy to a full circle, as he ultimately becomes the machine that fans first encountered in the series. The episode powerfully depicts Kuma running through his memories, with shifts in lighting and filters emphasizing the emotional weight of each fading recollection. This poignant sequence left many viewers in tears, solidifying Kuma’s backstory as one of the most impactful events in “One Piece,” comparable to iconic moments like Robin’s declaration, “I want to live!”
The anime’s adaptation of Kuma’s past has been widely praised for its emotional depth and how it sheds new light on his character, particularly the hope he placed in Luffy. The Egghead Arc, in which the Straw Hats become entangled in the World Government’s attempt to assassinate Dr. Vegapunk, continues to unfold with intense emotional moments.
Where to Watch
“One Piece” Episode 1136 is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Netflix subscribers were able to watch the episode a week later, on July 19, 2025, due to their staggered release schedule. New episodes of the “One Piece” Egghead Arc are released weekly on Sundays on Crunchyroll, with Netflix typically airing them on Saturdays, a week behind.
