153: One Piece Episode

The Going Merry breaks through the clouds into the "White Sea". The crew is stunned to find the "water" is actually a thick, buoyant cloud that they can float on, though Usopp nearly "drowns" in it after falling overboard.

Almost immediately, the crew is ambushed by a masked "Sky Rider" (later revealed to be a Shandia warrior). Because the thin air makes it hard to move and breathe, the Straw Hats struggle to fight back. One Piece Episode 153

A mysterious old man named Gan Fall , riding a bird named Pierre, intervenes to save the crew. He introduces himself as the "Knight of the Sky" and gives them a whistle to call him if they ever need help again—though he warns them that his services aren't free. The Going Merry breaks through the clouds into

, titled "Sail the White Sea! The Sky Knight and the Gate in the Clouds!" , marks the official beginning of the fan-favorite Skypiea Arc . After the intense ride up the Knock Up Stream, the Straw Hat Pirates find themselves in a world that defies all logic: an ocean made entirely of clouds. ☁️ Episode Overview Original Air Date: May 4, 2003 Manga Chapters: Adapted from Chapters 237 and 238 Because the thin air makes it hard to