One Piece is about to air its most tragic backstory yet: Kuma’s story begins in episode 1129

One Piece is on a break this week, but when it returns, fans will witness one of the most heartbreaking stories in One Piece’s history. One Piece Episode 1129, titled “Kuma’s Past. A World Where You’re Better Off Dead,” will be airing on May 18. And as the title suggests, this episode will feature the backstory of Kuma – a character whose silent suffering has long puzzled viewers.And on May 11, instead of episode 1129, a special episode titled “Dr. Chopper’s Adventure Checkup - The Ballad of a Father and Daughter” will be aired. This piece does NOT contain manga spoilers for the Kuma flashback. So if you’re an anime-only watcher, feel free to read it completely.One Piece is known for many things – world building, comedy, character designs, etc. But one thing the show does that takes the viewer's experience to the next level is giving characters emotional backstory. And it’s not just the Strawhats that get these detailed, heartbreaking stories – even small side characters like Senor Pink and Chouchou have incredible lore behind them.But from this episode, the most emotionally impactful flashback for any One Piece character is about to begin. And that’s saying something. For years now, all we know about Kuma is that he is a Warlord for the World Government, and he has some connection to the revolutionary army. We all knew that someday we’ll get to see his backstory and now the time is here. Recently, manga readers discovered the real story behind Kuma. And it is deeply heartbreaking.His story is not only important for the plot — it also shows the deeper message of the series: the fight for freedom, no matter how painful the path. With stunning anime production from Toei and a buildup of emotional scenes already hinted at in Episode 1128, Kuma’s flashback is about to hit with full force. If the anime handles it well (and so far it’s cooking), this could be the most memorable and emotional part of the Egghead Arc.