“This episode is special. It's unfortunate how dragged it is, because DAMN the animation is really good. The double fight of Luffy vs Ulti and Page One is seriously smooth and energic.” Reddit · r/OnePiece · 4 years ago
Despite the visual spectacle, the episode faced criticism for typical anime-original padding. One Piece Episode 990
: Luffy is forced to use Gear Third to handle the Ancient Zoan transformations of the sibling duo. The anime adds scale to Ulti’s hybrid and full beast forms, emphasizing her raw power compared to previous opponents. “This episode is special
: Reviewers highlighted the "smooth and energetic" animation and the effective use of music to heighten the impact of the battle. : Luffy is forced to use Gear Third
: Some fans found the episode "unfortunate" in its pacing, noting that while the central fight was great, the sections before and after felt overly extended.