One Piece episode 1129 features the saddest backstory in the series yet

As one of the most popular anime ever, One Piece has its fair share of tragic backstories that allow fans to connect better with characters. Among these many memorable pasts, however, Bartholomew Kuma’s stands out for its intense emotional impact and its ties to the overarching narrative.

Despite being a more recent backstory that featured in the manga’s Egghead Arc, fans were utterly shocked and captivated by the hardships faced by the cyborg. It helped completely change the perception of Kuma, making him go from a dangerous villain to a celebrated hero. One Piece episode 1129 will finally adapt Kuma’s backstory for anime fans, and it promises to elevate the source material even further.

This installment of One Piece is set to air on Sunday, May 18, 2025, and Kuma’s history will likely be covered throughout several episodes. The Egghead Arc follows the events at Vegapunk’s futuristic island, Egghead, where the Straw Hats face off against the Navy and the Five Elders.

Along with the main characters, another individual who gets her time in the spotlight is Jewelry Bonney. Wishing to reunite with her father, Kuma, and make him human again, she had been chasing after Vegapunk. The latest episodes of the anime saw Bonney experiencing her father’s memories through his bubble while also confronting Saint Saturn in Egghead.

Episode 1129, officially titled 'Kuma’s Past - Better Off Dead in This World,' will finally tell the tale of what made Kuma a mindless cyborg and his relation to Bonney. Since Toei Animation has taken One Piece’s visuals to a whole new level while doing complete justice to the source material, fans are expecting to cry their hearts out in the coming episodes.

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Bartholomew Kuma’s heart-wrenching backstory in One Piece

Among the many One Piece backstories, Kuma’s is one of the most shocking and important. Born as the son of a human and a Buccaneer, Kuma was imprisoned early in life by the Celestial Dragons. He had faced heavy abuse and lost his mother during his enslavement.

Nevertheless, his father asked him to hold on to hope, telling him of the Sun God Nika, the warrior of liberation. Unfortunately, tragedy struck yet again as Kuma’s father, Clapp, was shot and killed by a noble.

Following this, Kuma was stuck during the chaotic Native Hunting Competition, where his life was threatened. Thankfully, he struck a friendship with Ginny and Ivankov, and the trio concocted a plan to escape their chains. After leaking news about the presence of the World Nobles and the treasures of the Native Hunting Competition, the Rocks Pirates approached the island intending to attack it.

To counter them, the Navy and the Roger Pirates also turned up, leading to the infamous God Valley Incident. Amid these events, Kuma ate the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi and could escape, even going on to save 500 people. He then went to his home kingdom, Sorbet, to enjoy his freedom.

While Ivankov decided to set out to sea, Kuma and Ginny decided to settle in a church. After this, the duo lived a happy life, where Kuma helped heal the illnesses of the residents of Sorbet with his Nikyu Nikyu no Mi. While Ginny kept proposing to marry him, he refused her advances due to the trauma he faced as a Buccaneer.

Soon after, Sorbet’s king, Bekori, enforced the segregation policy as part of his loyalty to the World Government. While Kuma, Ginny, and others were imprisoned for trying to protest, Dragon and the Revolutionaries intervened, overthrowing the king. Kuma and Ginny decided to join Dragon and explore the seas as Revolutionaries, helping others in need.

While they continued living fulfillingly, Ginny got captured and forcefully wed to a World Noble. Though there was no news of her for a while, she was eventually cast out due to her disease. By the time Kuma tracked her back to Sorbet, she had died, leaving behind her daughter, Bonney.

Kuma resolved to take care of Bonney as his own daughter and carry on Ginny’s legacy. However, he soon discovered that she also had the disease of her mother, which was later called Sapphire Scales. Deciding to work towards finding a solution, Kuma quit the Revolutionaries.

While exploring potential solutions through the church, Kuma also stopped yet another evil plot by Bekori and became the new king of Sorbet. Since the World Government was trying to frame him as the villain of this revolution, Kuma left the kingdom, promising to find a cure to Bonney’s disease.

After reuniting with Dragon during his adventures, Kuma discovered that the acclaimed Dr. Vegapunk may have an answer. Upon approaching the scientist, he discovered that Bonney could be saved, and all it would take was Kuma’s participation in the Pacifista project, which would create soldiers that would bring bout peace.

Unfortunately, Kuma’s conversations with Vegapunk were heard by Saint Saturn. This Elder threatened Kuma, informing him of how he would have to give up his mind and free will, and become a servant to the World Government should he wish to save Bonney. Kuma instantly agreed, overjoyed that Bonney would be saved.

Hence, after Vegapunk’s experiments were completed and Bonney’s illness was cured, Kuma parted ways with his daughter, and his consciousness was wiped out. However, even though Vegapunk was ordered to entirely erase Kuma's traces — he had left a sliver of Kuma’s original soul.

Therefore, though the Pacifistas were modeled after he caused terror across the world, Kuma continued displaying kindness in his own way. After experiencing her father’s memories, Bonney hugged Vegapunk, who had gone through his own struggles. In the present battle, right when Bonney was about to be killed by Saturn, Kuma came running to protect his daughter.

This act of resistance shocked the Elder, who had believed the cyborg to have lost all his senses. It led to the heartfelt reunion between the father and the daughter while solidifying Kuma’s role as a hero and protector.

Hence, when this series of events is finally adapted in the One Piece anime in the coming months, fans will see Bartholomew Kuma in a new light.