Anime Limited and Toei Animation are releasing One Piece Film: Red, the latest feature film in the iconic anime franchise, exclusively in cinemas and IMAX screens across the United Kingdom and Ireland from 4 November 2022. The film has been a box office sensation back home in Japan – where it’s the highest grossing film of the year and has held #1 at the Weekend Box Office for over 11 weeks! The film has been a huge hit with both fans and newcomers, but you might be asking questions like “What is One Piece?” and “Can I enjoy this film as my first One Piece experience?” – well, we’re here to help as best as we can.
Look, we’re been in a very similar situation and it is nothing to be embarrassed about. We actually ended up watching Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and we loved it… Even though we had never actually seen an episode of Dragon Ball. Films simply operate differently. When anime films are released in cinema there is an opportunity to expand. Of course, the films will always be targeting the fans, but the movies are usually more accessible so they can earn more at the box office and increase tbe fanbase.
If you’re a fan of My Hero Academia, there is a reason why all three films start with an introduction explaining that world despite us already knowing it… It’s because that message is not for you, it’s for those who bought a ticket out of curiosity and for those who want a way into that universe. That same logic can be applied to One Piece despite the heavy volume of content… Over 1000 episodes is no easy feat.
Although One Piece is a long-running franchise and jumping in can seem pretty daunting, One Piece Film: Red is Uta’s story and her journey is relatable to everyone – whether you’ve been sailing with the Straw Hats since day one or are trying out One Piece for the very first time. With such a vast world, there will naturally be some winks and nods for those existing fans, but Uta wants to unite the world in song – whether you’ve heard them before or not.
So, the next question to ask is… What is One Piece?
The film may have tickled your fancy so it’ll be great to add some context. One Piece started life as a manga comic series by Eiichiro Oda in 1997 and is still serialised to this day in the Weekly Shonen JUMP magazine – the home of other popular manga such as Dragon Ball Z. One Piece is the best-selling manga series in history, having recently celebrated the publication of its 1,000th chapter, and setting the Guinness World Record for the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author. An anime TV series has been broadcast since its premiere in 1999, further increasing the popularity of One Piece around the globe.
One Piece is an action-adventure series following Monkey D. Luffy and his crew the Straw Hat Pirates – each with their own dreams and fun personalities – as they journey across the world’s seas in search of the “One Piece” treasure, left behind by the King of the Pirates, Gold Roger. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates have been on countless adventures over the years, fighting everyone from fellow pirates to the Navy who police the seas, and more – all in the name of staying true to their dreams.
Now that we’ve briefly covered One Piece, let’s have a look at the latest film!
What can we expect from One Piece Film: Red?
One Piece Film: Red is the franchise’s latest feature film adventure, telling a brand-new story not found in the original manga. The franchise’s original creator Eiichiro Oda is overseeing the project as Executive Producer, and also designed the new characters introduced in this story, including Uta, the most beloved singer in the world – and the daughter of Shanks, the legendary pirate who inspired the series’ protagonist Monkey D. Luffy.
We’ve got another treat for you. Do you want to read One Piece? Well, you can check out the manga via Shonen JUMP where the first 3 chapters are waiting for you and they are completely free!
To book tickets, please visit onepiecefilm.red
One Piece Film: Red will be shown in cinemas and IMAX screens from 4th November, 2022 in Japanese with English subtitles, as well as an English language dub from 5th November, 2022. Please note that only the Japanese-language version will be shown in IMAX formats.
One Piece Film: Red is directed by Goro Taniguchi, who previously helmed One Piece: Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack!, the very first One Piece animation, with a screenplay by Tsutomu Kuroiwa (One Piece Film: Gold).
Will you be watching One Piece Film: Red? Let us know in the comments and be sure to grab your tickets now!
