“One Piece” is an absolute juggernaut. Since its publication in 1997, it has broken records and won acclaim as the best-selling manga series in history. Among the fandom’s ongoing obsessions are “One Piece” video games, podcasts, and an upcoming live-action Netflix series. Don’t forget the ongoing anime adaptation, which aired its 1000th episode on November 21st, 2021.
The 15th “One Piece” movie was announced on that day, titled “One Piece Film: Red.” As in the past, series creator Eiichiro Oda is credited as producer, keeping the role he’s held since “One Piece: Strong World.” However, other members of the staff have hinted at a shake-up. Are we in for the weirdest “One Piece” film since Baron Omatsuri’s Mysterious Island? It’s unlikely, but who knows? The poster’s red background and scarred title logo are striking.
Where and when can you watch the One Piece Film: Red?
“One Piece Film: Red” will premiere in Japanese theaters on August 6th, 2022. At the moment, there is no indication as to when it might be available for English-speaking fans. Before Covid, limited anime screenings were able to be successful in theatres through programs.
Theatre screenings are certainly possible with “One Piece’s” astronomical success abroad, its growing recognition in the United States, and the global popularity of Shounen Jump, the home of “One Piece.” Only time will tell if they can surpass the recent smash hit “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train.”
Funimation has notably made “Demon Slayer” available on their streaming platform for subscribers in 2021. Perhaps someone will try the same trick again this year with “One Piece Film: Red,” betting the show’s loyal fans will reward the gesture handsomely. A plethora of streaming sites is racing to offer anime and movies to ravenous fans. However, for now, it is likely that “One Piece Film: Red” will be released in theatres before it is made available digitally to English speakers.
What will One Piece Film: Red be about?
We only know a few things at the moment about “One Piece Film: Red.” One thing we know is that Shanks will appear in the film, a character whose notable scars are featured on its title logo. It was Shanks who gave Luffy, the series’ hero, his famous straw hat.
Shanks is a highly-skilled fighter and leader who has appeared in the series a few times, and he’s been closely involved with the biggest names in the series. But since Luffy promised him as a child that he would return his hat once he became a great pirate, Shanks has remained in the background, keeping tabs on his protégé’s progress.
There is a possibility that “One Piece Film: Red” will feature the long-awaited meeting between Shanks and Luffy. However, it is also possible that Oda would prefer that meeting happen in the pages of the manga rather than a film he has less control over. Either way, we should be excited if we receive any news and juicy tidbits about Shanks and his past in this film.
What is the One Piece Film: Red Canon?
With Oda’s involvement in a One Piece movie being bigger than ever, it is no surprise that fans are wondering whether Film Red is canon. Simply put, One Piece Film: Red can’t be considered canon. At the moment, Eiichiro Oda prefers to handle the main story in his manga, so the movie is just there for the fans’ enjoyment and is disconnected from the main story. This is not to say, however, that Film Red won’t include bits and pieces from the One Piece canon.
A few months before “Laugh Tale” made its way to the manga, One Piece: Stampede revealed the name of the Final Island. There was also a brief conversation between Roger and Rayleigh that ended up being a part of Chapter 968 months later. Given Shanks’ involvement in One Piece Film: Red, fans should expect a similar scenario here. In all likelihood, Oda could provide the movie staff with bits of One Piece canon that they could incorporate into the story.