Audiences ready to see if the record-breaking film One Piece Film: Red actually lives as much as its extremely excessive expectations won’t be upset. Directed by Goro Taniguchi and produced by TOEI Animation, the film is written by Tsutomu Kuroiwa (One Piece Film: Gold), with One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda serving as govt producer. The result’s an thrilling, fast-paced journey that stays true to the franchise’s spirit, but additionally delivers a really unique product that followers of One Piece won’t wish to miss.
One Piece Film: Red opens in the midst of the motion: The Straw Hat Pirates are gathered on Elegia (aka, Music Island), together with individuals from all around the world, for the primary stay live performance of Uta, the famous person singer. Right off the bat, the film reveals that Uta is the daughter of the legendary pirate Red-Haired Shanks, and she or he and Luffy are childhood associates. However, the festive environment of Elegia quickly dissipates as Uta reveals she is hiding a darkish secret. Motivated by her childhood trauma and by the need to create a perfect world for everybody, with no battle or wrestle, Uta traps everybody on the island in an illusory world created by the powers of her Uta Uta no Mi Devil Fruit. While Luffy and his associates should combat an omnipotent Uta inside her digital world, the Marines and the World Government attempt to kill the lady in the true Elegia. That is, till Shanks and his Red-Hair Pirates arrive to crew up with the Straw Hats and save the day. But victory comes with a horrible value.
One Piece Film: Red takes a really attention-grabbing method to a number of the principal themes of the sequence. Uta hates pirates; she believes the Great Pirate Era (the time interval One Piece is ready) has solely introduced struggling and battle, and it is time it involves an finish. The lady needs to make use of her powers to usher in a “New Era” by having all people stay freed from worries in her digital world. This is a refreshing viewpoint contemplating the Great Pirate Era represents the spirit of journey and freedom that’s the basis of the One Piece story. The film asks what’s the price of these adventures. While Luffy and his associates fortunately roam the seas, the “common people” (whose viewpoint is commonly featured within the film) should pay the value for an period of lawlessness, caught between marauding pirates (not all are as form because the Straw Hats) and the tyranny of the World Government, which makes use of piracy as an excuse to implement its authority.
Uta’s backstory is definitely one of many main appeals of the film; it offers much-needed perception into the previous of one of the vital mysterious, but additionally essential, characters within the sequence. Fans have been clamoring to see extra of Shanks for many years, they usually will not be upset. The Red-Hair Pirates and their battling side-by-side with the Straw Hats is without doubt one of the most superb moments within the historical past of One Piece. It’s well worth the value of admission alone. There is a variety of fan service in One Piece Film: Red, however the movie additionally feels contemporary and modern. It’s the primary one within the franchise to have a robust musical part, and the efficiency of the Japanese star Ado within the position of Uta is fantastic. The model of the animation (the standard of which is at all times top-notch) barely modifications based on the rhythm and theme of the songs Uta sings within the film, creating a novel visible expertise.
That stated, the ultimate revelation concerning Uta’s previous and the catastrophe of Elegia is a bit disappointing and predictable — nevertheless it nonetheless works. If something, the story of the film is just too wealthy and sophisticated. Elements of the story, together with Uta’s background, Shanks’ position, and the presence of the Straw Hats (who usually really feel like mere extras), are compressed into the film’s two-hour runtime. It would have labored higher as a whole arc, like within the manga or anime, nevertheless it’s clear from the standard of the story that that is Eiichiro Oda’s materials. One Piece Film: Red does create some continuity issues. Luffy briefly makes use of his Gear Fifth on the finish of the film, and different components — akin to Nami having her pet thundercloud, Zeus, or Luffy being acknowledged as a Yonko — place it chronologically after the top of the Wano Country arc.