Reviews

The first One Piece movie, I must say, is more like a set of combined episodes than a movie. It does has the "movie feel," in that you can see how the plot is going to move. You know, the gang runs across some seemingly unnecessary characters, whom later turn out to be important to the plot. They arrive at an island, explore a little, the villains show up. Nothing exciting, nothing surprising. The main enjoyment that I got out of this movie, was not the plot or the action, but the characters. Because let's face it, a huge part of what makes One Piece so amazing is its cast. Luffy is just as adorably single-minded as ever ("MEAT! FOOD! TREASURE!"), Nami is still the money-loving woman we all know her to be, completely focussed on what she can gain out of the situation. Zoro, as unconcerned about the apparent "danger" as always, and just as cool and confident as we know him to be. Ussop playing his role with the injection of humour throughout. Basically, their vivid and expressive personalities are what made this movie, well, so intrinsically a part of the One Piece universe.

As I've briefly touched on before the plot isn't that great. It's nothing creative, if that's what you were hoping for. If you want something more interesting and inventive, I would skip right to movie four, if you want my advice. But for those of you interested in seeing every One Piece movie out there like I am, then go ahead and watch this one, it's not going to disappoint you. If you're like me, anything with those characters is going to please you, just because I think you could stick that cast in a cardboard box for all the plot you need, and still come out with something entertaining in the end. And after seeing the movie, I'm sure you'd agree: it's still One Piece, at the heart of it. Regardless of lack of plot twists or great excitement. And that's what counts.

Do take note of the year this movie was made, so that you won't be disheartened when you begin to see the poorer animation than what you might be used to. I had been watching the late 400s in terms of episodes when I saw this, so it was a shock to me to return to episode 1 in terms of art and animation. But really, it's not awful. If you got past episode 1 of the anime, this art style shouldn't bother you too much.

Music is the same as ever, the same battle music, the same great catchy tones that belong to the show. So nothing different there.

Overall, this wasn't the best movie, I'll admit. It had the feel of a quick filler more than anything, but I'm a completionist sort of person, and wanted to see everything One Piece that I could. If you're like that too, I'd certainly recommend it, because it still has the same feel as the show. Light-hearted action, Luffy looking badass, everyone cracking jokes. So yeah, watch the movie. I mean, come on, do you even need a review to figure that out? It's ONE PIECE.