Home Movie Reviews One Piece Film: Red Review – Refreshing & Stays True To The Series’ Spirit

One Piece Film: Red gives fans exactly what they want with some added surprises and a refreshing look that stays true to the series spirit.

Audiences waiting to see if the record-breaking movie One Piece Film: Red really lives up to its incredibly high expectations will not be disappointed. Directed by Goro Taniguchi and produced by TOEI Animation, the movie is written by Tsutomu Kuroiwa (One Piece Film: Gold), with One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda serving as executive producer. The result is an exciting, fast-paced journey that stays true to the franchise’s spirit, but also delivers a very original product that fans of One Piece will not want to miss.
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One Piece Film: Red opens in the middle of the action: The Straw Hat Pirates are gathered on Elegia (aka, Music Island), along with people from all over the world, for the first live concert of Uta, the superstar singer. Right off the bat, the movie reveals that Uta is the daughter of the legendary pirate Red-Haired Shanks, and she and Luffy are childhood friends. However, the festive atmosphere of Elegia soon dissipates as Uta reveals she is hiding a dark secret. Motivated by her childhood trauma and by the desire to create an ideal world for everyone, with no conflict or struggle, Uta traps everyone on the island in an illusory world created by the powers of her Uta Uta no Mi Devil Fruit. While Luffy and his friends have to fight an all-powerful Uta inside her virtual world, the Marines and the World Government try to kill the girl in the real Elegia. That is, until Shanks and his Red-Hair Pirates arrive to team up with the Straw Hats and save the day. But victory comes with a terrible cost.

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One Piece Film: Red takes a very interesting approach to some of the main themes of the series. Uta hates pirates; she believes the Great Pirate Era (the time period One Piece is set) has only brought suffering and conflict, and it’s time it comes to an end. The girl wants to use her powers to usher in a “New Era” by having everybody live free of worries in her virtual world. This is a refreshing point of view considering the Great Pirate Era represents the spirit of adventure and freedom that is the foundation of the One Piece story. The movie asks what is the cost of these adventures. While Luffy and his friends happily roam the seas, the “common people” (whose point of view is often featured in the movie) have to pay the price for an era of lawlessness, caught between marauding pirates (not all are as kind as the Straw Hats) and the tyranny of the World Government, which uses piracy as an excuse to enforce its authority.

Uta’s backstory is certainly one of the major appeals of the movie; it provides much-needed insight into the past of one of the most mysterious, but also important, characters in the series. Fans have been clamoring to see more of Shanks for decades, and they won’t be disappointed. The Red-Hair Pirates and their battling side-by-side with the Straw Hats is one of the most amazing moments in the history of One Piece. It’s worth the price of admission alone. There is a lot of fan service in One Piece Film: Red, but the film also feels fresh and innovative. It’s the first one in the franchise to have a strong musical component, and the performance of the Japanese star Ado in the role of Uta is wonderful. The style of the animation (the quality of which is always top-notch) slightly changes according to the rhythm and theme of the songs Uta sings in the movie, creating a unique visual experience.

That said, the final revelation regarding Uta’s past and the disaster of Elegia is a bit disappointing and predictable — but it still works. If anything, the story of the movie is too rich and complex. Elements of the story, including Uta’s background, Shanks’ role, and the presence of the Straw Hats (who often feel like mere extras), are compressed into the movie’s two-hour runtime. It would have worked better as an entire arc, like in the manga or anime, but it’s clear from the quality of the story that this is Eiichiro Oda’s material. One Piece Film: Red does create some continuity problems. Luffy briefly uses his Gear Fifth at the end of the movie, and other elements — such as Nami having her pet thundercloud, Zeus, or Luffy being recognized as a Yonko — position it chronologically after the end of the Wano Country arc.

The ending of the movie proves that One Piece Film: Red really stays true to the series’ spirit. While One Piece is mostly known for its action and humor, almost every major character has a past history of tragedy and loss, and these two themes coalesce nicely. One Piece Film: Red is ultimately a successful endeavor that will please fans. There are some added surprises and an innovative and refreshing look that comes from its strong musical component. One Piece Film: Red is the best movie in the franchise and an entertaining experience for its audience, who should be ready to shed some tears, too.

Next: One Piece Film: Red Will Give Shanks His Due

One Piece Film: Red opens in North American theaters on November 4. The movie is 115 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for violence, suggestive material, and language.