One Piece Film: Z

One Piece Film: Z

Japanese release poster
Directed by Tatsuya Nagamine
Produced by
  • Yoshihiko Taneda
  • Makoto Seino
Screenplay by Osamu Suzuki
Based on One Piece 
by Eiichiro Oda
Starring Mayumi Tanaka
Kazuya Nakai
Akemi Okamura
Kappei Yamaguchi
Hiroaki Hirata
Ikue Ohtani
Yuriko Yamaguchi
Kazuki Yao
Chō
Hōchū Ōtsuka
Ryoko Shinohara
Teruyuki Kagawa
Music by
Cinematography Takeo Ogiwara
Edited by Nobuhiro Maki
Production
company
Distributed by Toei Company
Release dates
  • December 15, 2012 (2012-12-15)
Running time
 107 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese
Box office $74.2 million[1]

One Piece Film: Z (stylized in Japan as ONE PIECE FILM Z) is a 2012 Japanese anime fantasy action adventure film directed by Tatsuya Nagamine. It is the twelfth feature film based on the shōnen manga series One Piece by Eiichiro Oda.[2][3] The film stars the regular television cast of Mayumi Tanaka, Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Otani, Yuriko Yamaguchi, Kazuki Yao, and Chō. It also features Hōchū Ōtsuka as Zephyr, an ex-naval Admiral, with Ryoko Shinohara and Teruyuki Kagawa as Zephyr's henchmen. The film revolves around the Straw Hat Pirates battling against Zephyr, considered to be the most powerful enemy they've faced yet.[4]

Plot

"Black Arm"[lower-alpha 1] Zephyr (ゼファー Zefā), a former naval admiral and leader of the Neo Marines which also includes his henchmen Ain (アイン) and Binz (ビンズ Binzu), commences an assault on the navy on Firs Island, a volcanic island and one of the End Points. While there, Zephyr steals the Dyna Stones and fights Kizaru before he starts an eruption to defeat the Admiral only to be sent flying into the ocean. While having a cherry blossom party, the Straw Hat Pirates discovers and heals Zephyr. When Zephyr learns that Monkey D. Luffy is a pirate, he fights Luffy, Roronoa Zoro and Sanji. Having discovered Zephyr's location with a Vivre Card, Ain and Binz join the ex-Admiral to fight them. Ain uses her Devil Fruit powers to de-age Nami, Tony Tony Chopper, Brook and Nico Robin, while Binz uses his Devil Fruit powers to trap Franky, Usopp and Brook with vines. Realizing that Luffy is the grandson of Monkey D. Garp, Zephyr attempts to kill them, but the Straw Hats are forced to flee. At Marine Headquarters, the navy discovers Zephyr's whereabouts and decide to recover the Dyna Stones.

Landing on Dock Island, Franky repairs the Thousand Sunny, which has been damaged by Zephyr. They meet Mobston (モブストン Mobusuton), whose granddaughter reveals that pirates who come to this island say that they have been attacked by Zephyr. Mobston, angered by Zephyr destroying their pirates' dreams, decides to give the Straw Hats his strongest equipment. While there, the Straw Hats gather information on Zephyr's location from the navy and meet up with Kuzan, who reveals that has left the navy after being defeated by Akainu on Punk Hazard. Using the Sea Train, the Straw Hats enter Secon Island just as the volcano erupts. They confront Zephyr, Ain and Binz, only to be easily defeated once again. Meanwhile, Garp reveals to Coby and Helmeppo that Zephyr once believed in the navy's justice and became an Admiral after serving as a soldier in the navy. When Zephyr's wife and son were killed by a pirate who resented him, Zephyr became an instructor.One day, most of Zephyr's recruits were killed and Zephyr lost his arm after being attacked by a pirate with Devil Fruit powers. Zephyr acquired a weapon developed by the navy's scientist to defeat Devil Fruit users and organized a strike unit. However, when the pirate who attacked him was chosen to serve as a Warlord, Zephyr left the Navy, organizing the Neo Marines as a result.

Back on Dock Island, Kuzan reveals that Zephyr is targeting the three volcanic islands known as End Points. If all three islands erupt in a short period of time of each other, it would result in a giant eruption covering the world's oceans and killing everyone in them. The Straw Hats confront the Neo Marines on the third End Point and are victorious. Kizaru and the navy confront Zephyr and the Straw Hats but the ex-Admiral allows the Neo Marines, Kuzan and the Straw Hats to escape the island. As Zephyr fights to his death and Ain and Binz mourn their loss, the Straw Hats return to Dock Island, giving their gear and weapons back to Mobston, before going their separate ways.

Voice cast

Character Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Monkey D. Luffy Mayumi Tanaka Colleen Clinkenbeard
Roronoa Zoro Kazuya Nakai Christopher R. Sabat
Nami Akemi Okamura Luci Christian
Usopp Kappei Yamaguchi Sonny Strait
Sanji Hiroaki Hirata Eric Vale
Tony Tony Chopper Ikue Ohtani Brina Palencia
Nico Robin Yuriko Yamaguchi Stephanie Young
Franky Kazuki Yao Patrick Seitz
Brook Yūichi Nagashima Ian Sinclair
Z Hōchū Ōtsuka Jeremy Schwartz
Young Z Masami Suzuki Tia Ballard
Ain Ryoko Shinohara Lauren Landa
Binz Teruyuki Kagawa Matthew Mercer
Borsalino Unshō Ishizuka Ray Hurd
Sakazuki Fumihiko Tachiki Andrew Love
Aokiji Takehito Koyasu Jason Douglas
Garp Hiroshi Naka Brian Mathis
Sengoku Takkou Ishimori Ed Blaylock
Mobstone Masashi Hirose Mark Fickert
Koby Mika Doi Micah Solusod
Helmeppo Kōichi Nagano Mike McFarland
Tsuru Minori Matsushima Juli Erickson
Kirin Shun Takagi Darryl Roberds
Gali Kumiko Watanabe Bryn Apprill
Purin Yui Kano Angela Chase

Development and production

In November 2011, Fuji Television announced that production on One Piece Film: Z has begun.[5] One month later, Viz Media's Shonen Jump and Hisashi Suzuki, deputy director of Shueisha's Shonen manga group announced through their Twitter accounts that Eiichiro Oda would be the executive producer for the film.[6] On January 30, 2012, Toei issued a press release announcing the film's plot[7] and also announced the film's director Tatsuya Nagamine and the film's release in December.[8]

The April 23, 2012 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump revealed character designs for Zephyr and also revealed minor information, including staff information as well as the premiere date, December 15.[9] The screenplay was written by Osamu Suzuki, who serves as one of the writers of the television program SMAP x SMAP, and the film's character designer and animation supervisor is Masayuki Sato, who was previously involved as an animation supervisor and character designer of One Piece Film: Strong World.[9]

Promotion

On April 21, 2012, Toei's official website for the One Piece films was updated with a teaser trailer.[10]

A special pre-sale collaboration ticket with the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods movie was made to commemorate the release of the two films. The dual-ticket good for both films has a special new illustration by both Akira Toriyama (author of Dragon Ball) and Eiichirō Oda.[11] Limited to 8,989 across Japan, the tickets went on sale on November 23, 2012 for ¥2,600 ($31.51 US) apiece.[11]

Music

The film's theme songs are covers of Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" and Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation", both performed by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne.[12] Oda sent a personal thank you letter to Lavigne after hearing her cover of "How You Remind Me". "Bad Reputation" is one of Oda's favorite songs. Lavigne agreed to contribute the songs for the film.[12] The film's soundtrack, containing 30 tracks, was released on December 12, 2012 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan.[13]

Release

Box office

One Piece Film: Z opened at number one in the Japanese box office, earning US$16,339,700 during its opening weekend.[14] Film attendees received 1 of 2 million copies of an 84-page “Volume 1,000” of One Piece, which contains designs about Character Z (also known as Zephyr) and an exclusive One Piece Treasure World card. The movie is set to release across several other Asian countries which are Taiwan (January 25), Singapore (February 1), Hong Kong (February 14), Philippines (1 May), Thailand, and South Korea (dates undecided).[15] One Piece Film: Z was released in France (dubbed in French) on Straw Hat Day, May 15, 2013.[16]

The film grossed ¥6.85 billion (US$65.2 million) in Japan in 2013, becoming the 3rd highest grossing film of the year in the country.[17]

Critical response

Toshi Nakamura, writing for Kotaku, called Z "something [he] was totally not expecting."[18] Nakamura particularly praised the film's villain, calling its backstory "dramatic, and more importantly, convincing," as well as the pacing of the storyline, saying that it feels "organic." However, Nakamura had mixed opinions of the film's secondary characters, stating that "some of the characters have their own plot lines that connect nicely with the [film's] original story," but said they eventually end up as "foils to build on the character of Z." Although Nakamura disapproved of the film's unresolved plotlines, he would declare that the film is "definitely well worth seeing for any fan of the series."[18]

Home media

Z was released in Japan on June 28, 2013 on DVD and Blu-ray, with both formats having a regular edition and a limited "Greatest Armored Edition". The regular editions for both formats include trailers, with the first copies having one of nine randomly distributed holographic stickers of a straw hat. The limited editions for both formats include all nine straw hat holographic stickers, Zephyr's weapon Smasher as a keychain, a stand with a voice recording, and not-for-sale press material. The limited editions also has a bonus DVD which includes the prologue to the film, titled One Piece: Glorious Island, "event footage", and interviews.[19][20]

In the Philippines, Z was released on DVD and VCD by C-Interactive Digital Entertainment on October 17, 2013.[21]

On April 7, 2014, Funimation announced its acquisition of the home video rights to the film in the United States and Canada.[22] The film was released in a Blu-ray/DVD combo on September 30, 2014, which includes the English dub recorded by Funimation, promos for the film, and a video of Patrick Seitz at Sakura-Con in 2014.[23][24]

Notes

  1. ↑ 黒腕のゼファー Kokuwan no Zefā

References

  1. ↑ "One Piece Film Z (2012)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ "ONE PIECE FILM Z". Eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  3. ↑ Jérôme Salomon (April 21, 2012). "ONE PIECE FILM Z : Les premières images du film". Journal du Japon (in French). Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ One Piece Film Z's 2nd Teaser Trailer Streamed. Anime News Network. 2012-07-13.
  5. ↑ "One Piece Gets New Film Set In New World Arc". Anime News Network. November 19, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ "One Piece Creator Oda To Oversee Production of 2012 Film". Anime News Network. December 18, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ Toei Company (January 30, 2012). ワンピース劇場版最新作12月公開へ (Press release) (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  8. ↑ 岩井俊二＆北川悦吏子、パリが舞台のラブストーリーを制作！ジョージ秋山の「アシュラ」映画化！-東映ラインナップ発表. cinematoday.jp (in Japanese). January 30, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "One Piece Creator Oda Designs Next Film's 'Z' Character". Anime News Network. April 18, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  10. ↑ "One PIece Film Z Teaser Trailer Streamed". Anime News Network. April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "One Piece/Dragon Ball Z Ticket Set Illustrated by Creators". Anime News Network. November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Avril Lavigne's One Piece Themes Are Nickelback, Joan Jett Covers". Anime News Network. October 18, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ "One Piece Film Z Original Soundtrack". cdjapan.co.jp. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  14. ↑ "One Piece Film Z Earns Japan's #1 Opening Weekend of 2012". Anime News Network. December 17, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Anime movie One Piece Film Z to open at SM Cinema theaters on May 1". Interaksyon!.
  16. ↑ "One Piece Z - Le film - One Piece Z - Le film". One Piece Z Le Film au Cinéma le 15 mai 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ Kevin Ma (January 1, 2014). "The Wind Rises tops 2013 Japan B.O.". Film Business Asia. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  18. 1 2 Nakamura, Toshi (December 10, 2012). "I Never Expected A Character Story From One Piece Film: Z". Kotaku. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  19. ↑ "One Piece Film Z Blu-ray/DVD Slated for June 28". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "One Piece Film Z's Blu-ray/DVD Ad Aired". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  21. ↑ "Timeline Photos - C-Interactive Digital Entertainment". Facebook. Facebook. October 17, 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2015. TOEI's Highest Grossing Film - One Piece Film Z... Own It Now on DVD...
  22. ↑ "Funimation to Release One Piece Film: Z on Home Video". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 8 April 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  23. ↑ "North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 28-October 4". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  24. ↑ Kauffman, Jeffrey (3 October 2014). "Z Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 9 May 2015.

External links

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