In recent years, anime franchises have done a great job at the box office. This year’s Dragon Ball: Super Hero exceeded expectations en route to setting a number of box office records. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train‘s performance from last year may be more impressive as theaters were still operating at reduced capacities. Can One Piece Film: Red continue the hot streak?
Anime has a passionate fanbase, and One Piece is one of the most popular. Even if it does not reach the heights of movies released in the past few years, it should still do well financially. Unlike Demon Slayer which was released during the tail end of a pandemic and Dragon Ball which went up against relatively weak competition, One Piece Film: Red is entering in fully operation theaters a week before the release of Wakanda Forever. In order for it to succeed, it will need to bring in more than just the expects fans.
So, can a newbie enjoy One Piece Film: Red?
The quick answer is yes. Most anime films tend to tell a broad story that anyone can enjoy while only touching on deeper story aspects that only fans will appreciate. This leads to stories that are approachable to more than a specific audience while still appeasing longtime fans. This also means the plots end up being generic fun that leave no lasting impression.
One Piece Film: Red offers a more involved answer. Yes, there is the basic setup that is accessible to any theater-goer, but the movie itself brings different elements to the table. The premise revolves around the Straw Hats are attending a concert being put on reclusive singer Uta. It turns out she is the daughter of Shanks and has a connection to Luffy.
The story is a comedy adventure that does an excellent job of mixing in some catchy musical numbers. Most of them are pop ditties that are uplifting and filled with joy. Any story with pirates is going to be filled with action, but the songs bring added fun. One Piece Film: Red does not leave everything to the soundtrack, however. The animation is a blend of 2D and 3D and looks fantastic. The story can feel barebones at times, but nuanced characters keep things engaging.
One Piece Film: Red comes to theaters November 4
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