One Piece: The Movie

One Piece: The Movie is the first theatrical anime film based on Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga. Produced by Toei Animation, it was released in Japanese cinemas on March 4, 2000, as part of the Toei Anime Fair program. The film runs for approximately 51 minutes and was directed by Junji Shimizu, an important early director in the television anime adaptation. It predates the introduction of several later Straw Hat crew members, so its central pirate group consists of Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, and Usopp.

The story is an original adventure rather than a direct adaptation of a manga storyline. It centers on the legendary pirate Woonan, also known as the “Great Gold Pirate.” According to the tale repeated throughout the film, Woonan amassed an enormous fortune during his career and hid it somewhere on an isolated island. His reputed treasure becomes the objective of several competing parties, including the Straw Hat Pirates and the ruthless pirate captain El Drago.

El Drago is the film’s principal antagonist. He commands a heavily armed crew and possesses a Devil Fruit ability that allows him to unleash destructive sonic attacks. He is determined to locate Woonan’s gold and uses force to intimidate anyone who might know the treasure’s location. His pursuit brings him into conflict with Luffy and the other Straw Hats after they become involved with people connected to Woonan’s past.

A key character is Tobio, a young boy who admires Woonan and dreams of becoming a pirate. Tobio lives with his grandfather Ganzo, an elderly man who runs an oden stall. Ganzo’s history is closely tied to Woonan, and the film gradually reveals that the legendary pirate’s story is more complicated than the popular image of limitless gold suggests. The emotional focus of the film lies partly in Tobio’s relationship with Ganzo and in the meaning of Woonan’s legacy.

As the search reaches Woonan’s island, the Straw Hats confront El Drago’s crew amid traps, collapsing terrain, and disputes over the supposed treasure. Luffy ultimately battles El Drago directly, while Zoro, Nami, and Usopp each assist during the chaotic confrontation. The film concludes by emphasizing Woonan’s life and ideals over the material wealth that attracted so many pirates. It is notable as the franchise’s first cinema release and as an early snapshot of the Straw Hats before the crew expanded beyond its original four members.