One Piece Film: Red is a fantasy adventure film from the hit anime One Piece. As expected, the movie received the number one ranking in Japan for 11 consecutive weeks, prompting some fans to wonder about One Piece Film: Red. So, can you enjoy the movie even without watching the One Piece anime?
Knowing that there are more than 1000 episodes and 14 feature films released by One Piece, some viewers might feel overwhelmed by the amount of content to catch up.
There are also some stand-alone anime films that are non-canon, but is One Piece Red one of those?
How Is One Piece Film: Red Different From Other One Piece Works?
The action-adventure movie is focused on Uta, a well-loved singer. She is widely known for her unique and beautiful voice but she has concealed her identity whenever she performed. However, for the first time, Uta decided to hold a live concert.
The venue was filled with fans, including the Straw Hats. While Uta’s physical appearance surprised her fans, what Luffy did not expect was that Uta is actually Red-Haired Shanks’ daughter who also happens to be Luffy's childhood friend.
Is One Piece Film: Red Canon?
In terms of manga continuity, One Piece Film: Red is not canon. But since Eiichiro Oda worked on this film, fans can expect that there will be foreshadowing and some hints that are related to the main story.
It has been confirmed that the movie will provide more information about Shanks, which can be useful in the main storyline, and of course, for fans of the beloved character.
Therefore, viewers will have to carefully observe and watch out for small hints throughout the film as these might provide a clue about what’s going to happen next in the One Piece canon series.
Can You Watch One Piece Film: Red Without Watching the One Piece Anime?
While everyone has their own choice, it is not really advisable to watch the movie if you have no idea about One Piece in general. There are a lot of characters and backstories in the film that might make it confusing for a non-One Piece fan to understand.
Even fans of One Piece recommend watching the series or reading the manga first to truly appreciate the movie.
Some recommend watching the film after watching the Wano Arc as most people believe it is the timeline where the movie best fits in.
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