One Piece Film: Z
Movie, 2012, The films, Set in A side story in the New World
One Piece Film: Z is #3 of 8 in release order and #3 of 8 in chronological order in the One Piece.
The story
Zephyr, now known as Z, rides the seas with only one goal: Destroy all pirates and their dreams at becoming King of Pirates. When Luffy and his crew encounter him at sea, not only are they utterly defeated by the man with an arm made of Seastone, Nami, Robin, and Chopper are turned 10 years younger due to Z's minion Ain. Luffy is so determined to win against him that he does not even notice Z's master plan that could sacrifice thousands of lives.
One Piece Film: Z recap
Z, a former Marine admiral once called Black Arm Zephyr, leads the Neo Marines, who hunt all pirates after a pirate killed his family and the government let pirates become warlords. He plans to destroy the Endpoints, three volcanic islands, using powerful Dyna Stones, which would wipe out the New World and the pirates in it. After stealing the stones, Z is knocked into the sea, and the Straw Hats find him unconscious and help him. He wakes, learns Luffy is Garp's grandson and beats him badly. His followers Ain and Binz arrive; Ain's power turns Nami, Chopper, Brook and Robin into children, and Binz traps Franky and Usopp in vines. The crew flees, rearms on Dock Island, and learns from Kuzan, the former admiral Aokiji, what Z means to do. Z's past comes out: he lost his family to a pirate, lost his arm to a Devil Fruit user, and left the Marines when that pirate was made a warlord.
One Piece Film: Z ending explained
The Straw Hats defeat the Neo Marines at the third Endpoint, and Ain's power wears off. Luffy and Z knock each other down, and Z admits defeat and is spared. Admiral Kizaru arrives to execute them all; Z stays behind, Kuzan raises an ice wall so the others can escape, and Z fights the Marines alone until he dies of his wounds.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In a mid-credits scene, the Straw Hats return to Dock Island, hand back the gear and weapons they borrowed, and go their separate ways.
Where to watch One Piece Film: Z
One Piece Film: Z is streaming on Netflix and Crunchyroll in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.7/10, MyAnimeList 8.10
Where it fits
- Release order: after One Piece Film: Strong World, before One Piece Film: Gold.
- Chronological order: after One Piece Film: Strong World, before One Piece Film: Gold.
What to watch before One Piece Film: Z
One Piece (1999), which One Piece Film: Z (2012) continues. One Piece Film: Z itself is optional in the One Piece order.
Cast
- Mayumi Tanaka as Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
- Kazuya Nakai as Roronoa Zoro (voice)
- Akemi Okamura as Nami (voice)
- Kappei Yamaguchi as Usopp (voice)
- Hiroaki Hirata as Sanji (voice)
- Ikue Otani as Tony Tony Chopper (voice)
- Yuriko Yamaguchi as Nico Robin (voice)
- Kazuki Yao as Franky (voice)
- Cho as Brook (voice)
- Hochu Otsuka as Z (voice)
- Masami Suzuki as Z (Young) (voice)
- Ryoko Shinohara as Ain (voice)
Directed by Tatsuya Nagamine.