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I’ve spent more time than I care to think about watching anime movies in my life thus far. I’ve seen both astoundingly spectacular and horrifically terrible anime movies. I’m giving you the full benefit of my anime experiences in the form of this list of mini-reviews. You’ll find the best anime TV series movies in existence organized below according to series and release date. Unlike the main Anime Movie Guide, the TV Series Guide (for the sake of completion) lists and reviews all of the movies released for each series instead of just listing the ones that are spectacular. It’s therefore highly suggested that you read the mini-review/synopsis for each anime movie before deciding whether or not to watch it as not all TV series anime movies are created equal.
The first volume of the One Piece manga hit store shelves on Dec. 24, 1997. It took less than two years for One Piece to become a full-fledged anime series with the first episode airing on Oct. 20, 1999. Since then, One Piece has grown to be the most popular manga series of all time in Japan with over 260 million volumes sold as of 2010. One Piece follows the story of a pirate named Monkey D. Luffy and his rag-tag Straw Hat pirate crew as they set-out to help Luffy become The King of the Pirates by finding a legendary treasure called One Piece that the last Pirate King Gold Roger hid at the end of the Grand Line, a series of islands separated from the rest of the world by windless oceans that cannot be sailed. While sometimes bloody, One Piece is generally good for the whole family and has such a compelling story that you’ll likely want to start reading the manga once you’ve seen any of the anime series or movies.
One Piece (2000)
Wan Pīsu (ワンピース)
Director: Atsuji Shimizu
The first One Piece feature film is a good one, but its animation hasn’t aged very well over the last decade or so. The Straw Hat pirate crew for this movie consists only of Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami. The movie’s plot involves the Straw Hat pirates, starving for their lack of Sanji, being shanghaied by the El Drago pirates who are on their way to an island to search for the legendary treasure of the Great Gold Pirate Woonan and then getting tangled up in the search for the treasure. Fairly light as far as One Piece movies go, this is a good one to see if only to understand just how greatly One Piece has evolved over the years and enjoy a little side-story with the early Straw Hat crew.
Clockwork Island Adventure (2001)
Nejimaki-jima no Bōken (ねじまき島の冒険)
Director: Atsuji Shimizu
Sanji makes is first film appearance as a Straw Hat crew member in Clockwork Island Adventure. In just a year, One Piece’s quality of animation improved significantly, but this movie’s visuals are still dated by today’s standards, just not grossly so. The narrative follows the Straw Hat pirates as they are once again set upon by thieves and chase after their stolen pirate ship ending up at a “floating” island whose inhabitants are being oppressed by a pirate crew called the Trump Siblings. The steaks are high throughout the movie and it’s cool to see the Straw Hats in all-out battles against their various powerful and well-matched foes. This is a fine One Piece movie and definitely a recommended watch.
Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals (2002)
Chinjū-tō no Choppā-ōkoku (珍獣島のチョッパー王国)
Director: Atsuji Shimizu
Adding Chopper (and specifically not Nico Robin) to the Straw Hat crew, Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals is essentially both the least canonical and least beloved of the One Piece movies (I still enjoy it because Chopper is my favourite character, but that’s neither here nor there). The story has the Straw Hat pirates arriving at the Island of Strange Animals only to have their ship thrown into the air and have Chopper fall overboard. Chopper is then crowned the king of the strange animals and both he and the rest of the Straw Hat crew help defend the island’s inhabitants from a treasure hunter named Count Butler and his henchmen. While less involved than pretty much all of the other One Piece movies, as the so-called “worst” of the bunch this movie is still better than some of the more common anime rabble these days. Not a bad time, but there are certainly better anime movies to watch.
Dead End Adventure (2003)
Dead End no Bōken (デッドエンドの冒険)
Director: Konosuke Uda
This is one of the better One Piece movies. With Nico Robin joining the Straw Hat pirates, solid animation, a good storyline, and cool movie-exclusive characters, Dead End Adventure has a lot going for it. Directed by the same person who directs the anime series, the canonical Dead End Adventure feels more like an extended and epic episode of the series than some of the other One Piece movies. The plot follows the Straw Hat pirates who are hard-up for cash as they discover and then participate in a high-stakes ship race, but the race and some of their competitors are not quite what they seem. A great jaunt with the Straw Hat crew, Dead End Adventure is certainly one of the finest One Piece movies.
The Cursed Holy Sword (2004)
Norowareta Seiken (呪われた聖剣)
Director: Kazuhisa Takenouchi
The Cursed Holy Sword uses one of the popular tropes of anime series movies, a main character going rogue for seemingly no reason. Zoro mysteriously disappears while the Straw Hat crew, who have not gained any additional members since the last movie, are restocking their ship on an island. Their search for Zoro leads them to a village on the island where Zoro, in the company of some Marines, fights Sanji and steals some powerful orbs from the village. It’s up to the Straw Hat crew to discover why Zoro has seemingly gone crazy, but it must have something to do with a Holy Sword that is possibly Cursed, right? Not the most involved One Piece movie, but with some rockin’ sword fights and some ancient curses it’s a good time none-the-less.
Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island (2005)
Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima (オマツリ男爵と秘密の島)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Directed by the incomparable Mamoru Hosoda (of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time fame), this is by far the darkest and creepiest single piece of One Piece media. This was my favourite One Piece movie until Strong World came out in 2009. The movie has the Straw Hat crew find a message in a bottle advertising a resort called Omatsuri Island where there are all manner of relaxing and fulfilling activities tailored especially for powerful Grand Line pirates. Figuring they could use a vacation they travel to the island not knowing that it harbours one of the greatest challenges they may ever face. The highly stylized and “simplified” animation in this movie is a huge departure from its counterpart in the anime series and it adds greatly to the depiction of the tribulations that the Straw Hat crew faces on the Secret Island. The dark story and graphic violence make this an anime movie that’s definitely not for kids, but provides a very unique and extremely enjoyable ride for the rest of us. This movie is not to be missed, even if you’re unfamiliar with One Piece.
