One Piece Film: Red Review: A great new character changes everything

It is interesting that most of the more than 1,100 characters introduced in A piece Franchise is divided into two groups. The World Government – the tyrannical, repressive global regime that dominates the series’ setting – naturally puts most of the characters on one side or the other. Some supported it, like its army and the autocratic, untouchable aristocracy of the World Nobles. Others are its enemies, as the pirates make up the number of the series’ main characters. It’s a definite part that runs through A pieceand it’s such a simple separation that it doesn’t sound like enough to keep a story going for 25 years, across 103 volumes of stories (and counting!), and over 1,000 anime episodes.

But there are too many differences between those two groups. Pro-World Government figures include secret government intelligence and assassination organizations CP9 and CP0, best-selling pirates known as the Seven Lords of the Sea, the Navy, and many more. At the other end of the spectrum are the pirates of every creed and inclination. Some want to rule the world. Others want freedom for themselves and their chosen families. Some people just want to see the world burn.

However, in the end, the world of A piece seems to be divided into two tribes – so far. The latest addition to the series, feature film Movie One Piece: Red, premieres in US theaters on November 4, introducing a third, equally complex, camp against both the World Government and piracy. That faction has enough power to convince people on both sides that it is a force to be reckoned with.

However, the most fascinating thing about that group is that it is made up of one person.

Image: Toei / Crunchyroll

The newcomer, Uta, is the daughter of Shanks, one of the A piecethe most powerful, most famous pirates. She is also a lifelong friend of protagonist Luffy. She is the most famous singer in the world. And we only learned of her existence for the first time in Red. Given all of that, and the fact that her name is literally the Japanese word for “song,” fans who are fed up of shonen tropes can be forgiven for the exclusion. leave Uta in the first place.

But this character is truly something fans have never seen before on such a scale in OP-Sentence: someone who acts and fights on behalf of ordinary people, no superpowers. The Revolutionary Army, founded and led by Luffy’s father, Monkey D. Dragon, appears to be essentially the same, but opposes the World Nobles that support slavery and actively fight for the little ones. Baby are two different things. Uta’s mission is to free people from suffering. Her drive to ensure their happiness, and her minimal moral apprehensions about how she does it, help give her a compelling identity of her own.

Through Uta, it also became clear that the world of A piece palpable to anyone who doesn’t have a Devil Fruit superpower, is training Haki’s mental powers, or just their own pirate crew. Civilians around the world are constantly being killed by pirates, Marines act monstrous within the framework of the law, or World Nobles are allowed to make ordinary people their slaves at will. Uta sets out to save those people with the power of music.

Image: Toei / Crunchyroll

Musicals aren’t universally popular, especially as non-musical franchises experiment with musical waters. But the songs in Movie One Piece: Red Don’t feel constrained, as Uta is a musically competent singer. This allows the story to broaden fans’ understanding of the OP-verses, while also interweaving naturally in some beautiful music that makes the most of the animated medium. Every song is a giant spectacle, whether certain ones are J-pop or R&B.

The songs are all performed by wunderkind Ado, a 20-year-old who debuted in 2020 with Youth rebellious song “Usseewa” roughly translated as “Shuddup.” The release of that song caused a bit of a stir in Japan, as parents worried about how such “provocative” lyrics would affect their children. Red can only change those people’s view of Ado, with its series of musical centers that are ambiguous, moving, and beautifully performed.

The best way to describe Ado’s vocals is “unbelievable.” It’s really hard to believe that such a young person can have such a wonderful range of emotions and music. She can clearly convey joy and hope in uplifting songs like “New Genesis” or bring visceral pain and despair in melodious hard-rock track “Tot Musica.”

Ado’s performance is a big reason why Uta can go down in anime history as the greatest A piece movie character each. But no less praise goes to director Goro Taniguchi and screenwriter Tsutomu Kuroiwa, who have created a wonderfully complex character. At first, Uta looks like a typical hero type who fights for what she believes is right, similar to Luffy. In reality, Red a lot when Uta-and-Luffy escaped, with the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates being demoted to little more than cameos. But there is a sinister streak to the way Uta carries out his mission.

Uta has her own idea of ​​how to heal the world and she pursues it relentlessly without regard for her own health or the consent of others. Her actions are eerily reminiscent of those of CP9/CP0 agent Rob Lucci, who briefly appeared in Red as if to remind us that we’ve seen this kind of behavior before, from one of Uta’s supposed enemies. Uta never did anything horrendous like massacred 500 hostages to remove the pirates’ leverage, but her insistence that she’s right and that the others just need to go with her is no exaggeration. far from Lucci’s devotion to “absolute justice”.

Image: Toei / Crunchyroll

But for all those who nod A piece‘S past, Movie One Piece: Red Completely accessible to newbies. Even those who have never watched an episode of the show or read any manga can still follow and enjoy Red. Some details will fly through their heads, but the lively story and catchy songs will keep them entertained. (Even if we never get to hear Luffy sing.)

Long time A piece fans, however, for something magical. Uta is likely to represent a major shift in the balance of power in the world A piece. Although the events of the film are yet to be confirmed as the official film, Uta herself appears in chapter 1055 of the manga, which means she To be part of the main plot. If her character and motivations are moved to the official storyline of the story, that means the most interesting A piece The story is still ahead of us.

Movie One Piece: Red premieres in US cinemas on November 4.