One Piece: The Movie

One Piece: The Movie is a theatrical feature, originally released on March 4, 2000. The first One Piece film produced by Toei Animation (and the second overall, predated only by Defeat the Pirate Ganzack!), it features an original story separate from the canon, though its status quo roughly fits the period between the Syrup Village Arc and the Baratie Arc.

Summary
After a chance encounter with a trio of thieves, the Straw Hat Pirates find themselves at odds with El Drago, a ruthless pirate empowered by a fearsome Devil Fruit and obsessed with gold like few others. El Drago's ultimate goal: a myth-shrouded isle where the legendary Captain Woonan was said to have hoarded a third of the world's gold.

With the help of a young boy named Tobio, perhaps the last living confidant to Woonan's closest friend, the Straw Hats must overcome El Drago and his crew, and discover the secret of Woonan's resting place for themselves.

Plot Synopsis
Many years ago, a great pirate captain named Woonan was said to have plundered a third of all the gold in the world. Though his time eventually came to an end, his legend did not, and pirates around the world continued to pursue the map leading to his fabled hoard. In time, this map was captured by the brutal El Drago, who immediately set sail for the so-called Isle of Gold.

Elsewhere on the sea, the Straw Hat Pirates - Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp - find themselves once again starving, Luffy having squandered the month's provisions. Their troubles are soon compounded by the Hyena Three, a burglar gang under El Drago's command, who quietly raid the Going Merry for all its valuables. While initially grateful to the burglars for "paying" him in riceballs, Luffy quickly retaliates when they try to shoot him; in the process, he finds the burglars' own boat being helmed by a small boy named Tobio.

Moments later, El Drago himself arrives and unleashes his Devil Fruit powers, condensing a simple scream into a beam of pure destruction that splinters the burglars' boat and capsizes the Merry. While Nami and Usopp are swept away, Zoro dives into the sea and manages to save Luffy and Tobio. As they settle themselves on a piece of driftwood, Tobio tries to explain his own ambitions for the Isle of Gold, but is ignored by Luffy and Zoro, who begin rowing after the sudden smell of food.

The smell leads the trio to a floating oden shop - the home and proprietary of Tobio's grandfather Ganzo, who has devoted his life to cooking and serving the stew. Tobio, who scorns these humble goals and idolizes Woonan, constantly runs away from this shop in hopes of winning wealth and glory on the seas. Though somewhat interested in Woonan's legend, Luffy and Zoro mostly focus on gorging themselves, until Ganzo demands payment; when neither Straw Hat can offer a single coin, they are promptly chained together as punishment.

Meanwhile, El Drago and his crew reach the Isle of Gold, unaware that Nami has manged to stow away on their ship. In contrast, Usopp is (along with the Merry) quickly captured; on pain of death from El Drago's lieutenant Golass, he rashly offers to decipher Woonan's map. Under Usopp's guidance, the group finds a valley holding a massive castle, where Nami intercepts and (with Usopp's help) tries to stall them by claiming the gold is buried several days deep. This backfires, however, as El Drago simply begins using his powers to level the area.

The impact of El Drago's beams quickly draws the still-chained Luffy and Zoro, as well as Tobio, who swears to protect Woonan's treasure by himself. Amused, El Drago easily overpowers Tobio; Luffy and Zoro prove more formidable, but remain hobbled by their chains, with only Zoro's mouth free to wield his swords. Eventually, Luffy makes a misstep that rockets the two of them - and Tobio - off to a distant hill. While El Drago and his crew look on in confusion, Nami and Usopp quietly slip away as well.

As the four Straw Hats regroup on the hill, Nami picks the lock on Luffy and Zoro's chains, and reveals that she has stolen Woonan's map as well. She then tries to "scorch" the map for hidden messages - only for it to burn to a cinder. Nevertheless, Usopp remembers a pivotal clue (and initially misinterpreted) from the map that leads them to the island's most prominent feature: a long, steep plateau.

Despite concerns from the Straw Hats, Tobio insists on following, to prove himself worthy of Woonan; together, they scale a good portion of the plateau, and find a cave to rest inside. To their shock, they find Ganzo resting in this cave as well. Dolefully, Ganzo reveals that Woonan had been his childhood friend, constantly scorning their humble village life (especially Ganzo's oden) and yearning for gold and glory. To this, Ganzo had retorted:

Gold doesn't laugh. Doesn't sing. Doesn't drink. Doesn't cry. It's no different from a rock!

These quarrels came to a head when Woonan resolved to be a pirate, presented his flag, and held a clifftop pact for Ganzo's loyalty. When Ganzo refused, they began brawling, and ultimately tumbled over the cliff. Though Woonan managed to catch his flag on a stray branch, Ganzo realized it was not strong enough to support both of them, and let go so Woonan could save himself. Miraculously, he survived this fall - but in the time he took to recover, Woonan had left the village, never to return.

Trivia



 * The end credits reproduce cover art from the following (while adding and/or removing select characters):
 * Chapter 17 (with Usopp added)
 * Chapter 20
 * Chapter 29 (with Usopp added)
 * Chapter 32 (with Usopp added)
 * Chapter 34 (with Pandaman added)
 * Chapter 45
 * Chapter 49
 * Chapter 79 (with Sanji removed, and Gill Bastar and (the ghost of) Wild Joe added)
 * The end credits also feature a brief teaser for the upcoming Baratie Arc, with Ganzo's oden-boat passing the Baratie as a bemused Sanji looks on.
 * Since the Straw Hats have the Going Merry, but Sanji is not present (apart from the credits), this film must take place between the Syrup Village Arc and the Baratie Arc. The Going Merry is flying Luffy's Jolly Roger, which means it must also take place after the Straw Hats visit the Island of Rare Animals.
 * After being capsized, Luffy and Zoro use the prow of the Bezan Black as a makeshift raft.

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