One Piece Film: Z

One Piece Film: Z is the 12th One Piece movie, released on December 15, 2012. The movie was directed by Tatsuya Nagamine and was overseen by Eiichiro Oda, the same as Movie 10. Yasutaka Nakata wrote and performed the theme song.

One Piece Film: Z was released in France (dubbed in French) on May 15 2013.

Synopsis
Said to be comparable to the Ancient Weapons, the Marines' trump card the "Dyna Stone" has suddenly been stolen and the terrifyingly powerful man responsible, former Marine Admiral "Z", stands in the path of the Straw Hat Pirates.

The Marine HQ finally moves forward to deal with the conspiracy that threatens to shake the very pillars of the New World. Elsewhere, Kuzan pursues the Straw Hat Pirates. Finally, Luffy and his crew move to take a stand against Z and his incredible power.

Wrath of the Neo Marines
The story begins with Z singing a requiem, as he prepares for battle. His fleet of Neo Marines push past the defenses of Marine ships and invades Firs Island. He makes an open vow he will destroy all pirates before storming the beach, attacking waves of Marine soldiers that are flung aside. His subordinate, Ain, is shown fighting as well. She effortlessly dodges the soldiers attacks and uses two daggers to fight with, gracefully defeating all soldiers attacking her. She then vows to follow Z wherever he goes. Binz is shown using his devil fruit abilities summoning large vines shielding himself from the barrage of artilery fire from Marine soldiers. He breaks through their attacks, also stating he will follow Z. As Zephyr pushes through the defenses, two members of the Giant Squad intercept him. With his Battle Smasher arm, he easily overpowers both of them and takes them down. Him and his solders then break into the Marine base, and acquire the Dyna Stones. As his men begin loading the weapons aboard their ships, Admiral Kizaru appears and begins a deadly onslaught destroying their ships and blowing away the Neo Marine soldiers. Z rushes to their aid and clashes with Kizaru.

Kizaru outmanuevers him, sending a deadly array of explosive blasts at him but are deflected. As the two fight, Ain and Binz evacuate the Neo Marines onto the remaining boats. Kizaru asks how long it has been since the two last met, wondering what brings him to the island. Z warns that he relies too much on his Pika Pika no Mi power. Kizaru responds he's still stubborn like a rock, addressing him as Master Zephyr. Z responds that he abandoned that name. The two clash fiercly, as Z tells Kizaru he's become overconfident ever since he was promoted to Admiral rank.

Kizaru states he didn't come to dwell on the past, firing a light beam at him. He blocks it, charging forward and blows Kizaru to pieces with a powerful blast from his Battle Smasher. Z collapses from the stress of the battle, using an inhaler to get his second wind. Kizaru teleports and attacks with his light sword, as Z pushes back showing signs of struggle. Kizaru confidently states he cant match his speed with that heavy weapon. He begins questioning what he wants the Dyna Stones for, with Z remarking that even in the old days, he never liked him.



Kizaru politely asks him to return what he took, with Z remarking that the Dyna Stones rival the power of the Ancient Weapons as he picks up a stray one and shatters it.Terrified, Kizaru tries to teleport away to safety, as Z hurls the exploding stone in his face the moment he reformed.

The blast engulf the entire island, destroying everything. Kizaru survives the explosion, commenting on the loss as his former Admiral comrade Kuzan is shown witnessing the event from afar. He ponders what the Navy is doing, before peddling away on his bycycle.

Z and the Straw Hat Pirates
Somewhere else, the Straw Hat Pirates are having a cherry blossom party. Luffy is goofing off, stuffing himself with meat while Brook is singing. Zoro comments that its good to drink during the fall of the cherry blossums, with Chopper drinking milk instead of alcohol. Chopper becomes distressed when inhaling poison drifting in the air, while Brook is inspired to write a song about it. Zoro remarks its effecting the taste of his drink, but then wonders if it was already like that. The smell is shown coming from Usopp spraying poison over his Pop Greens, as Robin happily waters some of the plants. Usopp reassures Luffy that the poison is merely meant for killing worms with Zoro showing a liking to the tainted flavor of his alcohol. Chopper finds his milk still tastes bad and worries its because he's growing up into an adult. Luffy tries it and finds it tasted horrible too. Franky prances around, pretending to be a Cherry Blossum Tree, as Nami is sunbathing. Sanji swoons over her, as the crew begins hounding him to make them some food annoying him. Volcanic ash begins to rain from the sky, with Chopper pouting its ruining his fur. Robin offers to take a bath with him as Brook begs Robin to join in. She coldly turns him down, with Chopper offering him the company. Nami studies her log pose and finds the needle spinning where the volcano had erupted from. Usopp whispers to her that they have to hide this from Luffy, and choose a safer route. Luffy notices it anyway, deciding to head in that direction. Usopp whines, but Nami tells him to trust in her navigational skills. He warns her that the paths they choose could cost them their lives, but she tells him the matter is out of their hands now.

Luffy spots the battered body of Z clinging to life on a piece of wood out at sea, and tries to rescue him. When he grabs ahold of his mechanical arm he becomes weak with Sanji and Usopp having to help pull him aboard. Chopper examines him, but finds that he should be fine. Nami shows signs of suspicion, worrying that they picked up someone problematic. Robin notices his arm is built out of Kairouseki, the reason why Luffy became weak when he touched him. Nami finds it a dangerous thing, but Luffy and the others are in awe over it. Sanji reminds them all that Kairouseki is used against Devil Fruit users with him and Zoro debating wether to throw him overboard. Chopper defends him, with Luffy ordering him to save his life and that he'd deal with him if he was an enemy. Z awakens later in Chopper's infirmary, with Zoro and Sanji standing guard outside.

Z thanks Chopper for his care, calling him a great medic. Z meets Luffy and immediately tags him as the ships captain. Luffy asks him what he plans to do next, as Z tells him he is carrying a Vivre Card and his comrades should find him soon. Luffy begins asking questions about his mechanical arm, asking where he bought it. He tells them how when he lost his arm to a pirare, a Navy scientist helped build it for him. He tells Luffy its use against Devil Fruit users, able to weaken any foe once he gets a grip on them. He does comment that due to its heavy weight, it would be hard to survive if he fell into the ocean and only a special key can take it off him. Luffy asks if he is a Marine, to which he responds he had left them for being too old and is pursuing a different goal. Luffy comments it would be bad if he was a Marine, telling him they are pirates.

Z is angered by this, and throws Luffy through the wall. He asks Luffy why he is a pirate, as Luffy proudly responds he will be the Pirate King. This comment infuriates him, as he madly swings his Battle Smasher around. Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji all begin fighting him with Z able to hold them all off with relative ease. Ain and Binz then arrive with a fleet of ships and board the Sunny, announcing they will be confiscating it. Franky attacks, with Binz summoning vines that are able to subdue him. Robin tries attacking, but he proves too quick for her to grab him with her arms.

The others rush in to help, but Binz ensnares them all in vines as well. Nami uses Gust Sword to fight Ainz with, but she uses her Devil Fruit ability and shrinks Nami down to a small child. Chopper breaks out of the vines and charges her, but she evades him and uses her ability on him as well. Robin grabs her, but Ainz de-ages Robin to the appearance of a young teen.

Ainz explains she has the ability to revert things with a touch by 12 years. She tells Robin she would only need to touch her two more times and she would disappear. Z overpowers the Monster Trio, as he holds Luffy in his grip, helpless against him. He chastises Luffy's dream, telling him he'll never be Pirate King with his strength. Curiousity piqued, he asks Luffy his name. When he tells him, Z connects him as Garp's grandson and spares his life. He announces to the Straw Hats he will destroy all pirates, as the Neo Marines begin to attack the Sunny. With the ship being damaged and most of the crew unable to fight back, Luffy has them retreat. He frees Franky from his bonds, as he uses a Coup de Burst to escape. Elsewhere at the Marine HQ, Fleet Admiral Akainu calls a summit meeting of his high ranking officers to discuss the recent events. Akainu states the Dyna Stones were a trump card against the final Five Points.

He tells the Marines Z's plan is to use the Dyna Stones to destroy the Five Points, which will destroy the entire ocean surrounding the New World. Kizaru chimes in that Z must have died from getting caught in the explosion at Firs Island. Tsuru disagrees, knowing that as a former Admiral he would have survived. Akainu laments the treachery of their former teacher, but resolves that he must be stopped, along with the Neo Marines.

Garp, Coby and Helmeppo, who aren't attending the meeting, are near the remains of the still erupting Firs Island. Coby questions if the rumor of the Five Points being destroyed was true or not. Garp tells Coby that if it was merely a lie they wouldn't be taking such extreme measures. He tells the two that Z plans to destroy all the pirates in the New World with the Five Points, but not only will it kill all pirates on the seas but everyone else living there too. One of the Marines asks Garp who exactly this Z person is. Garp briefly explains that Z was once a Marine who fought alongside him and the others during their youth. He worries that his anger and hatred will destroy the world.

Adventures on Secon Island
Meanwhile, the Straw Hats are recovering on a nearby island, where Franky goes to work on fixing the Sunny. He tells Luffy to go after Z while he repairs the damage done. Chopper regrets saving Z's life, but Sanji tells him a pirate should live without regrets of what he believes in. Usopp wonders who Z is, with Zoro and Sanji itching for another round. Nami tells them they owe their lives to the Sunny; without it they'd be most likely dead. Robin also voices her want to get back at them, with Usopp wanting no part. Nami tells him that they must track them down, or else she will never get her original body back. She wouldn't be as helpful a Navigator to them without her full grown body. Robin comments much of the same, with Usopp telling her it must be nice being 18 again and having everything in the 'right place'. She grabs Usopp and tortures him for that comment.

Sanji begins fantasizing the idea of watching Nami and Robin grow up again, seeing them regain their looks with each day. Zoro calls him disgusting, prompting the usual heated arguements between them. Brook comments that he has grown younger too, despite looking exactly the same. Brook says his hair has gotten more youthful, with Zoro asking him if he wants to stay that way. Nami proposes gathering intel on their enemy as the first place to start.

Mobston, an old man approaches them and asks if they had a run in with Z. He tells them many pirate ships that have come to the island have been attacked by him. He tells that many who had been attacked by him, lost their will to continue and left the New World. He is pleasantly surprised Luffy still wishes to fight him, after losing so badly to him and offers up his finest equipment to use in their quest. Nami tells the crew to not arouse suspicion, they need a new change of clothes first. They are told their best place to start is to take the Sea Train to Secon Island.

As they head to their next destination, they divide their jobs and split up. Luffy, Brook, Sanji, and Zoro, all relax in a local hot spring to rest up. Sanji comments Devil Fruit users are a pain, seeing Luffy and Brook become quite weak. Sanji tells Luffy to keep a low profile since the island is crawling with Marine soldiers. Elsewhere, Nami and Robin have gotten work at a bar. Robin woos the crowd with her good looks and dancing, as Nami helps bring drinks around to the soldiers. Usopp is disguised as Robin's manager, and Chopper working as a shoe shiner.

There, Luffy's group meets former Admiral Kuzan, much to their shock. After Kuzan reassured them that he's not there to kill them, they have a discussion regarding Z, as well as Kuzan's duel with Sakazuki, and the wounds Kuzan received as a result. Meanwhile, Nami uses the fact that she was turned into a child to her advantage, to trick some Marine soldiers into giving her info about Z. However, the group's cover is blown before she can learn any more, and they escape. Outside, Kuzan talks to Luffy's group about the Great Era of Pirates, and Z's answer to it: destroying the One Piece to destroy the pirates. Shortly afterwards, he leaves. Nami's group catches up with Luffy's, with the Marines still pursuing them. Luffy knocks most of them out with a burst of Haoshoku Haki, and forces the captain to tell them where Z is. The captain reluctantly answers that he is near the island's volcano, and that a Marine squad has already been dispatched to deal with him. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Usopp decide to go after him, while the rest of the crew waits for them at the Sea Train station.

Z easily defeats the squad single-handedly, and the Dyna Stones he planted near the volcano explode, releasing a large eruption of magma. He then gives his men a speech about his plan, which he called Grand Reboot: destroying the three Endpoints located across the New World to unleash a mass of subterranean magma large enough to flood the entire Grand Line, wiping out all pirates there as well as the One Piece. However, he is interrupted by Luffy's group. Z orders Ain and Binz to fight Zoro and Sanji, while he himself takes on Luffy. The young pirate puts up a good fight, but Z switches things in his favor with a Kairoseki bullet. He then shoots an explosive bullet at Luffy at point blank range, and steals his straw hat before leaving. Ain and Binz also interrupt their respective fights to evacuate the island. Zoro, Sanji and Usopp return near the volcano, where they find Luffy seriously wounded. They take him and start running to the Sea Train station to escape the island before it explodes. Kuzan saves them from the eruption in the nick of time, and they all manage to board the Sea Train as it evacuates the island.

Meanwhile, Garp and Sengoku are discussing Z's actions. Coby and Helmeppo ask the former vice-admiral why Z is doing this, and Garp reveals everything to them: Z was once a Marine Admiral named Zephyr, who was famous for his mastery of Armament Haki. However, one fateful day, his family was killed by a pirate. His resolve seriously damaged, Zephyr withdrew from his position as an Admiral, and became an instructor, training many young Marines. Unfortunately, one day, another tragedy happened: a pirate slaughtered his entire division (Save for Ain and Binz), and cut off his arm. Many years later, this pirate became a Shichibukai. Disgusted by this, Z left the Marines and formed the Neo Marines.

Some time later, the Neo Marines arrive on Piriodo. There, they meet Kuzan, who offers Z a bottle of his favorite sake and asks him to stop in his plans. Z refuses and asks Kuzan to leave, not wanting to kill him. Kuzan replies that he doesn't want to kill him either and prepares to fight, but changes his mind and leaves.

Back to Dock Island, Kuzan appears before the crew again, and tells them that Z's plan is to destroy the three Endpoints with the Dyna Stones to release the Grande Imbuto, killing all pirates and destroying the One Piece. Now that two of the Endpoints have been destroyed, Z is about to go to the last one, Piriodo, and unless the Straw Hats stop him, the Pirate Era will end. Kuzan then gives the crew an Eternal Pose leading to Piriodo, then leaves. Determined to get his straw hat back and return his comrades to normal, Luffy decides to go there and settle things once and for all.

The Straw Hats reach the island shortly afterwards, and fight the Neo Marines. While most of the crew fights the lower Neo Marines and Shiro Kuma troops, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji go after the top members. Sanji takes on and beats Binz, and Zoro finds and defeats Ain, returning Nami, Chopper, Robin and Brook to their normal ages. Elsewhere, Luffy and Z have a grueling battle, which Kuzan overlooks. Both fighters' blows are fierce, but Luffy comes out victorious. Defeated, Z asks Luffy to finish him, but Luffy refuses, saying that he already got what he came for, and is satisfied. Kizaru, however, shows up with many Marine soldiers, and prepares to attack. Z, having come to respect Luffy after their fight, decides to sacrifice himself to allow the Straw Hats, Neo Marines and Kuzan to escape. Ain tries to convince her leader otherwise and runs after him, but Kuzan creates a large ice wall to stop her from going any further, while also freezing the Dyna Stones Z planted around the area, preventing them from exploding. The Straw Hats escape the island, and have a last, solemn look at it. Z perishes during the fight, and Ain, Binz and Kuzan set a grave for him with the remains of his Battle Smasher. Ain and Binz are devastated, but Kuzan tries to console them by reminding them of how great a man Z was.

The movie ends in a flashback as a young boy dressed as a superhero and wielding a log on his right arm beats up bullies that were harassing a young girl. As other kids cheer him on, the boy claims himself a hero of justice under the name "Z".

During the credits, it is revealed that after Z's defeat, the Straw Hats returned to Dock Island one last time, to return the gear and weapons Mobston had given them. They bid them farewell, and Gari decided to become a pirate.

Wardrobe
The red themed character designs:

The Armani outfits used in the movie:

Trivia

 * Due to its nature similar to One Piece Film: Strong World, this film's canonicity was often subject of discussion. However, Eiichiro Oda himself and, later, Chapter 700 confirmed that it is not canon.
 * Oda himself said it was not canonical, so as not create problems for the fans who follow only the manga.
 * The new Marine Headquarters in the film is different from the one in the manga.
 * Brannew is shown to be a commodore after the timeskip, while in the film he is shown without the high rank officer coat.
 * The early scans about the film set it just after the Fishman Island Saga, and the Z's Ambition Arc set it just before the Punk Hazard Arc, while in the manga this is not possible.
 * The film premiers the post time-skip appearances of the following characters:
 * Former Fleet Admiral and new General Inspector Sengoku
 * Fleet Admiral Sakazuki (face not shown)
 * Admiral Borsalino
 * Former Admiral Kuzan
 * Former Vice Admiral and new Instructor Monkey D. Garp
 * Vice Admiral Tsuru
 * Vice Admiral Smoker
 * Vice Admiral Doberman
 * Vice Admiral Strawberry
 * Vice Admiral Yamakaji
 * Vice Admiral Onigumo
 * Vice Admiral Momonga
 * Vice Admiral Comil
 * Vice Admiral Dalmatian
 * Vice Admiral Stainless
 * Vice Admiral Lacroix
 * Vice Admiral John Giant
 * Vice Admiral Ronse
 * Vice Admiral Mozambia
 * Vice Admiral Cancer
 * Vice Admiral Jonathan (non-canon character)
 * Rear Admiral Yukimura (non-canon character)
 * Commodore Brannew
 * Commodore Daigin
 * Commodore Kibin (non-canon character)
 * Former Master Chief Petty Officer and new Captain Coby
 * Captain Tashigi
 * Captain Hina
 * Captain T-Bone
 * Captain Shu
 * Former Chief Petty Officer and new Lieutenant Commander Helmeppo
 * The film premiers the new Marine Headquarters (formerly G-1) after the timeskip, even if it's different from the manga.
 * This is the second movie referred to as a "film", the first being One Piece Film: Strong World. Both movies were directly overseen by the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda.
 * This is the second movie featuring an ex-Marine turned pirate as the main antagonist, the first being Gasparde in the fourth movie, Dead End Adventure.
 * Two of this movie's theme songs are sung by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne.
 * Eiichiro Oda selected outfits designed by the fashion label Armani for part of the film.
 * In anticipation of the film, the following anime adaptation/original anime video related to it was released:
 * Anime filler Z's Ambition Arc.
 * Special Episode of Luffy.
 * Smart phone special episode Glorious Island.
 * Those who attended the theatrical releases of the film received Volume 1000, similar to how Strong World attendees received Volume 0.
 * The film's credits feature the animation and color-scheme of some characters who were depicted as children in the SBS Question corner: Sengoku, Monkey D. Garp, Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino, Jinbe, Mihawk, Boa Hancock, Bartholomew Kuma, Marshall D. Teach, Donquixote Doflamingo, Perona, Scratchmen Apoo, Trafalgar Law, Basil Hawkins, and Eustass Kid. The credits also showed Brook as a child.
 * This is the second One Piece film (after Strong World) to be released in cinemas in France.

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