The Next One Piece Movie Is Breaking A Major Franchise Tradition

Next year is going to be big for “One Piece.” The popular franchise that recently became the best-selling comic series of all time (tied with “Superman“) should be ending the stunning Elbaph arc in 2027 as it closes in on the story’s actual end. That same year, we’re getting the Netflix anime remake “The One Piece,” which is meant to be a more streamlined and better-animated retelling of the first couple of arcs from the manga, and we’re also getting Season 3 of the live-action “One Piece” series that has surpassed all expectations of what a live-action anime adaptation can be. Now there’s even more news, with the announcement coming over the weekend that “One Piece” is finally getting a new anime movie.

During the One Piece Day 2026 convention, Toei Animation revealed the next film in the franchise will be “One Piece Film: God Valley,” to be released in the summer of 2027 in Japan. Then, in 2029, we’re getting “One Piece Film: Baad.” The “God Valley” announcement is particularly noteworthy because it is breaking a major tradition for the “One Piece” franchise

First of all, this will be the very first time we get a “One Piece” film that is actually canonical. This is following in the footsteps of projects like “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle,” “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” and “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc,” which save shorter story arcs from the original mangas for the big screen rather than having to stretch it out for a season of television. Most importantly, however, is the fact that “God Valley” is adapting a story that doesn’t feature a single one of the main characters from the anime, or even a prominent side character.

Who needs Luffy when you have the Pirate King?

For the uninitiated, “One Piece Film: God Valley” refers to the so-called “God Valley Incident” that was explored in the manga last year through flashbacks and introduced the best character in the entire “One Piece” franchise. It tells the story of a large scale genocide and battle that took place on the God Valley island 38 years prior to the current timeline. What started as a triennial manhunt by the World Government, where nobles could hunt and slaughter the innocent inhabitants of God Valley, eventually devolved into an epic confrontation between the most powerful people in the “One Piece” world at the time. This was due to the arrival of both the Roger Pirates, led by future King of the Pirates Gol D. Roger, and the Rocks Pirates, considered the strongest and most dangerous pirate crew of their time, led by Rocks D. Xebec.

The God Valley Incident includes plenty of characters we’ve met in the anime already, like Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaidou, Gol D. Roger, Silvers Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban, Monkey D. Garp, Monkey D. Dragon, Emporio Ivankov, and Bartholomew Kuma. We’ve even seen parts of the incident before through the incredibly heartbreaking and sad backstory of Kuma. And yet, these are all characters that have appeared for a few episodes each before disappearing or getting killed. None of them are recurring characters, and the Straw Hats have nothing to do with this story. There have been 15 feature films based on “One Piece,” and every single one of them has focused on Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats.

This will be the biggest test of the popularity of “One Piece” as a franchise.

What should anime movies be?

There are many reasons why shonen anime movies (movies based on “shonen” action anime like “One Piece” or “Naruto”) are the way they are. They tend to be non-canon stories because it’s easier to coordinate production and not have it conflict with both the production of the anime and its broadcast. It also allows general audiences the chance to watch the movie without being entirely up to date with the show, as they are generic enough stories that anyone with a small familiarity with the source material can follow along. This is not necessarily a bad thing. The best “One Piece” movies are those that take the characters and place them in fun new scenarios and team them up with characters they don’t often get to interact with in the manga or anime. A big part of the fun for the viewer is watching fresh new team-ups that you know likely won’t happen again.

“God Valley” is different. Unless they add a lot of original material or a narrative framing device that allows for Luffy and his friends to show up (perhaps listening in to the story of God Valley being told), they won’t show up at all. The story is hugely important for the world of “One Piece,” but it’s not the next chapter in the story the way the “Demon Slayer” or “Chainsaw Man” movies were. It’s not even a story that directly impacts where the anime is going next, like “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” was. Instead, this is lore in its purest and most cool form. It’s a pivotal chapter in the history of “One Piece” that changed everything and impacted many prominent characters. It also will feature some of the coolest action in the nearly 30-year-old franchise. 

It just won’t feature Luffy.