Netflix will be removing One Piece Film: Strong World from its service on March 15, marking the end of easy access for U.S. viewers. This move leaves fans of the popular anime franchise without a quick way to watch the movie.
Strong World, a significant film in the One Piece series, is known for being one of the few films written by One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda. Released in 2009, the film received a strong reception, grossing over one billion yen during its domestic opening weekend. It also set a record for the per-screen average in Japan at the time, earning 5.52 million yen across 188 screens, with 103 showings selling out.
Set between the Thriller Bark Arc and the Sabaody Archipelago Arc, Strong World was released during the Marineford Arc in the One Piece manga. Despite some plot adjustments for continuity, the movie features Brook as a Straw Hat member and avoids focusing on Zoro’s injuries from Thriller Bark.
One of the key highlights of Strong World is its involvement with Oda, who not only wrote the movie but also created Strong World Volume 0. This special volume contained a manga chapter that explored the movie’s characters and events set 20 years before Luffy’s adventure began. The volume was later adapted into an OVA, Episode 0, which aired in 2010. This chapter also served as a precursor to later events in the One Piece series.
Beyond the film itself, Strong World offered fans a rare glimpse into the past lore of the One Piece world, particularly concerning Gol D. Roger’s era. At the time of the film’s release, many aspects of the series’ history were still a mystery, making this insight a special treat for fans. The movie and its accompanying media were part of a celebration for the series’ 10th anniversary.
Despite the removal of Strong World, Netflix will continue to stream most of the One Piece main series. Fans can also look forward to the upcoming live-action re-adaptation of the entire series, titled The One Piece, which was announced in 2024. Additionally, a second season of the live-action series is expected in 2025, though a specific release date has yet to be confirmed.
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