One Piece Film: Z

Directed by Tatsuya Nagamine, scripted by Osamu Suzuki, and executive produced by Eiichiro Oda, the film opens with the antagonist stealing the Dyna Stones, explosives likened to the Ancient Weapons. The thief, the ex-Admiral once called Zephyr, leads a rogue force known as the Neo Marines.

Z aims to wipe out piracy by detonating the Endpoints, a hidden chain of islands whose destruction would flood the surrounding seas with magma, killing pirates and innocents alike. Former Admiral Kuzan shadows the crew throughout, conflicted over his old teacher's path.

The Straw Hats rescue a battered old man from the sea, only for him to attack once he learns Luffy is a pirate, easily overpowering the crew while his subordinates Ain and Binz de-age Nami, Chopper, Robin, and Brook with their fruits. Forced to flee, the crew regroups on a nearby island and resolves to stop Z and restore their friends.

Tracking Z across Secon Island, where Kuzan warns them of the Grand Reboot plan, Luffy fights him a second time and loses, his straw hat taken and a seastone bullet lodged in his shoulder. Kuzan freezes the erupting volcano to save them, and later gives the crew an Eternal Pose to Piriodo, the final Endpoint, along with the grim truth that victory will still leave them surrounded by Marines.

On Piriodo the crew cuts through the Neo Marine army and an army of modified Pacifista, with each member defeating their counterpart. Luffy and Z trade brutal Haki-charged blows inside the volcano until both collapse, satisfied, and Luffy reclaims his hat. Kizaru's forces then close in, and Z marches out to die fighting the Marines who were once his students, choosing to fall without regrets.

As the first post-timeskip film, it debuted updated designs for many Marine officers and introduced the new Marine Headquarters, though several details were later contradicted by the manga.

Two of its theme songs were performed by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, and Oda personally chose Armani outfits for part of the cast. Theatergoers received the special Volume 1000, echoing the Volume 0 handed out for Strong World, and the film foreshadowed Kuzan's missing leg years before canon confirmed it.