Thousands of straw hats converged in ten different countries across the globe, gathering for an exclusive sneak peek of Netflix’s highly anticipated live-action adaptation of “One Piece.” Their purpose was to commemorate the series’ premiere scheduled for the 31st of August.
Based on the highest-selling manga series in Japan’s history, penned by Eiichiro Oda, “One Piece” unfolds an epic tale of high-sea adventures, revolving around the ambitious Monkey D. Luffy. This young and enthusiastic man aspires to ascend the throne as the King of the Pirates, with “One Piece” serving both as the name of the manga series and the legendary treasure he seeks.
Los Angeles, US: The festivities commenced on the 24th of August with “Pirates on the Pier” in the United States. At the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, the world of “One Piece” took over, with the iconic ferris wheel illuminated in the form of the Jolly Roger. Attendees relished multiple photo opportunities, grooved to DJ Pee.Wee’s tunes, watched the premiere episode, and witnessed an enchanting drone display featuring beloved characters like Luffy, Buggy, dancing straw hats, and a special appearance by Oda-Sensei himself.
Paris, France: On the 26th of August, French enthusiasts embarked on a gum-gum treasure hunt across Paris. Clues shared on social media guided them to discover 20 hidden treasures scattered throughout the city, including a unique gum-gum. These treasure hunters earned special One Piece memorabilia and coveted in-person and virtual tickets to the fan premiere at the Grand Rex theater on the 29th of August, where the first two episodes were showcased.
Jakarta, Indonesia: In Indonesia, fans engaged in a flag hunt, spanning various locations in central Jakarta on the 27th of August. Three days later, they enjoyed the first episode screening and explored a ship resembling the Going Merry at Pantai Indah Kapuk, featuring numerous photo opportunities inspired by the series. The ship remained open to the public until the 3rd of September.
Tokyo, Japan: On the 30th of August, the celebration journeyed to Japan, where fans watched the first two episodes at Tokyo’s United Cinema Aqua City Odaiba. Afterward, they visited a special One Piece exhibition, accessible to the public until the 3rd of September. This exhibition showcased real-life props and costumes from the series, One Piece-inspired games such as the straw hat toss and a cast memory game, and a unique installation titled “Journey to the ONE PIECE with Oda-Sensei,” delving into the collaboration between Oda-Sensei and Netflix during production through letters and videos.
Milan, Italy: On the same day, the festivities shifted to Italy. Fans relished photo opportunities, received iconic gifts, savored gum-gum fruit macarons, and watched the first two episodes while perched atop the swimming pool at Milan’s Bagni Misteriosi.
Metro Manila, Philippines: Later that day in the Philippines, iconic One Piece landmarks came to life at Taguig in Metro Manila. These included Zoro’s cross at Shells town, the Going Merry’s deck with the Straw Hat crew’s Jolly Roger, a famous barrel where attendees shared their aspirations, and a wanted board displaying the bounties of all participants. This immersive experience remained open to the public until the 5th of September.
Mexico City, Mexico: To conclude the day, guests in Mexico City enjoyed a screening of the first episode before embarking on ship-themed buses to an exclusive sneak peek of the fan experience at Fronton Inclan. This activation, open to the public until the 17th of September, featured a One Piece-inspired circus, skill games, photo opportunities, a virtual reality experience, and a special mariachi performance of the One Piece song “We Are.”
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: On the day of the premiere in Brazil, the Going Merry docked at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Fans could recreate Luffy’s poster and participate in various photo opportunities aboard the ship. This activation remained accessible to the public until the 3rd and 7th-10th of September.
Bangkok, Thailand: The Going Merry made its final stop in Thailand at Bangkok’s IconSiam. Attendees could reenact Zoro’s iconic opening scene, explore Nami’s tangerine garden, and engage in a One Piece trivia game before watching the first episode. The Going Merry free boat shuttle was available until the 3rd of September, and the fan event space remained open to the public until the 10th of September.
Germany: To conclude the festivities, fans in Germany participated in a virtual watch party hosted by the singer, voice actress, and influencer Lara Loft.
For those who missed the chance to celebrate with Luffy and his grand fleet in person, they are encouraged to grab their straw hats and stream “One Piece” on Netflix now.
“One Piece” is a collaborative creation between Shueisha, Tomorrow Studios, and Netflix. Writers Matt Owens and Steven Maeda also serve as executive producers and showrunners, with Eiichiro Oda, Marty Adelstein, and Becky Clements as additional executive producers.
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