On Nov. 21, 2022, One Piece Film: Red was released in theaters in Japan. As the 15th feature film in the One Piece series nears its second anniversary, storyboards by series creator Eiichiro Oda have resurfaced online.
On Reddit, the One Piece Film: Red storyboards by Oda were shared on the r/OnePiece forum. The storyboards go over the early history of "Red-Haired" Shanks and Monkey D. Luffy and how Uta fits into the picture. Oda lists significant events in the series' history, such as a one-year-old Shanks being found inside a treasure chest by Gol D. Roger, which is mirrored in the movie through Uta as a baby. It also offers the earliest look at Luffy's childhood that the series has provided so far, detailing his first encounter with Shanks and his adoptive daughter.
Some of Eiichiro Oda's Resurfaced One Piece Ideas Also Made It Into the Anime Series
For up-to-date viewers of the One Piece anime TV series, some of Oda's ideas listed here were present in the anime-original "Uta's Past Arc" that tied into Film: Red. Episode 1029 and Episode 1030 showed the competitive but endearing relationship between Luffy and Uta as children, as well as the somber ramifications of Uta's performance on the island of Elegia. Oda's notes explain why Shanks never enlisted Luffy into his crew but allowed a kid like Uta on his ship, and how her mysterious disappearance nearly drove the two apart.
The storyboards covering Uta's life as a young adult are where Oda's notes become the most fascinating. It confirms that the special telepathic snail device used by Uta to deliver her music to the world is a prototype developed by Vegapunk from the "Egghead" story arc. Oda also explains Uta's complicated motivation for putting on her debut concert, which almost trapped everyone in a dream-like world. Driven by guilt for involuntarily causing the genocide of Elegia and under the harmful influence of the Wake-shroom, Uta wanted to create a safe haven for those suffering in the age of pirates, even if it came at the cost of her life.
Oda's One Piece Film: Red Storyboards Confirm Uta's Motivations and Mentality
Although Uta's actions were wrong, Oda makes it painfully clear in his final storyboard that none of it was done with malicious intent. In Oda's own words, "The only villain in this movie is Tot Musica." Interestingly, Uta's descent into madness is represented through her playlist, as her opening song -- inspired by the "New Genesis" pledge she made with Luffy as kids -- shows her honest intention of helping everyone, while songs like "Fleeting Lullaby" demonstrate her corrupted nature until she regains her humanity and ends the violence between the Marines and pirates with "The World's Continuation."
One Piece: Film Red is currently available to stream on Netflix, along with the TV anime series and specials. The movie was made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the manga. The One Piece anime will celebrate its own 25th anniversary this year.
Source: Reddit
