Sailing onto the seas of anticipation and excitement, One Piece's prequel, Monsters is scheduled to stream on your favourite binge platform, Netflix, beginning this January 2024. Emerging from the creative mind of the popular pirate series' creator, Eichiro Oda, Monsters is a treat for all the One Piece fans who are always on the lookout for stimulating content from their favourite manga series.
The announcement in July 2023, of the anime adaptation of the one-shot manga, a predecessor to One Piece published back in 1994, created waves in the fan community itself. Strictly exclusive to the international audience on Netflix, alongside Prime Video and Netflix for the Japanese fans, the first month of the New Year promises exciting times for anime lovers. Further heightening the interest and curiosity are the intriguing character designs and the unveiling of the crackerjack team behind this adaptation.
What has stirred up a frenzy among fans is not only the prospect of combining the past and the present to explore the dynamic legend of One Piece's strongest swordsman, but also the people who are donning the mantles behind the scenes to bring this story alive. Steering the ship for the animation series with his newfound studio, E&H Production, is the director of Jujutsu Kaisen season 1 and an animator on One Piece: Z, Park Sung Hoo. His character designer will be Takashi Kojima, who also directed the celebrated episode #1015 of One Piece. Certainly enough firepower to make this anime a sure hit.
The anime sails into the life of Shimotsuki Ryuma, the Sword God and the most legendary swordsman in One Piece's history. The primary storyline orbits around Ryuma's legendary dragon slaying, thereby connecting the dots between Monsters and One Piece. However, the characterisation of Ryuma is somewhat complicated. Following the appearance of a character named Ryuma in the Thriller Bark arc, Eiichiro Oda had stated the said Ryuma and Monsters' Ryuma to be the same.
Even though there exist certain differences, the announcement of Monster taking place in Wano cements its place in One Piece's folklore. A fun fact for the fans, Ryuma is also one of Zoro's ancestors, thereby compounding the significance of the connection between Monsters and One Piece.
Perfectly in tandem with this, One Piece's new Egghead Arc will begin airing in January 2024. It indeed is raining reasons for Oda’s fans to be thrilled. The countdown has begun, kickstart your New Year with Monsters, streaming on Netflix in January 2024.
Source: Netflix Anime.
