Review by faeez_rizwan

Even those unfamiliar with the hugely popular Japanese tv, comic book or gaming series will find much to enjoy in the buccaneering adventure, One Piece: Stampede. The relentless action is well choreographed with enough threat to keep tweens on the edge of the couch but not hiding behind it. The camaraderie between the Straw Hats and Luffy - their well-rounded and likable leader -- remains genuine and warm.

The fact that this is a story that's both outside the canon and one that celebrates the legacy of One Piece is leaned into enormously throughout the film and that's what makes it such an intensely fun romp from beginning to end. What has kept One Piece so endearing to its audience is that it's a '90s shonen anime that has remained so faithfully '90s.

Rather than just being a movie about the Straw Hats and a group of enemies, this is a movie about many characters from across the whole series: the entire Worst Generation, the Shichibukai, the Marines, the Revolutionaries, the Cipher Pol and many more; the movie brings in many beloved stars from across the series in one big action-packed thrill ride.

Yet one of my favorite aspects was the third tier of characters, being the easter egg and cameo characters. One Piece details are my life and seeing all these references is incredibly exciting for me.

This movie is a celebration of the legacy of One Piece. It reminds us how far Luffy and the Straw Hat crew have come. Having experienced this movie, above all else, made me feel so glad to be a One Piece fan. And that's what makes it so special.