One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island
- 2005
- 1h 28m
The Straw Hat Pirates received an advertisement on a recreational island. The offers all looked promising, so they sailed to the island for an opportunity to kick back and relax from their j... Read allThe Straw Hat Pirates received an advertisement on a recreational island. The offers all looked promising, so they sailed to the island for an opportunity to kick back and relax from their journey across the Grand Line. The site of the resort looks like a dream come true. Only ou... Read allThe Straw Hat Pirates received an advertisement on a recreational island. The offers all looked promising, so they sailed to the island for an opportunity to kick back and relax from their journey across the Grand Line. The site of the resort looks like a dream come true. Only our heroes find themselves greeted by the head of the island: Baron Omatsuri. He asks all 7 ... Read all
- Kerojii
- (voice)
- Kotetsu
- (voice)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Sanji
- (voice)
- DJ Gappa
- (voice)
- (as Sosuke Ikematsu)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Muchigorou
- (voice)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Daisy
- (voice)
- Roronoa Zoro
- (voice)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Nami
- (voice)
- Rick
- (voice)
- Underlings
- (voice)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was directed by Mamoru Hosoda, best known for his movies The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, and the oscar-nominated Mirai
- ConnectionsFeatured in Animenia: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2011)
- SoundtracksYume Miru Koro wo Sugitemo
(Even After Dreaming)
Performed by Kishidan
Lyrics by Shô Ayanokôji
Music by Shô Ayanokôji
Arranged by Kishidan
Courtesy of Toshiba EMI
It's also undoubtedly the most challenging 'One Piece' film, and surely the most divisive, for between Hosoda and screenwriter Ito Masahiro, this adopts a tack far, far removed from the others, and from the core genre space that the series plays in. It's rooted just as firmly in adventure, action, and fantasy, and we also get kernels of the anticipated comedy, too. Yet while in the first act the feature give us the flavors we know and expect, the mood turns steadily, and then completely, and direly: more than anything else, the sixth movie in the saga falls heavily into the category of horror, and incalculably ponderous psychological horror at that. "Dark" is one word that describes this, but "bleak" is emphatically another as the story explores themes of death, despair, grief, loneliness, nihilism, and more. There are story ideas herein as grim and lightless as any I've ever seen, an assault so intense that it becomes physically taxing. There is imagery herein as nightmarish as the most gnarly creations that genre icons have ever given us. Oh yes, there is also warmth, and love, and friendship, and loyalty; mercy, and sacrifice. However, what begins as a tale of the Straw Hat Pirates sailing to a paradisaical getaway turns to suspicious mystery, and suspicious mystery turns so hard into the very darkest of places that 'Baron Omatsuri and the secret island' is, in all sincerity, emotionally devastating. Not to belabor the point, but 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' is arguably light by comparison.
Thank goodness for the written word, because in a very literal sense I'm speechless right now. I thought I was prepared, and I was not, neither in terms of what I've seen of 'One Piece' to date nor after watching everything else Hosoda has made. And all the same, I cannot overstate how immensely I adore this title, truly no less than the best of the rest. Wherever the credit respectively lies for the concept, for all the minutiae that went into the screenplay, and indeed the green light that made this possible in the first place, I am so deeply grateful. The characters are a joy for how well they're written, brimming with personality and complexity, and the dialogue is just plain potent. Each scene dazzles in turn as the vibe shifts throughout, and the narrative is altogether spellbinding. Relatively rare have been those flicks that ensorceled me to the extent this one days, and still, for as inescapable as both the gravity and the gloom of this piece is, it is wonderfully satisfying and rewarding for the astounding strength of its storytelling. Its strength - and, I posit, its daring; it bears repeating that 'Baron Omatsuri' is pretty much an outright reversal of what the franchise commonly offers, and I would be fascinated to learn every iota of the production history. But here we are nonetheless, cheeks wet and eyes red, staggered by what Hosoda put forth.
Everything else about the film is as terrific as ever, by all means. Par for the course with basically any anime, the visual experience is superb, rich with detail and texture, splendid use of lighting and shading, vivid color, eye-catching backgrounds and environments, creative and fetching character designs, and just as gratifyingly marvelous designs for other active elements (horror-related or not). The action is smooth, fluid, and exciting, and the effects are vibrant. In an instance where 3D digital rendering is selectively employed, it holds up well and looks much better than I'd have guessed after nineteen years. The voice cast give admirable, commendable performances that really brings the shifting tone to bear. Composer Tanaka Kohei brings us another outstanding score, in this case possibly even more dynamic by default all things considered; from the most playful phrases that accompany earlier scenes of mirth, to the haunting music that underscores the later nastiness, I can scarcely imagine this gem without Tanaka's contribution. And this is to say nothing of the robust sound design, or the fundamental image quality, or Goto Masahiro's keen editing. From top to bottom this is just as well made as we'd ever assume.
But the heart of the picture unmistakably lies in Hosoda's vision as director, the sullen depths of Ito's writing, and the animation that brings it all to ghastly life. I'm at a loss. I expected I would like this, and I wholeheartedly do, but it strides well past anything I might have supposed sights unseen. I can understand how this won't appeal to everyone for very obvious reasons, but if you're receptive to what this 2005 release does, and the unremitting departure from the norm for 'One Piece,' then as far as I'm concerned it's a must-see. For my part I have fallen in love with Hosoda all the more, and likewise for the franchise: it's not exactly an easy watch, but I'm thrilled by how excellent and absorbing 'Baron Omatsuri and the secret island' is in its hardened genre swerve, and I'm happy to give it my very highest and heartiest recommendation!
- I_Ailurophile
- Aug 28, 2024
- Permalink
- How long is One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Đảo Hải Tặc 6: Nam Tước Omatsuri Và Hòn Đảo Bí Mật
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $10,522,843
- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
- Color