The fifth One Piece movie, mainly focused on Zoro.
On Asuka Island, the Straw Hat Pirates learn about the Seven Star Sword, considered the world's most beautiful sword and a valuable treasure, though it contains a deadly curse. When they come back to the ship, they find that Zoro, who was to act as guard, is missing, but they are forced to leave port when they are attacked by Marines. They dock in another section of the island and come across a village, whose job it is to keep the Seven Stars Sword sealed. It is soon attacked by Marines who are trying to free the sword—among whom is Zoro! What reason could Zoro have for doing this? What is the secret of the sword? Why would Marines want it? The answers lie on the night of the red moon.
This movie contains examples of:
- Armor Is Useless: Averted by Bismarck's full plate armor. Too bad it doesn't cover the face or the top of the head.
- Barrier Maiden: Maya, being the descendant of the original maiden's bloodline, can summon a magical barrier by praying the Gods of Asuka, allowing her to suppress the power of the Sword. This ends up being mildly effective, in that while the Sword is too powerful to be stopped by the barrier, her prayers still weaken Saga, allowing Luffy to clobber him.
- Big Bad: Saga.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: Saga and anyone afflicted by the Sword. Mostly seen with the Marines. The only one who's trying to fight back the influence is Toma.
- Brick Joke: Near the beginning, the Merry is propelled in the air and land on a hippo-rhino hybrid, causing him to spit a fish that was choking him and making him fell in love with the ship. Much later, as the Strawhats leave Asuka Island, the very same hippo-rhino appears, trying to court the Going Merry.
- Cool Sword: The Seven Star Sword, likely a nod to a weapon with the same name appearing in Journey to the West.
- Continuity Nod:
- In a flashback, Zoro attempts to cut a chain wrapped around Saga and fails. Presumably, it was made of steel.
- Both Luffy's defeat of Crocodile and his 100 Million bounty are referenced. As the latter doesn't come as a surprise to Luffy and Usopp, this film must take place after Skypiea (and, for obvious reasons, before Water Seven)
- Curb-Stomp Battle: All of Saga's servants are defeated in a jiff. Saga is on the receiving end during his One-Winged Angel when Maya starts praying, weakening the sword.
- Darker and Edgier: Compared to the previous movies it has a darker, more serious atmosphere, though not nearly as dark as the following film which was the darkest film in the series so far.
- Dissonant Serenity: Touma, until the climax, that is.
- Evil Weapon: The Seven Star Sword. Which is rather odd, as One Piece usually has an explanation (most of the time: Devil Fruit) for these kind of things.
- Face–Heel Turn: Seemingly Zoro, before his real motives are revealed.
- Family-Unfriendly Violence: When Saga is possessed by the Sword in the beginning he doesn't simply cut down the pirates attacking him and Maya, he literally bisects them.
- Fat Bastard: Boo Kong, so fat that he's actually spherical and can bounce around like a ball, crushing people and buildings under his own weight.
- Foreshadowing: Early on, Saga himself explains that nor he nor his men can get too close to the Sacred Orbs. Later Nami takes advantage of this detail to defeat a whole group of possessed Marines by keeping them at bay with the Orb.
- Guest-Star Party Member: Lacos, one of the villagers, joins Sanji as he goes to put the Orb in its tower. He doesn't do much though, except fighting mooks.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: During the R-Rated Opening, Saga cleaves a few mooks in half with the sword. Mercifully the gory details aren't shown.
- MacGuffin: The Three Sacred Orbs that are necessary to seal the power of the Seven Star Sword. Oddly, Saga's henchmen can't touch them, and not even get close to them, forcing Saga to ask for Zoro's help.
- The Magic Goes Away: In the end, both the Sword and the Orbs are gone for good.
- One-Handed Zweihänder: Invoked, when Luffy, upon seeing the Seven Star Sword hanging from Saga's back, asks him if he can really use such a long sword with only one hand. He can, btw.
- One-Winged Angel: Saga. First he gets his arm back and turns into a hulking brute with crazy eyes whose powers, however, are hindered by Maya's prayers.. Then, the sword merge with him, making him expressionless and deadlier.
- Playing with Fire: Saga, thanks to the Sword. It looks like some sort of wisp though.
- Shaping Your Attacks: One of them takes the form of a serpent made of cold flames that bites the victim.
- Razor Wind: Saga again.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: All those under the influence of the Sword sports these.
- Running Gag: Maya's Grandmother seems very short, but when she's surprised she suddenly springs up to great height, freaking everyone out.
- Shout-Out: The Seven Star Sword may be a nod to the weapon with the same name from Journey to the West.
- Single-Stroke Battle: How Zoro deals with Saga in the end. Though the latter survives.
- Voice of the Legion: Saga, under the influence of the Sword.
