A new five-minute episode of “One Piece” made its unexpected debut last weekend at the MBS Anime Fest in Kobe, Japan, thrilling fans of the popular anime series. The special release, created to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary, is now available on YouTube in Japanese only.
The short episode features series favorites Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar Law teaming up to battle a giant sea serpent. The story takes place after the Battle of Wanokuni and includes cameo appearances from other fan-favorite characters.
“We wanted to give fans something special during the production break,” said Mayumi Tanaka, the voice actor for Luffy, who made a surprise appearance at the festival alongside Hiroshi Kamiya, who voices Law.
The premiere highlighted the second day of MBS Anime Fest, which returned to great fanfare after a seven-year break caused by the pandemic. The festival, which began in Osaka in 2005, now takes place at the Kobe World Memorial Hall in Hyogo Prefecture.
Festival-goers also enjoyed a live performance by Hiroshi Kitadani, known for performing several of the show’s popular theme songs. The timing of this release is particularly significant, as the main series is currently on a six-month break before the new “Egghead Arc” begins in April 2025.
The event showcased other major anime titles as well, including “Haikyu!! The Movie,” “Attack on Titan,” and “Jujutsu Kaisen,” reinforcing MBS Anime Fest’s status as a key event in Japan’s anime industry. The festival’s successful return signals a strong revival for in-person anime celebrations in Japan.
