With the big One Piece film out this summer in late July, it’s no surprise that there will be a lead-in to some of the background elements of it on TV to provide some continuity for fans – as well as essentially serving as one really long commercial to get people into the theater. Set for a July 16th, 2016 debut at 9pm JST, One Piece: Heart of Gold will arrive to connect the two works. The special is directed by Tatsuya Nagamine based on the screenplay by Tsutomu Kuroiwa.
While it’s likely that we’ll see this episode simulcast through Funimation and Crunchyroll, it’s not guaranteed that it will or that it’ll arrive at the same time as it could be a delayed stream.
Plot concept: There exists a mysterious treasure that even Tesoro desires, the ‘Pure Gold.’ The Straw Hats meet a girl who knows where this treasure lies, and they head for the legendary island, ‘Alchemy.’
[Source: One Piece Podcast]
