REVIEW: ‘One Piece: Heroines’ Puts a Refreshing Spotlight on Nami and Robin

One Piece: Heroines brings the women of the infamous Straw Hat Pirates center stage in a special anime episode. One Piece: Heroine is an anime adaptation of the light novel written by Jun Esaka and illustrated by Sayaka Suwa. The original light novel series embraces a collection of slice-of-life adventures featuring some of the most notable female characters in the One Piece franchise. Haruka Kamatani directed the anime special with Akemi Okamura voicing Nami, Yuriko Yamaguchi as Robin, Maaya Sakamoto as Miucha, and Takehito Koyasu as Lebno. 

The special episode centers on Nami, who injures her feet during a pirate raid while wearing defective, poorly made shoes. Frustrated and dissatisfied, Nami heads to the shoe boutique to return the shoes, where she happens to meet the shoes’ designer, the famous Lebno Listaque. Lebno agrees to remake Nami’s shoes, only if she walks in his upcoming fashion show. In actuality, the person who fixes Nami’s shoes is Miucha, the shoemaker who works with Lebno. 

During her exchange with Lebno and Miucha, Nami realizes that the jewels Lebno uses to adorn his shoes are linked to the recent pirates who stole her treasure during the raid. Determined to get her treasure back and get a pair of shoes she can actually fight in, Nami agrees to walk in the fashion show and hatches a plan with her crewmate, Robin, to get her treasure back. 

One Piece: Heroines distinguishes itself with a striking shift in animation. 

The art of One Piece: Heroines has a very different artistic style from the original anime, allowing the spin-off to develop its own unique identity, possibly its greatest strength. It feels and looks purposefully so different from the original anime’s style, while still honoring Eiichiro Oda’s work and original character designs. Instead of focusing on exaggerated expressions and heavy action and fight sequences, the anime special places greater emphasis on the softer, elegant, and fashionable aspects of its characters and the backgrounds around them.

Now that is not to say that there is no action. The special episode opens with a large battle sequence, but that is not the central focus; instead, it shifts towards Nami rather than the male characters fighting off-screen. The 22-minute special spends little time on flashy fight sequences. Still, it does emphasize where Nami and Robin shine: their intelligence, observational skills, resourcefulness, and chemistry in a fun, heist-like adventure of their own.

Another way the special highlights Nami and Robin is by completely centering the story on the two women. Although the male Straw Hat crewmembers are around, they exist in the periphery or background of the scenery. It’s a small but intentional move to make audiences understand who this story is about. The writing also does not rely on them to move the story forward or save the day. Instead, Nami and Robin are given the space to carry the story themselves. 

Sayaka Suwa’s art style offers more refinement and elegance which fits the special’s atmosphere. 

Sayaka Suwa’s art style helps to celebrate the characters and complements the special very well. It presents the leading ladies of One Piece with a certain air of elegance and charm, without reducing them to mere physical attributes.

Instead, the animation and the writing of the special help to capture the qualities that have always made Nami and Robin such compelling individuals. From their confidence and brains to their specialized skill sets, like Nami’s keen eyes and cat burglary skills, and Robin’s espionage experience. 

Although the original series has showcased Robin and Nami’s talents, One Piece: Heroines does so in a more intimate story that allows the characters and their traits to be the center of attention in both a refreshing and deeply entertaining way for anyone who has ever wanted to see these characters in a story of their own. Additionally, by crafting the story as a clever revenge heist rather than a traditional all-out battle, the special offers a different perspective on Nami and Robin, as they are two of the Straw Hat Pirates’ most capable crewmembers in their own right. 

Nami and Robin help Miucha find her own path. 

The special takes some creative liberties and changes from the original story, One Piece: Heroines, on which it is based. For example, the episode is adapted from “episode: Nami – The Shoe Must Go On!” of the light novel, which centers on Nami buying new shoes at the famous Lebo Listachque shoe store. The biggest change to the story is that Robin does not go on the adventure with Nami. However, including Robin in the anime special highlights the very close bond and trust Nami and Robin share. 

Rather than simply making the plot of the special about Nami getting her treasure back, it also focuses on empowering other women. Nami asks Robin for help with her plan because, although she is capable, it is a task she needs another person to complete successfully. Robin eagerly accepts the opportunity to help Nami and empowers Nami to go through with her heist.

In turn, Nami’s biggest victory in the plot is not stealing all of Lebno’s treasure, but rather helping and empowering Miucha, the shoemaker. Miucha has been forced to work in Lebno’s shadow, as Lebno’s desire for success and fame has led him to abandon his dream of making shoes that anyone can use for anything. Instead, Lebno is more concerned with only a select few wearing his shoes and does not care to make them comfortable.

The Straw Hat way of empowering others to chase their dreams is present here, too. 

In contrast, Miucha wants to make shoes that honor her and Lebno’s original dream of making shoes for everyone to do anything in them. Unfortunately, Miucha’s confidence to go out on her own and make the shoes she has always dreamed of is all but dead.

However, it’s through Nami’s words of encouragement and actions that Miucha is inspired to leave Lebno’s business and start her own shoemaking business. This storyline in the special frames empowerment not as saving someone but as giving them the confidence to pursue their dreams. 

Dreams and empowerment are core themes within One Piece. In the original series, Luffy and the Straw Hats do not solve people’s problems directly; they help them fight for themselves. Which is exactly what Nami does for Miucha, whether it’s intentional or not, Nami inherits this philosophy by encouraging Miucha not to work for Lebno anymore and to make the shoes she wants instead.

One Piece: Heroines deserves more episodes to bring these characters to life.

As of right now, it is unknown if One Piece: Heroine will continue to adapt any of the other chapters from the light novel. This special makes a compelling case for adapting more of the series beyond this singular special.

There are plenty of more stories featuring characters like Boa, Vivi, Perona, and others that would be thrilling and entertaining to watch as an anime. The care and effort put into this special demonstrates how the smaller, character-driven adventures are just as rewarding, if not more, to watch. 

One Piece: Heroines deserves to be adapted into a full series. The special is not about earth-shattering battles or massive threatening villains, but that is exactly what makes this slice-of-life episode so refreshing and brilliant. The episode uses a heartfelt story about teamwork, authenticity, believing in one’s own abilities, and following dreams. The story gives Nami and Robin room to shine and take center stage in their own unique ways. Paired with the gorgeous art style and animation, it has a clever heist-inspired story that makes it a must-watch.

One Piece: Heroines is now available on Crunchyroll.