2-hour special features redrawn anime of East Blue arc, anime of chapter covers

This year's 30th issue of Shueisha 's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is revealing on Monday that the One Piece anime is getting a two-hour special titled One Piece Episode of East Blue: Luffy to 4-nin no Nakama no Daibōken (Luffy and His 4 Crewmates' Big Adventure). The special will air on August 26 at 9:00 p.m.

The issue is also revealing the main visual, which features Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji. The issue states that the anime will be a completely new work, featuring reanimated scenes from the beginning of the series through when the crew enters the Grand Line.

The special is commemorating the manga's 20th anniversary, and will also feature anime versions the original manga's chapter cover stories, although the issue doesn't state which one(s) will be animated. Additionally, the special will feature a special 20th anniversary commemoration version of the original opening theme song "We Are!".

Takashi Otsuka is directing the special, and Tomohiro Nakayama is writing the script. Masayuki Sato is the character designer and chief animation director.

The previous One Piece anime special, One Piece: Heart of Gold (pictured at right), aired in July 2016. The special tied into last year's One Piece Film Gold movie.