Eiichiro Oda performed similar role for 2009's One Piece Film Strong World

The official Twitter accounts for Viz Media's Shonen Jump brand and Hisashi Sasaki (deputy director of Shueisha's Shōnen Manga group) announced on Sunday that One Piece manga creator Eiichiro Oda will be the executive producer for the next One Piece film. Viz Media also announced that the film will open in Japan next December, and the first One Piece art exhibition — with new artwork by Oda — will open in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills on March 20, 2012.

Oda personally oversaw the production of One Piece Film Strong World (pictured right), the pirate adventure franchise's 10th film which opened in Japan on December 12, 2009. (Manga creator Tite Kubo performed a similar role for last December's Bleach: Jigoku-hen film.)

The new One Piece film was announced through a teaser that aired at the end of last month's television showing of One Piece Film Strong World, and the teaser said that the new film will be set in the manga and anime's ongoing New World Arc. There has not been a feature-length One Piece film since One Piece Film Strong World in 2009, although there was the half-hour "One Piece 3D: Mugiwara Chase" short in March. There is also a "One Piece 3D Gekisō! Trap Coaster" event short at select theme parks and theaters this month.

Thanks to Shayne Sor for the news tip.

Images © Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Fuji TV, Toei Animation