Anime-original Silver Mine arc debuts with new opening song on June 26

The official website for the One Piece franchise revealed the visual for the television anime series' upcoming Zou arc on Monday.

(Note: The below image and the summary for the Silver Mine arc contain some spoilers for the Zou arc and Dressrosa arc, respectively.)

The website also revealed more information about the story and characters of the anime-original "Silver Mine" arc that will start on June 26. The Zou arc will follow after the Silver Mine arc.

As Luffy and some of his crew are riding on Bartolomeo's ship toward Zou, they are attacked one night by the female pirate Desire and her Battle Boat crew. Desire is part of the Silver Pirate Alliance, which is led by Bill, a devil fruit user who ate the "Gutsu-Gutsu" (simmering) fruit and is a "Smelting Man" who can make and wield various weapons. Luffy and Bartolomeo are taken to the "Silver Mine," an island that is the Silver Pirate Alliance's stronghold. The arc will follow Luffy and Bartolomeo as they work to escape Silver Mine and get back to their crews. Desire has a connection to Bartolomeo's past, and Bill — who can manipulate silver — has a connection to the "Gold Emperor" Gild Tesoro, the antagonist of One Piece Film Gold.

The characters in the new arc include:

Bill, a "Smelting Man" who ate the Gutsu-Gutsu fruit. He is the Silver Pirate Alliance's leader who is after Luffy.



Desire, a female pirate who wears a biker gang jacket. She has a connection to Bartolomeo.



Peseta, one of the leaders of the Silver Pirate Alliance who adores Bill.



Abellon, a "Rail Car Man" who ate the "Korokoro" fruit ("korokoro" is the sound of a small round object rolling). He corners Luffy with his attacks.



Tanaka-san (voiced by Gaku Hamada), Gild Tesoro's subordinate and a devil fruit user. He also appears in One Piece Film Gold.



Hiroshi Kitadani and Kishidan (pictured below) will collaborate to perform the new opening theme song for the anime titled "We Can!" starting on June 26.

One Piece Film Gold will open in Japan on July 23 on 743 screens, which is the largest for any Japanese film. The film will screen with English and Chinese subtitles in five cities in Japan from July 23 to August 5. The film is also getting screenings in 3D, 4DX, and MX4D.

Images via MoCa News