Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation - The One Piece Prequel Anime's First Trailer

Introduction to Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation

In 2023, as part of the annual One Piece Day event in Japan, it was announced that the One Piece prequel story, Monsters, would be adapted into an anime titled Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation. Of all of Eiichiro Oda’s pre-One Piece stories, Monsters had always been held in the highest regard, so it’s great to see the story getting the recognition it deserves.

Ryuma in One Piece

Not much about Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation was revealed following the official announcement, but that’s finally changed. The One Piece YouTube channel posted the first official trailer for Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation, and not only did it reveal the casting for the anime, most notably Yoshimasa Hosoya as Ryuma, Kana Hanazawa as Flare, and Hiroki Tochi as Cyrano, but it confirmed a release date for Monsters on January 21 on Netflix in the West, January 22 in Japan.

Ryuma attacking a dragon

Even beyond its connection to One Piece, Monsters: is looking to be a great watch, and it’s bound to be one of the best anime of the winter 2024 season.

Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation’s Connection To One Piece

One of the biggest hooks of Monsters is its status as a One Piece prequel. The main protagonist of Monsters is Ryuma, and Eiichiro Oda confirmed that the Ryuma who appeared as a zombie in the Thriller Bark arc was the same Ryuma from Monsters, meaning that Monsters was a story of Ryuma’s life before he died in One Piece. Ryuma’s history would later be further explored in the Wano arc, where it was also revealed that he’s Zoro’s ancestor, and it can be assumed that Monsters took place before he became a national figure.

There are some notable continuity errors between the stories, however. Monsters combines Eastern and Western aesthetics with Ryuma being a samurai in a cowboy-style setting, but with Wano being established in One Piece to be isolationist for centuries, it doesn’t make sense for Monsters to be a prequel. The anime may try and explain the discrepancy, but if not, it would be easy enough to excuse it by remembering that it’s supposed to be a one-off story, and that wouldn’t detract from it in the slightest.

Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation - A Visual Masterpiece

While Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation being a One Piece prequel is a definite draw, there’s plenty to be excited about beyond that. Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation is the debut anime of E&H Production, the new anime studio founded by Sunghoo Park, the director of Jujutsu Kaisen season 1 and Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and sure enough, the trailer shows off incredible art and animation. Even if Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation will only be a short story, it’s still bound to be a visual masterpiece, and regardless of its connection to One Piece, that will be great to see.

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.