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One Piece Film Z & Tie-In Specials' Ads Aired

This past weekend, a new commercial began airing in Japan for the upcoming One Piece Film Z and the tie-in television anime special One Piece Episode of Luffy: Hand Island no Bōken (One Piece Episode of Luffy: The Hand Island Adventure). The ad features the song "Bad Reputation" by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne and the special's original characters: the wax craftsman Diego and his only son Regis (a Portuguese name pronounced in "Hejisu" in Japanese).

Both the film and the special will debut on Saturday, December 15. (The One Piece television anime series normally airs on Sunday mornings.) Original manga creator Eiichiro Oda is supervising both projects. Tatsuya Nagamine directed the film off a script by Osamu Suzuki. Hiroyuki Morita and Mitsuru Hongo co-directed the special, and singer/designer Shizuka Kudou is collaborating with Oda on the costume designs. While suplies last, the first people who see the film will receive 2 million copies of the manga's 84-page "volume 1,000" with a "Pirate Treasure Bag" prize.

Japan's new NOTTV broadcast service also began streaming two commercials, "Exclusive Broadcast" and "Story," for the separate "Glorious Island" anime prologue to the film.

The prologue features an original story penned by manga creator Eiichiro Oda. It will air several times as part of the "One Piece Summit" special in December and January.

Still another ad advertises the second part of the One Piece Film Z campaign at the 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan. Until January 8, people who buy certain items can enter the serial numbers listed on their receipts to win prizes. The prizes include 2,000 original nanaco cards, 100 Pioneer mini-combo audio systems with Brook figures, and 10 original metal plates with press sheets signed by the cast.

[Via Saiyan Island]