Parents' Guide to One Piece Film: Strong World

This is an anime with a story that manages to stay on track despite dozens of characters and occasional side stories. The best thing one can say about a movie like One Piece Film: Strong World is that you don't have to be versed in the One Piece series to understand what's going on. It essentially boils down to a good versus evil story, of a ragtag team of misfits taking on a villain determined to take over the world. While there are some bizarre attempts at humor and scenes of surreal imagery that may or may not have anything to do with the central story, the narrative manages to stay on the rails.

Also, for the uninitiated, there's a handy introduction to the many characters who comprise the Straw Hat Pirates, with their names and occupations. There is a "captain" and a "sniper" and a "fighter," but there's also a "musician" and a "cook" for when the team needs songs and food. Some of the content is a bit stronger and less emo than the average anime; tearjerking sensitivity is replaced with consumption of adult substances, some profanity, and sexual imagery and content. Nonetheless, for more mature audiences and for those who enjoy or are new to anime, this one is more accessible than many others.