After nearly three decades of sailing alongside Luffy, Nami is finally stepping into the spotlight on her own terms. One Piece: Heroines, the anime adaptation of Jun Esaka’s beloved light novel series, is premiering on Fuji TV on July 5, 2026, with Netflix bringing it to worldwide audiences just six days later on July 11. And honestly? It’s about time.
For a franchise that has run since 1997, One Piece has always been Monkey D. Luffy’s story. But the women of this universe — Nami, Nico Robin, Vivi, Perona, Boa Hancock — have carved out their own massive fanbases. Now they’re getting the dedicated screen time they deserve, starting with the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates.
What Is One Piece: Heroines?
One Piece: Heroines is a collection of standalone short stories written by Jun Esaka and illustrated by Sayaka Suwa, published under Shueisha’s Jump J-Books imprint starting in 2021. Rather than following the main pirate adventure, each chapter spotlights a different female character in her own mini-adventure.
The first volume includes stories centered on Nami, Nico Robin, Princess Vivi, and Perona. The second volume, released in March 2024, features Boa Hancock, Tashigi, Reiju, and Uta. Viz Media licensed the novels for English release, with both volumes now available iorth America.
Nami’s Story: “The Shoe Must Go On!”
The anime special adapts Nami’s story from the first volume, titled “The Shoe Must Go On!” The premise is refreshingly different from what you’d expect from One Piece — no pirates, no Devil Fruit powers, no Marines chasing anyone.
Instead, Nami buys a pair of poorly made shoes that leave her feet badly injured. When she returns them, she meets a designer named Rubno (voiced by Takehito Koyasu, who also voices Kuzan/Admiral Aokiji in the main series). Rubno offers to remake the shoes if Nami agrees to model them at an upcoming fashion show. The repairs are handled by a talented shoemaker named Miucha, voiced by veteran actress Maaya Sakamoto (known for roles like Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler and Haruhi Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club).
It’s a fashion-focused slice-of-life story that gives Nami something she’s never really had — a normal adventure. No fighting, no saving the world. Just a womaavigating the world of fashion and craftsmanship. And honestly, after watching her endure Arlong’s tyray and the horrors of Whole Cake Island, she deserves it.
A Different Visual Style
The 36-second trailer reveals a noticeably different art direction from the main One Piece anime. Character designs are softer, backgrounds are richer, and the overall tone feels more intimate and grounded. This isn’t Toei’s typical shōnen action animation — it’s something more refined, more elegant.
The special is directed by Haruka Kamatani, whose credits include Looking for Magical Doremi and the Koisuru One Piece short. The screenplay comes from Momoka Toyoda, who also worked on One Piece Fan Letter and the edited Fish-Man Island Arc. Character designs are handled by Takashi Kojima, known for The Colors Within and MONSTERS: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation.
The theme song, “Blue Shining Star” by AiNA THE END, adds another layer of charm to what’s shaping up to be a very different kind of One Piece experience.
Why This Matters
One Piece has over 1,100 manga chapters and 1,100+ anime episodes. In all that time, the female characters have rarely gotten their own dedicated stories. Sure, Nami has had incredible moments — her backstory with Bellemere, her plea to Luffy in Arlong Park, her role in Whole Cake Island — but those were always in service of the larger narrative.
Heroines flips that script. These aren’t side stories in Luffy’s adventure. They’re the heroines’ own adventures. Robin deciphering ancient tablets with Koala and Sabo. Vivi dealing with a mysterious love letter. Perona, Zoro, and Mihawk arguing over a bottle of wine. These stories celebrate the women of One Piece as characters, not just supporting cast.
What’s Next?
As of now, only Nami’s story has been confirmed for the anime adaptation. But with two volumes of source material covering eight different heroines, there’s plenty of room for more specials. If this first one performs well — and given the franchise’s massive global fanbase, it almost certainly will — expect to see Robin, Vivi, Hancock, and the rest get their own episodes down the line.
The special airs in Japan on Fuji TV at 11:15 PM JST on July 5, 2026, and arrives oetflix worldwide on July 11, 2026.
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What Do You Think?
Are you excited to see Nami finally get her own anime special? Which One Piece heroine do you want to see next — Robin’s archaeology adventure, Vivi’s love letter mystery, or the Perona-Zoro-Mihawk wine showdown? Drop your thoughts below!
