The major American studios aren't done with One Piece. Not only is Netflix producing and streaming a live-action version of Eiichiro Oda's work, whose second season is (unfortunately) still awaited, but Disney is also using it as a source of inspiration for its first original anime for streaming. We tell you more about Dragon Striker, a shōnen between sport and magic.
Dragon Striker, the first original anime from Disney+
On June 10, during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the company with the big ears unveiled unseen images of Dragon Striker, the first original anime for Disney+. Scheduled for a Released in 2026, this shonen takes place in the world of Asteria, where the king of sports, Gorotama, a discipline similar to football but enriched with magical powers, reigns supreme. The series follows Key, a 12-year-old farm boy and die-hard fan of this sport, who discovers that he has an exceptional natural talent and could be the legendary Dragon Striker. Accompanied by Ssyelle, a formidable goalkeeper, he forms a team of outsiders to challenge the champions of an elite academy, while fighting against an ancient evil that threatens their world. Produced by La Chouette Compagnie (Le Monde Selon Kev), a French animation production company, Dragon Striker was presented during a highly anticipated panel. Indeed, the series was initially scheduled to air in 2022, before being pushed back twice - 2024 and then 2026.
Dragon Striker, between One Piece and My Hero Academia
Created by Sylvain Dos Santos and directed by Charles Lefebvre, Dragon Strikeris the result of a collaboration between talents from very different backgrounds. As for the artists behind the scenes, they come from renowned artistic backgrounds in the anime landscape, including One Piece and My Hero Academia, a manga which also ended in 2024. The soundtrack is also intended to be worked on, with the presence of Kevin Penkin on the composition. The latter worked on the series Star Wars Visions, already in a Japanese style. The music for Dragon Striker was recorded in Tokyo, with an orchestra of 80 musicians, and helps to enhance the numerous action sequences.
The plot gives pride of place to humor and emotion.Around a unifying sport, football, changed during production (originally, rugby was to be the focus of the series), the story highlights heroes with strong identities. Composed of 22 episodes, the first season also aims to have a strong aesthetic identity. As with any successful audiovisual work, including examples like One Piece and MHA, which serve as influences for this Disney+ anime, fan enthusiasm is largely due to a recognizable and unique visual universe. The director of Dragon Striker fused "elements of Rio de Janeiro, medieval European architecture, and a dynamic urban aesthetic" to build the world of Asteria. There's no doubt that fans of Blue Lock or Ao Ashi will enjoy this shōnen: which shouldn't stop newcomers from "trying" it too!
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