Why Edition Z Left a Bitter Aftertaste for P.O.P Collectors

Let’s be real—One Piece Film: Z was a banger. The movie gave us intense moments, a badass villain, and some of the coolest film costumes the Straw Hats ever rocked. So when Megahouse announced the Portrait of Pirates “Edition Z” line, fans went wild with excitement… until the actual lineup dropped.

They Look Great… But Where's the Rest of the Crew?

No doubt, the released figures—Chopper, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Robin—look fantastic. Their film outfits were replicated with stunning detail: Luffy’s open red jacket, Zoro’s military-style coat, Sanji and Robin’s elegant Musketeer trench—it was all spot-on. The color work and posing had that classic P.O.P premium feel. But here’s the issue: they only released a chunk of the crew and called it a day. Where's Usopp with his oversized 100T hammer? Or Franky, looking like a walking battleship? Even Nami, who got skipped completely despite being a fan favorite, was oddly absent.

Megahouse Knew They Dropped the Ball

It’s no secret that Megahouse must have felt the backlash. Fans were vocal—if you're going to drop a themed set from a major movie, why not go all in? It wasn’t just about skipping a few characters; it felt like they bailed halfway through. And honestly, Edition Z deserved the full Straw Hat treatment. The design diversity from that film could’ve made this one of the most visually exciting sub-lines ever.

They Should’ve Focused on One Epic Character per Movie

Instead of teasing collectors with incomplete crews, Megahouse could’ve taken a smarter approach: release one iconic character per film. Imagine a full-scale Zephyr figure with his massive Battle Smasher arm and military coat flaring in the wind. That would’ve been a showstopper—and it would’ve made sense from a collector’s standpoint. Especially if these movies are treated as canon-adjacent or have a huge fanbase (like Film Z does), having a key villain or standout moment immortalized in P.O.P form would hit the mark every time.

Aesthetics Over Quantity

At the end of the day, Edition Z figures are still beautiful pieces. The sculptors went hard on the textures—Zoro’s gear looks rough and raw, Sanji's coat has that elite vibe, and Robin’s figure has that elegance that fits the movie’s tone perfectly. But a figure line should feel complete, not like a teaser. The imbalance makes the set feel like a missed opportunity, no matter how good each individual statue looks.

Final Thoughts: Edition Z, a Half-Legendary Line

There’s a reason Edition Z still sparks debate. The pieces we got are great, but the line’s failure to deliver the full Straw Hat crew—or at least the main antagonist—left a lasting sting. For hardcore collectors and movie fans, it's the kind of “what could’ve been” that still hurts a little.

Interestingly, with the success of Film: Red and the release of not just one, but two P.O.P figures of Uta, it seems like Megahouse might be shifting gears—possibly focusing on the major movie characters rather than trying to recreate entire Straw Hat sets. If that's the case, future P.O.P movie lines could become more about spotlighting standout characters than completing full crews. Whether that's a smart move or not… time (and our shelves) will tell.

Photos Credits: José Ucles