If you thought New York City already had enough pirates (Wall Street, Staten Island ferry karaoke nights, etc.), Toei Animation just announced it’s literally unleashing Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew in the form of a fully immersive art experience. It’s called ONE PIECE x MERCER LABS, and it’s basically what happens when you let anime meet a museum that decided “paintings on walls” wasn’t nearly chaotic enough.
From October 9 through November 30, 2025, Mercer Labs on Dey Street is turning itself into a pirate wonderland filled with digital seas, interactive environments, and probably at least one opportunity to scream “I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!” at strangers. A private preview goes down on October 8, because nothing screams “underground pirate rebellion” like a guest list and hors d’oeuvres.
ONE PIECE isn’t just another anime. It’s the best-selling manga of all time, with 25+ years of pirate punches, talking reindeer, and hats big enough to double as furniture. The anime has been running since 1999, which means there are fully grown adults who have literally never lived in a world without Luffy yelling at marine officers. The franchise has spawned 15 feature films, video games, a trading card game, and more merchandise than your wallet wants to know about.
So when Mercer Labs says, “We’re revolutionizing art with cutting-edge innovation,” what they actually mean is: “We built a high-tech playground where you can walk straight into Oda’s brain and maybe get hit with a sensory cannonball.” Expect exclusive installations, production artwork, interactive zones, and immersive digital environments that will basically feel like Disneyland if Disneyland was run by a rubber man and a skeleton who plays violin.
- Mercer Labs guy: “We’re forging bold alliances that shatter conventions.”
Translation: “We know you nerds will line up around the block for this, and we’re fine with that.” - Mercer Labs creative director: “It’s legendary storytelling meets next-gen tech.”
Translation: “Yes, we installed some projectors and cranked the bass. Please clap.” - Toei exec: “Whether you’re a fan or a newcomer, you won’t want to miss it.”
Translation: “If you don’t show up, Sanji will personally judge your taste in cuisine.”
This isn’t just an art exhibit. It’s a limited-time shakedown of your senses and your bank account, and it’s happening in New York City. If you’re a lifelong fan, this is your chance to live inside ONE PIECE for an afternoon. If you’ve never seen it before? Consider this your crash course in why pirates with stretchy limbs, talking animals, and boatloads of friendship have taken over pop culture for a quarter century.
TICKET PRICES
Individual tickets for ONE PIECE x MERCER LABS are on-sale now. For tickets, visit http://www.mercerlabs.com, or call the box office at 212-600-9009. Ticket prices are $55. Students, Seniors (65+) and Youth (4-17) are $50. VIP tickets are $75, which include free mochi, a customized beverage and a commemorative poster. Groups of 10+ are 10% off. For group questions, contact Groups@mercerlabs.com.
MERCER LABS HOURS
Monday – Wednesday: 10 AM – 7 PM
Thursday – Sunday: 10 AM – 10 PM
©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation
