As a longtime anime fan myself I’ve seen anime’s fandom excitedly grow with more and more fans coming into the fold as its presence in the United States in particular has grown too. Understandably this has been apparent to film and television executives. and writers alike, who have attempted over the years to adapt anime series for American audiences. Unfortunately this has had mixed results with the few adaptations, i.e. Death Note, Cowboy Bebop, etc. largely panned, forgotten, or both. Therefore it was not surprising to see my friends, longtime fans of the manga and anime One Piece, trepidatious about the new live-action adaptation when Netflix first announced its development. What did seem promising to them at least was the inclusion of One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda in the planning and production process, serving as a guide and check throughout. Now we have the resulting series in front of us, and what I’ve heard nearly universally from fans, and what I can say as a new fan of the franchise, is that the One Piece live-action is truly a gift to fans new and old.
What often has fans most on edge about live-acation adaptations is the fear the show won’t capture the look of the characters. One Piece is a story that is particularly suited for anime in that the character designs are often incredibly zany, which becomes even more true during the fight sequences. Luffy himself exemplifies this with his signature moves defying the bounds of reality as he’s literally made of rubber. Incredibly the live-action, thanks to practical and special effects, perfectly present the many crazy designs, and fights, in the One Piece world. Luffy himself is a perfect example of this, but even more so perhaps is Buggy who truly comes alive in the live-action.
CASEY CRAFFORD/NETFLIX
Next fans worry about the tone which for a shonen series is crucial as they are often so great at being lighthearted in one moment, with silly banter and other hijinks, only to later be filled with true despair, heartbreak, and violence. The live-action adaptation again pulls this off incredibly well, as Luffy again is both one of the silliest characters, though Usop gives him a run for his money, while also one of the most stoic when he needs to be. There’s a moment later in the series with Luffy and Nami that is truly heartwrenching, but the show, and the actors, pulled this off.
Speaking of the actors not only do they have the look, where needed – Usop’s nose is noticeably shorter yet I’ve seen no complains – but they truly embody the characters and deliver incredible performances. Even without going to see their interviews, and the many extratextual comments you can find about their hardwork and passion for these roles, you can already see it exemplified in their portrayals. Shonen series are often defined by the sheer number of characters that routinely come in and out of the story, which means they need to be introduced, given their moment to shine, and then blended into the crew at large. Manga and anime often have plenty of episodes to achieve this; however, you’d be right to be concerned that an eight episode series just wouldn’t. Yet again the live-action series defies the odds, and this is incredibly well done and well paced.
CASEY CRAFFORD/NETFLIX
Lastly what fans are often concerned about is not only the pace of the character’s development, but the pacing of the story and the events that take place. This is where the greatest changes have been made in the live-action adaptation, all under Oda’s supervision, and Matt Owens, co-creator of the series along with Steven Maeda, spoke to this and said that the biggest changes were made to up the stakes for the crew at the start. Notably One Piece fans will recognize this means Garp, one of the marines, is introduced much earlier on. Owens said Garp’s presence serves as a looming threat for the crew, which effectively helps drive the story. Though I can’t speak to my thoughts on this divergence, as someone who has yet to read the manga or watch the anime, it felt incredibly natural, and it perfectly bookended the series in my opinion.
There truly is so much that can be said about the One Piece live-action, but for me its quality is exemplified both by my interest in rewatching it immediately, which I already have alongside friends, but also my want now to delve into the anime. One Piece has always seemed impentrable even early on in my fandom, as it’s now over a quarter of a century old with many chapters and episodes to pour through. Yet the show served as such an incredible, and delightful, introduction to the characters and the world alike, I cannot wait to explore their lives and the world further. Thankfully Netflix has already announced Season 2 of the One Piece live-action will be forthcoming as well, so I’ll have so much One Piece to explore it’ll feel as vast as the East Blue.
