One Piece, the long-awaited live-action adaptation of one of the most popular Japanese manga and anime series is finally out on Netflix and while many fans hail the quality of the show, some remain dubious as far as the likeness to the original is concerned.
One Piece is a Japanese shōnen manga series created by manga artist Eiichiro Oda, serialized in 1997 and adapted into an anime in 1999, following the story of Monkey D. Luffy, a young man holding the ability to stretch his limbs like rubber and whose ultimate dream is to become King of the Pirates. Throughout his adventures, he encounters many talented individuals, each endowed with ambitious hopes and dreams, who he takes under his wing and recruits as his crewmates. Together, the pirate crew (dubbed the ‘Straw Hats’ as a nod to captain Luffy who wears his like a lucky charm) sets sail and embarks on an epic journey to explore the perilous seas and find the late pirate Gol D. Roger’s treasure, famously known as the ‘One Piece’.
© Netflix
This year, the adventure saga is back with Netflix’s streaming live-action adaptation developed by writer Matt Owens and producer Steven Maeda and premiered on August 31, 2023. The series features Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist, played by Iñaki Godoy, as well as the initial members of the Straw Hat Crew: swordsman Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu Arata), navigator Nami (Emily Rudd), sharpshooter Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson) and cook Sanji (Taz Skylar), but also other renowned heroes and villains that belong to the original premise. The first season contains eight episodes and encompasses the very humble beginnings of the Straw Hat Pirates, heralding great adventures, lasting bonds and gripping discoveries.
A very challenging venture
Bringing One Piece to life is no easy matter. With its versatile plot, endearing characters, unique art style and colorful universe, the iconic Japanese saga is also characterized by its long-running story, with over 1,000 manga chapters and anime episodes as of now, rendering the project of adapting Oda’s labyrinthine work into a live-action quite intricate.
On top of that, the anime live-action adaptation market has a history of letting fans down. The term “live-action” itself has acquired a bad reputation amongst anime fans over the years, as translating an anime into a movie or series with real actors usually proves to be tricky, hence the anticipation of the fans and critics upon the show’s release. One Piece is a dramatic and outlandish tale and its characters have distinctive quirks that would feel incongruous in an adaptation, which means portraying it without distorting the plot or making the characters too cartoonish or grotesque is paramount.
© Netflix
Does the Netflix show do justice to the original?
Against all odds, the series was overwhelmingly acclaimed by One Piece fans, debuting at first place on the streaming platform’s Top 10 most-watched TV list and plundering a substantial 18.5 million views since it premiered, which dispelled the apprehension many fans were feeling. The plot is faithful to the original and arouses myriads of emotions, just like the manga intended.
However, although the praise is abundant, one recurring observation would pertain to the accessibility of the series for new viewers who come across the storyline for the first time: fans would have a better advantage of understanding the plot due to the way the scenes are laid out. Conversely, according to some, letting go of the original and fully immersing oneself in the adaptation is not so easy. Comparison is inevitable and leads some fans to believe the story feels rushed.
© Netflix
Yet, the cast would probably be an element that makes everyone see eye to eye, given the actors were personally handpicked by the creator, Oda himself, who saw in each one of them the potential to truly embody his characters and their unique personalities. The actors are all charismatic and genuinely show passion for the show and its singularity, and their performance was impressively accurate.
With its staggering graphics and breathtaking set designs, the show perfectly succeeds in depicting the unrivaled scenes that made the One Piece fans weep and laugh time after time, the camaraderie of the crew and the witty humor, which gives viewers a sense of familiarity, while also proffering a more mature version of the anime, avoiding falling into a caricature. Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation accomplishes the complex goal of extracting the gist of the story to make it digestible and having the characters stick to the original ones, while keeping their idiosyncrasy. Some would even argue the characters were tempered into a more authentic, natural form of themselves. Ultimately, the series manages to have just as great of an impact the original does, and it comes along at just the right time, especially for fans who wish to relive the beginning of the story for the sake of nostalgia.
© Netflix
As a longtime One Piece fan myself, I was immediately thrilled to learn there would be a live-action adaptation on Netflix and I was not disappointed. On the contrary, I found the new series to be outstanding and I thoroughly enjoyed binge-watching the show and delving into the cast and how they interact with one another, the way the scenes are put together and the overall atmosphere of the show. I would highly recommend fans who grew up on the original and are already passionate about the lore, or anyone who has an interest in the adventure and fantasy genres (and pirates!) to watch it. And judging by the overly positive response of the audience so far, a second season is likely to be in sight.
One Piece Official Trailer:
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