It’s no secret that the history of live-action anime adaptations hasn’t been very positive. And let’s face it, many anime fans were understandably wary of Netflix’s One Piece series after watching the attempts of Dragon Ball, Death Note, and Cowboy Bebop crash-land in the real world. The Straw Hats managed to defy expectations and, dare I say it, even break the myth of the indestructible live-action adaption curse despite a few lulls in tone and tempo.
It was created by Matt Owens and Steve Maeda and mostly follows the East Blue Saga from the One Piece anime, with our main character, rubber-legged pirate Monkey D. Luffy, assembling his crew and looking for a map to the Grand Line, a perilous maritime passage. His major objective was to locate Gol D Roger’s fabled treasure known as the One Piece and ascend to the position of pirate king.
The One Piece live-action series on Netflix now faces the enormous challenge of living up to the reputation and enormously spectacular style and plot of one of the greatest anime series of all time. With almost 1,000 episodes and a surrealistically bizarre setting, the programme is a way of life for some people, so a live-action adaptation was always going to be risky. One Piece, however, differs from its predecessors in that it has a narrative that is focused and respectful of the material it is based on.
Fans of Netflix’s One Piece can watch Luffy (Iaki Godoy) battle evil criminals who are chasing the same map as him throughout the first season. These villains can be anything from cunning Fishmen to powerful clowns. As Luffy continues his trip and battles the Marines, who are determined to crush his swashbuckling aspirations, we witness a lot of Easter eggs and vibrant graphics that are influenced by the anime.
With eight episodes that last around 50 minutes apiece, Netflix’s adaption is jam-packed with information that viewers can grasp onto. Even so, most plot changes don’t significantly violate canon. Instead, alterations to the well-known One Piece storyline frequently provide a more in-depth look at enduring anime characters like Nami (Emily Rudd), Zoro (Mackenyu Arata), and Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson), as new dramatic dialogue is interspersed to expand on their existing backstories.
We now have an adaptation that considers fans, thus it’s clear that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda collaborated in the development. We get a genuine effort at Luffy’s tale in a new media, unlike the 2009 film Dragon Ball Evolution, which drastically altered the plot while capitalising on the popular IP. But let’s be clear about one thing. One Piece demonstrates that we are headed in the right path, but it isn’t a flawless adaption just yet.
We now have an adaptation that considers fans, thus it’s clear that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda collaborated in the development. We get a genuine effort at Luffy’s tale in a new media, unlike the 2009 film Dragon Ball Evolution, which drastically altered the plot while capitalising on the popular IP. But let’s be clear about one thing. One Piece demonstrates that we are headed in the right path, but it isn’t a flawless adaption just yet.
Yes, there are many tragic situations in the One Piece anime, which is full of serious events as well. But the series’ emphasis on wonder, excitement, and adventure in the midst of tragedy is what makes it so distinctive. Netflix’s grasp of this One Piece quality varies, and its detours into a more sombre, dimly lit thriller stand out because, on occasion, it does give us what we want — occasionally adopting the anime’s aesthetic.
In the first episode, Gol D Roger’s death is shown as a marvellously dramatic and somewhat comical affair, evoking Disney’s cheeky Pirates of the Caribbean series. Both Buggy the Clown (played by Jeff Ward) and Dracule Mihawk (played by Steven Ward) thoroughly embody their anime characters in their encounters with the Straw Hats, which consistently defy logic and the rules of physics in the most amusing ways.
With his Devil Fruit-powered rubber body bouncing bullets and launching his fists with full force, Luffy’s bouts provide us the thrills we expect from One Piece. With a huge grin and a ravenous hunger, Iaki Godoy really captures the central figure of One Piece, keeping us laughing while Luffy battles past doubters and waves of adversaries.
One Piece on Netflix shines the brightest in these scenes. Fans have been clamouring to see Shounen anime come to life in all its irrational and heart-pounding splendour, and now that we’ve had a taste, we want the full experience. Nevertheless, despite all of my complaints, I have to acknowledge that Netflix has produced one of the greatest anime live-action adaptations to date.
One Piece on Netflix shines the brightest in these scenes. Fans have been clamouring to see Shounen anime come to life in all its irrational and heart-pounding splendour, and now that we’ve had a taste, we want the full experience. Nevertheless, despite all of my complaints, I have to acknowledge that Netflix has produced one of the greatest anime live-action adaptations to date.