On Aug. 31, Netflix released their highly anticipated adventure series “ONE PIECE”. The show, which is based on the bestselling Japanese manga of the same name, hit roughly 140 million total hours viewed in just the first four days after its release, landing it a place in Netflix’s top 10 most-streamed TV shows. Furthermore, the show has been renewed for a second season just two weeks after its debut. But what is it that makes this series so special?
“ONE PIECE,” created by Japanese mangaka Eiichiro Oda, has been in serialization since 1997. Over its 25-year lifespan, the series has cemented itself a place in Japan’s culture and currently holds the world record for the highest selling manga in history at over 500 million copies sold.
“From what I’ve seen of Netflix’s ‘ONE PIECE,’ it feels like it came from a team that cared,” Jake Iacobucci, president of URI’s Anime Club, said. “They were clearly familiar with the source material and tried to do justice to the legacy of such a long-running and influential series.”
Live action adaptations of popular anime have had a history of being not only barred by critics and fans alike, but also unfaithful to their original series.
“Most anime fans shiver when they think of Netflix’s attempts at ‘Death Note’ and ‘Cowboy Bebop,’ or the infamous ‘Dragon Ball Evolution’,” Iacobucci said.
However, with an 8.4/10 on IMDb and an 85/95% critic/audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, “ONE PIECE” could be the first in a new era of anime adaptations.
The series follows the adventures of a rookie pirate named Monkey D. Luffy and his ragtag crew as they explore the seas in search of the legendary titular treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next “King of the Pirates”. “ONE PIECE” is praised for its intricate world building, ensemble cast of characters and storytelling.
The show features a cast of: Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate with a body made of rubber; Mackenyu Maeda as Roronoa Zoro, a pirate hunter who wields three swords; Emily Rudd as Nami, a mysterious thief and navigator; Jacob Gibson as Usopp, a talented sniper and liar; and Taz Skyler as Sanji, a chivalrous chef who fights only with his legs.
A common complaint prior to the release of the series was that it would be too difficult to effectively adapt the series into a mainstream live action format. “ONE PIECE” currently sits at 1,095 manga chapters, 105 published volumes and 1,079 anime episodes. Not only that, but the series is well known for its cartoonish elements that would be difficult to adapt into a live action show, including giant sea monsters, magical fruits and even people made of rubber.
“Even the changes the team made to the source material to fit the condensed format of the show work well,” Iacobucci said. “The cast do a great job bringing such iconic characters into live action, and the cinematography helps bring a good sense of scope and energy to the scenes.”
Season one of Netflix’s “ONE PIECE” features eight episodes of roughly 45-minute runtime. These episodes cover approximately the first 80 chapters of the original series, making the live action series a much more accessible option for those intimidated by the original’s length.
“Hats off to the team behind ‘ONE PIECE’,” Iacobucci said. “It’s a long series, and they’re going to need all the luck they can get. I’m feeling lucky and look forward to watching this live action adaptation play out in future seasons.”
Although the manga was marketed as a shōnen series, meaning targeted at an audience of teenage boys, the series has reached a mainstream audience and has been widely acclaimed as a series anyone can enjoy. The live action version capitalizes on this by making major changes to the story in order to fit it into an accessible eight-episode package
“I think what I like most about the live action ‘ONE PIECE’ is that it truly has an identity of its own,” said Liam DiAdamo, a second-year student in the club. “It’s separated enough from the manga and anime that many people who wouldn’t normally be interested in reading manga or watching an anime series will enjoy it.”
Netflix’s “ONE PIECE” has been met with a positive reception from fans of the original series and new fans alike, and has already been approved for a second season. Whether you’re a diehard fan of the series, or just looking for a new show to binge, consider setting sail with “ONE PIECE”.