Image: Netflix
The most successful anime series ever has now gotten a Netflix adaptation. One Piece has been available on the streaming platform since August 31. Fans are excited, but what do the statistics say? Is the live action series really more successful than previous adaptations?
The first season of the live action adaptation of One Piece includes 8 episodes, all of which you can already watch on Netflix. It is based on the manga with the same title by Eiichirō Oda and the popular anime series, which by now has over 1,000 episodes. Both are still running, by the way - the plot is still going on!
The project was produced by Tomorrow Studios, which also produced the live action version of the anime Cowboy Bebop. While Cowboy Bebop was not very well received by fans of the original, the expectations for One Piece seemed to be quite high. Of course, there has also been a certain amount of skepticism, as recreating anime scenes with actors and CGI has led to some cringy results in the past. Still, there was confidence because Eiichirō Oda was actually personally involved in the production. So now, after a week, let's take a look at how the new series is doing.
How Was The Series Adapted?
First of all, we can mention that Eiichirō Oda supervised the production very carefully. The author expressed bans concerning the plot and made sure that his concept was maintained in the series. And it is clearly noticeable that the plot is based on the original. Numerous familiar characters appear, first of all, of course, the Straw Hat Pirates: Luffy , Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Sanji. But this also applies to the villains, among them Lady Alvida, Buggy the Clown and also Dracule Mihawk. The first season of the live action series covers a large part of the East Blue Saga, up to the "Arlong Park Arc". With that, the ending really builds up the anticipation for Ruffy's further adventures on his way to the Grand Line. Especially with the iconic soundtrack, that you will definitely recognize as a fan!
For a first glimpse, check out this clip from the series:
Be it manga or anime, in both cases colorful characters and emotions play a major role. So it makes sense that the success of the series depends on the casting to a large extent. Especially since most viewers already know the characters and have a very specific image of them in their minds.
The main role is played by Iñaki Godoy, who definitely portrays the optimistic and dreamy Luffy in a believable way. It's not his first role in a Netflix production, but will certainly be the most popular of his career so far.
At his side as the first crew member, is Mackenyu Arata as Zoro. The role could not have been given to someone more fitting, because the actor is actually the son of Sonny Chiba, the well-known martial arts actor. Among other films, he has already starred in "Tokyo Ghoul S", which is based on the manga Tokyo Ghoul. Others may already know him from Pacific Rim.
The third member of the group is Emily Rudd as Nami. For her, too, it's not the first time on the big screen. For exaple, she has already appeared in a few horror films and thrillers.
With other actors like Taz Skylar as Sanji, Peter Gadiot as Shanks, and Steven Ward as Dracule Mihawk, Netflix actually manages to bring life to the fan favorites and give them the crucial character traits they need to pull off the story!
Image: Netflix
First Results: Is The Series Paying Off For Netflix?
If you've checked Netflix over the past few days, you may have seen One Piece at the very top of the Top 10. That's because the series has hit the top spot in a whopping 84 countries. Is that another Netflix record? Yes, indeed. One Piece beats both Stranger Things and Wednesday: both series reached #1 in 83 countries "only." The first week brought in over 18.5 million views and over 140 million streaming hours. In this case, Wednesday's stats are better, with 43 million views. Still, there's no denying the success of One Piece. So can we look forward to a second season soon? That remains to be seen, but is not unlikely. However, the production should not take too much time - after all, One Piece is a loooong series!
What Do Critics And Fans Say?
On Rotten Tomatoes, you can see at first glance that the ratings of the series and the Audience Score only differ by about 10 percent. While the Tomatometer is at 85%, the Audience Score shows a full 96%! With over 10,000 audience ratings, an average like that makes quite an impression. To provide a comparison, 2021's Cowboy Bebop only got 46% in the reviews and 60% from the audience. So fans of anime and manga could ultimately be convinced by the One Piece adaptation. Particularly in the German version, the casting of the voice actors from the anime also contributed to this. And certainly, a whole new audience was attracted as well. A few opinions are shown here:
One Piece is able to take the silliness and exaggeration of action anime and turn it into a believable fantasy-at-sea.
- Danae Stahlnecker (Common Sense Media)
Iñaki Godoy is a pitch-perfect lead for this wildly charming adventure that’s bursting at the seams with heart and positivity. Pushed play on Episode 1 and couldn’t stop. A favorite new show of 2023.
- Perri Nemiroff (YouTube)
Of course, there's also the opinion that a live action series wasn't necessary, because anime and manga already offer a fantastic experience. We can agree with that, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the new series. In addition, there are small changes in the series, because you will not get a 1 to 1 copy in any adaptation. But that doesn't mean that the vibe and the adventurous story aren't properly re-told! All in all, the series is the perfect choice for your next Netflix evening.
