Image: Netflix [YouTube]
It won't be long before there's a live-action series based on the most successful manga and anime series ever. Netflix will premiere One Piece on August 31. Let’s look at the details!
Many manga and anime fans are quite critical of live-action adaptations of their favorite series. Titles like Attack on Titan and as recently as 2021, Cowboy Bebop, have been adapted, receiving mixed feelings and largely unanimous criticism. The 2010 film "The Last Airbender," based on the Nickelodeon animated series "Avatar: The Last Airbender," was virtually erased from fans' memories by the fans themselves. And now it's the turn of One Piece; a manga series by Eiichirō Oda that has been running since 1997 and is still ongoing, enjoying massive popularity across the entire anime fandom. The mangas have sold over 460 million copies! The corresponding anime has been produced since 1999 and now counts over 1000 episodes. Understandably, many fans are nervous about the adaptation.
"You want my treasure? You can have it. Find it! I left all the world's treasures there."
For those new to One Piece, here’s a brief summary of the plot: The young Luffy is determined to sail the seas and become the King of the Pirates. To do this, he puts together a crew. Together with Nami and Zoro, he sets off in search of the mysterious pirate treasure, the "One Piece." Along the way, he experiences one adventure after another!
New Series, Familiar Faces
There are already trailers for the Netflix series that somewhat satisfy our curiosity. So, we can see the cast, hear the new voices of the characters. Wait, new? Something’s not right.
Yes, you heard right! In the German version of the series, the German voice actors from the anime series are back. Luffy (known as Ruffy in German) will again be voiced by Daniel Schlauch, Nami by Stefanie Kellner, and Zoro by Uwe Thomsen. Would you have expected that? It makes a big difference - after all, many of us grew up with these voices. So, there's a very big reason to definitely watch the series.
But there's more good news. The mangaka of One Piece, Eiichirō Oda, is not just letting his story be adapted without oversight. He is involved in the production and has even stepped in to clarify things with the Netflix team when something was not understood correctly. Both sides are reportedly working very closely and learning from each other. This sounds like a sensible strategy and may offer opportunities for future adaptations. Most importantly, it has been promised not to launch the series until the creator of the manga is satisfied with it. After all, Oda's goal was to adapt the series now while he can still be involved in shaping everything himself. If that’s not a good sign for the upcoming release, what is!
We are in this together. Thank you Eiichiro Oda, for your trust. We can’t wait for the world to see what we’ve created. pic.twitter.com/ZhIhBDRwtW
— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) May 4, 2023
One Piece Trailer And Initial Reactions
Let's take a look at the comments on the English and German trailers on YouTube. There's a lot of positive feedback!
“[...] the show’s crew, specifically the production designers, deserve a huge pat on the back for how good this looks.”
“I have to admit, the series seems to be one of the better adaptations from the anime that I've seen in a while.”
“With the German dub from the anime, it feels completely different”
Of course, not all fans agree, but many see great potential in the new adaptation. We're definitely very excited to see how the series turns out in all its glory. Until then, keep reading and watching One Piece and look forward to a new version of the pirate adventure!
Here you can form your own opinion of the trailer:
Shop One Piece Merch At Impericon
Are you one of the many loyal One Piece fans out there? Or perhaps you’ve just become curious about the series? Either way, we have a wide selection of One Piece merch ready for you to browse at your leisure. There are T-shirts, Funko Pop! figures, keychains, and much more. And of course, we also have anime merch for many other series. Take a look around!
