There was a significant amount of doubt and speculation on the possible success of Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation when it was announced. Anime and manga are no strangers to live-action adaptations. Some stories that are largely slice-of-life translate better on the screen. That said, other stories that are more fantastical have typically been underwhelming or outright bad.
Additionally, anime adaptations in the West have often been handled by directors who either don’t properly know the source material or adapt it so loosely that it’s barely recognizable. Netflix’s One Piece surprised everyone, gaining rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The production took the time to have the series creator work alongside the process. Having his eyes on the development of the adaptation helped keep it consistent and largely recognizable to the Anime and Manga despite its condensed story.
Different media allow for different things, and with a season that only has a small number of episodes, the story had to be shifted around to fit properly. This lets certain characters like Luffy’s grandfather be introduced early. Additionally, rather than have the character spotlight be on the entire Straw Hat Pirate Crew, it was shifted towards a specific character.
It’s had the unsuspecting effect of getting more people interested in the characters of One Piece and more open to giving the source material a try. It’s a sign that anime is finally being taken seriously by the Western entertainment industry. These stories are globally renowned for a reason, and loose adaptations are no longer cutting it, especially to the many fans that want these stories to be adapted faithfully and with their themes intact.
