One Piece Live-Action Show Passionately Praised By Anime Creator In Lengthy Assessment

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• One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda is optimistic about Netflix’s live-action adaptation, despite initially thinking it was impossible.
• Oda is pleased with how the series brought the world and characters of One Piece to life, especially the portrayal of protagonist Monkey D. Luffy.
• Oda’s involvement and approval of the adaptation may help overcome past disappointments with Netflix’s anime adaptations and generate excitement for the upcoming series.

One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda reveals his thoughts on Netflix’s live-action show in a new praise-filled statement. Oda first published the One Piece manga in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997, and the still-ongoing series would later be adapted into an anime before Netflix took an interest in bringing the property into live-action. Iñaki Godoy will play the ambitious pirate captain wannabe Monkey D. Luffy, as he sets out on a voyage of his own alongside a ragtag crew in the hopes of becoming a legendary pirate.

As Netflix’s One Piece adaptation gets closer, fan account @sandman_AP has shared a translation of a message released by Oda that was placed on display in Japan.

The One Piece creator stated that despite feeling that the anime could never be adapted into live-action, Netflix’s efforts have defied his expectation, and despite there still being many uncertainties, he is optimistic about the quality of the series. Oda then stated that he is pleased with how One Piece brought the world and characters, including Luffy himself, to life. Check out Oda’s full statement below:

The requirement for choosing a Straw Hat crewmate is not strength. Luffy knows what is important. I used to think it was impossible to make a live-action, but with today’s technology, it can be done. We must express the cruelty of the wide ocean. We just have to aim for an unprecedented blockbuster hit. Believe in the story. Focus on whether it is interesting rather than on film technique.

There is a trust between me and my fans, and I can’t lie to them. You can’t call something interesting if it isn’t interesting. It lacks power and interest. It’s not inspiring at all because it’s not well prepared. First-time viewers won’t find it appealing as it is now. There could be the worst case scenario.

It’s very interesting, but you can make it more interesting. Words with no sense of will are unnecessary. The action is much more powerful. I’m glad the staff understands the characters. The TV drama is becoming good enough to be released to the public. It is many times better than I imagined. I was surprised that my Luffy, whom I thought did not exist, exists in this world. It created an impression that only live-action could do. I am happy to see the love for One Piece scattered in every corner of the screen.

Oda’s Involvement In One Piece Could Break An Adaptation Trend

While Netflix’s One Piece adaptation is attracting attention, it still faces an uphill battle, as Netflix’s previous attempts at bringing anime into real life have left much to be desired. While 2017’s Death Note adaptation reportedly was approved by creators Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata following a private screening, the feature was still met with a lukewarm reception. Furthermore, the streaming service’s last anime adaptation was poorly received, with creator Shinichirõ Watanabe not watching Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop after being dissatisfied with the footage he did see.

Despite past attempts potentially leaving a poor taste in audiences’ mouths, Oda’s approval may carry a lot of weight in this case, as the author has had a notable impact on how Netflix brought One Piece into live-action. As stated above, Oda had to lend his own perspective on how the company approached the source material, even ordering reshoots of certain One Piece scenes so that they fit his approval. With Oda having such extensive involvement and overriding certain production decisions, many viewers may be more keen to give Netflix’s series a chance.

Even though there is trepidation from some about Netflix’s One Piece adaptation, trailers and promotional material have also created much optimism that it can break the trend of lackluster live-action adaptations. Furthermore, Oda’s new and previous statements have shown the creator himself is hopeful for its success. With Oda once more offering praise for the team behind One Piece‘s live-action leap ahead of its August 31 release, it is getting off on the right foot.

Source: @sandman_AP/Twitter