Most anime live-action adaptations are simply not great based on reviews and fan reception. But Netflix’s One Piece live-action series has proven to be an exception as it has essentially broken the anime live-action curse.
While there were some concerns about the series, there was a lot of hype for it from fans ahead of its release.
Now that all eight episodes have come out, the show is officially a hit both based on reviews and its viewership.
So, how did it finally manage to break the anime live-action curse? The likely main reason for it is Eiichiro Oda being part of the show’s production.
Eiichiro Oda’s Involvement Is Key in the Live-Action Adaptation
For the most part, anime live-action adaptations aren’t made with much input from the original creator. This was the case with Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop as Shinichiro Watanabe wasn’t all that involved in its production.
However, One Piece is different as manga creator Eiichiro Oda was there pretty much every step of the way in the show’s creation.
Some of the show’s staff even mentioned previously that there was a lot of back-and-forth between themselves and Oda.
This has resulted in what seems to be quite a lengthy production. Of course, the pandemic certainly didn’t help, but the fact that it took over three years to release means a lot has been put into the show from its staff and Oda.
Even with Oda’s involvement, the show is not a one-to-one adaptation of the anime/manga. However, Oda did reveal in his previous message that he is fully behind the show even with the story differences.
Thanks to Oda’s hands-on approach and the show’s staff being receptive to it, the One Piece live-action series has become a huge hit, with many fans praising how the series captured the spirit of the anime despite the changes.
Aside from Oda’s direct involvement, the show’s success can also be attributed to the cast and staff’s love for the series.
ALSO READ: What Does the One Piece Live-Action Cover?
Live-Action Cast and Staff Are All One Piece Fans
In the various promotional materials for the show, it was revealed that the show’s main cast and staff members are huge fans of One Piece.
While not all of them are long-time fans, they still love the franchise enough that they want to do right by it with this adaptation.
If you watch the series, the results are clear. Unlike other anime live-action projects that try to do some things differently, the One Piece cast and crew have clearly done their best to embody the spirit of the anime.
Looking at fan reactions online, this is the prevailing sentiment as many showered the show’s cast with praise for accurately bringing the characters to life.
Of course, there are likely other factors as well that can explain its success. It might just be that One Piece’s balance of lightness and serious moments lends itself well to live-action.
But it’s fair to say that Oda’s involvement along with the cast and crew’s love for the series have combined for a live-action adaptation that finally breaks the curse. Here’s hoping future live-action projects follow in this show’s footsteps.
The live-action One Piece series is now streaming on Netflix worldwide.
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