The live-action adaptation of the One Piece manga, created by Eiichiro Oda, was first announced in 2020. Since that time, the production team has been tirelessly working to create a live-action version that remains true to the original source material. However, recent news reports may have dampened the spirits of most One Piece fans.
Divinity Seeker, a well-known Twitter account focused on discussions and news about films, has been sharing initial impressions of the eagerly anticipated One Piece live-action series. According to this account, there are concerns regarding the initial quality of the CGI effects used throughout the episodes. Moreover, the narrative structure of the opening episodes may leave audiences who are not familiar with One Piece struggling to grasp the storyline.
Divinity Seeker has commented on the subpar quality of the CGI effects utilized throughout the series. Furthermore, the pacing of the initial episodes may prevent fans from fully engaging with the content. This could be attributed to a lack of narrative cohesion.
In a subsequent discussion, Divinity Seeker provided more details regarding the content of the first episode. Reportedly, the episode will focus primarily on Luffy’s character introduction. After that, the story quickly transitions to the present day, introducing Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Usopp within the remaining 15 minutes of the episode.
In contrast to the manga and anime, the introductory segments featuring main characters are often lengthy, with significant background on Luffy being revealed later in the story. As a result, viewers who are familiar with the original material may find the changes made in the live-action adaptation puzzling, as they diverge from the established narrative framework.
Divinity Seeker also commented on the styling of certain characters, noting a discrepancy in the appearance of some actors, particularly regarding their hairstyles. In episode three of the live-action series, particularly during the Baratie arc (which introduces Sanji), the production team created a more expansive scene.
Furthermore, Divinity Seeker expressed concern about the hair color of actors in the film, especially Nami’s orange hair, Zoro’s green hair, and Sanji’s blonde hair, which did not appear natural.
In the context of the anime, these hair colors are considered normal. However, in a live-action setting, they pose a challenge for the production team to ensure that these colors appear as natural as possible.
While the information provided by Divinity Seeker has not been fully confirmed, regardless of its accuracy, it is clear that transitioning One Piece into a live-action format presents significant challenges.
The production team is also planning to rewrite some episodes to bring a sense of continuity for viewers; however, this may prove to be a daunting task. Given that the actors have completed filming, it may be difficult for the production team to reshoot any scenes, especially considering the substantial budget allocated for each episode of the One Piece live-action series.
