Retrospect of the One Piece live-action series
By Nathan Brolly
Six months have passed since the Netflix live-action “One Piece” series set sail on our screens and the reception has been explosive from fans of the source material and new fans alike. (Credit: Netflix)
“One Piece” started in 1997 as a manga – a comic or graphic novel originating from Japan – and is still running today with the recent release of volume 107. It didn’t take long until it was adapted into an anime in 1999 with a current episode total of 1087 and counting.
Although the series is yet to finish, “One Piece” has built itself a legacy that has stood the test of time and will continue to do so, however, when it was announced that a live-action adaptation was on the horizon, fans were afraid.
Traditionally, live-action adaptations of manga and anime have failed miserably, with such controversial examples as Death Note and Dragonball Evolution. So much so that a term was coined by the anime and manga community – “the live-action curse.”
With so much contention regarding the live-action “One Piece” series, it seemed as though it was doomed to fail on launch, however, In August 2023, the show debuted at number one in 84 countries. It then continued to stay in Netflix’s top 10 shows for over 10 weeks.
The success of the live-action is also seen in its reviews as IMDB scored it 8.4/10 and Rotten Tomatoes 85%, with fans going even further and giving it an audience score of 95%.
This major success can be attributed to three main factors: the original creators' involvement, the budget and the showrunners. With creator Eiichiro Oda at the helm, the series was in great hands alongside showrunners Matt Owens and Steven Maeda, who themselves are fans of the original series. With a budget of approximately $144m, it reigns as one of Netflix’s most expensive series ever produced.
Two weeks after the release of the first season, fans were greeted with the exciting news of a second season. This was seen as the true lifting of “the live-action curse,” as very few live-action adaptations receive any form of sequel.
In a world where live-action adaptations often tread on thin ice, "One Piece" has emerged as a beacon of triumph, dispelling the ominous shadows of the "live-action curse.” With Eiichiro Oda's creative genius steering the ship, a dedicated fanbase of showrunners at the helm, and a lavish budget setting the stage, the series has not only broken records but shattered expectations.