The live-action adaptation of the One Piece series was first announced by the series’ creator, Eiichiro Oda, back in 2020. From that moment on, the production team has been tirelessly working to create a live-action version that captures the essence of the original story. The series announced the cast of the series after almost a year and even released a teaser of the live-action venues. The production of the series was even reported complete in 2022. But the recent news might break the hearts of most One Piece fans!
Update April 18, 2023: It has come to our attention that the rumor has been debunked by a reliable source associated with Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Greg Werner, an official collaborator and consultant who works with Oda, confirmed on Twitter that the test screening rumors were untrue.
According to a recent article by FandomWire, Divinity Seeker, a well-known Twitter account that focuses on movie discussions and news, shared an update on the test screening for the highly anticipated One Piece Live-Action series. It appears that the early impressions of the series have been somewhat disappointing, with viewers commenting on the poor quality of the CGI effects used throughout the episodes. Furthermore, it seems that the storyline of the initial episodes left the production staff who were unfamiliar with the series’ background feeling confused and unable to grasp the plot.
On April 13, 2023, Divinity Seeker posted a tweet providing insight into the current state of the One Piece live-action adaptation:
From a source connected to Netflix:
— Divinity Seeker (@DivinitySeeker1) April 13, 2023
• Avatar: The Last Airbender will no longer release in 2023, but Netflix believes this will be their Stranger Things
• One Piece tested horribly, the CGI looked bad and the story didn’t make sense to non-fans, and they’re rewriting entire eps
Evidently, the CGI quality in the live-action adaptation is quite disappointing, especially given that the series revolves around cartoonish powers, making CGI a critical component for a successful live-action film. Moreover, the storyline failed to resonate with non-fans, including staff members who were not familiar with One Piece. This can be attributed to weak writing and a lack of cohesive scene connections, which are now causing detrimental consequences.
The most disheartening aspect of this situation is that the production team has reportedly decided to rewrite all of the episodes from the ground up.
Divinity Seeker shared more details in the follow-up Tweets.
The Story of the Live-Action Majorly Deviates From the Source Material
In a follow-up comment, Divinity Seeker provided further details about the content of the first episode. According to the update, the first half of the episode is dedicated to Luffy’s flashback. After this, the narrative shifts to the present day, rapidly introducing Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Usopp within the remaining 15 minutes of the episode.
On #OnePiece: in the first episode the first half is completely all flashbacks/features a Young Luffy, before we jump to the present and rush through introductions to Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Sanji all within the remaining 15 minutes, a major deviation from the source material.
— Divinity Seeker (@DivinitySeeker1) April 13, 2023
In the manga and anime, the introduction of the main cast is spread across multiple episodes, with Luffy’s past revealed later in the narrative. Fans of the series may be disappointed with the significant changes made in the live-action version, as it seems to deviate from the much-loved storyline that made One Piece a worldwide phenomenon.
The Direction of the Live-Action Looks Non-consistent
Divinity Seeker further says that the show’s direction is not working out. He says that the make-up of some of the cast looks awkward, and some of the cast’s looks feel off. He also mentions that in Episode 3 of the Live-Action, the Baratie arc will start (Sanji’s entrance arc), and for this purpose, the production team has created an extensive set.
(From the source)
— Divinity Seeker (@DivinitySeeker1) April 13, 2023
As for the tone of the show: it’s not really working. The makeup/look of some of the cast look off, and the show jumps between being over the top goofy to being serious, and it’s jarring and inconsistent.
They also built a giant set for Baratie for Episode 3.
One notable aspect of the show is its rapid transition between serious and comedic scenes, leading to an inconsistency in the delivery of each scene. While this may be seen as a positive feature by some, as One Piece is known for its seamless blend of dramatic and lighthearted moments, the inconsistency could potentially be concerning. Fans will have to wait and see how these aspects of the live-action adaptation ultimately play out.
The Appearance of the Cast in the Live-Action looks Awkward.
In the end, Divinity Seeker offered his personal take on the live-action adaptation’s visuals. He mentioned that he had seen a few clips, which appeared to be decent and nothing out of the ordinary. However, he did express concerns about the cast’s hair color, specifically Nami’s orange, Zoro’s green, and Sanji’s blonde hair, as they did not look natural.
In the context of the anime, these hair colors are considered normal due to the fantastical nature of the story. As such, the production team’s challenge is to make these hair colors appear as natural as possible within the live-action adaptation. Achieving this balance will be crucial to maintain the authenticity of the characters while adapting the beloved series for a new medium.
Final Thoughts
The credibility of this source, Divinity Seeker, is yet to be fully confirmed, but regardless of its accuracy, it’s undeniable that adapting the One Piece series into a live-action format is an immense challenge. The recent update stating that the production team plans to rewrite some episodes from scratch might offer a sense of reassurance to fans, but at the same time, it seems like a daunting task.
Considering that the cast has already completed filming, it is highly unlikely that the production team would be able to reshoot everything, especially given the substantial financial investment behind each episode of the One Piece live-action series. With millions of dollars at stake, the idea of redoing entire episodes seems improbable, if not impossible.
Ultimately, the success of the One Piece live-action series will depend on the ability to strike a balance between staying true to the original material and making the necessary adjustments to translate the story into a new medium.
One Piece Synopsis
“One Piece” follows the story of “Luffy” is a 17-year-old boy who aspires to be a pirate in the future. Since childhood, he has had an idol named “Shanks,” who saved Luffy several times in complex situations. One day, while arguing with shanks and his crew, Luffy accidentally eats a fruit shanks had in a box and becomes elastic. This fruit was the devil fruit, “Gum Gum Fruit.” Now, Luffy promises Shanks that one day, he will meet him when he becomes a great pirate and makes a pirate crew like none other. So starts the journey of our young pirate.
What are your opinions on this matter? Do you believe the One Piece live-action adaptation has the potential to change the perception of anime live-action adaptations? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share them in the comments section below!
Source: Twitter, FandomWire
