The Live Action Anime Curse Is Over!
The best-selling manga series of all time by Eiichiro Oda gets a live-action adaption on Netflix & it’s worth the hype! A breath of fresh sea air, One Piece is a great adaptation of the anime and manga. Between the pacing of the story, the cast, the effects, and the props, this show was perfect all around. The live-action anime curse is officially over!
THE CAST & THE CREW
Monkey D. Luffy is played by Iñaki Godoy. Iñaki embodies the role of Luffy where Oda states, “You’re just like the character I draw in the manga.” His performance captures the essence of the character. Colton Osorio plays young Luffy in flashbacks along with Peter Gadiot as Shanks. Together they capture the emotional tone that sets the course of the show.
Mackenyu plays Roronoa Zoro, the Pirate Hunter, and Luffy’s first mate. His performance is captured through his strong on-screen presence & choreography in action sequences. When confronting Mihawk played by Steven Ward whose performance is captivating in its own right, we see Mackenyu’s emotional range. However, most of the emotional backstory for Zoro comes from Maximilian Lee Piazza who plays the younger version of the character during flashbacks.
Nami is played by Emily Rudd who brings an emotional performance to the character. Her ability to convey different emotions in her facial expressions alone captures scenes. Her versatility and range are displayed even more when Arlong played by McKinley Belcher III appears later in the series. McKinley’s look and performance as Arlong felt just as menacing as the manga series.
Jacob Romero plays Usopp, the storyteller. His performance was a great mixture of comedy and drama. Romero brought a fresh take to the character while still feeling accurate to the original representation. Although he didn’t have the nose prosthetic, Romero did a great job capturing the emotional aspect of the character through his facial expressions.
Kaya is played by Celeste Loots who does a phenomenal job capturing the feelings of the character. Her performance had a range of emotions in a short period. Klahadore or Captain Kuro is played by Alexander Maniatis. His performance captures the creepy yet menacing essence of Kuro.
Taz Skylar plays Sanji, the chef of the Straw Hat Pirates. Skylar captures the character without having to create a funny accent. He displays a natural charisma that brings charm to Sanji. When Zeff played by Craig Fairbrass is in the picture we get to see Skylar’s emotional range. Fairbrass performance brings a real feel for the pirate age and showcases his versatility as well.
Koby is played by Morgan Davies whose performance captures the anxious young boy in full. Together with Vice Admiral Garp, the man known for capturing the King of Pirates, played by Vincent Regan, their characters play the strong and weak dynamic. They move towards a master and apprentice dynamic & continue to progress throughout the series letting both actors display their range.
Buggy the Clown is played by Jeff Ward who embodies the character in full. The cosmetics and prosthetics aren’t the only things that make Ward feel like Buggy but his laugh and demeanor as well. From his introduction, his on-screen cadence captivates.
Langley Kirkwood plays Captain “Axe Hand” Morgan. Although they took away some of his prosthetics and he doesn’t have the same physical appearance, Kirkwood’s performance is enough to bring the Axe Hand Captain to life. Captain Morgan’s son Helmeppo is played by Aidan Scott who is a great supporting character and does a great job in his role.
Alvida is played by Ilia Isorelýs Paulino who displays the character’s demeanor and personality perfectly. The realism in her ruthlessness is on full display. Paulino captures the mean-spirited pirate’s attitude while showing her acting prowess.
LIVE ACTION VS ANIME
As with most adaptions, there are differences between the live-action and the anime. Some of these differences don’t have any significance and were created to move the story forward faster or smoother. However, some of these differences are significant enough to change plot points around as well as character developments. Whatever the reasoning for these changes, one thing is for sure Oda had his hand in approval for it.
SEASON 2?
Netflix One Piece ends right before the last arc in the East Blue Saga of the anime and manga. The series ends with a teaser of Smoker who is the main antagonist in the next arc. No official news has been released however the show runner has teased a potential season 2. Based on the popularity of the series, it’s safe to say the live action adaption of the anime will have a future!
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