Exclusive: Netflix's One Piece Team Leaves Manga Creator Speechless - Unveiling the Lore Question That Left Him Astonished!

Summary

The production team of the One Piece live-action series collaborated with creator Eiichiro Oda to address specific inquiries not covered in the manga. This included seeking Oda's guidance on aspects such as the presence of electricity within the show's universe.

Oda initially struggled with the concept of electricity in the world of One Piece, but eventually permitted its inclusion. However, he specified that the use of cola power should be reserved for a future story arc.

In the live-action adaptation of One Piece, electricity is integrated into the world-building. This is evident through elements such as the floating restaurant and neon lighting. The co-showrunners, Steven Maeda and Matt Owens, ensure that the adaptation remains faithful to Oda's original vision.

The production team of the live-action One Piece show faced a challenge when it came to creating a world as unique and expansive as the source material. Even Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the manga, was left puzzled by a certain aspect of the lore. The Netflix series follows Monkey D. Luffy as he embarks on a quest to find the legendary treasure and become the next King of the Pirates. To achieve this, he forms a crew called the Straw Hat Pirates. The cast includes Iñaki Godoy, Emily Rudd, Mackenyu, Jacob Romero Gibson, Taz Skylar, Vincent Regan, and Morgan Davies.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Richard Bridgland, the production designer, revealed the level of Oda's involvement in the live-action adaptation. Bridgland explained that their interactions with the manga's creator were limited. They mostly occurred when they had questions that couldn't be answered through the manga alone. Surprisingly, one aspect that left Oda himself stumped was how electricity would fit into the show's universe. Read Bridgland's explanation below.

When we returned to Oda, it was because we had specific questions that we couldn't find answers to in the manga or in Oda's other works. These questions were important and had significant implications. One of my early questions was whether this world had electricity. We needed electricity for lighting the sets and using different types of lights. It was a major concern at the time. So, we approached Oda and asked him about it. He was taken aback because he had never really thought about it. He contemplated the question and later informed us that electricity could exist in the world, but we shouldn't use cola power for it since that comes in a later story arc. He mentioned that introducing electricity would be a significant development in the world. This was one example of the type of fundamental questions we had whenever we approached Oda.

One Piece's Unique Universe Explained

The One Piece universe may initially appear to be set in the 17th century, but the manga and anime do not strictly adhere to any particular era or setting. In fact, the world depicted in One Piece differs greatly from our own Earth, with no major continents and instead consisting of a multitude of islands, varying in size. While these locations draw inspiration from real-world cultures, one notable example being Dressrosa, influenced by Spain.

Interestingly, the power sources utilized in these regions have evolved throughout the manga and anime. Cola power stands out as one of the more peculiar approaches, as Bridgland previously mentioned. Surprisingly, electricity has never been explored in either medium. Instead, the series embraces the fantastical elements of its universe, featuring unique objects like the snail phone communicator.

The Netflix adaptation of One Piece may not heavily feature electricity, but it does cleverly incorporate it into its world-building. From the impressive translation of the floating restaurant, the Baratie, to the vibrant neon lighting of the bar where Luffy grew up with "Red-Haired" Shanks, electricity plays a role. While the show's creators have been instructed to save cola power for a future season, it's uncertain what other modifications may be introduced. However, with the dedicated collaboration between co-showrunners Steven Maeda and Matt Owens and creator Oda, loyal fans of the franchise can rest assured that any changes will honor the essence of One Piece.