Summary
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, exerted pressure on Netflix to re-shoot certain scenes in the live-action series, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to guaranteeing a superior adaptation.With Oda's active participation in the show's creation, this unique approach might bestow One Piece with a distinct advantage and potentially reverse Netflix's unfavorable track record when it comes to anime adaptations.
While Oda's involvement is not a guaranteed factor for success, winning over doubters and critics with his efforts could lead to positive word of mouth and enhance Netflix's reputation within the genre.
Following a series of poorly received attempts in this genre, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has revealed his involvement in compelling Netflix to reshoot certain scenes for the live-action adaptation. Derived from Oda's long-standing manga series, the adventure-filled show revolves around the aspirations of Monkey D. Luffy, an aspiring pirate, and his loyal crew known as the Straw Hat Pirates. Together, they embark on a global quest in pursuit of the legendary treasure that would crown Luffy as the King of the Pirates. With the forthcoming Netflix adaptation of One Piece, it will serve as the second series portrayal of the manga alongside the anime show that originally premiered in 1999 and is currently approaching its 1100th episode.
Coinciding with the San Diego Comic-Con 2023 panel, Netflix unveiled a poignant message from Eiichiro Oda, the mastermind behind One Piece, in anticipation of the forthcoming live-action adaptation.
Part of the letter, as seen above, reveals that Oda expressed concerns about the quality of some scenes in the live-action show and pushed Netflix to reshoot them, deeming them unsuitable for release. However, he applauded Iñaki Godoy's outstanding performance as Monkey D. Luffy and commended the entire cast and crew for their immense dedication and passion, ensuring that the adaptation is the best it can be.
Oda's One Piece Involvement Can Fix A Bad Netflix Trend
Netflix's third attempt to adapt a manga for an English audience is the upcoming live-action show, One Piece. In 2017, the streamer had success with the Death Note movie, which received enough viewership to prompt a sequel order. However, their adaptation of Cowboy Bebop faced numerous challenges, including production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and actor John Cho's injury. Additionally, the show received mixed reviews and experienced a significant decline in viewership.
One Piece, unlike previous adaptations, has a significant advantage due to Oda's active participation in the development of the live-action Netflix show. This includes making necessary reshoots to enhance its quality. Initially, the production delay of Cowboy Bebop resulted in anime director Shinichirō Watanabe joining as a creative consultant. However, later reports downplayed his actual involvement. On the other hand, Death Note did not involve its original creators in its production, although Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata praised the movie's faithfulness and deviations from their source manga upon its release.
As mentioned by Oda in his earlier letter, his close involvement with the One Piece live-action show does not guarantee its success. Considering Netflix's past failures in this genre, it is reasonable for audiences to be skeptical about embracing another anime adaptation that may not extend beyond one season. However, if Oda's efforts manage to win over skeptics and critics, it could generate positive word of mouth and reverse the negative trend of the streaming platform.
Source: Netflix
