One Piece Remake: Unveiling the Trailer, Studio Updates, and Latest Details
The highly anticipated One Piece remake is finally underway! Exciting news was revealed at the Jump Festa 2024 panel, confirming the start of production for this beloved manga series by Eiichiro Oda Fans can't wait to see what this new adaptation has in store for them
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga was first serialised in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump on July 22, 1997, with the anime adaptation following on October 20, 1999 and continuing to air to this day. In 2024, the 25th year of the anime will be celebrated with a much-anticipated remake that will stream on Netflix. WIT Studio, the renowned Japanese animation studio responsible for popular series such as Spy x Family, Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, and The Ancient Magus' Bride, will also be producing this new adaptation.
Jump Festa 2024 panel reveals that the production of The One Piece has begun
The One Piece remake has the potential to be the ultimate version, with its advantages over Toei Animation's long-standing series. It's quite amusing to consider that this manga, which already has a popular anime and a recent live-action adaptation approved for a second season, is now receiving a second anime adaptation.
The announcement of the One Piece remake was a standout moment at Jump Festa 2024's captivating One Piece stage event on December 17, 2023. In addition to revealing the new voice cast for characters in the Egghead arc, fans also got the exciting news that the Straw Hats will be heading to Elbaf after Egghead in the manga.
The unveiling of The One Piece was revealed through a video presented at the conclusion of the event. The video showcased an artist, surrounded by One Piece mangas, drawing a boy on a cliff near a windmill. A page titled "Romance Dawn" was then shown, followed by a rapid succession of manga panels.
The on-screen message encouraged viewers to embark on the Straw Hats' journey from the very beginning, hinting that the remake would commence with the first chapter of the manga, also titled Romance Dawn. The video description confirmed that the remake would kick off with the East Blue arc. However, a release date for the remake has not been announced yet.
Toei Animation’s adaptation of One Piece is infamous for its uneven pacing, frequently slowing down to avoid catching up with the manga. This has led to instances where a single manga chapter is drawn out, with only a portion of it being covered in a full twenty-minute episode. This issue is expected to continue in the upcoming Egghead Arc, as the anime is nearing the manga's storyline.
As a result, numerous viewers have chosen to watch One Pace, a fan-edited version of the series that eliminates pacing issues and filler content to closely mirror the manga's pacing. Many fans have even expressed a preference for the series to take a hiatus rather than continue at a sluggish pace.
Brook and Usopp as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)
The announcement of the One Piece remake has raised hopes that the pacing issues will finally be addressed. This remake offers the creators an opportunity to improve the pacing, eliminate fillers, and bring the series more in line with modern anime classics like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man. This might also pave the way for the series to adopt a seasonal format, which would be better suited for a series of this length.
Eiichiro Oda, well-known for his talent in foreshadowing and revisiting earlier chapters, could also make the story more cohesive and intricate. One early example of foreshadowing in the series is the introduction of Haki, which was hinted at in the very first chapter when Shanks fended off a Sea King with just a glare.
Shanks (Image via Toei Animation)
However, not all of these hints and clues have resonated with fans and audiences, especially those from the show's early years, when Oda had not envisioned the series lasting as long as it ultimately has. For instance, Mythical Zoan fruits were not originally depicted as the most powerful, but now it seems that all the formidable characters possess them.
Reworking certain aspects could minimize the sense that the mangaka, at times, tried too hard to make connections or changed his mind about certain elements.
Another benefit of remaking One Piece would be the opportunity to achieve a new and cohesive animation style. Toei has been animating the series for many years, and the art style and technology have developed considerably during that time. As a result, some viewers struggle to watch the older episodes, and this problem could become more significant in the future.
However, one thing is for sure, WIT Studio will need to ensure that they retain the series’ unique charm and goofiness.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan of One Piece, I am thrilled about the upcoming remake. The original anime series holds a special place in my heart, but it's undeniable that the pacing issues have become increasingly frustrating. The remake presents an exciting opportunity to address these concerns and deliver a more faithful adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's masterpiece.
I'm particularly excited about the potential for improved animation quality and storytelling. WIT Studio has a proven track record of producing visually stunning and critically acclaimed anime series, and I can't wait to see their take on One Piece. The prospect of a seasonal format also intrigues me, as it could allow for more focused and well-paced storytelling.
