Unlocking the Power of One Piece: EP Steven Maeda Reveals Netflix's Manga Marvels

Warning: SPOILERS for One Piece season 1!

Summary

Executive producers Steven Maeda and Matthew Owens turned the once seemingly impossible task of adapting One Piece into a live-action series on Netflix into a remarkable reality. With a true sense of professionalism, love, and deep reverence for the source material, Steven Maeda wholeheartedly embraced the project after swiftly becoming a devoted fan of the manga/anime series.

Finding the perfect balance between appeasing die-hard fans of One Piece and attracting new viewers, all while ensuring an enjoyable experience for both, proved to be the biggest challenge. This daunting responsibility fell upon Maeda, who had to navigate the passionate fan base.

Thanks to the unwavering passion and dedication of Steven Maeda and Matthew Owens, the showrunners, writers, and executive producers, fans of One Piece can now rejoice as their beloved manga/anime world is brought to life on Netflix. Many believed that adapting the epic saga created by Eiichiro Oda into live action was impossible, especially after the lukewarm reception of Cowboy Bebop.

However, Steven Maeda is not one to shy away from a challenge. With a career spanning over two decades as a writer and producer, and having contributed to iconic TV shows like The X-Files and Lost, Steven approached the task of bringing One Piece to life with professionalism and a deep admiration for the source material. One Piece is a thrilling pirate adventure series created in collaboration with Shueisha and produced by Tomorrow Studios and Netflix. Executive producers include Eiichiro Oda, Marty Adelstein, and Becky Clements.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Steven Maeda shared insights about the highly anticipated One Piece adaptation on Netflix and what fans can expect from the show. Note: This interview took place during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and it is important to acknowledge the contributions of the writers and actors from both unions, without whom this show would not have been possible.

Steven Maeda Talks One Piece

Four years ago, Tomorrow Studios approached me about One Piece. They had acquired the rights to the story and wanted someone to write a pilot script for them. I had a meeting with them and immediately connected with the material. That was the start of my involvement with the project.

I used to be a fan, but I had only skimmed the surface. I had briefly read a few early chapters, but I didn't grasp the entirety and depth of the world. However, I quickly caught up by immersing myself in the first 100 chapters. From then on, I was captivated and knew I had to be involved in some way. So, I continued reading and now I'm up to chapter 1089.

I'm nearly caught up now, which is exciting! What exactly attracted you to the story? Is there something in particular that resonates with you?

I found the combination of Steven Maeda's unique world of fantasy, intellectual property, comics, and manga truly captivating. It is a rare occurrence to come across such quality works in these genres nowadays. Oda-san's world in particular caught my attention, with its wonderful blend of elements. The storytelling itself is refreshingly simple and elemental, focusing on a boy who relentlessly pursues his dreams and inspires others to do the same.

What truly sets Luffy apart is not just his stretchy superpower, but his ability to reignite the dreams of those around him. This profound aspect of the story resonated deeply with me. The narrative effortlessly weaves together action, world building, and emotion, making it an incredibly engaging experience.

What were the primary difficulties in adapting a widely popular story from a different medium?

Steven Maeda: The main challenge we encountered was achieving a balance. From the start, we had to determine which stories to include, how to narrate them, and how to structure them across a season. The original manga wasn't intended for an eight-episode TV season, so I had to reimagine it and establish a compelling beginning, middle, and end for the season, with intriguing character arcs and progression.

Finding a balance between satisfying both the die-hard fans who appreciate every aspect of One Piece, and attracting new fans who are unfamiliar with the series, is a challenging task. It is crucial to cater to the preferences of long-time fans, as well as to overcome the skepticism of new viewers who question the unconventional elements of the show, such as a pink pirate ship and a character with stretchy powers. The greatest difficulty lies in achieving this delicate equilibrium. From my observations, it seemed like you had two main objectives: to create an enjoyable experience for those unfamiliar with One Piece, while also ensuring the satisfaction of loyal fans so that they do not express their disappointment vehemently.

Steven Maeda: Absolutely. While I've had the opportunity to work on other popular shows, none have had a fan base as dedicated and passionate as One Piece. The fans' love for the original manga is so immense that I felt a tremendous weight of responsibility towards them.

Every aspect of the show had to be given the green light by Eiichiro Oda himself. I'm intrigued to know if there was ever a particular element that Oda sensei initially wasn't pleased with, but I stood my ground and advocated for it because I truly believed it would enhance the show. And ultimately, I was successful in persuading him.

Steven Maeda mentioned that there were some aspects that required persuasion. If Oda-san was unhappy with something, we made sure to make necessary changes. However, there were certain things that we managed to incorporate into the show initially, despite Oda-san's hesitations.

One such change was moving certain events up in the storyline, which originally occurred much later in the chapters. For instance, we introduced Garp as a more prominent character in the first eight episodes. We also brought in characters like Koby and Helmeppo, and had the Marines actively pursuing the Straw Hats right from episode 2. This alteration was significant, as it helped maintain high stakes and added a sense of organization and menace to the story. We wanted to move beyond a mere adventurous journey with encounters of different antagonists, villains, and pirates. Instead, we aimed to establish a formidable and persistent presence that posed a threat to Luffy. Overcoming this challenge was certainly daunting.

Another change we made was bringing Arlong into the story earlier, at the Baratie instead of waiting for the Arlong Park chapters. This way, we were able to establish him as the main antagonist for the first season, by swapping him with the Don Krieg storyline. Oda-san agreed to this modification, and I believe it was a successful decision.

Additionally, were there any ideas that Oda rejected but you personally wished had been included in the show?

There were limitations on what we could do, but we were mostly accepting of them. For instance, we were not allowed to alter the backstory or powers of the Devil Fruit. Our aim was to avoid introducing new Devil Fruits and preserve the canon while focusing on fan service. We made multiple versions of the story, some of which deviated slightly from the manga, while others stayed true to it. Eventually, we settled on the right version - a high-budget adaptation that remained faithful to the manga without being an exact replica. After all, creating a carbon copy would serve no purpose.

In the beginning of One Piece, the main focus is on introducing the Straw Hats and delving into their pasts. This enables fans to understand who they are and what they are embarking on. Do you have a specific Straw Hat backstory or moment that stands out to you?

Steven Maeda: I have numerous favorites and I truly advocated for these backstories, despite the high costs involved in filming them. Visiting a new location that won't be revisited is always a considerable expense. However, I believed it was crucial to incorporate these backstories into the show as they provide insight into the characters' identities. Out of all the backstories, my absolute top favorite is the tale of Luffy and Shanks and how he acquired his iconic straw hat.

Episode 2 focuses on the significance of the straw hat moment and its importance to both present-day Luffy and the adult version of Luffy. The episode also delves into the story of how Luffy acquired the hat, which is faithfully adapted from the manga, frame by frame in certain places. The outstanding performances by the actors brought me immense joy, and it never fails to move me whenever I watch it. I genuinely hope that others feel the same way.

Do you regret not including any specific elements from the source material in the show, either due to time constraints or the difficulty of adapting them to live action?

Steven Maeda: Absolutely. The main one that stands out for me is Logue Town in the present day. We needed two additional episodes to properly explore it, but unfortunately, we didn't have the budget or screen time available. We did showcase Logue Town briefly at the beginning during Rogers' execution, but I really wanted to delve deeper into it. However, with only eight episodes to work with, it was a challenge to do justice to Logue Town. It also involved significant expenses for its construction. So, not being able to include it is definitely a regret.

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Undoubtedly, embarking on this project meant attempting the impossible. Reflecting on the achievement of the impossible, what were the most difficult moments encountered throughout this incredible journey?

Steven Maeda: In my opinion, the most challenging aspect was perfecting the scripts. Ensuring they satisfied Netflix's expectations, Oda-san's expectations, and our own was a daunting task. It was a true voyage of finding the delicate balance between catering to fans while making necessary modifications. We questioned whether these alterations would be acceptable and pondered how to preserve the emotional essence of each scene. Our aim was to evoke the same emotions that readers experienced when they first encountered the manga, whether it be tears, laughter, excitement, exhilaration, or fear. The ultimate goal was to evoke those emotions, regardless of any deviations from the original material. This hurdle presented a colossal challenge.

The production of the show in Cape Town was extensive, as I devoted a year to both the pre-production and production phases. Being on set every day for the majority of the year was crucial in ensuring that the show was executed properly, drawing from our experiences with the material. While Emma and the other directors had significant influence in directing the episodes, my presence on set allowed me to provide input and make necessary adjustments, whether it was adding or removing a moment or deciding not to show something for specific reasons. This opportunity to be on set was invaluable and gave me a level of control that I wouldn't have had otherwise.

As a showrunner, I was conscious of the lessons learned from previous live-action adaptations of anime like Cowboy Bebop or Death Note. I strived to differentiate our show from those by implementing a unique approach. The recipe we discovered and applied to our show aimed to set it apart from the others in terms of storytelling, character development, and staying true to the essence of the source material.

Steven Maeda believes that the notion of there never being a successful anime adaptation is exaggerated. He acknowledges that although different people have worked on previous shows, they should have had the courage to approach the adaptation differently. By paying attention to the fan base, preserving key elements from the One Piece manga and anime, and incorporating new content, they hope to be forgiven. The aim was not to replicate the source material exactly, but to remain faithful to it. They also wanted to tell a story that was not originally intended in the manga, which presented its own challenges in creating an eight-episode TV season with its own narrative structure. The team focused on emotional points and markers to guide viewers through each season of the show.

Was the manga intentionally designed to be released on a weekly basis? Would One Piece have been more successful if it had been adapted for an earlier era of television, when shows aired new episodes every week?

Steven Maeda: Personally, I strongly believe in the value of weekly releases. The anticipation and excitement that builds up from waiting for each episode is truly enjoyable, especially when it's a show that you adore. The waiting period between episodes fuels your eagerness for the next installment, intensifying the experience. I become quite obsessed with shows I love when the episodes are not yet available, and I have to impatiently wait for them. However, I understand that Netflix has its own approach, which has proven to be highly successful for them. Nevertheless, it would still be my preference for the show to be released on a weekly basis.

Given your interactions with Oda, what would you say is the most valuable lesson you've learned from him throughout this project?

Steven Maeda: I believe the key was determining the level of devotion and faithfulness required to the manga. Sometimes, when adapting something, it stays true to the original material, while other times it takes a more radical departure and explores a different direction. Both approaches can yield successful shows. In this case, it was evident during our discussions that straying too far from the source material would not be favorable.

Certainly, there were compelling stories that could have been told with less adherence to the manga. However, rightfully so, the fan base would not have embraced those shows since One Piece holds such a cherished place as source material. Therefore, after much trial and error, my objective was to honor Oda-san's vision and create a version of the show that we were genuinely proud of and that he approved. It was a matter of aligning those objectives and fine-tuning them to ensure that even if there are new elements in the show, they feel authentic. I sincerely hope that the show accomplishes that, as it was our intention.

Can you share any funny stories about Oda, whether from his set visits or personal interactions?

Steven Maeda: He's a fascinating man, full of challenges and opinions, and rightfully so. He's a genius who has created a wonderful world. I've always believed that this world is his playground, and we are fortunate to be able to play in it. I can't think of a specific funny story, but I always found it intimidating to sit or talk with him on Zoom because he is the world's creator. It felt like a tremendous responsibility, one that I wanted to honor while still crafting an exceptional season of television.

When it comes to seasons, the first season of the show covers the "East Blue Arc" from the manga, which is considered to be a more grounded part of the story. However, once the Straw Hats reach the Grand Line, things become filled with giant monsters, sky islands, underwater islands, and crazy Devil Fruit powers at every turn. Do you think it will be possible to adapt all of that in future seasons or is it simply too much for a live-action adaptation?

Steven Maeda: Adapting everything in One Piece, especially for the live-action format, would be incredibly difficult. Ensuring the story is done justice and capturing every moment, location, and antagonist would be a tremendous challenge due to the immense size and scope of the series. Additionally, the lengthy production process, which took us a year of shooting after two years of story and script development, further adds to the complexity. While there is potential for streamlining the process, it still requires a significant amount of time. I can't provide any spoilers about future plans, but yes, it is definitely a challenge.

If you could give one piece of advice to those about to start watching the show for the first time, what would it be?

Steven Maeda: I would encourage them to approach the show with an open mind and without any preconceived notions. Embrace its uniqueness and how it sets itself apart from other grand fantasy shows. I believe one should simply enjoy the show's tone, which is both entertaining and light-hearted, yet deeply emotional and heartfelt. Ultimately, it centers around the universal struggle of pursuing our dreams, a story that resonates in the current times of dwindling hope and optimism.

About One Piece

Check out our other interviews on One Piece here.

Director Marc Jobst

Director Emma Sullivan

Editor Tessa Verfuss

All 8 episodes of One Piece are currently available to stream on Netflix.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.