Netflix's live-action 'One Piece' is a faithful tribute to the anime and manga, but it has its loyalists worried: TV Review
In the realm of adaptations, live-action takes on anime and manga
are somewhat less prone to the pitfalls of adapting video game-based series or
films. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that 2023 marks a significant year for
both. In January, HBO premiered the hit drama "The Last of Us," which
takes the character-driven perspective of the 2013 game in a similarly
zombie-ravaged setting. With glowing reviews, high ratings, and a flurry of
Emmy nominations, "The Last of Us" successfully surpassed the trends
of decades gone by. A few months later, "The Super Mario Bros." If it
doesn't perform well with critics, it could replicate this achievement at the
box office.
Netflix might have been interested in this trend as the
global streaming service prepares for the launch of "One Piece," an
adaptation of the long-running manga by Eiichiro Oda, known for its deeply
entrenched fan base. In the same vein, Netflix is well aware of the history of
such endeavors; apart from notorious flops like Scarlett Johansson-starrer
"Ghost in the Shell" and "Dragonball Evolution" from
external studios, Netflix has funded projects ranging from the widely
prohibited "Death Note" to swiftly canceled "Cowboy Bebop."
With its extensive reach and global presence, Netflix is in an ideal position
to revitalize cultural exports like "One Piece" for new and far-flung
audiences - but it becomes evident from firsthand experience how passionate
fans, discerning consumers, and intangible qualities can be intense. Animation
could prove to be a challenging test. At least "The Last of Us" now
provides the optimal setup to see.
To that end, Netflix is ready. Oda has given his public blessing
to the season, which co-showrunners Matt Owens and Steven Maeda have developed
into an eight-hour episode from the first 100 chapters of the manga;
subscribers can either prepare or binge-watch the already available "One
Piece" anime with its 15 seasons for streaming, gaining enthusiastic
excitement from the fervent fan event. The show's commercial success is almost
a certainty and guarantees to satisfy those faithful to the guiding source.
However, while this "One Piece" version is a homage for newcomers and
primer for devotees, it remains entangled in its futile attempts to recreate a
world designed anew for both dimensions.
"One Piece"
is an aquatic fantasy pitting a motley crew of pirates against the seafaring
naval force maintaining order and law, all in search of a legendary treasure (a
piece, to be more precise) hidden somewhere, as guessed, on a chunk of land.
Aspirant pirate king Monkey D. Luffy (Inaki Godoy), who consumed a magical
gum-gum fruit in his childhood, giving him the ability to stretch his body like
rubber, dreams of becoming the ruler of seafaring pirates, and during the
course of the season, he secures a ship, gathers a crew, and allies with his
dream. Zoro (Mackenyu) aspires to become the world's greatest swordsman; Nami
(Emily Rudd) wants to chart the globe; Sanji (Taz Skylar) is after a legendary
source of new ingredients; and excited Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson) mostly wants
to impress his crush. Luffy, as he knows, aims to be a different kind of
pirate, one who encourages the people around him to pursue their ambitions - to
the extent that Koby (Morgan Davies), an apprentice sailor aspiring to join the
navy, sets sail with the pirates.
The journey that
ensues is somewhat reminiscent of a cartoon in the absence of a better word. In
a childlike incident, Luffy unwittingly consumes a magical gum-gum fruit that
grants him the unique ability to stretch his body like rubber. Throughout his
adventure, he confronts Sword Hat Pirates - named after Luffy's favorite,
always-present straw hat - facing off against pirates, octo-phone makers, and a
murderer jester (Jeff Ward) who can disassemble his body into parts. Luffy's
distinctive move, the "Gomu Gomu no Pistol," involves shouting and
striking a elongated, noodle-like limb from behind, while the ship he captains
sports an elegant figurehead resembling a massive goat's skull.
Pilot director Mark Jobst, production designer Richard
Bridgland, costume designer Diana Silvers, and several members of the stunt
team create an incongruous symphony of visual disorder and practical effects.
Scenes of hand-to-hand combat are choreographed impressively, while an
exposition in which former pirate king Gold Roger (Michael Dorman) awaits the
fulfillment of his release in a crowd-thirsty treasure-seeking scenario
expresses the story's epic scale. At its best, "One Piece" is a
candy-colored confection with a childish delight that blends seamlessly with
the incoming era.
However, while these endeavors often impress viewers, they still
shed light on the inherent peculiarity of the live-action medium, no matter the
budget. Walking into a restaurant in a Hawaiian shirt as a human-shark hybrid
is never going to feel natural. To the point that even among regular actors, a
rigorous yet exuberant acting style is prevalent. Godoy is often captivating,
but when he lets out a triumphant cheer and clenches his fist in Luffy's
trademark pose, it lingers for a beat too long – almost as if mimicking a still
image. The effect is supernatural; nevertheless, the more significant issue is
the profound question it raises. If the best-case scenario anyone could hope
for is an approximation of the source, whether immediate or distant, what does
this version of "One Piece" provide that the original cannot?
As much as "One Piece" recalls the checkered track
record of anime adaptations, it's also akin to some of Netflix's most
significant successes: "The Witcher," "The Witcher,"
"The Sandman," "The Umbrella Academy," and other styles
based on intellectual properties. These shows are immensely popular, and,
"The Witcher" aside, culturally superficial. They possess an
undeniably magnetic quality that's sympathetic to overenthusiasm, challenging
for viewers, and antithetical to genuine innovation. Then, innovation was never
the point. It's protection - and Luffy will tell us that all aspirations are
valid as long as we never let them go.
All eight episodes of "One Piece" are currently
streaming on Netflix.
