Kaitlyn Angeles via Canva

The One Piece live-action series became popular on Netflix, reaching #1 on the TV series charts and brings recognition to both the fans who have watched the original series and the newer viewers.

The One Piece live-action series was released on August 31 and quickly became ranked number one on the Netflix TV series charts in multiple countries. The creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, and producers of the live-action series, Steven Maeda and Matt Owens, worked together to make up an action, comedy, and fantasy show for many viewers to enjoy. With more people taking a liking to the series, there are a plethora views about the show.

With the many adventures in the eight-episode series, One Piece is a recommended show for all ages. The protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy meets with other characters throughout his explorations, and despite their differences, they slowly come together to form a crew. Knowing that this show came from a well-known manga published in 1997 and anime in 1999, the live-action series has reached many fans from various fandoms. People who have not watched the anime may consider watching it after seeing the live-action.

“I really enjoy it, I mean, it makes me consider watching the actual anime,” said Kyleigh Cuisona (9).

Although some parts of the live-action are not congruent with the anime, the plot and personalities of the characters did not change. However, the use of CGI for certain powers sparked debate as some claimed that is was weird or “fake-looking”.

“Compared to the anime, it looks more weird,” said Cuisona.

To some viewers who had already watched the anime, the show was not as amusing as they already knew what was going to happen.

“It’s just a live-action anime, so I already know what’s going to happen, making it boring for me,” Isabelle Angeles (9) said.

The story line of One Piece depicts the protagonist, Luffy, as he explores the world and fights other pirate crews to get to the Grand Line which beholds the precious treasure, the One Piece.

 “Luffy, Nami, and Zoro work together to defeat Buggy the clown by putting most of his limbs in boxes which leaves Buggy only with his hands, feet, and head,” Carrie Lee (9) said. 

A battle for the map led to most of the characters losing strength, but the three friends managed to defeat Buggy by devising a plan using their surroundings. The fight became a well-known battle among fans.

On top of the interesting plot of Once Piece, the characters are relatable and enjoyable. With their different natures and backstory, the characters are each unique and add excitement to the show. Personality-wise, the characters’ actions are expecially admirable. 

“Zoro stood up for a little girl who accidentally spilled food on a marine and the marine was about to harm the girl,” Angeles said. 

An important part of the show that contributed to its success was the character development and the relationships formed throughout the plot. Despite the characters having different morals from each other, they eventually built a bonding trust in one another and teamed up to pursue a common goal. 

“I like how it shows that the characters who start to not like each other begin to develop a bond which forms the crew,” said Lee.

Depicting the many adventures of Luffy’s crew, the One Piece live-action quickly rose in popularity hitting charts on Netflix and entertaining a large crowd. However, it is ultimately up to the viewer to decide whether it meets their expectations or not.