Although the live-action adaptation of One Piece has captivated audiences around the world, the absence of some iconic characters from the original anime and manga cannot be overlooked.
Whether due to budgetary constraints or narrative focus, these missing faces include not only minor players but also some fan favorites. Let’s take a look at the list of characters who were not selected.
Hatchan
Hatchan, commonly known as “Hachi,” is a six-armed octopus fish-man who first appeared during the Arlong Park Arc in the anime and manga. He is a member of the Arlong Pirates and one of Arlong’s key officers.
Despite his intimidating appearance, Hatchan is the friendliest and kindest member of the crew, and that’s why he has become one of the favorite characters in the series.
Fans really miss Hatchan in the live-action show. But let’s be real, creating him with CGI would probably cost a lot of money. So it makes sense that he wouldn’t be in the first season of the One Piece Live Action series.
Related: What do Japanese fans think about the One Piece Live Action series?
Mohji
Mohji is the Chief of Staff of the Buggy Pirates and first appeared in the Romance Dawn Arc (first part) in the anime and manga. He is often seen with his pet lion, Richie, which is also his main form of attack. Mohji is extremely loyal to his captain, Buggy the Clown.
His absence from the live-action series is directly tied to Richie, the next character on our list.
Richie
Richie is Mohji’s pet lion and a notable member of the Buggy Pirates. He was introduced alongside Mohji in the Romance Dawn Arc. Richie is more than just a pet; he himself is a formidable warrior.
With his large size and powerful jaw, Richie serves as Mohji’s main means of attack. Despite his intimidating appearance, Richie has a rather humorous side and often falls into humorous situations.
Fans certainly noticed Richie was absent from the live-action series. After all, he’s the first large animal to appear in One Piece, so he’s an important character. But let’s face it, using CGI on a creature like Richie would be a budget buster. That might be why he and his owner Mohji didn’t make the cut for the first season.
Also read: Top 20 Highest Bounties in One Piece (Post-Wano Arc)
Couchou
Couchou is a small but brave dog introduced in the Romantic Dawn Arc in the anime and manga. He is the loyal guardian of a pet food store in Orange Town. Despite his small body, Chouchou is extremely brave and fiercely protects the store that belonged to his deceased owner.
His loyalty and courage won the hearts of fans as he stood up to the villainous Buggy Pirates to regain power. protecting the only thing left that reminded him of his master.
It’s a shame that Chouchou’s story wasn’t adapted into a live-action series. Even though he didn’t need any fancy CGI, the show had to cram a lot into just eight episodes. Because of this, some storylines had to be abandoned, and Chouchou’s story was sadly one of them.
Gaimon
Gaimon is a unique character introduced in the Romance Dawn Arc, especially in the mini-arc “Rare Animal Island”. He is famous for his special circumstances: his body trapped in a treasure chest.
Gaimon was once a pirate searching for treasure on Rare Animals Island but ended up getting stuck in a chest and unable to get out. Over the years, he has become a self-proclaimed guardian of the island’s strange and unique animals.
Unfortunately, the live-action One Piece left out the entire “Island of Rare Animals” part, which is why Gaimon is not in the live-action version.
Related: Netflix Should Follow This Hollywood Blueprint of One Piece Live Action Season 2 Characters
Django
Django was also introduced in the Romance Dawn Arc. He is a hypnotist and subordinate of Captain Kuro, acting as one of the main antagonists in the Syrup Village Section.
Django uses chakra and has the ability to hypnotize people, including his crew, to make them stronger or more aggressive. Django is one of the central characters in the East Blue story, who causes quite a difficult time for Luffy.
In the original series, his ability made the battle with Captain Kuro more intense for both Luffy and Zoro. But to keep the live-action series moving at a brisk pace, some battles had to be streamlined. Unfortunately, that means cutting Django and his showdowns from the plot.
Johnny
Johnny first appeared in the Baratie Arc of “One Piece.” He is a fisherman and a bounty hunter, often seen with his partner Yosaku.
Johnny is friends with Roronoa Zoro from their bounty hunting days and he plays a support role in the Baratie and Arlong Park Arcs. He’s not a central character but adds some camaraderie and humor to the series.
Unfortunately, to keep up with the series’ fast pace, Johnny was also left out of the live-action plot.
Also read: Will Naruto be adapted into live-action? Explained
Yusaku
Yosaku is another character introduced alongside Johnny in the Baratie Arc. He is a fisherman turned bounty hunter and Johnny’s best friend. He is also familiar with Roronoa Zoro from their shared past as bounty hunters.
He also suffered the same fate as Johnny.
Momoo
Momoo is a giant sea cow introduced in the Arlong Park Section. Piloted by the Arlong Pirates, he was used to terrorize villages and attack ships.
Despite her size and intimidating appearance, Momoo is quite timid and easily scared, especially by Luffy and his crew. He plays a role in the Straw Hat Pirates’ confrontation with Arlong and his crew, acting as a minor obstacle for them to overcome.
Momoo may not have been a pivotal character in the plot, but he certainly brought some laughs. However, the CGI cost of bringing Momoo to life in the live-action series could have been so high that he was left out of the adaptation.
Related: Chopper will be the biggest challenge for One Piece Live-Action Part 2
Tashigi
Tashigi is a Marine officer introduced in the Loguetown Arc. She serves under Captain Smoker and is notable for her resemblance to Kuina, Zoro’s deceased childhood friend.
Tashigi is highly skilled in swordsmanship, and has extensive knowledge and appreciation of famous swords. Her interactions with Zoro are quite humorous in the anime and manga.
She will also appear in the future and have more interactions with Zoro. Although Tashigi missed out on season 1, fans can expect to see her in future adaptations alongside Captain Smoker.
Usopp’s Young Admirers
The trio of Tamanegi, Piiman and Ninjin are young fans of Usopp and members of the Usopp Pirates in the Syrup Village Arc. These children view Usopp as a hero and eagerly participate in his harmless pranks and tall tales.
They played an important role in warning the village of the impending pirate attack, demonstrating their bravery despite their young age.
Sadly, these young Usopp fans were not included in the live-action version of One Piece. Their presence can add depth to Usopp’s character, which some fans feel can be more developed than other members of the Straw Hats.
In conclusion, it is clear that although the live-action adaptation of One Piece has done a commendable job, the absence of these characters is felt by fans who know the richness they add. to the original story.
As we look forward to potential future seasons, one can only hope that some of these memorable characters will enter the live-action world of One Piece.
