The official Netflix Twitter account (now known as X) has revealed a first look at the Message Snail (also known as Den Den Mushi) in the live-action series “One Piece”. Fans are now questioning whether it was the right decision to make them look so realistic.
The live-action adaptation of “One Piece”, which has been in production for nearly seven years, is now just a week away from its official premiere on Netflix. The release date is set for August 31.
On August 24, Netflix posted two photos of the Messenger Snail. One of the special images shows the character Garp with a responding snail in front of him.
Den Den Mushi, or Communication Snail, is a unique type of snail in the world of “One Piece” a popular manga and anime series created by Eiichiro Oda. These snails act as communication devices, similar to phones and other communication technologies in our world.
They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and their appearance often reflects their specific function. Some are used for regular voice communications, while others can transmit visual images, like video calls. There’s even a dedicated Den Den Mushi used by the World Government and Marines for secure communication.
These snails work by mimicking a speaker’s facial expressions and voice at one end and transmitting them to a receiver at the other end.
As seen in the images, the snail’s skin has an overly realistic texture, complete with teeth, which is not the case in the anime. Furthermore, the second image shows a person feeding snails, which has never been described in the “One Piece” world.
It’s possible that the “One Piece” live-action series will have some creative freedom, possibly even introducing new personalities to the snails. But right now, some fans are really scared.
Of course, many fans absolutely love this design and eagerly look forward to seeing the snails in action. One netizen wrote: “The Netflix adaptation of ‘One Piece’ was a hit for me because they made the snails respond. They don’t shy away from it, fully aware that each of these things will be a source of nightmares in real life, and they do it anyway. I love them.”
Another fan expressed excitement, writing: “I can’t wait to see how they change the appearance of the answering snails to suit the person calling. I’ve always found it funny in anime so this will be even more interesting in live-action.”
Reportedly, the creators of the live-action series “One Piece” have released the first six episodes to some critics, and initial reviews of the series have been quite positive. With one of the highest budgets available for a Netflix series, it wouldn’t be a surprise to fans if we see characters like Chopper rendered with as much detail as these transponders. A commitment to realism and quality can set a new standard for live-action adaptations of beloved anime series.
Furthermore, Eiichiro Oda, the author of the “One Piece” series, is heavily involved in the live-action adaptation process. According to conversations between Oda and the Netflix team, he got to work on the project, even asking for revisions several times if something didn’t live up to his expectations. The level of original creator engagement is what reassures fans, as it shows that these snail designs have been approved by Oda himself.
What do you think of these answering snail designs? They look so real, don’t they? Let us know your opinion in the comments section.
