The live-action adaptation of “One Piece” has been a remarkable success, achieving the highest ratings of any Hollywood attempt to bring anime to life.
The series also became the most watched Netflix show in over 80 years in the country. However, this viewership is mostly comprised of existing fans, which raises questions about the film’s broader appeal.
Eiichiro Oda, the author of “One Piece,” envisioned the series as a global phenomenon that transcends cultural boundaries. With themes of friendship, determination, and the pursuit of dreams, Oda sees the live-action adaptation as his last chance to make “One Piece” a worldwide sensation.
While the live-action series has become a hit among existing fans, it hasn’t come out of the “One Piece” bubble yet. Despite the high ratings on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, these accolades mostly come from viewers already familiar with the series. Newcomers often give lukewarm or negative reviews.
For example, an IMDb reviewer who has never watched anime or read manga commented: “I don’t like Anime, never have, especially this older stuff. Never watched an anime or knew anything about it. After the first two episodes, I felt okay because I had never heard or seen this series.
This is nonsense for children. I guess this would be fine if you were a fan of the original but someone like me just came to see this movie and wasn’t really interested. I guess fans will appreciate it very much and let everyone know that it has high ratings. I guess after the hype dies down no one will care or watch it again.”
Also read: Uncle Roger’s One Piece food review video is copyrighted by Toei Studio
For those unfamiliar with anime and manga, the live-action adaptation failed to capture the unique appeal and energy that characterized the original series, making the film a less than ideal introduction. about the world “One Piece”.
While it serves fans kindly, faithfully recreating key moments and characters, it often feels more like a checklist of plot points than a reimagined story. can attract new audiences.
While it’s important to honor the source audience, a successful adaptation will also breathe new life into the story to make it accessible to a wider audience. Unfortunately, the Netflix series failed to present the timeless themes of “One Piece” in a way that appealed to the world.
In the end, the live-action version of “One Piece” won the hearts of existing fans, but it did not reach the level of satisfying Oda’s dream of capturing a global audience.
Only time will tell whether a live-action adaptation can truly spread Eiichiro Oda’s already popular series to a global audience. Perhaps, given another chance, Luffy and the Straw Hats could truly set sail to worldwide acclaim.
Read more: What do Japanese fans think about the One Piece live action series?
Source: IMDb
