The latest trailer for One Piece Live Action adaptation on Netflix dropped, and fans have theories. In the trailer, some events and characters that don’t meet in the original story seem to have a few exchanges, namely Arlong. So, is the live-action adaptation changing things up for the Straw Hat crew?
First things first, WOW. That trailer was awesome! It was definitely something made for fans of the series, and a ton of love has obviously gone into the production. Everything from the practical sets of the ships to the costumes and attitudes is put together with so much care for the spirit of One Piece. This could very well be the anime adaptation that finally does some justice to the source material, unlike those that preceded it. So, time to dive into this trailer!
The Straw Hats Cast members
A massive part of this series’ success hinges on the cast and how well they embody the Straw Hat crew. They all seem to nail their roles so far, and each embodies the essence of their Straw Hat member perfectly. Sanji has his perfect smooth stoicism, Zoro is a grumpy jerk, Usopp is a terrified liar, and Nami is done with them. Most of all, the pivotal role, Inaki Godoy as Luffy is the most on point. He embodies that happy-go-lucky, somewhat clueless leader that everyone loves, and nails the Gum-Gum call-outs.
There’s still a lot to see as far as everyone’s interaction, and that will play a big part. The series’ writers are admitted fans and know what makes the Straw Hat crew work, so hopefully the small exchanges seen so far are a good sign. Otherwise, the production and acting all look to be incredibly accurate and lovingly played by the cast.
Arlong is Everywhere
Changes happen in any adaptation, whether it be from a book, game, or show. Sometimes scenes need move around to accommodate the runtime or budgetary constraints. It seems this has happened in One Piece by Arlong’s presence in places other than Arlong Park in the trailer. The first clue is the Arlong Pirates Captain in Buggy the Clown’s ship. It seems that he’ll take a more overarching villain role in the first season.
The second confirmation was Arlong and Oroobi at the Baratie Sailing Restaurant! The characters don’t debut until the following arc, but show up at Baratie after the Don Krieg Pirates. They seem to beat the crap out of the Straw Hat crew in front of Zeff before they leave. For now the assumption is that they’re following Nami. This could be a good connecting thread to set Arlong up as the overall villain of East Blue. If done right, it could make him a bigger threat from the start.
Buggy the Clown!
Everyone’s favorite clown Buggy makes a few appearances in the trailer and looks awesome with his Chop-Chop Fruit powers. He showcases the Chop-Chop Cannon, but that’s about it so far in the live-action One Piece. There’s sure to be a lot more from him, especially his side adventure to reclaim his lost limbs.
Sanji and Zoro
Moss-Head and Curly-Brow have words with each other in the trailer, and it’s right on target for the characters. These two are the Wings of the Pirate King as the strongest of Luffy’s crew, but bicker the entire time. It’s a long-developed rivalry, as the two often compete against each other when in battle or just hunting food. There’s a lot that goes into this relationship and the antagonistic tone they have for each other. So far the live-action One Piece looks to nail that rivalry in the early stages.
Loguetown?
Loguetown is still a mystery, but is in the live-action flashback for Roger’s execution. The town square where he dies is a fantastic recreation of Roger’s hometown. The trailer even gave hints at the presence of Garp and Dragon in that scene. It’s going to be interesting to see if they do bring the Straw Hats through Loguetown after Arlong Park, as it’s a critical point in the development of the Straw Hat crew. Plus it’s a chance to bring Buggy back, and everyone needs more Buggy.
Where’s Hatchan?
The small peeks at Arlong Park were an interesting take, as it looks to mimic a real-world water park with slides and all. In the anime and manga, it was more of a courtyard with a pool that all the Fishmen hung out around, so it’s an interesting change. It’s somewhat of a concern that Hatchan isn’t seen around Arlong Park. While he’s only here to ferry a couple of people back and forth before his fight with Zoro, he’s pivotal later. Hatchan comes back later in the Sabaody Archipelago arc later on, and is a pivotal part in the depiction of how the world treats Fishmen. He becomes a very lovable character who redeems himself in the Straw Hats view.
Easter Eggs from One Piece’s Live Action movie
The live-action One Piece has people in charge that are very, very vocal fans of the series. It shows too, as the trailer already fit in quite a few little easter eggs. Namely, in the scene where Luffy and Koby reach a port, they see a load of bounty posters on the wall. There are some for characters in the arc and already seen like Buggy or Krieg, but there are surprises too. Bounty posters Sliver Foxy and Bellamy the Hyena are on the wall, future antagonists to the Straw Hats.
Then comes the funniest one, Cavendish. He won’t appear until much, much later in the Dressrosa arc (assuming it gets that far) but he becomes a founding member of the Straw Hat Fleet. He’s known for his ridiculously handsome looks and was supposedly a noble back in his hometown, but has an alter ego that comes out when he sleeps. The alter-ego, unfortunately, is a murderous madman that wants to kill anyone he sees. His bounty poster looks like a 1970s glamour shot though, and it’s such a perfect tribute to Cavendish himself.
That’s all shown in the newest One Piece live-action trailer. The first season drops on Netflix on August 31st, but until then Netflix also has the anime in sub and dub formats. The entire anime is also available on Crunchyroll, along with a few of the One Piece movies.
