Many fans knew that One Piece wouldn’t be a perfect one-to-one live-action, but even more didn’t expect some changes. It’s not to say the changes themselves didn’t work, but that they were surprising when first seen by audiences. While those new to One Piece might not know right off the bat, here are the major differences in the live-action series versus what happens in the manga!
This article will contain spoilers for One Piece season one. The entire series is streaming on Netflix! Check out our season one review here, with episode-by-episode breakdowns as well!
Is One Piece Live Action Different?
With all live-action or adaptations in general, it’s a good rule to remember it’s an adaptation, not a shot-for-shot remake. That said, One Piece stays as faithful to the story of the source material as possible within the medium. Not everything would translate well into live-action, such as some character designs or powers. That said, everything that did make it into the show was a fantastic vision of the world of One Piece, with tons of love put into the writing, directing, and acting.
So while the story of One Piece is different, the characters are really what make it special. Every single character, whether a Straw Hat or just a side character, is perfectly cast in their role. Each one understands who they’re playing, and that’s where the importance of One Piece truly lies. These characters and the earnestness of the actors behind them make the changes in One Piece work. Sure, it would have been nice to have a shot-for-shot remake, but some things just can’t be done well in this way, and what was done makes up for it.
Expanded Characters
Some characters got a boost from the live-action series versus their limited role in the manga. Garp initially only appears in a cover story series in the manga, one panel each week for a series of chapters. This was his only introduction and even that entire time he was wearing the dog hat. The show instead includes his training of Koby and Helmeppo, keeping audiences up to date on them. It also reveals Garp’s real identity as Luffy’s grandfather in episode four, as opposed to around chapter 368 of the manga. Talk about giving the secret away early.
The one character to truly benefit from more screen time is Buggy the Clown. The Genius Jester has captured every heart that’s seen him and has a major following of very desperate fans now. Originally he was in a cover story depicting how he got his body parts back (shot out of a cannon in the manga as opposed to locked up). Writing him in instead to lead the Straw Hats to Arlong Park was hilariously genius, and Jeff Ward was perfect.
Which Characters Were Cut?
The various arcs got some characters cut out for the sake of saving time, like Usopp’s Pirates in Syrup Village or the dog Chu-Chu in Orange Town. One very notable absence is Johnny and Yosaku, swordsman brothers who join the Straw Hats from Baratie to Arlong Park, lending Zoro their swords during the climactic battle. Their absence wasn’t especially missed in the show though, and they haven’t been seen again in the manga so it’s not that big of a deal.
The major surprise for longtime fans was the exclusion of Hatchan, or Hacchi as he’s known in Arlong Park. Hatchan is an Octopus Fishman who uses six sword style against Zoro. He gets taken down but comes back later as an ally of the Straw Hats in the Sabaody Archipelago arc of the manga. His absence here was due to the issues of portraying all his arms believably while still sticking to practical costuming and effects. Understandable, but it does leave fans curious about who may take his place in the later story.
Syrup Village
There were a TON of changes to Syrup Village, almost the entire plot really. The main beats were there, like Kuro being in disguise as Klahadore, poisoning Kaya, and planning to take her company. Though she’s a shipyard owner in live action versus just a wealthy inheritance in the manga. Originally the story revolves around the Straw Hats holding back the invading Black Cat Pirates as their first mate Jango tries to hypnotize Kaya into signing the estate over. Going for a slasher horror vibe in the live-action, while also including Koby and Helmeppo, definitely was out of left field but works well.
The other part that really takes everyone by surprise – Merry dies. It’s not a big deal for new fans but One Piece has always been so averse to death unless it’s a major plot point it’s weird. Originally Merry recovers from his wounds and then builds the Going Merry for the crew as thanks. The willingness to kill live-action side characters like Merry really isn’t looking good for some characters coming up in other arcs. Poor Pell is fighting for his life.
Monkey D Garp Reveal
Garp’s reveal being done in the first live-action season is probably the wildest idea that actually works. In the manga, it’s not until after a major battle with the Marines that Garp visits a healing Luffy. The reveal takes everyone by surprise, but it’s treated as really no big deal. All because Garp wasn’t really a vital part of the story before that. It’s nice to see though, as such an important part of the series it’s good to be familiar with audiences.
The expanded presence he has translates great to bringing Koby and Helmeppo into more. Again in the manga, their development was largely offscreen, versus the live action where we as an audience get to actually see them grow. It’s great for the characters and gives an awesome insight into how the two become friends under Garp’s tutelage.
Mihawk’s Entrance
This had a VERY high bar to meet because Mihawk’s original entrance in the manga is legendary. Don Krieg is well into an attack on Baratie after fleeing Mihawk in the Grand Line when he shows up. Seriously, they’ve already been fighting Luffy for a solid twenty minutes by the time Mihawk even shows his face. Then it’s only a few seconds until all hell breaks loose. This is also when his big battle with Zoro happens, taking center stage as Luffy and Krieg even stop. Mihawk pulls up to Baratie, chasing Krieg from the Grand Line in a little coffin with a sail. He nearly kills Zoro, slices Krieg’s remaining ship in half, and then dips out like it’s a lame party.
The ship being cut was thankfully kept in, which is great because it sets up just how great the power gap is between Zoro and Mihawk. The little snippets of Don Krieg being taken down were great, and Peal was even in the background. It was probably better this way for pacing, keeping the momentum going, and giving a reason to stay around Baratie a bit longer.
Buggy’s Expanded Role
There are not enough good things to say about Buggy the Clown and his entire role in this series. A central part of the manga, but after Orange Town, he’s not seen again until almost five hundred chapters later. Seriously, he’s a central character in the manga now, but before that, he was just absent. Now he’s threaded throughout the East Blue saga, giving him interactions with Arlong, Sanji, and Usopp. Some of which haven’t happened at all in the manga to this day.
Even better, he ends up hilarious and really sets up the character of Buggy for his later parts. He’s a selfish dick, only in things for himself, and proves it time and time again. Somehow, he’s a complete failure but he fails upward every time, making his name more infamous despite doing nothing to earn it. The Genius Jester is one of One Piece’s greatest characters, and he’s really getting that love in live-action now.
Loguetown
This may not have been cut necessarily but moved to season two. Loguetown, the execution site, and the birthplace of Gold Roger, is the final stop the Straw Hats make before the Grand Line. This is where Smoker and Tashigi, two major Navy officers, make their debuts. Zoro also gets two new swords, which he receives for free from the shopkeeper in the most badass way possible.
More importantly, it’s the setup for a major character and a big moment for Luffy. Buggy and Alvida ambush the Straw Hat Pirates while they’re in Loguetown, and pin Luffy at the execution platform. Set up on the same stand as his hero, Luffy faces death with a smile before a major storm. It’s just in time to help the Straw Hats escape! There’s a brief hint of a character named Dragon, who is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, a main faction of the Grand Line.
Baroque Works
Speaking of factions in the Grand Line, the inclusion of Baroque Works was one of the coolest things. In the manga, Baroque Works is the main antagonist of the Alabasta Saga. Now in the live-action, there’s a whole fight between Zoro and Mister Seven instead of a passing mention in the manga. The fight was awesome too, and there’s a setup that the Navy has been after Baroque Works for some time.
They’ll play into things a lot in season two when it finally comes around. Baroque Works are secretive, and the main driving force behind a coup in Alabasta. Their leader wants to take the country as his own utopia, with Baroque Works just the front to get there. If scenes from Gold Roger’s execution are to be believed, this character is getting a gender swap treatment. Croco-Mom theories are back on the menu!
Axe-Hand Morgan
Maybe a minor gripe, but Axe-Hand Morgan in the manga was really just a cruel bastard. He chains Zoro up for no reason other than arguing about a bounty, and he’s on the cross when Rika brings him the rice balls. Helmeppo is just as shitty still, but Morgan is unnecessarily violent and it’s obvious why Helmeppo is this way. In the live-action, he has some menace, but never really gets portrayed as the vicious, corrupt, and merciless Marine he is in the manga.
How Did Kuina Die?
This was one of the biggest things fans were wondering about when the story first started. Zoro’s friend Kuina, in the original manga, dies by falling down the stairs one day. That’s it, no other explanation, just a fall down the stairs and boom this healthy kid in good shape is dead. This gave rise to the joke among fans about the killer known as Down D Stairs, but wasn’t even mentioned in the show. It’s probably for the best and lends more to the mysterious nature of Kuina’s death.
It will most likely have an important part in Tashigi’s introduction in season two. She’s Smoker’s right hand, and Zoro is in complete shock when they meet because she looks just like Kuina. So, maybe omitting the cause of death is just a good way to keep things more open-ended.
How Changes Affect Future Seasons
A lot of these changes are pretty mundane, as Garp’s big reveal could have happened any time. Merry’s death doesn’t affect any overall plot, and leaving out Johnny and Yosaku won’t mean anything in the long run. Truly, the only major difference between the live-action versus the manga is the exclusion of Hacchi.
The character will likely get a replacement with Kuroobi, but it’s just a little sad because the character is really beloved by many fans. Despite what they did to Coco Village, Nami forgives Hacchi because he was following Arlong’s orders and has grown since then. It’s a great moment in the world of One Piece that shows people grow and become better, with nobody confined to being good or bad.
These are just the broad changes in One Piece’s first live-action season versus the manga. There are some more minute details from episode to episode, but none that break the world. It’s awesome to see that even though changes had to be made with a live-action versus a manga adaptation, One Piece turned out to be a great series.
