Live actions are known to be the bane of any anime fan’s existence – especially when they’re not made in Japan. That being said, people still had a lot of expectations with the One Piece live-action that Netflix had made. It’s safe to say that it came through and met those expectations since people loved it so much! But not everything in live-action is the same as in anime. It is often noted that one of the first visible changes between live actions and their respective anime is the characters. Many characters in the One Piece live-action differed from their anime counterparts. But one that stood out the most was Nami – a main character of the series and a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. So, what was the difference between live-action Nami and Anime Nami? Let’s find out.
Who is Nami?
Before we get started, some of you might be wondering who Nami is. Nami is a member of the Straw Hat Pirates and an integral part of the show. She’s considered a main character and a protagonist. Nami is the official navigator and cartographer of the crew. She’s also very skilled in combat, making the most of a unique technique known as Clima-Tact that influences the weather.
In terms of looks, Nami is a tall and skinny woman with fair skin and bright orange hair. At the start of the series, her hair is rather short, but it eventually grows out. She tends to wear the same outfit for most of the pre-time-skip, something which most characters of the show do. Nami doesn’t have a devil fruit, nor does she possess any type of Haki.
Was the Live Action Nami Cast Right?
When it comes to casting, fans almost unanimously agree that the casting for Nami was perfect. Emily Rudd perfectly embodies the character in both personality and looks. Nami’s signature orange hair suits her naturally and doesn’t look out of place. Plus, she’s the perfect mix of feminine and tomboyish to execute her character! This spot-on casting is one of the reasons why the live-action was such a hit.
But casting like this doesn’t happen on its own. Netflix took the necessary measures to ensure that the casting of Nami was spot on. This included having the show’s creator, Echiro Oda, on board during the whole process. They went through hundreds of auditions for months before finally coming to a decision. It’s an effort like this that makes live actions worth it!
Comparing Live Action Nami vs. Anime Nami
Although fans loved the live-action Nami, there is no denying that she is different from the anime Nami in quite a few ways. Let’s compare them in some categories to see those differences in more detail:
Backstory
When it comes to backstories and pacing, the anime takes its time with introducing characters. In the anime, Luffy first meets Zoro and asks him to be his first mate before he runs into Nami many episodes later.
This slow-paced and distinguished introduction gives room for characters to develop individually without their stories overlapping. The live-action does not stay true to this order. Both Zoro and Nami are introduced almost simultaneously, rushing the introductions of both characters. If asked which character introduction made more of an impact, many people would pick the anime Nami.
Skills
Another difference that fans noticed was that anime Nami and live-action Nami seem to be on completely different skill levels. Nami in the live-action is considerably much stronger than she is in the anime. Although they have almost identical origins, Nami’s physical strength and fight ethic should not have been this refined.
For many, it took away from her character growth and also made her out to be a greater threat than she was. A lot of fans believe that the live-action only portrayed a serious side of her. They skipped the many scenes in the anime where she is rather light-hearted and silly. They hope to see more of Nami open up in the second season.
Looks
Now, that’s a controversial topic to talk about. As an anime, One Piece has a certain charm to it in its art style. However, this also means that the female figure that’s overemphasized in the anime is rather hard to replicate in a live-action. But there wasn’t a lot of talk about it at all, actually!
Fans were very happy with Nami’s casting and believed she looked fit enough to be part of the crew. Her overall style and slightly boyish looks with female innocence on her face are perfectly portrayed through Emily Rudd. All in all, it’s a fair tie between anime Nami and live-action Nami in this department.
Who Would The Fans Pick?
Talk about picking an impossible question. Since it’s a comparison, one person does emerge as the overall winner. If fans were asked to pick between anime Nami and Live action Nami, most of them would go for the anime version. Although live-action Nami is amazing and lives up to everyone’s expectations, the OG anime version just can’t be beat. From her iconic voice actor to the all-familiar art style – there’s just something about her that wins hearts every time.
Major Changes Made to Nami in the Live-Action
Even though our comparison covered most aspects of live-action Nami, some changes still need to be pointed out. These changes are instances where Netflix strayed completely from the source material – making fans slightly confused. Here are some of the changes that glare us straight at our faces.
Nami is much more self-sufficient in live action – taking away her dependence on characters like Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. The village she grew up in sees her as a traitor and doesn’t originally know of her sacrifice. This was not the case in the anime, where they knew everything beforehand. Her backstory isn’t explored as much since the Arlong Park arc is shortened quite a lot. This seemingly rushes things from the start.
