From the set to music, Eiichiro Oda’s series enthralled the audience with its first season. With a second season of live-action in the works, fans await the masterpiece with bated breath.
In an era of failed live-action series, One Piece serves as a reminder of just how authentic adaptations can be. While Season 1 was a complete banger, the second season is all set to notch it up as Oda confirmed.
The mangaka responded to the live-action cast and shared his opinions on the upcoming season. While the second season is set to release in 2025, it would be nothing short of legendary. Be it casting or VFX, the franchise is set to outdo itself in most aspects.
Eiichiro Oda responds to the live-action cast
Decades back, Eiichiro Oda gave us one of the iconic adventure series in the shonen genre. Apart from its Big 3 status, the manga has set a benchmark through its storytelling. From its character design to worldbuilding, it is nothing short of a phenomenon.
Most importantly, it celebrates dreams and aspirations. Oda’s portrayal of friendships and solidarity tugs on readers’ and viewers’ heartstrings. This also applies to the live-action series.
More often than not, we come across live-action adaptations that are plagued with criticism. From race-swapping to inauthenticity, they’re ridden with inconsistencies altogether. Even Oda’s series wasn’t exempt from censure, especially because of its diversity.
From Lera Abova to Charithra Chandran, the actors faced flak from the fandom. Irrespective of that, the series looks more than promising. Iconic, in this case, would be an understatement, considering the mangaka’s response to the casting.
On Instagram, @onepiecenetflix shared Oda’s message and his thoughts regarding Season 2’s casting.
Apart from Lera Abova, his casting of Joe Manganiello for the role of Crocodile is spot on. Despite the criticism and backlash, Oda’s decision proved fruitful for his series.
This only proves that the second season will outdo the first season in more ways than one. This applies to the casting and the production quality. The visual effects along with CG will be on a whole new level.
One Piece live-action to outdo Season 1
With a budget of $18 million per episode, One Piece is undoubtedly one of the most expensive live-action projects. But that is not what makes it special. It is precisely this process that goes behind making it a success. From the costumes to the sets, it represents grandeur in every way.
This also applies to its music, which perfectly captures the congruence between the character and their persona. From Mihawk’s theme to the title song, the soundtrack is a celebration of Oda’s series. Season 2 is all but taking it to a whole new level.
With Jeff Ward reprising his role as Buggy the Clown, the show will be even more delightful. Barring Shanks’ actor, the Strawhats, along with Alvida’s actor, will return for their roles.
In terms of production and sets, the series will be heavy on VFX and CG, especially with Chopper’s character. From wigs and costumes to prosthetics, the season would be nothing short of legendary. It would be safe to say that it is most likely to outdo the first season.
This holds especially true with Oda’s supervision and expertise. His involvement in the process made a huge difference for the better. But we know it would be a complete treat for all the fans awaiting the series’ return.
One Piece is available for streaming on Netflix.
