By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Based on the epic ongoing manga series of the same name by Eiichiro Oda, who is also involved as a producer, One Piece tells the story of the Straw Hat Pirates, as they explore the dangerous oceans, lands and beyond in search of the “One Piece”.
Before I dive too deep into this review, I will just quickly state that my knowledge of the source material is around forty or so episodes of the anime – so I am not an expert by any means, however, I feel I do have a good understanding regarding the characters and themes portrayed in the world of One Piece.
One Piece features eight episodes in this first series, and this is the perfect number of episodes to establish the world, the characters and the overall narrative and direction of the show. I was astonished with not only the quality of the writing but the pacing as well! Despite only containing eight episodes, these are overflowing with incredible tales and wonderful character development – including having the ability to flesh out the backstory of every member of the crew! The unique flavour of One Piece translates from the page and animation into live-action with tremendous success. I can honestly say that this has to be one of the most flawless live-action anime/manga adaptations to date! I also believe that the quality of the writing will ensure that there is no audience entry barrier, which is a huge feat given how eccentric the source material can be at times! I think this live-action adaption of One Piece will definitely encourage more people to seek out the anime – I know I am eager to pick up the show again!
Your script is only as good as your cast, and luckily for One Piece, they have cast very well!
Iñaki Godoy had a huge challenge ahead, trying to channel such a charismatic and energetic character like Monkey D. Luffy – but boy, does he nail it! Godoy will put a smile on your face every time he appears on screen. Mackenyu plays Roronoa Zoro, my favourite, and having been impressed with him in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, I knew he would slay this role, and he succeeds in this! Emily Rudd brings a more complete feel to Nami, and I loved what she did with making this role her own. Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp was as chaotic and fun as I had hoped and Taz Skylar’s Sanji, another favourite, was exceptional! From top to bottom, the main cast of characters have been perfectly cast and their performances, both individually and as a collective, elevate the writing to even greater heights!
As for the supporting roles, Vincent Regan (Vice Admiral Garp) and Morgan Davies (Koby) were brilliant, and Peter Gadiot (“Red-Haired” Shanks) oozed laidback coolness every time he appeared on screen. In terms of “antagonists”, I thought Jeff Ward (Buggy the Clown) was masterful casting, as his performance is one of the highlights of the series and Steven Ward (Dracule Mihawk) will leave your jaw on the floor! And finally, and in a fun way, all the characters are dubbed by the original Japanese voice cast, something I am definitely going to check out!
Regarding the visual style and production, show creators Matt Owens and Steven Maeda have worked closely with Eiichiro Oda to bring these characters and this world to life! Aesthetically, everything is flamboyant, outlandish, and visually stunning and leans into its uniqueness rather than trying to make this a “grittier” adaptation. Some of the visual effects are a little rough around the edges, but this adds to the charm of the show rather than being seen as a negative. From an editing point of view, the fight scenes were allowed to breathe a little more and were not choppy – showing trust in the cast to deliver! There were a few excellent little one-shots scattered in for good measure, and that always gets a double thumbs up from me! To match the phenomenal visuals, editing, set designs and costumes, the score needed to be just as impressive! Composers Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli, whose recent work on The Witcher gained critical acclaim, deliver a beautiful score that heightens the sense of high-seas adventure as well as the powerful emotive notes when the story takes a poignant twist.
So, the negatives? The only negative I can see is Netflix cancelling this phenomenal series because that’s just what Netflix do! I am hooked and emotionally attached to these characters, performers, and this world, and I don’t want to lose One Piece to Davy Jones’s locker!
Visually stunning and beautifully written, One Piece embraces the spirit, energy, and unique imagination of the source material – resulting in one of the greatest live-action anime/manga adaptations to date!
X-Geeks 