Live-action anime adaptations aren’t renowned for being exceptional in their execution, but One Piece is here to break the mould. The series follows Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), a young pirate who aspires to one day become King of the Pirates. Together with his crew, he sets off to find the mythical treasure known as the “One Piece”.
My experience with One Piece is limited to watching the occasional episode in the early 2000s, so while I’m not a fan, I’m familiar with the source material. Naturally, I went into this series with a certain level of trepidation, but all fears were quashed from as early as the first episode. One of the earliest observations is how the series successfully retains and emulates the whimsical fun and quirky vibe of the anime. Rather than taking the source material and putting a dark, serious and grounded spin on things, it stays faithful and adopts an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” kind of approach. From the get-go, the use of animated characters, cheesy dialogue and an upbeat score set up a lively vibe that radiates through the screen. It sometimes goes a little overboard with its silliness and intentionally unconventional filming techniques, but never enough to make it unenjoyable. There’s not a single episode where the tone felt off – it’s impressively consistent and remains a blast regardless of where the narrative goes.
Speaking more on those filming techniques – the series is shot through a noticeably unique lens that creates a distinct visual identity. There are lots of uncomfortable close-ups, strangely warped fish-eye shots and interesting tracking shots that break the norm. It takes some getting used to, especially in the first episode or two, but once you get accustomed it actually adds another layer of fun to the viewing experience. Even the series’ many action sequences are heavily stylised and clearly drawing from the way anime action sequences are typically depicted. There’s lots of over-the-top camerawork, exceptional visual effects and wild stunts that make each one enjoyable to watch.
So many of the action sequences are brilliant due to one reason – the unique cast of characters that line every episode, heroes and villains alike. Every single pirate has an ability or physical distinction that gives them a memorable presence within the series. It’s damn-near impossible to end this season and entirely forget about a singe character because of how much of an impact they all have. There’s characters who show up for less than a single episode, but due to their quirky powers or intimidating presence leave a lasting impression. This hodgepodge of personalities helps create a variety of action sequences that all feel fresh and original. As characters are paired together, their clashing powers and fighting styles make way for uniquely fun battles. My one gripe is that when all of these powers are put together in the one action sequence, it can get a little messy. There’s a fight in the final episode that’s very cool to watch, but it doesn’t really balance the fighting styles of every character well. There’s one person who’s noticeably sidelined because the writers didn’t know how to effectively use their skillset in conjunction with other fighting styles. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but it’s an area that can be improved.
Backtracking to the narrative, One Piece wastes absolutely no time getting into the thick of it. The pilot is brilliantly executed – it sets up most of our leads, the main threats and the end-goal, and does so in a way that makes you want to click ‘next episode’. In fact, every episode feeds into the next in a way that encourages one continuous binge. The plot moves along at such a quick pace that nearly every episode features a new location, new villain and new central character, keeping the story fresh and adding new, exciting factors into the mix. All the while, every story element is well-balanced and it never feels like it’s bloated with too many story arcs or characters. It manages to constantly further the main story while simultaneously taking time to flesh out character backstories, and without slowing things down.
Luffy is a spectacular lead, and it’s due to the charismatic and charming performance from Iñaki Godoy. He leans into the quirky nature of the series and brings Luffy to life in a way that’s accurate to his representation in the anime. His dialogue delivery and mannerisms are so animated and exaggerated that they make the character instantly likeable and a blast to watch. His likeability also rubs off on the characters around him as his every interaction is fun and full of life. I’d like to see a little more emotional depth from the character and performance, but there’s time for that. The rest of the supporting cast are all great in their respective roles. None of them stand out above the rest, but they’re all valuable in creating an entertaining series.
Lastly, I need to highlight the visual effects as they’re extremely good – way better than I initially thought they’d be. Whatever the budget of the series is, it certainly hasn’t been wasted when it comes to the visuals. Not only is the grand scope of the world very well depicted, but the effects applied to the abilities of characters are mindblowingly clean. Luffy’s stretch abilities could have easily turned out very cheesy and distracting, but they’re some of the best effects in the season. There’s another villain character (whose name I won’t mention) whose complex ability is exceptionally well animated to the point where I spent their every scene wondering how they pulled it off.
In the end, One Piece is a delightful series and a beautiful love letter to the anime. As the narrative takes us on a pirate adventure with a crew of misfits, it’s a blast from the first episode to the last. Each episode offers something unique, whether it be a new setting, character, tone or all of the above, making the journey even more enjoyable every step of the way. With great characters, an engaging plot, solid humour and stunning visual effects, there’s a lot to love about One Piece, regardless of whether you’re a die-hard fan or going in completely blind.
8.5/10
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