The original cast of One Piece will officially have the chance to voice their characters in the upcoming live-action Netflix show. One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the “One Piece” that can give Luffy the chance to become King of the Pirates The show will be based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga series of the same name and is set to release on August 31.
One Piece has been adapted into an anime series, and it looks like the original cast will have the chance to reprise their roles for the Japanese dub of Netflix’s live-action One Piece. The Netflix cast officially announced the reprisals with an adorable video where Iñaki Godoy (Netflix’s Luffy) had the chance to meet Mayumi Tanaka, the original Luffy. It’s a truly touching clip that really shows Godoy’s love for the character and for Tanaka. Tanaka even crowns Godoy with a straw hat of his own. Check it out below, via Netflix:
How Netflix Is Honoring One Piece
One Piece has been going on for so long that adapting it is certainly a challenge. With over 1,000 episodes of the anime series and with the manga running since 1997, there is a vast assortment of content to mine. Bringing in the original Japanese cast of One Piece is a genuinely touching way for Netflix to signal its respect of the source material and its commitment to producing a great show. Netflix is also offering the live-action English cast the opportunity to voice the Spanish dub, which is another brilliant gesture, though aimed at the current cast, rather than the original.
Netflix previously attempted to adapt other popular anime series, including Cowboy Bebop and Death Note, but has rarely achieved more than middling results. The live-action One Piece trailer shows that Netflix has taken a step back, reevaluated, and committed to committing a faithful series with the power to capture the chaotic energy of the original One Piece series. It appears to feature action, adventure, and the light-hearted Luffy running the show and keeping things interesting.
It remains to be seen if the Netflix series will live up to the manga or the anime adaptation of One Piece. In only 10 episodes, it looks to be taking the chance to adapt the 53-episode-long East Blue saga, which will certainly be a challenge. Still, if Netflix’s One Piece can achieve half the heart of the anime or manga, it will be an excellent show that honors Eiichiro Oda’s work.
