5 Questions Non-Anime Fans Have After Watching Netflix's One Piece

When it comes to live-action adaptations of manga and anime, it's always hit or miss, and when it comes to Netflix, fans of Japanese pop culture know they're in for something terrible. However, the streaming service has finally managed to break the curse by releasing an incredibly successful adaptation of One Piece.

Netflix's One Piece has turned out to be a truly great show that manages to stay true to the source material. It's exciting, it's funny, it's spectacular. But new viewers, unfamiliar with the source material, have a lot of questions about both the plot and its execution.

5. Are there drastic differences from the anime?

Yes, there are some minor changes. Electricity, for example! Because of the visual presentation of the comic and the anime, light is not always a big issue. However, the show is meant to be a bit more realistic, so unlike the anime, the settlements in the series really do feel alive, with floating restaurants and neon signs.

4. Why is Nezumi such a... mouse?

Many people have wondered why the corrupt navy captain has such a strange design. In the world of One Piece, there is a race of anthropomorphic mammals called Minks that resemble Earth animals. There's a good chance that Nezumi is a hybrid!

However, 'Nezumi' means rat or mouse in Japanese, which perfectly captures the character's personality. As for the ears on the hat and the moustache, that's Eiichiro Oda's own creative decision.

3. Calling out moves

For many, this aspect was a bit cringe-worthy, as situations where the characters first take the time to vocalize their action and the name of the move were sometimes awkward. However, it's a running gag in the show, as calling out moves is a classic trope in anime and manga.

2. Why so many close-ups?

At times, One Piece broke the immersion by zooming in on the characters' faces, which is somewhat unusual for Western audiences. However, it is an homage to the visual expression in manga and anime, although this technique has been used as far back as classic Japanese cinema, including Akira Kurosawa, to add an element of suspense and determine a character's emotions through their eyes.

1. Is the original worth it?

Of course, after seeing the live action, many people have wondered if the original is worth watching. Both the manga and the anime are just as entertaining, and sometimes they manage to capture the emotional background of the characters much better than the show. Be prepared though, as the manga contains a whopping 106 volumes!