Just How Much CGI Was Used in Netflix's One Piece?

Though fans of the original Japanese manga were seriously opposed to Netflix's decision to adapt One Piece as a live-action show, the first season proved the naysayers wrong as soon as it landed on the platform. The new remake impressed even the most dedicated One Piece fans, as the show's actors and writers did a wonderful job of honoring the original while adding new and exciting ideas to the mix.

One Piece has already become one of the best series of the year, breaking some long-standing Netflix records and building anticipation for the second season renewal.

Undoubtedly, the show appears both gorgeous and expensive, with character designs, props, and locations all looking stunning and true to the original manga. But how much CGI did Netflix actually use in creating the project?

A High-Budget Series

First of all, it should be noted that One Piece is one of the most expensive projects Netflix has ever produced, with an insane $17 million per episode budget that definitely shows on screen. By hiring up-and-coming actors instead of established stars, the producers managed to save most of the budget to create locations and props, instead of paying millions to some A-listers.

That's why One Piece is already being called one of the best-looking shows in television history, leading fans to wonder how the producers distributed the money to achieve the stunning result.

A Budget Well Spent

Although the One Piece team used CGI to portray some of the monsters and superpowers featured in the show, the actual amount of CGI was relatively small, especially compared to other shows.

Instead of spending millions to digitally create locations, the producers decided to build the actual props, which really complemented the overall feel of the show and made it look much more mature and believable.

'I think a lot of people overestimate the amount they spend on CGI versus the amount they save. A lot of money went to on-location shoots, large props, large sets, large crowds. There were also COVID delays (which do cost money) and pretty big reshoots. The show would be a lot cheaper if they actually did more CGI,' a fan on Reddit explained.

Source: Reddit.