One Piece is a live-action television series based on the manga of the same name, produced by Tomorrow Studios for the streaming service Netflix.[4][5] The first season was released on August 31, 2023.[2] On September 14, 2023, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season.[6]
Eiichiro Oda served as executive producer for the series alongside Tomorrow Studios' CEO Marty Adelstein and President Becky Clements.[4]Steven Maeda and Matt Owens were the showrunners for the first season, serving as writers and executive producers.[7] Other writers include Diego Gutierrez, Allison Weintraub, Ian Stokes, Lindsay Gelfand, Laura Jacqmin, Jason Cho, Damani Johnson, and Tom Hyndman.[8]
The series was first announced on July 21, 2017, by Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hiroyuki Nakano to commemorate the manga's 20th anniversary.
With the series' announcement, Oda commented that "the first condition [he] presented is that the live-action [sic] will be faithful to the fans who have supported ‘One Piece’ for 20 years".[4] A few days later, Adelstein predicted that its budget "could set a new record for the highest production cost in television drama history" as "the work's worldwide fame merits this scale of production".[9] The series will reportedly begin with the East Blue Saga.[10] In May 2020, Tomorrow Studios had planned to begin filming the series in South Africa by the end the year.[11] However, in December Variety magazine reported that One Piece had not "set a start date" in an article about South Africa's lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions.[12]
In September 2020, Matt Owens discussed adapting the series on a YouTube live-stream hosted by fans of the franchise.[13] Owens explained that he hoped to introduce the franchise to new audiences through live-action version and that writers' ambition for each episode is to replicate the manga's ability to make readers "laugh," "cry" and "go 'holy shit!'"; however, the East Blue arc will be less episodic and the series' humor will be suited to contemporary Western sensibilities. Owens also recounted that he was given Oda's approval after explaining how significant the franchise had been in his life.[14]
In March 2021, a social media post by Maeda, which featured a photo of an office door labeled Project Roger, suggested that in-person work on the series had resumed. On February 1, 2022, Netflix confirmed that the series was in production.[15] The series was filming under the codename Project Panda.[16]
On June 17, 2023, an official teaser trailer for the series was released on YouTube.[2] A full-length trailer released on July 22, 2023,[17] with a final trailer released on August 30, 2023.[18]
Season 2[]
On September 14, 2023, two weeks after the first season released, an official video featuring Oda was released on Netflix's social media officially confirming that the series was renewed for a second season. With the video ending with Oda drawing a sketch of Tony Tony Chopper, teasing his debut in the upcoming season.[19] On August 20, 2024, Oda announced that the season would adapt the story from the Loguetown Arc to the Drum Island Arc.[20]
Filming for season 2 was expected to begin in June 2024, with the season set to premiere in 2025.[21] On July 1, 2024, Netflix officially announced that filming had begun in South Africa.[22] It was announced that filming had wrapped on February 4, 2025.[23] The codename for season 2 is Project Renaissance.[24]
On March 21, 2025, showrunner Matt Owens announced via Instagram that he would be stepping down from the show to focus on his mental health.[25][26]
Monkey D. Luffy, an optimistic young pirate with dreams of finding the One Piece, sets off in search of the loyal crew he needs to navigate the vast oceans. His journey begins when he helps Koby, a deckhand forced into servitude, escape an undesirable situation. While in Shells Town, Luffy meets Roronoa Zoro, a famed pirate hunter, and Nami, a master thief, and the three form a tenuous alliance.
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami find themselves imprisoned on an island overtaken by the deranged clown pirate, Buggy. Koby joins the Marines and proves his mettle.
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami land in Syrup Village, where they meet Usopp, a local who introduced the group to Kaya, a sickly shipyard heiress under the care of trio of overbearing house staff. With the help of Koby, Vice Admiral Garp, a powerful marine, sets off in search of Luffy.
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami fight their way through Kaya's mansion, which has now become a prison. Usopp enlists the help of Koby, Helmeppo and the Marines. Luffy finally gets the ship of his dreams as Garp closes in.
Luffy and the gang are tested in their ability to fight together on the high seas. They arrive at Baratie, a floating restaurant, where they encounter Sanji, a young chef with a love of fine dining. A duel on the docks shocks the group.
The group is ambushed by a threat no one sees coming. After a hard-fought battle at Baratie, Sanji finally follows his dreams, while another crew member shows their true colors.
The Straw Hats raid Arlong Park and defeat Arlong's crew. For taking down the pirate, Luffy is given his first bounty, and the crew sails towards the Grand Line.
Cast members were first revealed on November 9, 2021, starting with the actors for the first five Straw Hats being announced on the official series social media.[28] Further cast members were announced on March 8 and June 6, 2022.[29][30] Additionally, Jean Henry and Len-Barry Simons reportedly announced their own casting on social media.[31]
On July 1, 2023, it was announced that the Straw Hats' (Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji) voice actors from the Toei anime would reprise their roles for the Japanese dub. Additionally, Godoy and Skylar voiced their own characters (Luffy and Sanji, respectively) for the Spanish dub.[43] While speaking at Otakuthon 2024, Toshio Furukawa, Portgas D. Ace's voice actor in the Toei anime, confirmed that he would similarly reprise his role in the second season's Japanese dub.[44]
Action figures of Luffy and Zoro in the live action series.
Bobble Figurines from the live action series.
Cosbabies Figurines from the live action series.
Custom One Piece Xbox Series X Console based on the live action series.
Trivia[]
On March 8, 2019, a listing for One Piece appeared on Netflix in the “American Programmes” category,[45] but was removed the next day.[46][47] It reappeared with the Netflix Original branding once the first season was announced in January 2020.[48]
According to South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, this series is Netflix's largest production in the continent of Africa.[49]
The closing credits are shown over a map of the East Blue, and are expanded each episode. The map has several details and cameos:
The map is shown to be issued by Kong, and his face can be seen under the title.
The codename for the first season, "Project Panda", may be an allusion to the series' most prominent easter egg character, Pandaman.
The codename for the second season, "Project Renaissance", may be derived from the antagonist group Baroque Works, the Renaissance being the cultural movement preceding the Baroque.
↑Owens, Matt [@cinemattic1] (March 21, 2025). "Instagram photo by Matt Owens". Retrieved March 31, 2025. "So I'm stepping off the Going Merry to take a break and focus on myself and my mental health."
