The One Piece creator says the Netflix show is a “last chance” to get it right

While May 4th is closely associated with Star Wars thanks to the “May the Fourth/Force” pun, manga and anime fans view it in a different way: as the eve of Luffy’s birthday. The One piece Character was canonically born on May 5th, and this year to commemorate the occasion, creator Eiichiro Oda released a very welcome update on Netflix’s upcoming live-action anime adaptation. The note, true to the spirit of the mangaka, is quirky and blunt.

“I’ve been working with Tomorrow Studios and Netflix for quite some time,” Oda wrote in his new message to fans. “Even though they understand each of the characters, we obviously come from very different cultures, so when it comes to entertainment, we have different codes, skills and goals. Sometimes it can be frustrating for both parties. It felt like, ‘We’re all trying to get to the same place, so how come we’re not on the same wavelength?’ There was even a time when I thought, ‘Is overseas production even possible?! ‘”

Oda’s opinion is likely to be shared by fans of the One piece Manga running since 1997 and anime recently eclipsing over 1,000 episodes. While Netflix has gobbled up anime properties with every sort of adaptation, few have really hit it as hard as the source material. A 2017 death notice The film is barely remembered in the collective consciousness and many wish they could forget the live action of 2021 Cowboy Bebop Series. So there is reason to be skeptical as to whether the One piece Show will clear the bar with fans – especially if you’re Eiichiro Oda. But he assures fans that whatever time he remains on this planet, it’s going smoothly and that he’s fully committed to making it right.

“Considering my expected lifespan, I believe this is the last chance I can bring One piece all over the world,” he writes, perhaps nodding to his various health problems over the years. “If we’re going to do this, I want to be able to monitor things while I’m still active. That’s why I agreed to the live-action adaptation of One Piece back in 2016.”

Oda says all units of the production were eventually dubbed to fulfill his vision for live-action One piece brought to life, and that “Netflix put tremendous resources into the production.” While the show is slated for a 2023 premiere, the creator also insists the streaming service won’t launch the show “until I’m satisfied.”

Netflix kept most of its One piece under guard. The streamer released a short teaser for the series in late 2022 and showed off a series of character/cast shots earlier this year. When the first season’s eight episodes will actually premiere is unclear, but it sounds like Oda will make the final call. He says fans don’t have to wait to long.

“We will set sail very soon!!” he promises. Congratulations to Luffy and everyone celebrating.