One Piece Creator Was a 'Guard Dog' Ensuring Netflix Doesn't Cowboy-Bebop His Brainchild
When Netflix lays its hands on your favorite anime or manga to make a live-action adaptation, you usually squint and hope they cancel their plans. Ask Cowboy Bebop and Death Note fans.
One Piece is an undisputed legend in the world of both manga and anime. The adventures of goofy pirates led by a guy capable of stretching himself in a way Marvel’s Reed Richards never dreamed of have captivated audiences all over the world, not just in Japan.
Naturally, it was a question of time when a certain big corporation would eye a possibility of a live-action remake. When Netflix volunteered, anime fans around the world started preparing themselves for the worst, because, well, Death Note and Cowboy Bebop were way too fresh in their memory.
However, according to One Piece creator himself, Eiichiro Oda, this time things might be different. In an interview with The New York Times, Oda acknowledged “a history of failure” when it came to manga adaptations but assured that he did his best when making One Piece live action with Netflix.
“Thankfully, Netflix agreed that they wouldn’t go out with the show until I agreed it was satisfactory. I read the scripts, gave notes and acted as a guard dog to ensure the material was being adapted in the correct way,” Oda told The NYT.
Judging by the first trailers and overall excitement from the creative group behind the adaptation, One Piece fans can at least try and give the upcoming series a chance. If Oda himself was happy with the final result, then there’s certainly hope OG fans will be, too.
One Piece live-action adaptation was reported to have a budget even larger than Game of Thrones, with each episode reportedly costing around $17 million. This makes it one of the world’s most expensive shows ever; but we all know that does not necessarily mean the fans are going to love it.
Netflix’s One Piece will start streaming on August 31.
Source: The New York Times