On One Piece Day 2024, we got our first look at Netflix’ The One Piecean anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s popular pirate saga. The highly anticipated reimagining of Luffy’s adventure through the East Blue Saga was first announced by Netflix in December 2023.
The series is produced by the renowned WIT Studio (SPY x FAMILYSeasons 1-3 of Attack on Titan) in collaboration with Shueisha, Fuji Television Network, and Toei Animation Co. However, this weekend’s update finally revealed some of the key anime veterans involved in the project. Staff of Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisenand other popular anime are all on board.
The One Piece Directed by Masashi Koizuka (Attack on Titan) with Hideaki Abe (Jujutsu Kaisen) as assistant director. The two are supported by Taku Kishimoto (Haikyuu!!) for series composition, Kyoji Asano (Spy x Family) and Takatoshi Honda (The first slam dunk) as character designers and chief animation directors and Ken Imaizumi (Boruto) and Shuhei Fukuda (Call of the Night) as action animators.
OFFICIAL CONCEPT ART FOR THE ONE PIECE REMAKE pic.twitter.com/Rbi5PzuV6w
— Artur – Library of Ohara (@newworldartur) 11 August 2024
Netflix released a 20-minute video with a look behind the scenes of the production of The One Piece. Throughout the video, we are shown the production process of the anime while hearing from key members of the team, who are repeatedly described as “young.”
Other staff members include artistic director Tomonori Kuroda (A specific scientific index) and Ryoma Kawamura (Attack on Titanalso animation producer), creature and image board designer Yasuhiro Kajino (gutter) and prop designer Airi Taguchi (Vampire in the garden)
Even more exciting is that the video gives us a first look at some of the concept art for The One Piece by WIT Studio. The studio is dedicated to preserving the spirit of Eiichiro Oda’s original art style, but also incorporates some modern animation techniques. In the video, we can see character design sheets, pre-production sketches of scenes from the East Blue arc, and even a detailed 3D rendering of Shells Town.
“The One Piece hopes to offer viewers a fresh yet familiar experience by using cutting-edge visual technology to reimagine Luffy’s adventures in the popular East Blue Saga,” This is what Netflix said when it first announced the series in 2023.
Based on Eiichiro Oda’s bestselling manga series, THE ONE PIECE follows Monkey D. Luffy, an aspiring pirate who sets sail with his Straw Hat crew in search of the mysterious One Piece treasure. However, Luffy is not like any other pirate. His limbs are as stretchy as rubber, and his unique abilities help him take on the dangerous villains and rivals he and his gang encounter at sea.
The One Piece will cover the East Blue Saga, which includes the first few arcs of both the manga and the 1999 anime series. These include the Romantic Dawn Arch, Orange Town ArchAnd Syrupdorf Arch. Not only does this give new viewers the chance to experience the early moments of the popular manga, but fans can also get to know the newly designed characters of the Straw Hat Pirates.
