Luffy’s mission? To assemble a ragtag crew, “The Straw Hat Pirates,” appropriately named after his iconic straw hat. 

As Luffy sails through the East Blue, one of the One Piece world’s four oceans, viewers are treated to a stunning visual feast. The azure waters, diverse landscapes and intricately designed islands showcase the painstaking care poured into the adaptation.

Ahead of its official release, fans lauded the casting choices. Except for Usopp’s (Jacob Gibson) distinctive elongated nose, each actor looked like they were plucked straight from the source material.

The main cast, in an interview with WIRED magazine, displayed their bona fide fandom and a deep eagerness to honor Oda’s vision, offering fans a sense of reassurance.

Tomorrow Studios opted for efficiency, streamlining the Netflix adaptation by trimming away extra plot points and characters. While this approach condensed the storyline, it inevitably omitted some intricate details. 

For instance, Don Krieg, the primary antagonist of the Baratie arc, is dispatched in mere minutes compared to the original anime’s 12 episodes. 

Jango, the secondary antagonist of the Syrup Village, who provided much needed comedic value to the “boring” story arc, is absent altogether. 

Hatchan, a significant member of the Arlong Pirates and future ally to the Straw Hats? Nowhere to be seen. 

To newcomers, this might not raise eyebrows, but for die-hard fans, it’s a tad disappointing, as Hatchan would be one of the most important characters during the Fishman Island arc, as the crew’s journey would have ended right there without him. 

The most substantial departure in the Netflix series is the transformation of Luffy’s grandfather, the Marine hero, Monkey D. Garp (Vincent Regan). 

Much of the live-action version’s plot revolves around Garp relentlessly pursuing Luffy and his crew across the seas. 

Yet, in the anime, it took a whopping 300 episodes for Garp even to cross paths with the Straw Hats, and he certainly isn’t obsessed with chasing them. 

Garp, like his grandson, is typically carefree. Here he is portrayed as a stern, (and almost unlikable) battle-hardened Marine general, a far cry from the original series. 

On the flip side of the metaphorical deck, the adaptation also features many welcome changes.

Whenever a new pirate is introduced on screen, they are accompanied by a physical version of their wanted posters, each interacting with the poster in a new and unique way.

Arlong shreds it with his swordfish nose, Alvida dispatches the poster with her patented mace and Mihawk, the world’s greatest swordsman, slices the paper with his legendary greatsword.

This small addition provides the new series with some never-before-seen flair while simultaneously developing the characters. 

With Garp’s increased screen time, Koby, Garp’s protégé and Luffy’s very first ally, also gets more time to shine.

Koby is the complete antithesis of Luffy. Instead of dreaming about becoming “King of the Pirates,” Koby aspires to be a Marine admiral, one of the highest-ranking Marine officials. 

In the original series, viewers are told Koby is training and has grown stronger, but never see it on screen. Seeing the blossoming relationship between Koby and Garp is a delight for veteran fans. 

Sanji Vinsmoke, the Straw Hats’ resident chain-smoking cook, underwent some much-needed character fine-tuning. Instead of being portrayed as overly chivalrous, interested in ladies in a humorous, over-the-top way, someone who develops a nosebleed at the sight of a beautiful woman, Sanji is suave– a competent, flirtatious ladies’ man. 

In the original series, Sanji goes from a calm, cool, collected ass-kicker (literally) to the occasionally unbearable comedic relief, throwing all the other traits out the window. 

Writing the suit-clad cook in a new light is a welcome surprise for the fandom.

“One Piece” live-action is a genuine treat.

It offers fresh eyes a gateway into the sprawling One Piece universe, allowing them to dive into the story without the daunting prospect of tackling over a thousand episodes. 

For long-time fans, it’s a chance to revisit some of the anime’s most iconic moments through a new lens. 

Crafting a live-action adaptation of an anime is an arduous task, but Tomorrow Studios and Eiichiro Oda are undeterred, with season two already confirmed. 

So, set sail and brace yourself for more adventures in this swashbuckling world.