Abby Walsh

This wonderful cast really brought the characters to life in a way that we’ve been waiting to see for over twenty years. Iñaki Godoy’s (Luffy) direct & eager approach to life. Emily Rudd’s (Nami) duality of tactfulness and cunning. Mackenyu Arata’s (Zoro) precision yet comically paradoxical lack of direction. Jacob Romero Gibson’s (Usopp) dedication to adventure and story-telling. Taz Skylar’s (Sanji) misplaced charms despite his sophisticated nature. Peter Gadiot’s (Shanks) portrayal of a strong sense of values; Jeff Ward’s (Buggy) portrayal of resourcefulness. While Alexander Maniatis (Klahadore) was the true embodiment of his character, which gave me chills. If you’re already a One Piece fan, it was crystal clear to see where they strayed from source material to be strategic about elements from the early chapters while doing the character development justice. I’ve engaged with online discourse to gauge where fans stand with the live action and I see feedback that’s constructive. Yet the affection we have for the show and all those involved heavily outweighs any grumbling about event disparity. I’ve been a fan of the show since I was four years old, and a fan of the manga since I was fifteen. While some gripe about not feeling 100% of the whimsey that they had for the original story…the community we built in anticipation of this adaption is phenomenal. Oda-sensei mentioned that the live action wasn’t going to be a 1:1 copy of the story we’re all familiar with, and I have nothing but respect for all those devoted to creating this show for all to see. Because the live action is not just for those of us who live & breathe One Piece. But for new fans too! Because this community is not about to exclude anyone from the joy its brought to our lives!