Netflix’s take onOne Piecewent reasonably well, practically guaranteeing a second season. Live-action anime adaptations generally come in a few flavors, most of which are either awful or uninteresting. Netflix’s ownCowboy Bebopis one of the worst examples of the genre, while their live-actionLast Airbenderis almost impressively boring.One Piecestrikes the right balance, crafting a party to celebrate the source material instead of a competitor or replacement. When the show returns in the distant future, it will have many new challenges, including its depiction of characters like Tony Tony Chopper.
Theconsiderable length ofOne Piececontinues to be its biggest barrier to entry. With over 1,000 episodes and new ones coming every week, new fans might struggle to find the time to experience it all. It’s worth the time investment for those who have the stomach for it, but a slightly more expedient retelling wouldn’t go amiss. The potential future OVA series might accomplish that. Many have turned to tie-in video games to get a summary. The live-action adaptation is not a suitable replacement, but it will give newcomers a decent crash course in the show’s basics.
Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, and Joe Tracz
Stars
Iñaki Godoy, Emily Rudd, Mackenyu, Jacob Romero Gibson, and Taz Skylar
8
Release Date
August 31st, 2023
The firstseason ofOne Piecehad an interesting approach to its source material’s pacing. It took eight episodes, each between two and three times the length of an average episode of the anime, and split them into four mini-arcs. This allowed them to get the first leg of the Straw Hat Crew’s journey done in a relatively brief time. The writers wanted the main characters to be together and aboard the ship sooner rather than later, giving them a few outings to enjoy each other’s company. The second season entered production in June. Netflix announced several new cast members, but they’re hiding several.One Pieceseason 2will have to handle the Alabasta Saga.
The Straw Hats have to hit Loguetown to meet Smoker and Tashigi, both of whom enjoyed brief teases in the first season’s final scene. After Loguetown, they’ll meet Vivi on Whiskey Peak. They likely can’t afford to skip the setup that the arc affords them, nor can they leave behind one of the show’s best early action scenes. Then, they have to go to Drum Island, where several important characters have already been cast. That’s where they’ll addTony Tony Chopper to the Straw Hat Crew. Finally, they can head to Alabasta to face Crocodile and get Nico Robin on the team. That’s two new Straw Hats, and they’re both critical to the bunch. Chopper, however, poses several new challenges.
What will Tony Tony Chopper look like in Netflix’sOne Pieceseason 2?
This question sparked many different potential answers. Some pictured a computer-generated character that might look similar toDetective Pikachu. Others imagined something more in the vein of an animatronic character. In aninterview with Gamespot, Jaco Snyman explained that Chopper would be mostly practical. The character would appear much like the show’s version of Arlong, who exists through a considerable amount of prosthetics and makeup applied to an appropriately-sized performer. With this in mind, it’s likely that Chopper will follow a similar pattern. Chopper might have a child actor or a particularly short performer behind him, but the primary force bringing him to life will be Snyman’s complex practical effects. This fits wellinto the show’s commitmentto real sets and effects, as seen in things like the full-scale recreations of ships.
Why is Chopper so important inOne Piece?
One of the many charming elements ofOne Piece’s central groupis that almost every character gets a chance to be the heart of the Straw Hat Crew. Chopper is one of the easiest characters to sympathize with. He’s an adorable child with a single-minded dream to help others. This is a fascinating addition to the anime’s crew, but Chopper’s personality is far more important in the makeup of the new Straw Hats. One of the problems with the show’s writing is that it falls back on snarky quips that would feel more at home in a superhero movie. The characters are barely friends throughout the first season. The second season needs to rectify that matter, establishing the unique relationships that form with these varied personalities sharing a ship.Chopper is the bright, uncomplicated, and emotionally vulnerable baby who will turn this group of pirates into a family.
Chopper rarely gets the spotlight inOne Piece. After his introduction and a few notable scenes, he often finds himself without a lot to do in important scenes. However,Chopper is a critical elementof the Straw Hat Crew’s mix of personalities. His presence is even more important in a version of the crew that leans into the ways they disagree. Chopper will join the Straw Hats to mend the pirates' bodies, but he might just mend their spirits too.
