One Piece (Netflix)

The Netflix version of Cowboy Bebop was one of the most agonising TV experiences I have ever endured. It was clear that the creators of the flop had fundamentally misunderstood the masterful show, and it's not the only live action version based on a Japanese model that fell flat. It wasn't just me who felt that the One Piece adaptation would also follow the same fate once it was announced. There are some things that just don't translate from manga or anime, and One Piece - the colourful adventure of a rubber-bodied boy - is no exception. Colourful manga wigs rarely work in a live action format. So does manga melodrama.

However, despite the many arguments against a One Piece adaptation, it works, miraculously. In fact, I'm surprised at how much I was charmed by this live action endeavour. Perhaps it's the nostalgia talking here, as I remember how engrossed I was in Luffy's dream of becoming the king of the pirates and how I flipped through the manga books without paying for reading at my local candy store. Maybe it's also the fact that the creators of the series actually love the source material and want to translate each manga page as faithfully as possible. Maybe it's both. In any case, one thing is certain: The Netflix version of One Piece has plenty of wind in its sails, unexpectedly.

If you're a fan of the manga, I can understand some criticism of the structure. As well as many episodes suffering from pacing issues due to their lengthy structures, I can also feel that some adjustments from the source material have made some story threads a little too rushed, where, for example, I feel that many of the characters' sob stories are often wasted due to poor acting and some characters need a little more room to grow. I also think the show can feel cheap and artificial in appearance, despite its hefty per-episode budget. At the same time, the whole thing is so damn charming that it just flows. The season gets better the more you watch and the season finale screamed so much One Piece love that it was hard not to crack a smile as Luffy and his pirate buddies teamed up to defeat a seemingly unbeatable dirtbag.

Here, they've actually managed to nail that warm and fuzzy tone from the manga and anime. There are several successful character interpretations that actually work unexpectedly well in live action format. For example, the fish face Arlong and the nasty clown Buggy are really well portrayed, as well as the master chef Sanji and the navigator Nami, who really grew on me after a sluggish first effort in the pilot. My favourite is probably Garp, where Vincent Regan manages to wear that silly dog hat and still lead his marines with dignity and manliness.

This One Piece version is primarily designed for newcomers who haven't caught on to its cartoony format, but works just as well for loyal One Piece veterans - even if they may be bothered by several altered details. Things really could have gone a lot worse for Eiichiro Oda's colourful work, and more than that: it also turned out to be the most charming pirate adventure since the first Pirates of the Caribbean reels. Who would have guessed that it would be the live action One Piece that would finally break the live action anime curse?