One Piece is one of the greatest works of fiction to ever exist. Oda sensei’s manga has been running for more than two decades and only recently entered its Final Saga. The manga has also received an anime adaptation with 1,100+ episodes, and I’ve been part of the pirate journey for a long time now. And as most fans would tell you, the anime is not the perfect adaptation of the source material. Now don’t come at me with pitchforks; let’s be honest, there are many flaws in the anime that hinder the overall experience.
The issue arises primarily because of the gap that the animation studio needs to maintain between manga and anime. Luckily, unlike any other fandom, we have been gifted with a second chance in the form of a remake. The upcoming One Piece remake by WIT Studio has the potential to rewrite history with a flawless anime adaptation. So, today, I list the 10 essential things that the One Piece remake needs to get right to deliver a top-notch anime adaptation.
Spoilers Warning: This article includes a majority of information about the One Piece anime by Toei Animation Studios as well as the manga. Thus, we highly suggest you to read the manga or watch the anime to avoid ruining the intended experience.
10. Limit Netflix’s Involvement the Project
We have seen the hilarious Netflix memes about how they sometimes butcher the source material with unwanted changes. I mean, we have exemplary works such as Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, etc. being ruined. While we worried that the One Piece live-action show would’ve faced the same ordeal, fortunately, the One Piece live-action did wonders with the supervision of Oda sensei.
Although this is an anime adaptation and there is no need for them to change things up, we want to state this as a necessary precaution. Netflix should take a hands-off approach with this remake and let WIT Studio take the reigns, making sure it’s faithful to the source material.
9. Bring a Modern Take on the OG Anime’s Soundtrack
Longtime fans of One Piece know how magnificent and soulful the background score of the anime is. Whether you want to feel wistful, adventurous, fearless, or any other kind of emotion, Kohei Tanaka and Shirō Hamaguchi have you covered. Their stellar work will remain timeless for sure.
In my opinion, the remake should utilize the original soundtrack and modernize it to appeal to both new and old fans. I mean, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
8. Remaining True to Eiichiro Oda’s Vision
The original anime censored a lot of mature scenes such as Zeff eating his own leg, Luffy stabbing himself under his eye, Belle-mere getting shot in the head, and much more. But recently, Netflix’s One Piece live-action show (review) was able to successfully recreate everything as Oda envisioned. This resulted in the scenes being more impactful and hard-hitting than the censored version.
Hence, all I want is for the One Piece remake to not stray away from violent and gruesome themes and adapt it seamlessly by staying loyal to Oda’s creation.
7. Oda Sensei’s Supervision is Much Needed
We are aware of how Eiichiro Oda comes to the rescue by offering a helping hand to the production team in bringing the best out of his creation. He has shared his notes with the anime team and also worked with them to create anime-only characters and stories for the One Piece movies.
Recently, he oversaw the production of the live-action series by Netflix to finally shatter the curse surrounding live-action adaptations. The involvement of the creator is always the right choice and brings the best out of the work. We hope Eiichiro Oda will also share a piece of his mind with WIT Studios so that the remake can capture the true essence of One Piece.
6. New Anime-Only Scenes for Iconic Off-Screen Battles
Only true One Piece fans know how several legendary battles took place off the screen or were off-screened by Oda. Some of the notable fights are Akainu vs. Aokiji, Shanks vs. Mihawk, and Roger and Garp vs. Rocks D. Xebec, to name a few. The build-up and hype towards those fights remain unchanged.
While some of these battles can potentially be revisited in the manga later on and be adapted into the original anime itself, the chances are quite slim. That is why, as a die-hard fan, I hope that the production team involved in the remake can find new ways to bring these fights to life in the anime-only format, of course, with the approval and help of Oda sensei.
These have the potential to become iconic and unforgettable battles in One Piece and should not be skipped at any cost. This rare opportunity will definitely catch the attention of veterans and engross the newcomers as well.
5. Prioritize Plot Over Unnecessary Fan Service
Well, these days, fan service and anime have become inseparable. In the beginning, fan service used to bring more delight to the fans. However, nowadays, it usually prioritizes sexualization, especially for female characters, over character development.
One Piece also includes a modest amount of fan service with its female characters, which has been a point of contention for fans. Whilst these scenes do exist in the manga, Toei Animation exaggerates them to levels no one can think of. Now, with the One Piece remake, WIT Studios has the chance to prioritize the plot over the gratuitous sexualization of the characters.
4. Committed to Upholding the Animation Quality
The original One Piece anime has been running for more than 25 years. So, with the technological advancements over time, the anime’s art style and animation quality have evolved over the years.
As a result, we have seen some amazing animation in the Wano Country arc of One Piece, such as Zoro’s fight with King and the introduction of Luffy’s Gear 5. However, if you go back in time, you will be greeted with a dated art style and animation quality. The anime quality has improved quite drastically over the last two decades.
WIT Studio, if you haven’t heard of them before, has produced gems such as Attack on Titan, Spy x Family, Vinland Saga Season 1, Ranking of Kings, and more. With a talented production team, they are completely equipped to deliver top-tier One Piece content without any dip in quality. Thus, WIT Studio’s perseverance can result in elevating our pirate journey and the humongous success of the One Piece remake.
3. Finding an Ideal Ensemble of Voice Actors
Over the last 25 years, the ensemble of One Piece voice actors has done a marvelous job and added to the charm of their respective characters. To this day, if I see the voice actors appear in any other anime, I immediately say out loud, hey isn’t that the voice of Zoro or Luffy? That’s how well they’ve solidified their repertoire and are irreplaceable in any manner. Hence, I believe the original anime cast is outstanding, so a cast to match their enthusiasm needs to come on board for this remake.
Although the best decision would be to get the original voice actors, there is one factor that holds them back from doing so, and that is aging. The majority of the voice actors are getting old, and it is a major concern for the original anime as well. So, as much as I would want the old VAs to be part of the remake, finding a new set of ideal voice actors who can do justice to the characters seems like a more viable option.
2. Deliver a Tighter, No-Filler Anime Experience
I have never complained about the enormous amount of episodes in the original anime series, but it’s a huge hindrance for newcomers. Watching over 1,100 episodes is a mountainous task for new fans who wish to embark on this journey. But, why did the anime extend to over 1,000 episodes?
Well, it’s because Toei Animation had to slow down their pacing by adapting at least 1 chapter per episode to further the gap between the manga and anime. But, WIT Studio probably won’t face this issue as One Piece will likely be discovered before they cover half of the series.
Therefore, they can eliminate fillers and easily adapt 2-3 chapters per episode and deliver a tighter overall experience, limiting the total episode count to 500 or 600. On the other hand, a long-time fan like me never wants One Piece to end so I can keep watching it for years to come.
1. Keeping Viewers Engaged: Resolve Pacing Issues
Alright, the biggest flaw that the One Piece remake needs to address is the awful pacing of the anime series. As I mentioned earlier, due to the constraints, Toei had to slow down the pacing to a dreadful level in arcs such as Alabasta, Skypiea, Dressrosa, etc. The recent Wano Country arc’s beginning was no exception. They did so by adding unwanted close-up shots of characters, some scenes overstaying their welcome, and more.
That is however not appreciated by fans. So, WIT Studios should go by the manga’s pacing since it’s much better than the anime. It offers a no-frills experience that keeps you engaged in the pirate life of the Straw Hats. The studio can even speed up the adaptation a little depending on the respective arcs to offer an exhilarating experience.
I believe WIT Studios can successfully pull off this feat as evidenced by the fact of their adaptations of Attack on Titan’s initial seasons.
One Piece is a once-in-a-lifetime journey that deserves to be experienced by everyone in this realm. Many factors prevent one from doing so, but lately, new avenues to enjoy the journey have opened up. This includes the One Piece live-action and now the remake.
The reasons I’ve mentioned above would be unanimously agreed upon by the fandom, as we all want a more tighter and engaging new adaptation of our beloved One Piece. That said, what else does the One Piece remake need to get right? Let us know in the comments below.
