‘If the path to what you want seems too easy, then you’re on the wrong path.’

For fans of the ongoing anime series One Piece, known for its epic and campy style, it’s tough to believe a live-action adaptation of the manga written by Eiichiro Oda is even possible. But that’s what Netflix has done and done quite well under Matt Owens and Steven Maeda’s direction.

Under Oda’s supervision and with a bunch of show creators and cast who are dedicated fans of the anime, the Netflix series tells the tale of swashbuckling pirates, high-seas adventure, camaraderie and, most importantly, dreamers.

Set in the world of pirates and running for over a thousand episodes, the original anime series One Piece revolves around Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy who aspires to become a pirate king and follows in the footsteps of his part-mentor part-father figure Shanks. Brimming with optimism, Luffy sets out on a quest to assemble his very own pirate crew to find the fabled One Piece — a treasure in the Grand Line, a gigantic ocean current circling around the planet — which the pirate king Gold Roger had mentioned in his last words before his public execution by navy officers.

For Luffy, piracy holds a different meaning. “Being a pirate isn’t about raiding and destroying villages. Sometimes, being a pirate means going on an adventure to find freedom,” he says.

On the ship, Luffy sports his most-prized possession, a straw hat that Shanks had given him before he set sail to find the elusive and sought-after One Piece 10 years earlier. Luffy puts together a crew and names it the ‘Straw-hat pirates’. However, in no time Luffy and his team are chased down by navy officers and bounty hunters who have their own motives.

A faithful adaptation with a few changes that don’t feel forced

In eight episodes, the Netflix series covers the East Blue saga arc of the manga which follows the origin story of Luffy (played by Iñaki Godoy) and his newly formed pirate crew consisting of Nami (Emily Rudd), Zoro (Mackenyu Maeda), Usopp (Jacob Gibson) and Sanji (Taz Skylar). It begins with Luffy leaving his village to follow his dream of creating his own pirate crew and ends with him being the most-wanted pirate in the navy headquarters.

Although it is a faithful adaptation, the series fails to capture the goofiness of the manga written by Oda. Netflix’s One Piece turns the campiness and impulsive nature of the anime into something too serious, dark and steady. On the other hand, because of this the backstories of Luffy and his crew members are explored in depth.

While most of the original storyline gets fleshed out well, some of the plotlines feel rushed. In Episodes 3 and 4, we come across a character named Usopp who goes on to become a member of Luffy’s pirate crew. He is a cheerful man who runs around town lying about the arrival of pirates on the shores. However, his lies stem from a childhood trauma and utter loneliness which the villagers fail to understand. Usopp’s backstory is one of the most beautifully written plotlines in the manga but the live-action feels incomplete in its execution.

Some of the plotlines have been changed, such as the introduction of the main characters, although they do not feel forced. Since the live-action had to condense over 40 episodes from the anime into eight parts, some of the characters are introduced earlier than their original timeline. Instead of taking anything away from the story, this makes the show more thrilling.

Iñaki Godoy shines in the role of Luffy

Iñaki Godoy perfectly fits the role of Luffy. He dazzles as the newbie pirate with a dream and a promise. What makes Luffy stand out is his optimism and determination, his ability to speak fearlessly through his expressive eyes and the wide smile on his face. Iñaki embodies all of these in his child-like Luffy for whom the excitement for the unknown is infectious.

The action scenes in the Netflix series are phenomenal, balancing both high-octane moves and humour. Luffy had once eaten the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit, a magical fruit which makes a person’s body rubbery and stretchy. In the fight scenes, he is seen employing his Devil Fruit abilities and stretching his hands to long distances before punching his enemies, which make for some laugh-out-loud moments.

In the end, One Piece becomes a timeless saga of dreams where all the characters try to live on to see themselves keep their promises to their mentors. So, Luffy wants to become the pirate king, Zoro wants to see himself as the world’s greatest swordsman and Nami wants to draw a map of the world. It tells the tale of people following their dreams, no matter how big or small, and never outgrowing them.