Facebook
Reddit
Email
Explore the One Piece Live-Action characters and discover the best cast choices and those needing improvement for future seasons.
One Piece has been successfully airing in the form of anime and manga. Eiichiro Oda’s masterful storytelling has captivated fans all over the world. Oda understood that not everyone would enjoy it in the form of animation or comics; hence, he decided to launch it as a live-action adaptation. He made sure to actively take part in helping the production house and giving insightful input.
This series, aired by Netflix, has gained popularity as they were able to replicate the location and deliver amazing set designs. In this article, let us specifically talk about the cast and look at five One Piece live-action characters who were perfect and five who need significant changes moving forward.
5 One Piece Live-Action Characters Who Were Perfect
We need to give credit to the casting team and Oda, who have taken their time in casting next to perfect people to play a part in it. Good actors who can bring depth to the character they are playing ensure the success of the show. Also, adapting this as live-action is dicey as fans become critics and tend to watch it while being very judgmental. One Piece’s live-action adaptation has freed itself from this criticism and cast some gems. Let us examine five cast members who arguably perfectly fit their assigned roles.
1. Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy)
Casting for the character of Luffy was arguably the most difficult challenge they had to face. Monkey D. Luffy is the protagonist; capturing his carefree personality while portraying his energy onscreen is difficult. The kind of fluidity we see in animation is tough to replicate in real life. Iñaki Godoy nailed it.
From the second he was introduced, Iñaki delivered his lines to perfection, and his screen presence was noticed by everyone. His physicality, comedic timing, and ability to switch between carefree and serious made him a standout. It was crucial to cast someone who could bring Luffy to real life; this is where Iñaki did a great job.
Unlike other anime-to-live-action adaptations, where leads struggle to match their animated counterparts, fans accept that he is Luffy. He carried the show to success as he managed to look authentic while acting.
2. Nami (Emily Rudd)
To make the audience believe that Nami is real, they required an actress who could capture the depths of the character. Nami’s basic personality traits that make her unique are her wit, intelligence, emotional depth, and obsession with money. Emily Rudd delivered in every way, especially since she wanted to be Nami from the start. She overcame lots of barriers as an actor, especially when she decided to do all the stunts by herself, further showing her commitment to the role.
Emily Rudd was able to bring the raw emotions of Nami during Arlong Park when she had an emotional breakdown in front of Luffy. She perfectly captured the true essence of the screen and recreated it most authentically. Her chemistry with the crew also seems natural, which we can see in her interactions with characters like Zoro and Luffy. Fans recognized her efforts and praised her faithfulness to her character.
3. Buggy the Clown (Jeff Ward)
Jeff Ward was probably the best cast member. He took Buggy’s true personality and boldly added his essence to it. Audiences widely praised him because watching him onscreen was a visual treat. When casting an actor for a live-action series, directors expect them to replicate the original character. However, many actors fail to do so. Jeff’s performance was so good that in the episodes he aired, he was the best among them all, and fans could not ignore the fact that he stole the show.
His dark humor, unsettling charisma, and theatrical delivery made Buggy a scene-stealer in every episode he appeared in. Instead of being a purely comedic character, Ward’s performance brought a menacing, almost Joker-like intensity to Buggy, adding depth to a character that could have easily been one-dimensional. Also, the makeup and costume departments did a phenomenal job in elevating his performance.
4. Sanji (Taz Skylar)
Sanji’s live-action presence was a pleasant surprise for everyone. Taz Skylar is a multitalented actor; he has learned martial arts, been a theater artist, and put in work to make sure that he does not disappoint fans. Like Emily Rudd, Taz also did all of his stunts with no stunt double.
His dedication to learning martial arts and staying physically fit made Sanji’s Black Leg fighting style feel incredibly natural and fluid. This commitment deserves appreciation because, during fight scenes, the director gains more freedom to shoot and take creative shots, which would not be possible with a stunt double (as they must hide the double’s face, limiting the variety of shots).
Beyond the action, Skylar perfectly captured Sanji’s charm, loyalty, and emotional depth. His performance in Baratie and his farewell with Zeff was one of the most emotional moments in the season, showing Sanji’s deep gratitude and love for his mentor.
5. Koby (Morgan Davies)
The character of Koby is often overlooked, especially during his introduction. But the live-action series surprisingly gave importance and depth to this character. Morgan Davies was given this advantage, and he made the most of it.
Davies brought a sense of innocence, determination, and vulnerability to Koby that made his transformation from a frightened cabin boy to a Marine-in-training feel authentic. The live-action version even expanded on his arc, showcasing his interactions with Garp and Helmeppo, which added extra emotional weight to his journey.
This opens an opportunity for him to continue working because, as the story progresses, Koby becomes an important character to the show, and Davies has already proven he’s the right choice for the role.
5 One Piece Live-Action Characters Who Need Vast Improvement
Making an animated series into live-action is a huge task at hand; it gets next to impossible to find people who fit a role like a glove. Sometimes, we need to adjust to the next best possibility. Even in this series, some cast members did not deliver outright bad performances, but their acting or portrayal lacked impact. They need improvement if they plan to return in the coming seasons. Here is a list of such cast members who have potential, but it is not reflected on screen.
1. Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu)
Mackenyu did his best to portray Zoro in this live-action series. His fighting skills were impressive, and he nailed Zoro’s serious demeanor. But overall, his performance lacked depth and emotional range.
Zoro is more multidimensional, as he has moments of sarcastic humor and irritation. Mackenyu’s acting style did not reflect this, as his delivery sometimes felt too flat and one-dimensional. Also, the character’s relationship with Luffy and Nami is one of the highlights. However, Mackenyu’s version of Zoro felt distant from the crew. Mackenyu certainly has the physical presence and fighting skills to be an excellent Zoro, but the character needs more emotional nuance and stronger interactions with the crew in the coming seasons.
2. Shanks (Peter Gadiot)
Shanks is supposed to be one of the most important characters in One Piece, as he is Luffy’s greatest inspiration. Unfortunately, Peter Gadiot was not able to fully portray Shanks’s charisma and commanding presence. Shanks is seen to be effortlessly authoritative; when he walks into any place, people just end up acknowledging him and publicly giving him respect. Gadiot’s version of Shanks felt a little too soft-spoken and casual, missing the weight of his presence.
Visually, he looked like Shanks came alive in our world; it was his performance that was not impactful. The most important bar scene, where Higuma the bandit spills alcohol on Shanks, was supposed to be an iconic moment. It lacked the original intensity and tension that we first witnessed in the anime and manga. Gadiot has the potential to improve, but he needs to bring more charisma, authority, and emotional depth to Shanks in future appearances.
3. Benn Beckman (Laudo Liebenberg)
This character was part of Shanks’ Red Hair Pirates crew. Benn Beckman is one of the most trusted crew members, known for his calm intelligence and strong presence. Unfortunately, in the live-action version, he felt forgettable, and for a good reason.
He is one of the only cast members who did not visually fit the original character design. Laudo Liebenberg tried his best, but he just did not manage to display the cool and composed energy the original character has. Unfortunately, he was sidelined by other supporting characters and not given enough screen time.
There could be a high chance that when this character makes a reappearance in the future, he could be recast to someone who looks similar. It is not his fault; the fans are just pressuring the production house to get someone else. This incident is just a reminder that this series is so iconic that even the slightest creative change will get a backlash.
4. Usopp (Jacob Romero)
While Jacob Romero captured Usopp’s comedic personality, his performance at times felt underwhelming compared to the rest of the cast. Usopp is a character filled with emotion, fear, and eventual bravery, but his live-action portrayal lacked the dramatic weight needed for key moments.
While it is not the actor’s fault, due to the decision of the costume department, the production did not give him the iconic long nose. This was one of the major reasons that fans refused to connect with his character.
It would definitely take some time for the makeup department to set up a prosthetic nose, but it would improve his on-screen presence. Also, for future seasons, if Usopp is given more emotional scenes where he can truly shine, he could be seen as more than a side character.
5. Helmeppo (Aidan Scott)
Helmeppo, the spoiled and cowardly son of Captain Morgan, serves as a comic relief antagonist before undergoing serious growth. While Aidan Scott captured Helmeppo’s arrogance well, his performance felt too exaggerated. This made the character feel more like a cartoon villain than a believable person.
Aidan Scott’s representation of Helmeppo felt unnatural as he chose to be more comedic and stuck with it, making him very plain. If he had added subtle hints of insecurity and cowardice, it could have neutralized him. Also, because the live-action adaptation decided to emphasize this character’s importance, the audience noticed him even more.
Conclusion
One Piece’s live-action adaptation has already achieved remarkable success in bringing life to anime and manga. Tomorrow Studios and Netflix have done a great job. We have to give our respect to Oda for actively taking part in helping the production reach its potential. With future seasons already in development, there’s plenty of opportunity to work on character development and improve the acting skills and screen presence of some characters. If done right, these adjustments will help make One Piece one of the greatest anime-to-live-action adaptations of all time.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!
