Updated on April 3, 5:42 p.m. (GMT+8): Improved relevancy.
Comparing One Piece live action versus anime: If you’ve seen both, you’re likely aware of the stark contrasts between these adaptations.
The Netflix adaptation of One Piece concluded its first season with episode 8, titled “Worst in the East.”
In this episode, Monkey D. Luffy (Inaki Godoy) becomes victorious against the Arlong Pirates and prepares to go on his journey to the Grand Line, accompanied by his newly recruited crew members: Zoro (Mackenyu Arata), Nami (Emily Rudd), Usopp (Jacob Gibson), and Sanji (Taz Skylar).
Let’s take a closer look at the key differences between the ending of the One Piece live action adaptation and that of the anime.
Warning: Major spoilers if you haven’t watched One Piece live action season 1.
One Piece live action versus anime ending comparison: 3 differences you should know
One Piece live action versus anime ending: Barrel scene
In the iconic barrel scene, all five Straw Hat Pirates participate in a ceremony where they share their dreams and place their right leg on a barrel.
Sanji aims to find the All Blue, Luffy aspires to become the Pirate King, Nami dreams of creating a world map, Zoro’s goal is to become the greatest swordsman, and Usopp aspires to become a brave warrior of the sea.
However, there are notable differences between the live action adaptation and the anime version of this scene.
In episode 53 of the East Blue Saga, the Straw Hat Pirates find themselves in the midst of a storm as they depart from Loguetown, the place of Gold Roger’s execution. They perform the barrel ceremony in the pouring rain and strong winds, starkly contrasting the live action portrayal.
It’s worth mentioning that the anime version doesn’t include flashbacks to the characters’ childhood memories during this scene.
One Piece live action versus anime ending: Arlong Park Arc and Loguetown Arc
The live action adaptation of One Piece concludes its storyline with the climactic battle at Arlong Park, where Luffy is victorious over the formidable sawshark fish-man, Arlong (McKinley Belcher).
In the Netflix adaptation, there is a blending of story elements from both the Arlong Park Arc and the Loguetown Arc. In Episode 8, they include the barrel scene and tease the introduction of a character, both of which initially appeared in the Loguetown Arc.
With the second season of the live action adaptation in the works, it will likely pick up the story from the Loguetown Arc.
One Piece live action versus anime ending: Garp’s appearance
In the anime, Marine vice admiral Garp (Vincent Regan) was not slated to make his appearance until the Arabasta Saga, which comes after the East Blue Saga.
What’s more, the clash between Garp and Luffy was not scheduled to occur until several episodes later, which is in contrast to the live action adaptation’s conclusion.
So why did Garp appear this early in the live action?
“We’ve structurally moved a couple of things up that won’t happen until much later chapters,” executive producer Steve Maeda said in an interview with Screen Rant.
This adjustment was made to increase Garp’s presence in the initial eight episodes and to create a continuous sense of pursuit by the Marines on the Straw Hat Pirates, ultimately heightening the stakes and tension in the series.
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READ MORE: One Piece live action ending explained: What went down in episode 8 ‘Worst in the East’
