‘One Piece’ director on Netflix pirate show: ‘Different kind of action’
09.09.2023 - 02:39
/ nypost.com
Charlie Chaplin films, Buster Keaton films. We went back into some of those techniques. I’d say to my camera operators, ‘Before you start bringing out cranes and tracks, get in there, get close to the actors, feel what’s happening, so that we can respond.’” Now streaming on Netflix, “One Piece” is based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series about a pirate crew searching for treasure.
At the beginning of the show, the pirate king is hung, and he implores the gathered crowd to search for his treasure. The ensuing years spawn a new age of piracy, as everyone races to find the fabled riches. The show follows Monkey D.
Luffy (Iñaki Godoy ) a young adventurer who leaves his small village, determined to become the new king of the pirates. He assembles a crew to help, including ambitious swordsman Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu), thief Nami (Emily Rudd), chef Sanji (Taz Skyler), and fellow dreamer and adventurer Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson). “One Piece” has also spawned movies and an anime series, but this is the first live-action series.
“I know the world is fraught with the difficulties of turning manga and anime into live action,” said Jobst, who is also known for directing episodes of “Daredevil,” “The Punisher,” and “The Witcher.” “But there’s something about this one that I felt like we could swim into this, and really find the heart of it, and work out from there. The manga is phenomenal. It’s outrageously brilliant.
The anime is hugely successful. Why do a live action version? Because you can add something to it. When you identify what a 3-D version can add, then you’re off and ready to go.