Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Eiichiro Oda’sOne Pieceis one of the best-ranking anime of current times. The manga itself has seen a steady rise in popularity ever since its debut. But the introduction of the Enies Lobby arc gave the series an impetus. By the time the Marineford Arc rolled by, people were already jumping on the bandwagon left and right.
You would think that all this popularity must have made Oda feel pretty good, and normally, that would be the case. However, an interview revealed that Eiichiro Oda was, in fact, nervous aboutOne Piecereceiving an anime adaptation.
Eiichiro Oda was Concerned About Who Would Create theOne PieceAnime
Inan interview,Eiichiro Odawas asked how the decision to makeOne Pieceinto an anime had hit the author.Toeitook up the seriesafter just two years of its serialization, so it must have been thrilling news. Eiichiro Oda’s answer, however, reveals a deep-seated concern.
Toei Animation Giving a Filler One Piece Character Conquerer Haki While Sanji Still Doesn’t Have It May Rubbed Fans Off the Wrong Way
Eiichiro Oda answered that while people might have expected him to be excited about the anime adaptation, the truth was completely different.
Just, I was a little concerned and curious about what kind of people would be making it so I really hoped they would let me meet with the director and producer as soon as possible.
It is normal for authors to be nervous before their work is turned into an anime. After all, it might become the make-or-break decision for the series. If the anime tanks, it might reflect on manga sales as well. Thankfully for Oda, Toei did not mess up withOne Pieceand it continues to be one of the most popular Shonen anime.
In a later interview,Oda also expressed his confidence in the anime staff.He considered that the One Piece anime had a well-rounded director and was happy with the outcome. He also admitted that the slight changes brought to the series also intrigued him, such as episode 1 featuring Alvida from the get-go and Shanks being introduced later, contrary to the manga.
Eiichiro Oda Manifested Luffy’s Voice Actress
Not only was Eiichiro Oda worried about the anime adaptation of One Piece, he also wondered who would voice the main characters, especially Luffy and the Straw Hats. Given that they are the central characters, getting the voices right is the most crucial job.
The author then revealed that he had been thinking about potential voice actors forOne Piececharacters for a long time. Ever since he was an assistant forRurouni Kenshin‘s author, Nobuhiro Wakatsuki, and was creating theRomance Dawn manga(precursor toOne Piece), he thought aboutappropriate voice actors for the charactershe had created.
Actually, with regards to the voice actors, ever since I was an assistant, from the time I wrote Romance Dawn I thought about a lot things and Mayumi Tanaka being good for Luffy was one of them. When it was decided that she would really be doing it I was pretty excited.
Mayumi Tanakais an extremely well-known figure in the anime industry. BeforeOne Piece, she played major roles inDragon Ball, Dr. Slump, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, and more. Thus, casting her must have been like a dream come true for Oda.
“I represent Japan, and challenge the world as a Japanese actor”: Before One Piece, Mackenyu Starred in a Failed Adaptation of Another Iconic Anime
One Piecemanga is available to read on Viz Media, and the anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Aaheli Pradhan
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :1558
Aaheli is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with 1300+ published articles. With five years of experience under her belt, she is a living, breathing encyclopedia for anime and manga. From Shonen and Shojo to the most niche anime, nothing escapes her radar. Her poisons of choice are Assassination Classroom, Gintama, Ouran High School Host Club and every Ghibli movie ever. She believes in living a slow life, surrounded by incomplete art projects and her beloved cats.
