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Anime and K-pop are two major entertainment mediums on their own, captivating millions of fans worldwide. But what if K-pop and anime intertwine with each other? — Although It’s not new for K-pop artists to sing anime opening and ending songs, it’s definitely very rare for them to actually deliver an anime-themed performance in a live show. However, shockingly,Kiss of Lifemade it happen. They broughtOne Piece‘s iconic moments to life with stunning choreography, spot-on styling, and electrifying stage design.
At the 2024Fact Music Awards, the rising K-pop groupKiss of Lifedelivered an unforgettable tribute to the Straw Hat Pirates fromOne Piece, showing once again how far anime’s influence can stretch. Not content with simply covering hits like “Sticky“, the members went all out by cosplaying as Luffy and the crew.
Kiss of Life‘s Legendary Tribute to the Straw Hat Crew ofOne Piece
One of the leading year-end awards shows in K-pop,The Fact Music Awards(TMA) 2024 is currently being conducted for two days at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. And it the first day,Kiss of Lifeopened the evening with flair, which quickly became one of the most talked-about performances of the year. The group appeared on stage dressed as the iconic Straw Hat Pirates, with Natty effortlessly channelingOne Piece’sprotagonist, Luffy.
This portrayal hit all the right chords ofOne Piece‘s fan’s hearts; from the Straw Hat posters in the background to Luffy’s iconic Gear 2 pose by Natty, making anime fans burst into a craze. But it wasn’t just Natty who stunned the crowd; her bandmates Belle, Julie, and Haneul also brought the heat as well, taking on the roles of Zoro, Sanji, and Nami with incredible accuracy.
KISS OF LIFE doing a One Piece themed intro at The Fact Music Awards is so unserious and I love them for it 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/nbtNFzlYFU
The Gear 2 pose in the beginning for Luffy, the swords incorporated in the dance for Zoro, the log pose for Nami, the kicks for Sanji and the outfits for them all… ohh they’re taking itpic.twitter.com/QOOx3HeY2S
The Korean girl group “KISS OF LIFE” showed up at The Fact Music Awards in One Piece-themed outfits and did a performance inspired by the series.pic.twitter.com/4uzuEV2qVm
.@KISSOFLIFE_S2dressed as One Piece characters for their performance at the 2024 The Fact Music AwardsBelle – SanjiNatty – LuffyJulie – NamiHaneul – Zoro#KISSOFLIFE#키스오브라이프#KIOF#KIOFxTMA2024#2024TMApic.twitter.com/Nu5DKTWpAB
Even the background dancers participated in the action, dressing as Marines and pulling on a scene right out ofOne Piece. This anime x K-pop crossover felt less like a typical awards show performance and more like a live-actionOne Piecemusical, packed with props like Zoro’s famous swords and Nami’s log position on stage.
And, the crowd finally erupted when Natty struck Luffy’s Gear 2 pose; one of the most iconic stances in all ofOne Piece. With her nailing the pose, other details like including Zoro’s swordplay into the dance break, along with Nami’s log pose and Sanji’s kick, and finally all of the members posing as Straw Hat crew made the performance like a dream come true for fans who follow both K-pop and anime.
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Of course, no tribute to the Straw Hats would be complete without the presence of their iconic ship,the Thousand Sunny. But this wasn’t just any Thousand Sunny — the giant LCD screen on the background replaced the ship’s Jolly Roger withKiss of Life‘s own logo, creating a powerful blend of the two fandoms.
Creating a Bridge Between Anime and K-pop withOne PieceandKiss of Life
Throughout the performance,Kiss of Lifedidn’t just dress like the Straw Hat crew — they embodied them, reenacting some of the anime’s most emotional scenes. The group paid tribute to the Straw Hats’ tearful farewell to Vivi, one of the most touching moments in the series. Even for people who are not familiar with K-pop, this performance brought the emotions of the anime to life, evoking feelings of nostalgia among longtime fans of the series.
Honestly just putting the videos I’m finding of this here it moved me sm 😭😭😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/f71dx1dane
THEY ARE AMAZING! I love every little detail they’ve put on this performance 😭
WHICH GROUP IS THIS I NEED TO KNOW
The details and everything is so amazing but i wish they did Robin instead of nami because i feel like they could’ve incorporated her devil fruit into the choreo so well 😭
pic.twitter.com/tNEDdDIVcg
Kiss of Life‘s tribute toOne Pieceat The Fact Music Awards was more than just a spectacular show; it was a celebration of anime’s expanding foothold in mainstream pop culture. Fans were giddy with excitement and anticipation for what might be the next major anime x K-pop crossover as the group closed up their performance.
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Whether you’re a hardcoreOne Piecefan, a K-pop stan or even both, one thing is clear:Kiss of Lifepassed the assignment with flying colors.Eiichiro Odawould undoubtedly be proud of how they brought his beloved crew to life with such energy and style. As these two worlds continue to collide, the possibilities for anime and K-pop collaborations seem endless, and fans everywhere are more than ready to see what comes next.
One Pieceis currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Moumita Chakraborty
Articles Published :930
Moumita Chakraborty is a seasoned Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 900 published articles. Passionate about the vibrant world of Japanese anime, she brings sharp analytical skills and cultural insight to every piece. From dissecting intricate plotlines to spotlighting the latest trends and releases, Moumita’s work resonates with both casual fans and seasoned otakus. Her writing aims to connect with fellow anime enthusiasts while contributing meaningfully to the ever-growing anime community.
