Here's Why 'One Piece' Could Be the Next 'Game of Thrones'
Earlier this year, the impossible happened for anime fans. Eiichiro Oda came forward to announce [...]
The Scale
Like Game of Thrones, One Piece has a truly epic scale. The series is first and foremost a story about pirates and their long hunt for treasure. Captain Monkey D. Luffy has been leading the Straw Hat Pirates for years now as they look for the One Piece. The crew have encountered hundreds of foes and friends alike, and their journeys have taken them to dozens of islands.
If HBO can make Westeros manageable, then One Piece can do the same for the Grand Line and beyond. As far as One Piece's battles go, Tomorrow Studios cannot afford to be stingy. Some members of Luffy's crew will be difficult to bring to life, but folks like Zoro and Nami need to have involved character arcs to keep fans interested. And, if Luffy cannot go Gear First, then the live-action show better go ahead and give up.
prevnextThe Politics
If you thought the politics of Game of Thrones were intense, then you have never seen One Piece. The show may come off as a simple tale about piracy, but Oda has filled the story will much more than crow's nests. Luffy may aim to become the Pirate King, but corruption and political deceit are the backbone of how One Piece operates.
Game of Thrones is interested in seeing the Iron Throne filled, but One Piece is ultimately concerned with who can find the One Piece. Luffy is just one of hundreds of pirates vying for the kingly gift, and he's not the most powerful one. The World Government is overseen by Marines, a police force looking to take down pirates before they can gain too much control. If the Marines don't get you, then you have the Yonko and Shichibukai to fear. Both groups are filled with immensely powerful pirates who will stop at nothing to keep the status quo in their favor.
prevnextThe Fanbase
When HBO made plans to adapt Game of Thrones, the books were popular, but not quite a phenomena. Since the show debuted, Martin's books have sold over 60 million copies worldwide, but that is absolutely nothing when compared to One Piece. Oda's beloved story has sold over 430 million copies worldwide, a number that puts it on Batman's level. It is the highest-selling manga ever, and One Piece has the fandom to back it up.
Tomorrow Studios may be a western company, but it's adaptation of One Piece will be scrutinized on a very global platform. The franchise has a massive fanbase that has a large variety of sexes, ages, and nationalities tied into it. Instead of whitewashing, the adaptation needs to embrace diversity with its casting. The eyes of the world will be on One Piece when it airs and interest will be high regardless; Tomorrow Studios needs to focus on getting its casting right, and it cannot afford to alienate the culture which made One Piece so famous in the first place.
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