Wit Studio and Netflix are teaming up to bring fans an exciting anime remake of the original One Piece. Recently, Netflix’s Anime Channel on YouTube released a video titled ‘Production Notes Vol. 1’, offering fans a sneak peek into the project. The video revealed that Masashi Koizuka, renowned for directing the second and third seasons of Attack on Titan, is at the helm as the series director.
Koizuka-san shared that he first learned about the remake during a conversation with One Piece’s creator, Eiichiro Oda. His goal for the remake is to stay as true to the manga as possible, ensuring that the essence of the original story is preserved. This remake is part of the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the One Piece anime series, making it a special project for fans and creators alike.
At the One Piece Day 2024 event, Koizuka-san and other key staff members discussed the pre-production process. Koizuka emphasized the importance of capturing the feeling you get when reading the manga and translating that into the anime. He remarked, “The process itself is done very seriously; it’s up to how we ‘break the wall’ of being serious,” highlighting the delicate balance between staying faithful to the source material and bringing something new to the table.
Koizuka-san also expressed his commitment to the project, mentioning that if the series is well-received, he hopes to continue working on it for the long term. He said, “I’m approaching this as a long series. If people like what we’ve created, we hope to keep it going for a long time, which would mean this work is loved by many. I want to continue for a long period and create this forever.”
One of the unique aspects of this remake is the involvement of a younger team, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the project. Koizuka praised the younger staff, such as producer Kawamura, who grew up watching One Piece and now brings that childhood excitement to the remake. He believes that this enthusiasm from the younger team members is a significant strength of the project.
Among the talented young staff working on the remake are Hideaki Abe (Assistant Director), Ken Imaizumi (Action Animator), Eri Taguchi (Prop Design), and Yashurio Kaijino (Image Board and Creature Design). While a release date for the series hasn’t been announced yet, fans can get a glimpse of the concept art, which reflects Eiichiro Oda’s original style, promising a faithful yet revitalized take on the beloved series.
