Romance Dawn Review: This first episode of One Piece Resurrection is fantastic! My favorite part was how well the story incorporated motifs from previous One Piece episodes, such as Alvida and Shanks’ friendship, Zoro’s pursuit of Morgan, the Sixis Island mini-arc (Roronoa Zoro Pirate Hunter Sixis Island Fight), and others.
Fears over Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation stemmed from the streaming service’s track record of adapting anime titles (Cowboy Bebop being one example). But early signs are encouraging. Since Eiichiro Oda is involved as a creative consultant, a lot rides on the outcome of this endeavor.
The premiere One Piece Live Action episode on Netflix was a rendition of the Romance Dawn narrative. Beginning with Gold Roger’s execution and the promise of a treasure he calls “One Piece,” the first episode sets the tone for the series by encouraging pirates everywhere to go in quest of the fabled riches.
Several important characters, including Shanks and Koby, debut in this episode. The actors do a fantastic job at capturing the essence of their characters, but Inaki Godoy stands out as Luffy with his perfect blend of charisma and charm (and incredible Gum-Gum assaults).
Some bloodier scenes, such as when Alvida crushes someone’s head, will also appeal to fans. Fans of the show will also find it satisfying to see a young Smoker see Roger’s execution firsthand.
The first episode of One Piece Live Action is a fun ride that proves the program has successfully transitioned from manga/anime to live-action TV.
This is the first episode of One Piece, and it begins with the Romance Dawn Arc. The most noticeable deviation from the manga is the expanded role of Garp compared to earlier arcs.
The way Luffy discusses his ambition to join the Marines with Koby is a major distinction. The live-action adaptation is far more dramatic than the manga, evoking more emotion and enhancing the urgency of Luffy’s mission even though Luffy encourages Koby despite their clashing interests.
The live-action version of One Piece, a popular anime series noted for its unique comedy and fascinating character designs, doesn’t shy away from the darker themes of the source material. Netflix exploits this new medium to create an explosive blend of high-stakes pirate action and dark fantasy rather than turning it into a cartoon or toning its exaggerated art style.
The Romance Dawn storyline in Episode 1 is an excellent example of this since it establishes the emotional and exhilarating tone for the rest of Luffy’s voyage. After infiltrating the 153rd Marine Base, Garp plays an even bigger part as he pursues them; fans also meet Captain Alvida (Ilia Isorelys Paulino).
Luffy, a young pirate, boards a ship with his ragtag crew and a huge straw hat in quest of his late grandpa Gol D. Roger’s fabled riches. To get there, he’ll need the standard equipment for every search mission—a ship, a crew, and a map.
Initially published in 1996 by Shonen Jump, Romance Dawn Arc is the basis for the first episode of One Piece Live Action, which chronicles the story of how Luffy set off on his treasure hunt.
It’s tough to evaluate an episode without knowing what happens, but I can say that the production crew did a great job bringing the quirky spirit of the manga to life on screen. The production is fantastic, and the action sequences seem really spectacular, so here’s hoping the series continues to perform well. However, certain elements, such as Luffy’s ability to stretch his arm half a mile, don’t quite fit.
The first episode of One Piece Live Action successfully introduces the audience to the main characters, Luffy and his crew, and the interaction among them.
It also delves deeply into some of the story’s more important elements, including Luffy’s Devil Fruit and his friendship with Shanks; it’s impressive how much they manage to pack into one episode without slowing down the overall pace.
Inaki Godoy is fantastic in the role of Luffy, bringing the character’s sincerity and charm from the anime to life on screen. He captures Luffy’s eccentric personality and stays true to nature, which is crucial for selling his stretchy stretching ability.
In addition to making his organs resistant to blunt strikes, eating the Gum-Gum Fruit allowed Luffy to stretch his body like rubber, drastically changing his combat technique. As the season continues, viewers should expect more instances like these.
Luffy requires a ship, crew, and map to go to One Piece. He already has two components; he only has to track down the third. That is where Marines come in (for the Grand Line map).
The Marines’ willingness to treat even the most vicious pirates with utmost care and respect is one of their distinguishing features, at least until the moment comes to confront those who refuse to follow orders.
Now that our protagonists have arrived, the series can finally begin to show its true potential. The sword fights are exciting and well-staged, and the blood and gore serve as an additional source of entertainment rather than just ickiness.
In this scene, Helmeppo plays Marine Captain Morgan, who looks much like a figure from Game of Thrones. Morgan shows he is a fearsome warrior by killing the Marine guards who try to stop him.
This episode summarizes the events in Shells Town, yet it nevertheless serves as a pivotal turning point for Luffy and Zoro. In addition, the story of Koby is told, and Garp makes an appearance sooner than he does in the manga.
The episode doesn’t do a great job of introducing novices to this adaptation, but it does a great job setting up its future. This season looks like it will be exciting because of the adventure tales’ emphasis on freedom and the pursuit of dreams. What happens next promises to be riveting.
The live-action adaptations of these moments do a good job dealing with this problem, albeit they don’t quite live up to the animated ones regarding the buildup of Luffy biting into and devouring his fruit. Nonetheless, they manage to portray its essential nature extremely well. All three performers in this episode did a fantastic job, proving that the show takes itself seriously and aims to deliver performances that both newbies and longstanding fans can enjoy.
The One Piece Live-action adaption that Netflix produced has received mostly good fan reviews. The crew did a fantastic job realizing Eiichiro Oda’s vision for his story world, even down to the numerous easter eggs and hidden references they incorporated by carefully reading the original manga.
Where To Watch: Netflix
Romance Dawn – One Piece Live Action S01E01: Episode Info
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Romance Dawn – One Piece Live Action S01E01: Cast
- Iñaki Godoy: Monkey D. Luffy
- Emily Rudd: Nami
- Mackenyu: Roronoa Zoro
- Morgan Davies: Koby
- Vincent Regan: Garp
- Jeff Ward: Buggy
- Aidan Scott: Helmeppo
- Peter Gadiot: Red Hair Shanks
- Michael Dorman: Gol D. Roger (Gold Roger)
- Ilia Isorelýs Paulino: Alvida
- Colton Osorio: Young Luffy
- Langley Kirkwood: Ax Hand Morgan
- Tamer Burjaq: Higuma
- Kathleen Stephens: Makino
- Armand Aucamp: Bogard
- Kamdynn Gary: Rika
- Ben Kgosimore: Mr. 7
- Sven Ruygrok: Cabaji
- Stevel Marc: Yassop the Great
- Ntlanhla Morgan Kutu: Lucky Roux
- Laudo Liebenberg: Benn Beckman
- Ian McShane: Narrator(voice)
Romance Dawn – One Piece Live Action S01E01: Crew
- Director: Marc Jobst
- Writing Credits: Eiichirô Oda, Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Allison Weintraub, Lindsay Gelfand, Tom Hyndman
- Producer: Amie Horiuchi, Takuma Naitô
- Executive Producer: Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Tetsu Fujimura, Marc Jobst, Steven Maeda, Eiichirô Oda, Matt Owens, Tim Southam, Chris Symes
- Co-Executive Producer: Diego Gutierrez, Laura Jacqmin, Damani Johnson, Nic Louie, Ian Stokes, Stephen Welke
- Co-Producer: Tiffany Greshler
- Associate Producer: Robert W. Egami
- Consulting Producer: Zack Estrin
- South African Producer: Marisa Sonemann-Turner, Rudi Van As
- Animation & Special Effects: Incessant Rain Studios, Rising Sun Pictures, Filmograph
Romance Dawn – One Piece Live Action S01E01: Other Info
- Air Date: Aug 31, 2023
- Runtime: 1h 4m
- Distributor: Netflix
- Production Co: Film Afrika Worldwide, Kaji Productions, Shueisha, Tomorrow Studios
