A live-action version of Japan's best-selling manga adaptation of One Piece Los Angeles fan celebration
Reporting by journalist Maggie Ma Los Angeles
The Netflix live-action One Piece series, based on Japan's best-selling manga, hosted a fan celebration on the Santa Monica seaside in Los Angeles on August 24. This kind of fan celebration has become the new trend for Hollywood productions that are currently unable to host red carpet events during the strike. About 2,500 fans and media participated in the event, and in addition to games, interactions and drinks, related peripheral products from the show were also given away. In addition, after the screening, a drone show was held especially for the show over the seaside of Santa Monica, and the drone posed in the air as a character from the comic, allowing fans to spend an unforgettable night.
The name "One Piece" is believed to be familiar to Asian audiences, this drama is adapted from the manga created by Japanese manga writer Eiichiro Oda, serialized in the magazine "Weekly Shōnen" (Jump) since 1997, it is still the number one on the popularity list, and has been translated and released in more than 30 countries, known as the best-selling manga series in Japanese history. "One Piece" accompanied the youth of many post-90s readers, and was also made into an animated series, and finally ushered in the first live-action drama after more than 20 years.
The story follows a group of adventurers on a strange treasure hunt. Protagonist Monchi · Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a free life for as long as he can remember. By chance, after Luffy ate the Devil Fruit, his body became rubber-like, and he became a superhero with infinite strength and agility. Hoping to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a pirate, he sets sail from his hometown and begins his adventure to become the next Pirate King in search of legendary treasures. In this adventure, he forms the "Tokai Five" with Nami, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji. Latino actor Iñaki Godoy plays the popular character Luffy, Emily Rudd as Nami, Japanese actor Mackenyu as Solon, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji.
The fan celebration in Los Angeles also proved the popularity of the comic once again, and many of the people who came to the scene were loyal fans of the series, many of them wearing costumes with comic book characters printed on them, or elaborately dressed up as favorite characters. Well-known singer Anderson Paak was also present as a DJ cheering on. There is also a poster wall where fans can leave their expectations for the manga and series, and the poster will be taken back to Japan to be handed over to manga writer Eiichiro Oda. Many fans also participated in many photo and game sessions on the scene, and waited on the scene to broadcast the first episode at night.
Fans at the scene said that they felt that the first episode basically met expectations, was very faithful to the original, and contained many Easter eggs that fans would only find. In addition to the fierce battle scenes, the characters of Luffy and his four companions are deeply portrayed. Luffy who wants to become One Piece, Solon who wants to become the world's number one swordsman, Nami who wants to draw a map of the world, Usopp who wants to become a brave sea warrior, and Yamaji who wants to find treasures have their own merits.
The show will officially launch on the Netflix platform on August 31.
