One Pieceseason 2 draws nearer and is one of Netflix’s most exciting upcoming shows, but the live-action anime adaptation has several challenges that it must overcome to guarantee a satisfying translation of the beloved franchise.The series, based on Eiichiro Oda’s beloved manga, follows Luffy (Iñaki Godoy)on his quest to make his name as the King of the Pirates by finding the fabled One Piece.One Pieceseason 1 adaptedthe first stretch of Luffy’s journey, translating the events of “Romance Dawn” to the end of the “Arlong Park” arc.
Despite longtime fans being skeptical thatOne Piececould outperformNetflix’s other live-action anime adaptations,the 2023 series emerged as a beloved new series. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series earned an 86% critical score while audiences awarded it a score of 95%, creating a positive consensus across all viewers. However, as the crew of theGoing Merryenters the Grand Line, their next challenges will not only test the characters, but also provide the cast and crew behind the scenes with unique hurdles that season 1 was free of.
5The Arrival of Tony Tony Chopper
The Young Reindeer Will Bring New VFX Challenges
Arguably the greatest upcoming challenge is that of the Straw Hat Pirates' next major addition, Tony Tony Chopper, the ship’s doctor. Unlike the rest of the currently accounted-for members of the crew, Chopper isn’t human, and is instead a reindeer that ate the Hito Hito no Mi Devil Fruit, rendering him a short, somewhat anthropomorphized reindeer-human hybrid.While Chopper’s design may be iconic, it would also be incredibly difficult to capture for a season of television, requiring not only painstaking effort from the VFX team, but a design that can be faithful to the source material while avoiding any uncanniness.
However, Netflix has already taken the challenge of bringing Chopper into live-action head-on, making allusions to him a key part ofOnePieceseason 2’s early promotion. Alongside members of the cast sharing their reactions to Chopper’s design, the character himself was teased in the final moments of a behind-the-scenes video in September 2024, showing that Chopper’s silhouette has been unchanged. Furthermore, bothThe Last AirbenderandThe Umbrella Academyfeatured non-human supporting characters, so the right vocal performer and the hard work of fairly treated animators could make Chopper’s debut a success.
4Nico Robin’s Introduction
Miss All Sunday May Only Play A Small Part In Season 2, Given Her Manga Appearances
Chopper isn’t the only future member of the Straw Hats who will debut inOne Pieceseason 2, as the season’s introduction of Baroque Works will seethe arrival of Nico Robin, played by Lera Abova. However, Nico, then under the alias of Miss All Sunday, only has a brief appearance in the “Whisky Peak” arc, before later reappearing in the “Arabasta” arc. As such, many fans looking forward to her arrival may be disappointed if she only has a single appearance, while newcomers may feel underwhelmed by her should she play a small role.
Despite these fears,season 1’s changes to Koby’s (Morgan Davies) presencein the story may have revealed how Baroque Works could play into the show. Much like Koby and Helmeppo’s (Aidan Scott) induction into the Marines was treated as a storyline running simultaneously,Baroque Works could also be introduced through their own side storythat gives its members more characterization. Furthermore, in press releases, Abova’s role has only been referred to by the Miss All Sunday codename, which could show that the production is careful with Nico’s debut by wanting to build up to when she shares her true name.
3Crocodile’s Debut
The “Arabasta” Villain May Be Expanded On With Key New Details
Another potential obstacle arises if Baroque Works is a major part of the upcoming season ofOne Piece, and that is how the series will handle its leader, Crocodile. Much like Nico,Crocodile’s proper debut does not come until the events of the “Arabasta” arc,with previous appearances being few and largely used to build up to his arrival, though Joe Manganiello has already been cast in the role of the Warlord. Furthermore, the actor has hinted in interviews that his portrayalwill finally shed some light on Crocodile’s hidden pastfor the first time.
Netflix shining too much light on Crocodile’s past could ruin the mystique of the character, while others may be wondering if there are implications in his backstory that are retroactively canon to both the manga and anime.
As one ofOne Piece’s most popular villains, there is excitement and trepidation from fans about potentially diving into his full origin, especially in a medium that is still controversial among some of the fandom. For some, Netflix shining too much light on Crocodile’s past could ruin the mystique of the character, while others may be wondering if there are implications in his backstory that are retroactively canon to both the manga and anime. However, withManganiello stating that he had spoken to Oda himself about Crocodile’s past,there may be relief that these details are from the author himself.
2The Arcs Of Season 2
One Piece Season 2 Only Adapts Parts Of A Larger Saga
Alongside key casting decisions,One Pieceseason 2 may struggle with where to leave the Straw Hat Pirates.The upcoming batch of episodes is confirmed to be bringing the “Loguetown,” “Reverse Mountain,” “Whiskey Peak,” “Little Garden,” and “Drum Island” arcs to the screen, bringing audiences into the overarching “Arabasta” saga storyline, but just stopping shy of the final “Arabasta” arc. While the series taking its time can be a positive sign and shows that Netflix has long-term plans, there is also some uncertainty about whether cutting things short of a whole saga adaptation will harm the show.
The 63 manga chapters of “Arabasta” just surpass the 59 chapters that season 2 is collectively expected to adapt, making it understandable why splitting the saga may be the best move. Much of what the confirmed arcs set out to do is build up to the Straw Hats' quest across Arabasta,from introducing Vivi (Charithra Chandran),Baroque Works, and teasing the arrival of Portgas D. Ace, among details that’d become more relevant in arcs beyond “Arabasta.” As such,One Pieceseason 2 may feel more like a set-up for later events rather than a satisfying tale of its own.
1One Piece Season 2’s Final Villain
Wapol May Be Outshone By Other Key Characters
One last concern is just howOne Pieceseason 2 will end, given how it stops shy of the long-awaited battles in “Arabasta.” With the confirmed list of arcs, it can be assumed Wapol (Rob Colletti) will be at the very least the final villain of the arc. However, given that season 2 has not only confirmed the presence of Crocodile, but also teased greater insight into the character, it is possible thatWapol could easily be outshone when placed alongside a much more notable foe.
However, season 1’s handling of Arlong (McKinley Belcher III) may have offered a glimpse at howOne Pieceseason 2could handle Wapol. Rather than waiting to make his debut in the season’s “Arlong Park” adaptation, the captain made his debut in episode 3 and became one of the many parties pursuing Luffy and his crew throughout the season. As such,season 2 could also move Wapol’s debut to earlier in the story, setting up his presence for the climax and building him up as a greater foe for the crew before their showdown during the “Whiskey Peak” arc, making his defeat feel like a satisfying way to conclude season 2.
