Netflix’s Tadum Festival special recently revealed the highly anticipated Tony Tony Chopper forOne Piece’supcoming season 2 live-action adaptation, and if I can be frank, he actually looks pretty spot on for a character adapted from a manga and anime. The Straw Hat’s doctor has been all the buzz online after greeting the audience at the special, with fans thoroughly divided on whether they like it orwhether the showrunners did a poor job with the CGI effects on Chopper.
As a tiny little reindeer, Tony Tony Chopper was going to present some major challenges forOne Piece’slive-action team. His design isn’t quite as easy to cater to as Dalton’s, whose Ox-form will be mostly done through the use of practical effects. The design team behindNetflix’sOne Piecehas done an impeccable job with the makeupof the outlandish designs known to Eiichiro Oda’s work, including the vibrant hair of some of the Straw Hat cast and the Fishmen themselves, an entirely different species that translated well to live-action thanks to these traditional methods.
After a Few Scary Months, Netflix Nails Tony Tony Chopper’s Personality and Appearance Through CGI
Fans Waiting on Baited Breath Should Be Relieved It Wasn’t a Larger Transgression
Immediately out of the gate, fans either praised or criticized Netflix’sOne Pieceadaptation of the beloved doctor, with many quick to point towards the return of Sonic’s infamous rendition years prior. Fans had raged across the internet upon seeing thefirst look of Sonic for the live-action movie, causing the studio to quickly go back to the drawing board to make the necessary corrections. Whereas the hedgehog looked like an absolute monstrosity without meaning to, Chopper looks incredibly faithful to the original depiction in Oda’s manga.
From the tip of his blue nose to his hooves pattering on the ground,One Piece’slive-action Chopper fits the role to a tee. His incredibly fluffy self is reminiscent of his first depiction in the anime since he loses a lot of that definition in the timeskip afterOda rehauls the design and appearance for most of his characters. Although he could be a little bit chonkier to capture that exact figure, he has all the correct proportions.
Even his teeth, which can be a little jarring at first, were still part of his original design. His expressions are accentuated enough to know what he’s emoting, without being overly characteristic to where it looks unnatural.But as a talking reindeer with the power to transform into a human, Chopper was always going to look a little unnatural. Voiced by Mikaela Hoover, Chopper does a fine job of presenting himself as a young, naive, yet somewhat distrustful individual who is still navigating his way around people.
Chopper’s Design Was Always Going to Present a Challenge
And We’re Likely to See Plenty More With His Additional Forms
There aren’t many options for Chopper’s particular design entry into live-action; at some point,One Piece’sshowrunners were going to have to use CGI to properly render the unconventional characters depicted in the manga. As one of the first Zoan Devil Fruit users, the doc was going to be a difficult transition given his short stature and animal appearance. His other forms are going to prove to be even more of a challenge for Netflix later down the line.
There are still approximately 5-7 other forms that he can attain on his own (since Chopper can transform freely into a reindeer and a humanoid form) and by using the Rumble Ball, a mechanic he uses in battle, and unlock the potential of his Devil Fruit. While the CGI may look uncanny or unnatural to some, it proves to be a benefit by only adding to Chopper’s nature as a creature that stands along the murky line of monster and human. His appearance is meant to be mysteriously jarring, which is initially what makes Luffy adore him in Oda’s original manga.
Whether you love or hate it, Netflix’s live-action Chopper fits perfectly within the world set out for season two, which is expected to premiere early in 2026. His lovable personality has been quickly adopted by the rest of the Straw Hat crew and has been given the green light by Oda himself.One Piece’slive-action has done a remarkable job in both adapting the story to a more digestible degree, yet it remained faithful to the depiction and detail of each character, even down to the reindeer doctor.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
