In a recent interview, George Wada, CEO of WIT Studio and Production I.G, said that The One Piece which is currently under production at WIT, will address two major flaws of the ongoing adaptation in order to attract new anime fans.
Wada acknowledged that the older 4:3 aspect ratio and animation techniques, along with the 1000 plus episode count might deter new viewers from watching the iconic anime.
He highlighted the need to make One Piece more visually appealing and accessible to younger audiences accustomed to modern animation styles.
“Due to technological advancements, young people who are used to watching modern anime might find the visuals of One Piece, which started airing 25 years ago, difficult to watch because of the different format,” he said.
Wada added that Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has a strong desire to spread Japanese manga to the world. It was due to this desire that the mangaka took up the challenge of creating a live-action adaptation of One Piece, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
The success of the live-action adaptation has definitely sparked more interest in the franchise. And, the new adaptation by WIT Studio, The One Piece, is intended to serve as a gateway for those unfamiliar with the anime, expanding the reach of the series globally.
By improving the animation style and cutting down on the episode count, The One Piece is intended to reach wider audiences.
The new anime adaptation will also be exclusively streaming on Netflix.
“Both Mr. Oda and we share the desire to expand anime to people who don’t know about it, even on a global scale, and ‘The One Piece’ was planned as a gateway to that,” Wada said in the interview.
Furthermore, Wada also emphasized the importance of working alongside Toei Animation, the studio behind the original One Piece anime, as both studios were committed to bringing the beloved series to a wider audience through complementary projects.
Toei Animation also told us, “Please do your best, and we will continue to work hard on the latest episodes.” The image is that manga, anime, and live-action will all move forward together, expanding the reach of One Piece
George Wada, CEO of WIT Studio & Production I.G.
The new anime adaptation for the series, titled The One Piece, was announced at Jump Festa 2024. Wit Studio will be producing the remake with a completely new animation, and will start by adapting the East Blue Saga.
WIT Studio is known for its work on popular anime such as Attack On Titan and Vinland Saga. It is also animating the current hit Spy x Family along with Cloverworks.
Source: RealSound