As Netflix’sOne Pieceadaptation ventures into new frontiers for season 2, the hit manga adaptation has finally given the streaming service a small furry hero whose potential can rival whatThe Mandalorian’s Grogu brings for Disney+. The series is an adaptation of the beloved manga written by Eiichiro Oda,telling the tale of young pirate hopeful Monkey D. Luffy (Inaki Godoy) and his quest to discover the fabled One Pieceand become King of the Pirates. Debuting on Netflix in 2023,One Pieceearned rave reviewsfrom both critics and audiences alike.
AsOne Piecehas ranked highly amongNetflix’s many live-action anime adaptations, there is a lot of excitement heading into season 2. From the return of fan-favorite villains to the new characters Luffy will come across, the journey towards the Grand Line will feature the introduction of many elements that will be key to the coming chapters.One of these elements is the introduction of the Going Merry’s own resident doctor, who will be unlike any character introduced so far and perhaps represent the series' most ambitious move yet.
One Piece Season 2’s Chopper Can Give Netflix Its Own “Baby Yoda” Sensation
One Piece Season 2 Will Conclude With A New Straw Hat Member
InOne Pieceseason 2’sadaptation of the “Drum Island” arc, audiences will finally meet Tony Tony Chopper,a young reindeer whose consumption of the Hito Hito no Mi Devil Fruit turned him into a small human-animal hybrid. Ostracized from both the animal and human communities, he is taken in by the Island’s Dr. Hiriluk (Mark Harelik) and learns how to become a Doctor himself. By the time the Straw Hat Pirates met him, he was residing with Dr. Kureha (Katey Sagal) and aiding anyone in need of medical attention, bringing him and Luffy’s crew together.
With the “Drum Island” arc set to bring season 2 to a close, audiences have been eager to get a glimpse of the Going Merry’s on-board medic, andNetflix has finally unveiled Chopper’s full designin a short segment during their Tudum event, while also confirming thatSuperman’s Michaela Hoover will be providing the voice and facial motion capture for the character. While his appearance may only be found within the final part of the season, Chopper will no doubt be a part of the series' marketing push thanks to his cutesy design.
Chopper Looks Great In Live-Action Despite How Challenging It Was To Create Him
Oda Has Been Supportive Of The Series' Efforts
Though it is hard to escape some criticisms from more hardcore and dedicated fans,Chopper’s live-action design is an incredibly well-crafted representation of the character. It is largely faithful to his cutesy manga design, retaining mostly the same silhouette and proportions, but having been given more realistic fur texturing and detailing. Even within the short clip, the sequence they chose perfectly matched several early panels featuring the character, further showing the faithfulness of their approach.
Oda himself has also praised Chopper’s live-action realizationfollowing the official reveal of the live-action clip. The manga creator explained thatthe crew behind the series took painstaking care in bringing the character to lifethrough much refinement and trial-and-error to make sure he fit within a real-world production. Furthermore, with the Tudum clip already showing promising results from Hoover and the animators in bringing him to life, likely, there will still be plenty of dedicated work in the months leading up to season 2’s release to further refine Chopper for the series.
Don’t Let Chopper’s Cuteness Fool You, He Is One Of One Piece’s Most Dangerous
Chopper’s Devil Fruit Left Him With A Hidden Talent That Can Be Used In Battle
However, Chopper is far more than another opportunity to cash in on the marketing and cultural phenomenon that Grogu was uponThe Mandalorian’s debut in 2019, as Chopper is already set to evolve across his first arc, as he finds himself boarding the Going Merry. Despite his nervousness in the clip,Chopper is more than capable of handling himself thanks to the gifts of the Hito Hito no Mi, andChopper can transform into various formsto take on different challenges.
Fans should expect to see Chopper at the forefront.
WhileOne Pieceseason 1 had a small merchandising push with blind-boxes and a selection of figures through TAMASHII NATIONS S.H. Figuarts line, it is clear that Netflix will be ramping up this approach following a strong reception. A dedicated LEGO line will already be releasing ahead of season 2, showing that the streamer sees it as a property worth investing in. As such, fans should expect to see Chopper at the forefront of this approach asOne Pieceseason 2 draws nearer.
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.
