One Piece Reboot Reveals Key Staff and Concept Art at One Piece Day 2024

As a die-hard One Piece fan, born and raised on the high seas of East Blue, I can’t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions upon witnessing the breathtaking concept art for the upcoming remake. Growing up with Luffy and his crew, I’ve seen every bend in the Grand Line, experienced each thrilling adventure, and felt the heartache of countless losses.


Netflix and Wit Studio have shared the initial sketches for their highly anticipated reimagining of One Piece, called simply “The One Piece.” During a staff interview on the second day of One Piece Day ’24, they shared some promising glimpses into this project. A recent staff interview titled “Production Notes Vol. 1” has revealed that Masashi Koizuka, who directed Attack on Titan, will be directing Wit Studio’s take on One Piece, with assistance from Hideaki Abe, renowned for his work on Jujutsu Kaisen.

Taku Kishimoto will oversee the combination of episodes in this project, collaborating with Kyoji Asano, who is known for his work on Attack on Titan and Spy x Family. Asano will serve as the character designer and one of the lead animation directors. The interview has provided a wealth of concept art featuring Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, Sanji, and numerous other characters, along with key scene image boards and memorable setting sketches from the East Blue Saga.

Initially unveiled in December 2023, fans of the One Piece series were initially apprehensive about the upcoming remake, anticipating an adaptation of the East Blue Saga. Despite Toei’s enhancements to their animation, many worried that the unique charm of the original storylines and pre-time skip character designs might be sacrificed in the remake.

Instead, let me put it this way: The fresh concept art showcases the character designs for the remake, remarkably consistent with Oda’s original style. It features a delightful, trendy color scheme, reminiscent of the Egghead Arc. Apart from Luffy and the Straw Hats, this artwork offers glimpses into many iconic moments from the East Blue Saga, such as Zoro pledging to Kuina, Sanji feeding Gin, their subsequent skirmishes, Usopp’s standoff with Kuro, and even a young Shanks and Buggy engaging in a brawl together.

The upcoming remake of One Piece is generating a lot of buzz, as it will be led by talented professionals who have previously worked on successful shows like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen. With stunning visuals and an impressive team, this project has already ignited the passion of fans, providing assurance that it will be successfully completed.

The full list of staff members for the One Piece remake is as follows:

  • Director: Masashi Koizuka
  • Assistant Director: Hideaki Abe
  • Character Design / Chief Animation Director: Kyoji Asano
  • Character Design / Chief Animation Director: Takatoshi Honda
  • Series Composition: Taku Kishimoto
  • Prop Design: Eri Taguchi
  • Action Animator: Ken Imaizumi
  • Action Animator: Shuhei Fukuda
  • Art Director: Tomonori Kuroda
  • Creature Design / Concept Art: Yasuhiro Kajino
  • Animation Producer: Ryoma Kawamura

The interview highlights the experienced staff and the younger members, such as animation producer Ryoma Kawamura and prop designer Eri Taguchi, who bring passion to the project. The director, Koizuka, explains that these younger staff members, who grew up with One Piece as the series’ target demographic, want to do the series justice.

One Piece is set to air globally on Netflix when it eventually debuts, though they haven’t specified a release date or time frame at this point. Netflix hints at their innovative adaptation of the iconic series by saying, “Created by the acclaimed WIT Studio, in partnership with Shueisha, Fuji Television Network, and Toei Animation Co., ONE PIECE promises to offer viewers a refreshing yet familiar journey, leveraging advanced visual technology to re-envision Luffy’s exploits during the cherished East Blue Saga.”

The upcoming reimagining of One Piece by Wit Studio is anticipated to be a significant release, as recently unveiled concept art shows its potential to keep the series popular. Even though there might be delays in its release, it’s expected that we’ll see more sneak peeks, suggesting a bright future for the franchise.

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2024-08-12 11:40