One Piece star Iñaki Godoy is aware that the key to every anime live-action adaptation’s success is resembling the source material as closely as possible. The 20-year-old Mexican actor took inspiration from the anime to recreate the body movements of Luffy in fighting sequences.
As the lead cast of the series, Iñaki Godoy’s Luffy is featured in every episode in Season 1. He stretched into action from the first episode itself when he saved Koby from the Alvida Pirates. Axe Hand Morgan (Langley Kirkwood), Klahadore (Alexander Maniatis), and Buggy The Clown (Jeff Ward) were the next villains that were flattened by the Straw Hat.
Godoy’s portrayal of the ever-cheerful yet strikingly powerful Monkey D. Luffy garnered much praise and he had undergone extensive preps to adapt the character for Netflix.
Iñaki Godoy Closely Studied Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece To Recreate Luffy’s Fight Scenes
Iñaki Godoy used Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga and anime as a reference to adapt the character of Luffy. He understood that the live-action series needed to be unique in its own way while some of its aspects must resemble the source. Not only did he study the personality of Luffy but also the way the ‘Gum Gum’ Devil Fruit user fought.
Monkey D. Luffy can extend his limbs like rubber to deliver a massive blow to the enemy. Iñaki Godoy explained how he tried to mimic the part while speaking to Decider.
“I can see how this guy fights. Why wouldn’t I use that as a reference? When he throws a punch and he takes it back, he puts his hand on his bicep or his shoulder. So, if he does that, I should do that too, right? And when he’s about to throw a punch, sometimes he lifts up his leg. I just tried to look for those little details in the original product.”
Given that he is the lead pirate of the Straw Hat Crew, Luffy fights against formidable enemies like Arlong, Crocodile, Eneru, and Kaido. He executes a new technique or tactic to beat the opponent each time. Iñaki Godoy, who has completed the Arlong saga in Netflix’s One Piece, has already resumed gymnastic sessions to prepare himself for Season 2.
More About the One Piece Live-Action
Written by Matt Owens and produced by Steven Maeda, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, and mangaka Eiichiro Oda, One Piece Live-Action Season 1 was released on August 31, 2023. The series topped the global charts for two consecutive weeks. Surpassing Stranger Things, fans believe that Netflix has finally found the formula for anime adaptations.
The eight-episode series starring the likes of Mackenyu, Taz Skylar, and Emily Rudd amassed 100 million hours of viewership in its first week. Rotten Tomatoes describes it as a “charmingly big-hearted adaptation that should entertain longtime fans as well as patient newcomers.” It boasts an Audience Score of 95% since its release.
One Piece Live-Action encompasses the story of Monkey D. Luffy and his goal to capture the titular treasure by following the footsteps of the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. He sets sail to the Grand Line in search of the One Piece but not without forming a crew, which includes an avaricious navigator, a sous chef, a somewhat cowardly marksman, and a former bounty hunter who aspires to become the world’s greatest swordsman.
Season 1 broke multiple records in the OTT platform. Now the hype is around Season 2, which is expected to debut characters like Marine Captain Smoker, a Warlord of the Sea named Crocodile, and the Straw Hat Crew’s sixth member, Tony Tony Chopper.
