The One Piece Live Action has been taking the world by storm, not only for their amazing portrayal of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece but also for the incredible chemistry among the casts off-screen. However, there’s a certain individual who may be sailing a bit ahead in order to secure a close bond with the author himself — and that is none other than Mackenyu Arata, the actor behind Zoro.
The One Piece fandom has long joked about Eiichiro Oda’s apparent “obsession” with Mackenyu, but that inside joke might be more true than fans first thought. After all, Mackenyu recently expressed his desire to play card games with Eiichiro Oda in his own house! Guess who might be feeling jealous right now? —- obviously, Emily Rudd AKA the on-screen Nami.
Mackenyu Arata’s Obsession With One Piece Card Game
It’s not just small talk and casual card-playing with Oda either – Mackenyu is serious about the One Piece card game. The One Piece cast revealed how engrossed he is with the game in the 2024 Megacon hosted in Orlando, Florida.
It’s almost like Mackenyu has unlocked some kind of secret level of Straw Hat bonding that the others haven’t quite accessed yet. While Emily Rudd, who plays Nami, is geeking out over Eiichiro Oda’s drawings, Mackenyu’s already on his way to book his next playdate with the legendary creator.
The fandom can’t help but chuckle at how Mackenyu, the embodiment of Zoro’s determination, seems to channel his energy into becoming a formidable card player. That’s a flex only Zoro himself could pull off.
According to the other Straw Hat casts, even when Mackenyu is hitting the gym, he is constantly enhancing his skill in playing the One Piece card games. Mackenyu has taken his love for the game to new heights, winning some events and becoming a known force in the competitive scene within the One Piece fandom.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Straw Hat cast might be feeling a bit left out of this exclusive Oda-Mackenyu bromance. One cast member in particular, Emily Rudd, who plays Nami, is probably harboring a touch of jealousy.
Eiichiro Oda’s Fun Relationship with the One Piece Live-Action Casts
Emily Rudd was already a passionate One Piece fan long before she donned the orange hair and perfect aim of the Straw Hat crew’s navigator. In fact, her journey as a fan took an even more surreal turn when Oda himself drew the live-action cast.
The recent sketches by Eiichiro Oda not only resemble the Straw Hat pirates but also mirror the real-life actors portraying them. Emily Rudd couldn’t contain her excitement upon seeing Oda’s depiction of her as Nami. She referred to Oda as “Goda”, a term of affection and respect that fans use to describe Oda’s god-like status in the manga world. Being drawn by her idol was the ultimate fan moment for Rudd since it felt like a personal acknowledgment of her One Piece dedication.
While Mackenyu seems to be a bit ahead when it comes to his friendship with Oda, Rudd’s fan moment proves that each of the Straw Hat cast members has a special connection with the creator. Whether through personalized drawings, shared passions, or unforgettable performances, Oda’s love for his cast is clearly visible.
Perhaps in the future, Rudd will also get her own chance to sit down at Oda’s card table and even challenge Mackenyu for the title of card game champion. But till then, Mackenyu Arata may continue to flex his bromance with Oda by playing another game with him.
One Piece Live-Action is currently available to watch on Netflix.
