Taz Skylar, also known as Sanji in the Netflix live-action adaptation of One Piece, recently spilled the beans on the rigorous routine needed to portray an animated character flawlessly on screen. The first season, which premiered back in August, skyrocketed to fame, becoming one of those rare cases where fans actually adore the live-action rendition of one of the world’s most popular and beloved anime series. Now, as the second season gears up for its return, the actor is letting the audience steal a glimpse into how it all comes to life.
Sanji’s Challenging Training Process Revealed by One Piece Actor Taz Skylar!
Mastering one’s own stunts will always remain an exhilarating task for actors, particularly when bringing to life an anime persona. At the Middle East Film & Comic Con, the actor behind Sanji in Netflix’s live-action One Piece, Taz Skylar revealed interesting insights during an Esquire magazine interview. Delving into the process of preparing for the role, both mentally and physically, offered a delightful peek behind the scenes. He said,
“Ooh… yeah I did all my own stunts! Part of how I prepared for it… I really went psychopathic on it. Like, let’s throw absolutely everything we possibly can at the wall because we don’t have much to stick right now, we’re starting from zero.”
The actor then detailed the extensive training regimen he underwent to fully get into the character’s skin, as he disclosed,
“It was 4 hours of training in the morning, then I’d cook a dish we needed to do for the show, repeat that dish over and over again, another 4 hours, then we’d go to the sauna and stretch, they’d pull on my legs and push on my back. That made me improve really quick but what it also did was decimate my legs. I have scar tissue on the inside of my ligaments and it took me about a year to feel like I could land on my legs without pain – I used to duct-tape my legs! I had to be quiet about it so they’d let me do my own stunts.”
Skylar was absolutely determined to perform his own stunts, regardless of a ligament injury. Despite the scar tissue, the actor persisted, and the outcome was undeniably impressive.
The Actor’s Preparation for Season 2 Revealed!
Starting from scratch, Taz Skylar embarked on a journey to mold his character into what the fans see today. The first season proved to be a challenging test, pushing him to his limits. However, as he looks ahead to the second season, with even greater stakes at play, Skylar finds himself on familiar ground. Despite the looming challenges, he approaches them with newfound confidence, drawing strength from the lessons learned during his initial foray. He explained,
“There was no real way of improving whilst not hurting myself because of how far we needed to go. Whereas for the second season, because I’ve maintained my level and haven’t stopped training ever since, So, because we’re kind of at a level that we’ve maintained, the second season for me is about how much quicker I can be.”
He continued,
“There are not many new kicks or moves to learn, so it’s more about how great we can make those moves. Part of it is going: instead of training 8 hours today, I’m going to train 4 and focus on choreography. Or maybe today I’m just going to do 2 and then stretch, because the less injured everything is, the quicker everything moves. So for season 2, I want to enjoy it more, and I want to make what we had a lot better “
The actor disclosed that instead of prioritizing the intensity of the fight scenes, he will now concentrate on perfecting their choreography. He emphasized the importance of taking regular breaks to allow his body to rest, especially considering the demanding nature of the first season. With increased experience and a deeper understanding of his character, Sanji, Season 2 promises to be a wild ride for sure!
Moreover, fans can keep an eye out for a surprise addition, the infamous party table kick, as Skylar hilariously attempts to squeeze it in somewhere.
