As ‘One Piece’ Inches Towards Season 2, Will Netflix Retort to Using CGI for Its New Characters?

Published 09/26/2023, 2:11 PM EDT

via Imago

One Piece is a coveted prize on Netflix’s mantlepiece. The show, which broke the live-action ‘curse’ and enthralled viewers with its approach, still resides as Netflix’s number one show after nearly a month of its release. As it broke past streaming records and the many obstacles along its six long years of production, the efforts behind the scenes paid off. Now, after the confirmation of season two, all eyes are on the upcoming characters.

One of the confirmed characters set to appear is the reindeer-human hybrid, Tony Tony Chopper. However, the question is how will Netflix render this character.

Will Netflix use prosthetics or CGI for Tony Tony Chopper?

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Season One of One Piece was coveted for the effortlessly striking visuals and brilliant prosthetics that led to a lively world of storytelling. However, as the Straw Hat Pirates advance toward season two, the upcoming arc involves even more additions to its cast. One of them is Chopper. As to how the streaming giant would go about it, the show’s prosthetic lead offered some insight. In an interview with GameSpot, Jaco Snyman revealed that they would probably use “the same approach as with Arlong” for Chopper.

Portrayed in live-action by McKinley Belcher III, Arlong, the saw shark fish man was designed using practical effects instead of CGI. Heavy prosthetics and realistic makeup were used to bring the character to life. As such, the final result was much more cohesive and appreciated by fans. Regardless, recreating Chopper using prosthetics would undoubtedly be a challenge for the team. Nevertheless, the use of such realistic portrayals made the Eiichiro Oda-led creative initiative a smashing success.

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With Tony Tony Chopper coming over, it is needless to say that Dr. Kureha’s appearance should also be on the cards. Luckily, a leading Hollywood actress has already expressed her interest to be at the helm of the character.

Jamie Lee Curtis to play Dr. Kureha in One Piece Season 2?

Dr. Kureha was the considerable adoptive mother and mentor of Tony Tony Chopper. The 141-year-old character lived on Drum Island and, in several instances, helped Monkey D. Luffy and his crew. As such, Hollywood stalwart Jamie Lee Curtis has already expressed her interest in playing the character and received a response from the showrunners. The Oscar-winning actress is thus one of the frontrunners, if not already chosen, to play the character.

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Dr. Kureha, along with Chopper, served as the go-to medical destination for the Straw Hat Pirates. At one point she even treated Nami for a life-threatening disease. Thus, the casting as well as the portrayal and visual effects should be on par with what season one has delivered so far. As of now, Netflix still soaks in the glory that the show has brought to it. Amidst widespread acclaim and taking the place of two former Netflix heavyweights, the show has very well earned its place.

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What do you think of Netflix probably not using CGI for Chopper? What are your expectations for One Piece Season 2? Let us know in the comments below.

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Imteshal Karim

914 articles

Imteshal Karim is a Hollywood News reporter at NetflixJunkie. With a penchant for writing in multiple forms, he is a published writer with his works published in anthologies. A star at his college’s writing competitions, he loves telling a good story and hopes to tell impactful ones about the unexplored side of the Entertainment industry.

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