‘One Piece’ Creator Eiichiro Oda Gives His Blessing To Live-Action Series Through His Own Den Den Mushi

In a surprising and rare appearance, the captain behind the epic One Piece franchise, Eiichiro Oda, stepped into the limelight and gave his seal of approval to Netflix’s live-action adaptation of his iconic manga. Ahead of the series’ scheduled launch on 31 August, Iñaki Godoy, who portrays protagonist Luffy, met with Oda and presented him with his very own live-action Den Den Mushi (also known as a Transponder Snail).

In the vibrant realm of One Piece, Den Den Mushi are a unique breed of living snails that serve as organic devices for long-distance communication. They made their captivating debut in Chapter 94 of the manga and Episode 43 of the anime series. Apart from communication, certain types of Den Den Mushi can also be used as projectors, or for surveillance purposes.

The first season of the Netflix adaptation saw the creation of four fully animatronic Den Den Mushi. An interesting quirk of the live-action series sees these communication creatures able to mirror the appearance of their owners.

While Oda chose to remain shrouded in mystery, his unmistakable voice spoke through the whimsical Den Den Mushi that was gifted to him. He expressed his thoughts on the forthcoming Netflix production, “The action and visual effects are great, not to mention the performances by the cast.”

He then turned the spotlight onto the most critical aspect: “But above all, I want to call attention to how perfect the Straw Hat cast are. It’s like you’re watching the Straw Hats in real life, which I’d love for you to savour.” The rest of the Straw Hat crew includes Zoro (Mackenyu), Nami (Emily Rudd), Usopp (Jacob Romero) and Sanji (Taz Skylar).

For a creator who often shies away from public appearances, Oda’s willingness to embrace the Den Den Mushi for this message spoke volumes. Previously, he had said that the show would not launch until he was satisfied.

Edwin Teo

Edwin is a seasoned raconteur with a lifelong passion for video games, comic books, movies, and more. He thrives on captivating stories and immersive world-building, with a soft spot for adorable monsters.