One Piece Showrunner Officially Confirms Oda Forced Netflix to Change Usopp’s Story

Netflix’s One Piece live-action series has achieved something many anime adaptations struggled with: winning over both longtime fans and new viewers. But bringing Eiichiro Oda’s beloved manga to life was not always easy, as the production team had to balance its creative vision with budget limits.

During an appearance on the Trash Taste podcast (via Trash Taste on YouTube), Season 1 showrunner Steven Maeda revealed how Oda pushed back against major changes to Usopp’s story and demanded a more impressive introduction for Dracule Mihawk. And these decisions show how the creator’s involvement eventually played such an important role in the show’s success.

Eiichiro Oda Saved Usopp’s Original Story From Netflix’s Live Action

During early pre-production, a studio executive change led Netflix to cut the initial order from 10 episodes to 8 while substantially tightening the budget. To make the numbers work, the writing team explored severe compromises, including introducing Usopp on Gaimon’s island via a shipwreck rather than building Syrup Village. As Maeda explained –

We did a version of it where they got shipwrecked on this island…instead of doing Usopp’s hometown and it was fine, but it wasn’t One Piece.

-Maeda on Usopp’s introduction

Oda was not happy with the changes. After reviewing the scripts, he reportedly told the team, “This is not what I signed up to do.” His objection pushed the production to reconsider its plans, and Netflix eventually increased the budget to help the team stay closer to the manga.

This was an important decision because Syrup Village is more than just the place where Usopp joins the Straw Hats. The arc introduces Kaya, the Black Cat Pirates, and the Going Merry, which becomes the crew’s first proper ship. It also shows Usopp’s true nature. He often lies and runs away from danger, but deep down, he wants to become a brave warrior of the sea.

Removing these events would have made his introduction feel rushed and taken away some of the charm that makes him so relatable. Oda’s involvement also helped the team find the right balance between the manga and live action. According to Maeda –

I can’t talk about numbers really, but that budget that they told us to cut it down to after Oda-san had his say, they doubled it. And that’s why the show looks as good as it does because it’s a very expensive show.

-Maeda on Eiichiro Oda’s inputs

These instances highlight why Netflix’s One Piece live action eventually became such a big success. Many earlier live-action anime adaptations struggled because they changed too much or failed to capture the original’s spirit. One Piece helped break that so-called live-action curse by respecting the manga while making changes that worked for television. Its success showed that fans do not need every scene copied perfectly; they want the heart of the original story to remain intact.

Oda Also Demanded a Grand Mihawk Introduction in One Piece Season 1

Usopp was not the only character whose introduction benefited from Oda’s input. Mihawk’s arrival in Season 1 was another moment shaped by Oda’s insistence on scale. Initial budget constraints led the team to plan a smaller entrance. The fallback plan had Mihawk simply answering a call from Garp while standing over defeated pirates on a beach.

However, Oda pushed for a more impressive introduction, helping the team bring the scene to life. Maeda recounted –

When I was like, ‘Hey, you know what, we really want the introduction of Mihawk to be this very big so that we know that he’s formidable,’ they were like, ‘You don’t have the money for that.’ And then Oda-san thought that it was needed…Him jumping on that bandwagon was enough to get Netflix to go, ‘Oh, okay. Yeah, let’s do that.’

-Maeda on Oda’s intervention about Mihawk scene

Oda’s involvement shows that a successful adaptation is not just about impressive visuals or famous characters. It is about understanding what made the original story special in the first place. Meanwhile, Netflix has confirmed One Piece Season 3 for 2027. The season will bring the Straw Hats into a dangerous conflict involving Princess Vivi, Baroque Works, and its leader, Sir Crocodile.

With an entire kingdom at stake, the story will feature bigger battles and more emotional moments, making it even more important to preserve the manga’s spirit. Now the big question: Which One Piece moment are you most excited to see Netflix bring to life next? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Netflix’s One Piece live-action Seasons 1 and 2 are currently available to watch on Netflix.