Minor spoilers are ahead for One Piece’s Arabasta Arc from the anime and manga.
Summary
Developed by Matt Owens and Steven Maeda, Netflix’s live-actionOne Piecehas confirmed what the show will — and will not — cover during its sophomore outing, which is a mixed bag for long-time fans of Eiichiro Oda’s manga and the subsequent anime adaptation. With Oda serving as a consultant on the Netflix adaptation’s first season,One Piecestays true to the manga(and anime). Although the show made a few changes in its jump from animation to live-action,One Piececaptures the source material’s eccentric essence and, for the most part, its important narrative beats.
The second outing will pick up right afterOne Pieceseason 1’s ending, but with 109 tankōbon volumes-worth of stories to tell, it’s expected that Netflix’s version of the Straw Hat pirates' story will continue to blend the familiar with the new. Led by Iñaki Godoy’s Monkey D. Luffy,One Piece’s cast of characterswill navigate several key arcs. According toOne Piececreator Oda, season 2’s storylinewill cover iconic stops in Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island. While the news is exciting,it also confirms that Arabasta won’t be happening yet.
No Arabasta In One Piece Season 2 Is A Little Disappointing
The Arabasta Arc Is A Fan-Favorite From The One Piece Anime
The nextbigarc inOne Piece’s story is the Arabasta Arc, so the fact that it isn’t happening in the show’s sophomore outing is somewhat disappointing. Also referred to as the Sandy Island Arc, the saga-ending narrative sees the Straw Hats racing across the titular desert kingdom to reach Alubarna, the capital city of Arabasta, with the hopes of stopping a massive war between the kingdom’s royal soldiers and a frustrated rebel group. Ultimately,Mr. 0 and his Baroque Works agents are the instigators of the looming war, and the ones who stand in the Straw Hats' way.
It’s certainly a risk to steer away from Arabasta at this juncture…
As arguably the most consequential arc in the show’s near-future, Arabasta would have made a great addition toOne Piece’s sophomore outing. Without Arabasta serving as a kind of climactic anchor for the season,the Straw Hats' second adventure could feel more transitional— a mere bridge between the action-packed, introductory season 1 andOne Pieceseason 3’s compelling Arabasta Arc. It’s certainly a risk to steer away from Arabasta at this juncture, but it’s also clear that the team behind Netflix’sOne Piecewants to retain its much-praised fidelity to the source material.
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Why Saving Arabasta Until One Piece Season 3 Actually Makes Sense
Season 2 Can Set Up An Epic Arabasta Arc By Focusing On Smaller Stories First
Although it’s a letdown to hear that the Arabasta Arc won’t appear inOne Pieceseason 2, the news is also a bit of a relief. In fact, spacing things out is probably for the best when it comes to creating a faithful live-action adaptation that doesn’t feel too bloated. If Arabasta had been shoehorned into the second season, that arc — and others — would probably have felt incredibly rushed. Plus, there’s still a lot to do before Arabasta, sospending season 2 on those smaller arcs gives the story room to breathe in season 3.
10 Anime Moments One Piece Season 2 Will Struggle To Replicate
The live-action One Piece is doing a great job of portraying the anime so far, but it is due to capture some anime moments that will be hard to adapt.
One Piece Season 1 Earned The Right To Be Trusted As A Faithful Adaptation
Unlike Other Live-Action Anime Adaptations, One Piece Has Done Right By Its Beloved Source Material
Saving Arabasta for season 3 makesOne Piece’s future more complicated, butthe Netflix adaptation has earned the right to take its time and map things out differently thanks to its stellar first season. The show’s first season proved to be a faithful adaptation, nailing the source material’s characters, story beats, fight sequences, and overall feel. If anything,One Pieceseason 2now has the trust of long-time fans and critics alike, allowing for more leeway as the show continues. So long asOne Pieceturns its season-one success into a trend, it will continue to delight audiences.
One Pieceseason 1 is streaming on Netflix.
One Piece
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
