When WIT Studio first announced that it will be making a remake of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, fans had a mixed reaction to the news. This mixed reaction came from excitement about One Piece getting a revised anime series, but also concern that WIT Studio might ruin it. This concern was caused by the criticism that the studio has received in the past, for its biggest series: Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga.
There were a bunch of aspects that affected the anime adaptation of both series, and thus, were questioned by fans. Considering the fact that One Piece has one of the biggest fan bases in the world, WIT Studio needs to avoid these mistakes from Vinland Saga and Attack on Titan if the animation studio hopes to make a successful remake of one of the greatest series.
8. Heavy Use of CGI in the first season
The first season of Vinland Saga drew heavy criticism for its reliance on CGI, especially in early episodes. Ships, water, background characters, crowds, and longboat scenes were often rendered in CGI, which sometimes felt uncanny to watch. Many Vinland Saga fans noted that the overuse of CGI affected the storytelling of the anime, thus ruining its reputation in the first season itself.
If WIT uses CGI too heavily or inappropriately for One Piece, especially early on, it could affect the narrative and ruin the intensity of it, which is incredibly important, especially in the initial arcs. Scenes with ships, Devil Fruit powers, large crowds, or sea battles are central to One Piece, and WIT needs to make sure that they receive the accurate amount of animation and CGI.
7. Inconsistent Visual Style
Both Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga’s anime adaptations have been criticized for inconsistency in visual quality. In Attack on Titan, fights with Titans or crowd scenes often used varying levels of detail that caused a lot of confusion. Vinland Saga also had some episodes with high detail and dramatic composition, while others looked bland and used limited animation.
If One Piece suffers from an inconsistent visual style, it could affect the fans in a major way. One Piece fans are very familiar with Eiichiro Oda’s art style and the detailed, expressive faces he has drawn for the series. Thus, WIT Studio needs to be extremely careful with the visual style of the anime and make sure that there is no inconsistency at all.
6. Unintentional Goofy Moments
Vinland Saga is more or less a serious series, but there were some moments that were unintentionally funny or goofy. This was evidently the result of animation quirks, stiff character motions, or mismatched music or sound effects. Thus, it ruined the intensity and the depth of the scene that the story was trying to build up and was heavily criticized.
One Piece mixes comedy, adventure, drama, and sometimes dark themes, and thus it requires a balance within the storytelling. If dramatic or emotional scenes end up coming off as goofy by mistake, it will break the emotional intensity of the entire story. Thus, WIT Studio should have better precision while adapting the series.
5. Slow Pacing
Both Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga have moments of slow pacing within the anime. Vinland Saga focuses on character and story development, which can be a little intense. However, the anime’s portrayal of it sometimes feels dragging to fans. In Attack on Titan’s case, there are certain episodes that went a little heavy on the narration or character reflection and affected the pacing of the original story.
For the One Piece remake, pacing is going to be a big concern. Since the first anime series is already criticized for its pacing issues, the remake must make sure that it doesn’t repeat the same mistakes as the original One Piece series. If they are too slow, particularly in early arcs like East Blue, some newer fans might drop off, thinking the show is dragging.
4. Production Pressure That Led to the Studio Change
In Vinland Saga season 2, there was a studio change as MAPPA took over from WIT for the second season. One major reason for this was production logistics and other difficulties. Attack on Titan also faced intense production pressure, with tight schedules, heavy workloads, and short deadlines, which resulted in MAPPA adapting the final season of the series.
One Piece is one of those series that require heavy production with intensity and focus. On top of all that, WIT Studios is already working on the remake of the series, which automatically throws the prospects of such mistakes out of the window. Hopefully, WIT will learn from its mistakes and make sure that they do not affect the remake like Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga.
3. Story Modifications
Attack on Titan’s ending drew criticism for how certain themes, character arcs, and plot developments were changed and adjusted, making it more controversial than it already was. Vinland Saga also made adaptations and some narrative changes, which, although not noticeable but still ruined the storyline for hardcore anime fans.
In One Piece’s case, many fans will expect the remake to follow Oda’s manga closely, including character developments, dialogues, key scenes, and major arcs. If modifications are made to the story that affect the tone, character development, or pacing, WIT Studio will once again face a lot of criticism. This is why the animation studio needs to stick with the narrative that it originally portrayed in the series.
2. Delay in Production
Vinland Saga had long gaps between seasons, such as between seasons 1 and 2, and delays due to production and scheduling. Attack on Titan similarly faced tight schedules and deadlines, which sometimes pushed production and affected the release timeline of the series. This more or less affected the hype of the anime and the anticipation that fans had for the series.
For One Piece, delays could be especially risky, considering the series has already been going on for almost three decades. As fans are especially excited for the remake, they expect regular updates and good quality. Any long gap between seasons or arcs may cause criticism and once again question the reputation of the animation studio in a major way.
1. Different Character Designs
Vinland Saga’s character design work received a lot of criticism as it looked a little different from the original manga source. Different aspects of major characters, like proportions, facial features, and clothing details, were allegedly ruined by the animation studio, thus ruining the experience of hardcore fans who followed the story for a long time.
In One Piece, character design is one of the most sensitive elements because of Oda’s unique drawing style. He uses uncanny elements like exaggerated expressions, unique proportions, and physical comedic developments, but this does not mean that there are no serious, dramatic looks. If the remake alters designs too much, it can ruin the essence of the narrative in a major way. Thus, WIT Studios needs to be extremely careful with the character designs. Are there any other aspects that WIT Studios needs to focus on while working on the One Piece remake? Let us know below!
Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
