Adapting manga to live action has defeated more than a few ambitious productions. But somehow, One Piece became one of Netflix’s biggest successes — by embracing spectacle without losing sight of character.
This week on Below the Line, Film Editor Eric Litman returns to the podcast alongside regular guest and co-host Christopher Angel to discuss the editorial challenges behind Netflix’s hit adaptation of One Piece. From reshaping major sequences in post to balancing fan expectations with emotional clarity, Eric breaks down how the series found its rhythm — and why grounding the story emotionally became the key to making its larger-than-life world work.
Among the highlights:
Reworking the opening of Season 2 to establish energy, tone, and momentum from the very first scene
Building complex visual effects sequences before the effects themselves even existed
Using pacing, speed ramps, and eye-lines to shape action scenes around character perspective
Finding visual inspiration in the original manga while still allowing the live-action series to stand on its own
How editorial restructuring and pickups helped strengthen emotional connections between the Straw Hats
Collaborating with previs, sound, stunt, and VFX teams across multiple countries during post-production
Why the creative team resisted “fan service” in favor of character-driven storytelling
The emotional audience reactions that revealed just how deeply One Piece connects with its fans
What emerges throughout the conversation is how much modern editing — especially on a visual effects-heavy show like One Piece — depends on collaboration. Eric describes a process that extended far beyond the cutting room, involving constant communication between editorial, sound, previs, visual effects, production, and performance.
🎧 Press play and go Below the Line on One Piece. For more, visit belowtheline.biz.