In a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation, the highly-anticipated “One Piece” manga adaptation has made its debut on Netflix, setting social media platforms ablaze with chatter and fanfare. In less than 24 hours since its release, the series has already captured the hearts and attention of audiences worldwide.
The captivating 8-episode series made its streaming premiere on Thursday, and to commemorate this monumental occasion, Netflix organized fan events in a staggering 10 cities across the globe, drawing throngs of enthusiastic straw hat pirates. The festivities commenced in Los Angeles on August 24 and subsequently traversed the world, mirroring the adventurous spirit of the show’s protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, by visiting locations such as Paris, Tokyo, Milan, Bangkok, and beyond.
These events constitute just one facet of Netflix’s extensive promotional campaign in support of the much-anticipated manga adaptation, which is poised to take the streaming world by storm. In step with the times, Netflix has strategically harnessed the power of social media to engage with its fervent fan base during the launch and throughout the premiere weekend. Collaborating with influencers worldwide, Netflix has effectively connected with established One Piece aficionados while also piquing the interest of new audiences.
The investment in social media engagement is bearing fruit. In the lead-up to the series premiere, Netflix hosted a TikTok live countdown that attracted an astounding one million viewers across nine countries. Those who tuned in were treated to an exclusive glimpse of the first five minutes of the series via TikTok live.
In response, “One Piece” has swiftly ascended the trending charts on various social media platforms including X (formerly known as Twitter) in multiple countries such as the UK, Brazil, Thailand, France, Spain, and the US. Reddit has also been abuzz with discussions about the series. To top it all off, “One Piece” has earned an impressive 94% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes from over 2,500 ratings, all within hours of its Netflix debut.
While the initial buzz is palpable, the real litmus test will arrive next week when Netflix reveals viewership data for “One Piece” during its premiere weekend. For context, Netflix’s previous hit, “Wednesday,” amassed a staggering 341.23 million hours viewed in its first week back in November 2022. This would roughly translate to about 43 million views (hours viewed divided by total run time), aligning with Netflix’s updated audience data reporting method.
Even if “One Piece” doesn’t surpass the lofty heights of “Wednesday,” it still has ample room to claim success. For perspective, “Stranger Things 4 Volume 1” garnered approximately 286 million hours viewed during its premiere week, falling short of “Wednesday” but remaining an impressive feat for any Netflix production. Only time will unveil where “One Piece” ultimately lands in this spectrum.
Based on the highest-selling manga series in Japan’s history, penned by Eiichiro Oda, “One Piece” unfolds an epic tale of high-seas adventure, revolving around the indomitable Monkey D. Luffy and his fervent quest to become the King of the Pirates. “One Piece” serves as both the name of the manga series and the legendary treasure that Luffy aspires to locate in his pursuit of becoming the ultimate pirate ruler.
The creation of “One Piece” is a collaborative endeavor between Shueisha and production by Tomorrow Studios and Netflix. The series is helmed by writers, executive producers, and showrunners Matt Owens and Steven Maeda, with executive production credits also attributed to Eiichiro Oda, Marty Adelstein, and Becky Clements.
The “One Piece” journey has only just begun on Netflix, promising viewers a treasure trove of excitement, adventure, and unforgettable moments in the episodes yet to come.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Daily Insight 360 journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
