LEGO ONE PIECE Showrunner Reveals Usopp Was Chosen as Narrator to Help New Fans Enter the Series

Netflix’s upcoming LEGO ONE PIECE animated special will retell the events of the live-action series in an unexpected way, with Usopp taking center stage as the narrator.

According to showrunner, writer, and executive producer Tom Hyndman, the decision was made to make the two-part special accessible for newcomers while offering longtime fans a humorous new perspective on the Straw Hats’ journey.

Speaking to Netflix Tudum, Hyndman explained that Usopp’s larger-than-life personality made him the ideal choice to recount the story.

“We wanted to make something that would ease new viewers into the massive world of ONE PIECE while also giving longtime fans a new, fun perspective to see the iconic stories of the first two seasons,”

he said.

Usopp retells the Straw Hats’ adventures in true LEGO style

The animated special takes place shortly after Tony Tony Chopper joins the Straw Hat Pirates on Drum Island. Since Chopper missed the crew’s East Blue adventures, Usopp enthusiastically retells their journey, humorously portraying himself as the mastermind behind many of the crew’s greatest victories.

Hyndman also revealed that bringing back the cast from Netflix’s live-action adaptation made recording sessions especially enjoyable.

“It was incredible to have them on board. It allowed us to really go wild during the records because we didn’t have to take extra time to have them find the character—they are the character,”

he said. He added that the freedom led to

“extremely fun and funny improvised moments”

throughout production, while the cast shared

“a lot of giddy giggling”

seeing themselves transformed into LEGO minifigures.

The English dub features Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero, Taz Skylar, and Mikaela Hoover reprising their live-action roles. The Japanese version reunites beloved anime voice actors, including Mayumi Tanaka, Kappei Yamaguchi, Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Hiroaki Hirata, and Ikue Otani.

Produced by The LEGO Group, Shueisha, Atomic Cartoons, and Tomorrow Studios, with Eiichiro Oda serving as executive producer, the LEGO ONE PIECE two-part special premieres exclusively on Netflix on September 29, 2026.