At the most recent Jump Festa event, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda made some interesting comments regarding the future of the popular manga and anime franchise. Unlike in past years, where he jokingly claimed One Piece would continue for many more decades, this time, Oda took a more serious tone when discussing the series.
He spoke positively about the live-action Netflix adaptation of One Piece, expressing optimism that it has helped bring wider mainstream attention and acclaim to the franchise.
Oda even mused lightheartedly about whether One Piece could someday win prestigious awards like an Emmy or Oscar with the help of a successful live-action version.
While not outright stating One Piece is nearing its finale, Oda’s comments hint that he is considering how to eventually bring his legendary manga epic to a satisfying conclusion.
The focus on the live-action adaptation and potential for mainstream awards shows Oda has an eye toward cementing One Piece’s legacy beyond just the manga and anime fanbase.
It suggests he recognizes the franchise may be entering its final years.
Eiichiro Oda Sets Sights on Academy Award Success for One Piece Following Live-Action Series Debut
At the 2023 Jump Festa event held on December 17th, iconic One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda was thinking big regarding the future of the franchise in 2024.
Never shy about his grand ambitions, Oda’s first comments expressed hopes and dreams that One Piece could finally attain the peak of mainstream success – winning an Academy Award!
Oda credited his optimism largely to the recently released live-action One Piece series on Netflix.
With rising stars like Iñaki Godoy as Luffy and Jacob Gibson as Usopp leading the show’s cast, Oda feels they and other cast members have the talent to become big-name Hollywood celebrities.
Their performances and the show’s ability to rank #1 on Netflix for three straight weeks after release has Oda dreaming One Piece can capture the attention of Academy voters.
While a long shot for an anime/manga adaptation to win an Oscar, Oda’s aspirations reflect his desire for One Piece to transcend its core audience and be recognized as a masterwork of fiction on the global mainstream stage.
Whether achievable or not, Oda is banking on the continued success of the live-action series to make his Academy Award hopes reality as part of cementing One Piece’s longevity into the future.
One Piece Achieving Mainstream Recognition
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has never been shy about pursuing lofty goals, much like series protagonist Luffy, who is striving to become the Pirate King.
At a recent Jump Festa event, Oda expressed similarly ambitious dreams that the One Piece franchise could reach the pinnacle of mainstream success by winning coveted awards like an Oscar or Emmy.
In Oda’s own words: “If Luffy can achieve his dream, why can’t One Piece also accomplish the ultimate honor as a series?” He went on to credit the recently released live-action Netflix adaptation for giving him hope.
Despite his busy manga schedule, Oda made sure to nervously monitor the show’s release, exhilarated when it topped Netflix charts for 3 straight weeks.
Oda admitted the adaptation required innumerable struggles behind the scenes to get right, making its popularity with fans a massive relief and validation after years of battle.
The positive response has Oda dreaming One Piece can transcend just anime/manga fans to capture the attention of mainstream award shows.
He wants to establish the series’ legacy as a fiction masterwork before concluding the epic story.
Eiichiro Oda Sets One Piece on a Course
Ever ambitious, Eiichiro Oda has set his sights on One Piece achieving the highest honors in mainstream media – winning an Emmy or Academy Award.
Oda openly admitted it would be a dream come true for his classic Japanese manga series to garner recognition on Hollywood’s biggest stages someday.
At a recent Jump Festa event, Oda attributed his optimism to the incredibly passionate international team behind the live-action Netflix adaptation, including the cast.
He gave special mention to rising stars Iñaki Godoy and Jacob Gibson, who play Luffy and Usopp, respectively, and joined Oda at the event as dedicated One Piece fans.
Oda expressed that the production crew’s love for the world and characters, combined with the cast’s talent, makes his hopes for a Hollywood award feel achievable.
He cheekily added that with Godoy, Gibson, and others becoming big celebrities themselves, they can help promote One Piece to Emmy and Oscar voters.
Oda then doubled down on his dreams by urging everyone to work their hardest on the upcoming second season and further boost One Piece’s mainstream popularity.
While the Straw Hats sail toward Raftel, Oda steers the broader franchise toward making history as the first manga/anime series to be honored by Hollywood’s elite. Lofty? Sure. But betting against this manga legend is never wise!
