Netflix has unveiled a first look at the live-action Den Den Mushi (aka the Transponder Snails) from its upcoming One Piece adaptation, and people are freaking out about their appearance.
The streaming giant dropped two images on X (formerly known as Twitter), unleashing the live-action Transponder Snails into the wild, but it seems that people were not quite prepared for the more realistic take on the One Piece species.
I present to you the One Piece transponder snails! pic.twitter.com/CYHNGKblET
— Netflix (@netflix) August 23, 2023
According to Fandom, Den Den Mushi are classified as type "B" creatures, meaning they're one of the "Small Friendly" groups inhabiting the fantastical world of One Piece. They also serve as a means of vocal and visual communication, but the fans have one message they want to make loud and clear: they're terrifying.
One person labelled the snails their new "sleep paralysis demon," while others took issue with the snail's "human teeth." The latter critique is hardly surprising as we only need to cast our minds back to the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog to recall the risk attached to giving non-human characters the toothy treatment.
Uh oh Transponder snail just became my new sleep paralysis demon bc I never thought of the implications of turning the cute little snails into a real thing like they’re so cute in the anime ? https://t.co/zU5O6Ec6bF pic.twitter.com/iNocBtszpZ
— hayley elizabeth (@_haylsss_) August 23, 2023
okay. listen. listen to me. i know that canonically in the manga the transponder snails do have teeth. however i think someone on the live action staff should have looked at their semi-realistic snail with Human Teeth and been like "hmmm...this is horrifying actually"
— spaghetti goblin (@kizunahero) August 23, 2023
Transponder snails be looking creepy in a live action setting https://t.co/s5IQ5FwjYn
— Jason (@BlazeHenry1) August 23, 2023
A few people, however, embraced the character's design. They acknowledged that the creatures look "creepy," "disgusting," and "horrifying," yet somehow they still managed to open their hearts to the snails, knowing that they only make Netflix's live-action One Piece adaptation more faithful to the original manga and anime.
Can't have One Piece without the Transponder Snails, and No, I don't care how creepy they look. https://t.co/TCo9IT5LSv
— Jake the VGA Fella (@TheVGAfanatic) August 23, 2023
OH THE TRANSPONDER SNAILS ARE GOING TO BE DISGUSTING THATS GREAT NEWS https://t.co/ADgiJscrbp
— miko ✧ wano (@mik0kat) August 23, 2023
I'm not really sure on whether thos transponder snails are cute or horrifying... and that's a compliment XD
— Luffink (@Luffink) August 23, 2023
Regardless of what you think of the appearance of the transponder snails, you'll be able to see them in action when One Piece makes its live action debut on August 31, with Iñaki Godoy playing Luffy, Mackenyu playing Zoro, Emily Rudd playing Nami, Jacob Romero Gibson playing Usopp, and Taz Skylar playing Sanji.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
