Warning: While this story doesn't contain spoilers for Netflix's live-action One Piece, it does contain some plot details from the anime/manga about Chopper.
Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piece made waves upon its release, instantly making its way to the number one spot on the streaming platform's Global Top 10 list of most-watched content. Data from Netflix shows that 140 million hours of One Piece were viewed between its Aug. 28 debut and Sept. 3.
But viewers were quick to notice the omission of one beloved character, a shape-shifting reindeer named Tony Tony Chopper. Hoping to see the humanoid creature in future seasons, some fans have taken to social media with speculations about how One Piece could pull off bringing the furry critter to life among a cast of human actors, should the series get renewed for another season.
Two Piece, a One Piece fan account on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), turned to fans for insight on their expectations for Chopper's appearance in the live-action series. The post was accompanied by four comedic visualizations of the character.
This would be peak fiction pic.twitter.com/UyodDQ4IeW
— BULL RUN BAMBINO (@BULLRUNBAMBINO) September 2, 2023
In response, a user shared an image of Gus (Christian Convery) from Netflix's Sweet Tooth, who similarly exhibits both human and deer-like characteristics. "This would be peak fiction," they joked.
In the original One Piece, Chopper gains the ability to adopt human characteristics on a whim after consuming a mysterious "Devil Fruit." His goal in life is to become a world-reknowned medical professional, leading him to join the Straw Hat Pirates as the group's doctor.
"Finally, a doctor you can trust!" the Two Piece account commented further below in the thread, coupled with an image of an unsettling Stag from Adventure Time.
Finally a doctor you can trust! pic.twitter.com/zFPrUPU2o0
— Two Piece (@TwoPieceVerse) September 2, 2023
Another One Piece fan account stoked interest on X after the user posted a far less terrifying (and more cuddly) interpretation of Chopper, which a Reddit user created based on the design of live-action Pikachu in Pokemon: Detective Pikachu.
imagine chopper look like this in the live action ?#OnePieceLiveAction pic.twitter.com/GO9tvw6cWq
— One Piece Tweets (@onepiecedaiIys) September 2, 2023
One data-savvy fan posted a poll on resetera attempting to gauge if fellow viewers expect Chopper to be designed using computer graphics, puppetry, prosthetic makeup, or a combination of the aforementioned methods. The consensus? The majority of voters (34.4%) believe the artists behind the show will use all three methods to create Chopper. Close behind, polling in at 32.8% of voters, is the belief that Chopper will be fully computer-generated,
It's possible the series could opt for motion capture as well, similar to how "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor Sean Gunn, for example, stands in for Rocket Raccoon on set to capture a physical performance that fuels the digital animation of the character.
Known to fans as "Cotton Candy Lover" Chopper, the bite-sized hero had his first on-screen appearance in Season 3 of the anime. But seeing as the original series encompasses more than 1,000 episodes and counting, it's no surprise certain plot points have yet to be reached in the live-action adaptation. According to the site What's On Netflix, the live-action series' first season has covered less than 10% of the near 1,100 manga chapters that the show is based off of.
That being said, it could be quite some time before viewers see their favorite reindeer hit the live-action adaptation, considering the show has yet to be renewed for its second season. But based on how Season 1's ending sets the stage for future episodes, plus the overwhelmingly positive response to the series' debut from fans, we're keeping our hopes high for Chopper's return.
