The remake of One Piece by WIT Studio was eagerly anticipated, set to revitalize one of the most cherished anime series, renowned as part of the Big 3 in the shonen genre. However, this ambitious project faces potential hurdles even before its debut. George Wada, president of WIT Studio, has voiced concerns about Netflix’s promotional strategy for anime, casting a shadow over the collaboration’s prospects.

Signs of trouble have surfaced in the One Piece remake strategy, and these issues are emerging well before any official launch. As excitement mounts for the remake, WIT Studio’s leadership has highlighted a stumbling block that stems from Netflix, a challenge beyond the studio’s control.

In an interview from 2022 with AnimeNewsNetwork, George Wada opened up about his dissatisfaction with Netflix’s approach. Responding to questions about Netflix’s marketing efforts for anime compared to other genres, Wada provided an honest perspective on the difficulties of partnering with the streaming platform.

WIT Studio’s President Openly Criticizes Netflix Prior to One Piece Remake’s Release

Image via WIT Studio

In a 2022 interview published by AnimeNewsNetwork, George Wada, the president of WIT Studio, expressed his dissatisfaction with Netflix. During the Q&A session, Wada was asked about complaints regarding Netflix not promoting anime as much as other series. Wada offered a candid look at what it’s like collaborating with the streaming giant.

According to Wada, “Netflix is mainly promoting the streaming platform itself.” To clarify, he added that Netflix is not promoting individual series for their own success. He also admitted that he thinks “the way that their marketing structure is set up is going to be one of their biggest challenges in the future.” The WIT president made it clear that while the studio will continue working with Netflix, major issues are still plaguing the minds of staff members.

This direct admission from Wada indicates that the One Piece remake might also fall victim to Netflix’s lacking promotional side. Ideally, Netflix should value each and every title, since they are important to creators as well as fans. With One Piece being a global icon and the hype around the remake being enormous, any promotional fail might prove to be fatal.

Why The One Piece Remake Falls in the Danger Category

The One Piece anime is more than a thousand episodes long and counting. Although it is widely popular, the decision to create a remake has faced skepticism from fans. After all, does such a lengthy and iconic series really need a remake? The remake has to justify that it is worthy of its existence. Not only does it have to win over fans with visuals and animation, but it also needs to present a smartly optimized storyline.

However, if Netflix treats the One Piece remake like just another addition to its vast library, problems are bound to occur. The streaming platform has been accused plenty of times of quietly releasing series which are forgotten too soon. A silent release will not only undermine the impact of the remake, but it might also end up alienating the actual audience.

The worst part is that WIT Studio can’t do anything regarding it. Even if they deliver a premium anime without promotional backing, the anime might not thrive. Netflix has already seen the potential in the One Piece live-action series, and hopefully, it will realize the importance of the anime remake.

Netflix Needs to Stand Up for Its Anime Titles

Image via WIT Studio

In the interview, Wada makes it clear that creators and individual titles deserve respect. He indicates that Netflix might not be the same. Netflix is a gateway for fans across the world to find new favorites. However, when the streaming platform fails to promote a series, it’s doomed to fail in this capacity.

Anime production is grueling work with studios operating on extremely tight schedules and budgets. A remake like that of One Piece isn’t just another project but a high-stakes task that puts the entire reputation of the studio at risk. So, creators obviously have an expectation about how the series will end up performing.

On the other hand, Netflix prioritizes constant new releases and fast turnover, which completely makes sense from the perspective of a business. Unfortunately, for creators, this approach is like a cold wall of cement. Creators need marketing that will urge the audience to engage with an anime. The series doesn’t just need to be available, but also accessible.

For an anime like the One Piece remake, a silent drop would be a death sentence. It needs promotion to make sure it has reached enough long-time fans and newcomers. Until Netflix realizes its own failing, the tension between title creators and the platform will keep rising.

Created by

Eiichiro Oda

First TV Show

One Piece

Latest TV Show

Netflix’s One Piece

First Episode Air Date

October 20, 1999

Cast

Mayumi Tanaka, Kazuya Nakai, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Christopher Sabat, Kerry Williams, Kappei Yamaguchi, Sonny Strait, Hiroaki Hirata, Eric Valette, Ikue Ootani