26 Anime Easter Eggs In Netflix’s One Piece Live-Action TV Show

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Netflix’s One Piece season 1.

There are dozens of anime and manga Easter eggs in Netflix’s live-action One Piece season 1, from namedrops to surprising cameos. Given how incredibly vast the world of One Piece is, the live-action adaptation had plenty to take from. Eiichiro Oda created countless characters and locations for One Piece, which has one of the most unique worldbuildings in all of pop culture. While One Piece season 1 only covered the first five One Piece arcs, the live-action adaptation successfully captured the scope of this world.

There were many differences between Netflix’s One Piece and the manga, including missing characters and different arcs merging into one. However, the Netflix series still managed to be faithful to Oda’s story, not to mention the small references that helped bring the One Piece world into live-action. From major character cameos to deep-cut namedrops, here are 26 anime Easter eggs in Netflix’s One Piece live-action series.

26 Young Mihawk, Shanks, & Smoker At Roger’s Execution

Younger versions of Mihawk, Shanks, and Smoker appear during Gold Roger’s execution. Those who are not familiar with One Piece would only get to meet those characters later in the live-action show, but those who know the story are aware of how many important characters were there for Roger’s execution. In addition to his cameo as a kid at the beginning, Smoker also appears in One Piece’s post-credits scene.

25 Familiar One Piece Ships At The Beginning

One Piece’s very first scene introduces audiences to a world that would soon enter the Great Age of Pirates. Before it cuts to Gold Roger’s execution, a few familiar ships are shown. This includes Gold Roger’s Oro Jackson and Mihawks’ paddleboat.

24 The News Coo Bird

Morgans’ World Economy Newspaper, which is distributed all over the One Piece world by the News Coo., appears a couple of times in the live-action show. Just like in the manga and the anime, the newspapers are delivered by birds. Luffy’s introduction sees him asking a News Coo. Bird to join his crew.

23 “War Continues On Broc Coli Island”

In one of the newspapers carried by the News Coo. bird, it is possible to read “War continues on Broc Coli Island.” The Broc Coli Island is located in the New World, and it appeared for the first time in One Piece Chapter #828. By then, the island had been at war for a few years. Considering One Piece’s timeskip, the timeline adds up.

22 Binks’ Sake Plays During Luffy’s Shanks Flashbacks

A version of Binks’ sake, a song that exists in-universe in One Piece, can be heard in One Piece episode 1’s Shanks flashbacks. One Piece Chapter #486 establishes that Luffy heard Binks’ Sake for the first time from Shanks’ crew. Therefore, it made sense to have it playing during the Windmill Village flashback. Binks’ sake was incorporated in One Piece’s OST, namely the “Binks’ Brew” track.

21 Zoro Fights The Original Mr. 7

Zoro’s introduction in the live-action One Piece show was very different from how it happens in the manga or anime. Instead of meeting the pirate hunter at Shells Town, viewers get to see Zoro in a fighting scene at least a day before he encounters Helmeppo and Axe-Hand Morgan. Still, Zoro fighting the Baroque Works’ original Mr. 7 canonically happened. Later in the manga, two members of One Piece’s Baroque Works discuss how Zoro killed a previous Mr. 7 when that person tried to recruit him to the organization.

20 Mr. 7’s Design Is Based On Oda’s Doodle

The original Mr. 7 never appeared in the One Piece manga or the One Piece anime, as Zoro killed him before Chapter 1. However, when asked to describe what the previous Mr. 7 that Zoro killed looked like, One Piece author Eiichiro Oda drew a doodle. This doodle was published in one of the special sections of the manga, and it became the closest thing to a canon appearance of the original Mr. 7. The live-action Mr. 7 design was based on this doodle in what was one of the most “deep-cut” One Piece Easter eggs.

19 Zoro Uses The Oni Giri On Mr. 7

Live-action Zoro is slightly more serious than anime Zoro, at least before the time skip. For example, Zoro does not call out his finishing moves in the live-action, as opposed to Luffy or Sanji. That said, some of Zoro’s signature techniques can be identified in the live-action. For example, Zoro uses Oni Giri as his finishing move against Mr. 7.

18 Wanted Posters For Cavendish, Foxy, & Jango

The wanted posters at Shells Town reference several One Piece pirates. Some of those had a significant role in the live-action, such as Alvida and Buggy. Others, however, teased characters that have yet to appear on the show or villains that did not make it to the live-action adaptation. There are wanted posters for Cavendish and Foxy, both of which only join the story much later. Jango, who did not appear in the Syrup Village episodes, also has a wanted poster.

17 Luffy’s “Cotton Candy” Line References Chopper

When Luffy first sees Buggy’s circus, he asks if they have cotton candy. This throwaway line is most likely a reference to Chopper, who loves cotton candy. One Piece season 1’s ending matches episode 45 of the anime, whereas Chopper debuts in episode 81. Therefore, should One Piece season 2 happen, it will not take long before one of the most iconic Straw Hat pirates makes the jump to live-action.

16 “Chibi Buggy” Appears In One Piece Episode 2

One Piece season 1 skipped the adventures of “Chibi Buggy” on the Island of Rare Animals ahead of his encounter with Alvida. Instead, Buggy was captured by Arlong and ended up following the Straw Hats to Arlong Park. However, the Chibi Buggy design briefly appeared in live-action at the end of episode 2. Still missing most of his body, Buggy looked exactly like he did in the aftermath of the Orange Town arc.

15 Orange Town’s Chouchou Has A Blink-Or-Miss Appearance

Chouchou, the dog from Orange Town, appears very briefly in One Piece episode 2 after the Straw Hat pirates save the villagers. In the One Piece anime, the dog has a much more significant role. Overall, the events of the Orange Town arc were quite different in the live-action. The Buggy segment of One Piece’s live-action show takes place entirely in Buggy’s circus, whereas in the manga it takes place in the streets of Orange Town.

14 Mirror Ball Island’s Funky Bar Is Referenced In One Piece Episode 3

When Zoro is trying to remember where he knows Klahadore from, he mentions the Funky Bar. The Funky Bar is located in the Mirror Ball Island, which appeared for the first time in One Piece Chapter #135 and was brought to the screen in the Jango’s Dance Carnival feature. Therefore, while Jango is not in One Piece season 1, he is referenced at least twice – the poster and the Funky Bar namedrop.

13 Kuro Cutting Luffy References Post-Time Skip Scar

Similar to the manga and the anime, Kuro and Luffy have a brief fight at the end of One Piece episode 4. Luffy defeats Kuro, but not before getting hit by the Captain of the Black Pirates’ claws. The pattern in which Kuro tried to cut Luffy matches Luffy’s chest scar from the post-time skip One Piece.

12 Luffy’s Failed Jolly Roger Is Exactly Like The One In The Anime

Luffy’s first Jolly Roger has the exact same design from the manga and the anime. The only difference is that, in the original story, Luffy comes up with a Jolly Roger for the Straw Hat pirates after they meet Usopp. In the live-action, Luffy makes the Jolly Roger before the Syrup Village episodes.

11 Sanji Mentions Loguetown’s Bluefin Elephant Tuna

Sanji mentions the Bluefin Elephant at the Baratie’s Kitchen in One Piece episode 5. The Bluefin Elephant is a special type of fish that Sanji found in Loguetown, which had ingredients from many parts of the world. Loguetown should be introduced right at the beginning of One Piece season 2, based on how season 1 ended.

10 Kong Is Mentioned On The Credits’ Map

Kong, the World Government’s Commander in Chief, is referenced in One Piece’s ending credits map. Kong became the World Government’s Commander in Chief sometime between Gold Roger’s death and the beginning of One Piece. He was previously the Marine’s Fleet Admiral.

9 Each One Piece Title Card References A Main Character

Each One Piece episode had a special title card. For example, One Piece season 1, episode 1’s title card was designed after Luffy, whereas episode 2’s was designed after Buggy. Some of them also referenced specific designs from the anime, such as Usopp’s nose and Sanji’s eyebrows. Sanji’s signature “heart eyes” were also referenced in one of the title cards.

8 Noland & Jaya Are Mentioned

Mont Blanc Noland, the admiral who went to the Grand Line multiple times and lived to tell the story, was referenced in One Piece season 1, episode 6. Jaya, the island where Noland found a city of gold, was referenced in One Piece episode 7. The story of Mont Blanc Nolan was first told in One Piece Chapter #286.

7 Zoro’s Sense Of Direction Is Manga Accurate

When Zoro and Luffy reunite outside of Kaya’s house in One Piece episode 4, Luffy asks Zoro how he managed to find him. Zoro says that he was not trying to find Luffy but was instead trying to get back into the house. Zoro getting lost could not have been more One Piece manga accurate.