Theoretically, Attack on Titan can work extremely well in live-action format, as long as it gets the Titans and the fights right. The rest of the story and setting are more grounded. Yet, the Attack on Titan live-action movies (2015) failed miserably with a mostly negative reception. On the contrary, One Piece live action, which was unimaginable until a few years ago, has excelled both critically and commercially.
It has become an aspirational standard for live-action adaptations. So, what made Netflix’s One Piece work that Attack on Titan live-action failed to accomplish? To begin with, Attack on Titan took some major creative liberties with its approach.
Attack on Titan Live Action Is Nothing Like Its Source Material
Attack on Titan live action is divided into two movies, which were released in 2015. It becomes clear in the first movie that it’s not trying to be faithful, but it still has its merits. The visuals were better than anyone would have expected, and the Titans looked intimidating. The actors were well-cast, although the characterization was debatable and nothing like the original.
Beyond these few strengths, the movie has an original approach to everything. The cast isn’t the same as the anime or the manga. The live-action removes some important characters like Levi Ackerman and introduces new characters like Shikishima. From the basement reveal to the Nine Titans, the lore of the movie is completely different. The same is true for the characters’ internal dynamics and their goals.
The live-action crafts a world of its own, which is intriguing to an extent, but nothing like the one fans followed in Hajime Isayama’s manga. So, completely disregarding the source material was the primary mistake of the live-action. What comes next are the fans.
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Unlike AoT, One Piece Live Action Got Two Crucial Things Right
From the cast announcement and promotions to the premiere of the series, One Piece Live Action prioritized the fan experience, or so it felt like. The makers put a sincere effort into building a connection with the audience. This includes both new fans and the pre-existing ones.
For new fans, the live action had all the core elements that served as a perfect introduction to Eiichiro Oda’s world and vision. The characters had great chemistry. The storytelling struck a good balance between goofy and serious. For pre-existing fans, the live action has gone out of its way to ensure an authentic experience.
| Movies | IMDb Ratings | Rotten Tomatoes Ratings |
| One Piece Live-Action | 8.3 | 86% |
| Attack on Titan Part 1 | 5.0 | 47% |
| Attack on Titan: End of the World (live-action part 2) | 4.7 | 50% |
It must be noted that these are the ratings at the time of the writing of this article.
The best example of this is Smoker smoking two cigars at once in the season 2 trailer. The idea behind it is bizarre for the live-action setting, but it has spoken directly to fans. Contrary to that, Attack on Titan live action fails on both fronts. It doesn’t introduce new fans to the complex and gradual progression of the series. The cast is not the same either.
So, both new and pre-existing fans are getting an experience that’s not even half-baked. OPLA focused on the heart of One Piece, whereas AoT live action disregarded it, and that’s precisely why the former worked so well while the latter failed miserably. Do you agree with this analysis? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The Attack on Titan live-action movies (Part 1 & 2) are currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
