"He's Putting His Life on the Line": Mackenyu’s Moving Tribute to Iñaki Godoy’s Dedication to 'One Piece'

The wait is finally over! The Netflix live-action series "One Piece" Season 2 officially sets sail on Tuesday, March 10th!After the massive global success of Season 1, the story finally moves into the "Grand Line." As the world of "One Piece" expands even further, fans can look forward to the highly anticipated introductions of characters like Vivi and Chopper.

Animate Times sat down with Iñaki Godoy (Luffy) and Mackenyu Arata (Zoro) for an exclusive dual interview.We dove deep into the highlights of Season 2, their evolved performances and action sequences, and the strengthening bond between the cast members.

Watching them interact, it’s clear that Iñaki and Mackenyu embody the spirit of Luffy and Zoro as if they stepped right out of the manga. Behind that natural chemistry lies a profound, sincere dedication to their roles. This is a must-read for fans looking to discover the secret behind the "authenticity" of the live-action Straw Hat Crew!

※ Warning: This article contains spoilers. Proceed with caution if you haven't seen the new season!

"I want to do the Nose Chopsticks!" — Pushing for the Fan-Favorite Gag

—— One of the most striking moments for Luffy this season was the original scene where he sings "Bink’s Sake" to Laboon. This is not only a song of memories for Laboon but a vital piece of the "One Piece" mythos. Iñaki, what kind of emotions did you pour into this performance?

Iñaki Godoy (Luffy): In that scene, I really wanted to express Luffy’s pure joy and the budding friendship he feels with Laboon.I think Luffy felt that singing "Bink’s Sake" was the only way to truly save Laboon’s heart in that moment. When he actually starts singing and realizes it’s working, there’s this sense of satisfaction mixed with a huge sigh of relief. That’s what I tried to capture in my voice.And of course, it’s the exact moment a bond is formed between a boy and a whale. There’s something so beautiful about two souls connecting through a song.

—— For Zoro, the standout highlight has to be the "100-man slasher" sequence. I was particularly impressed by the live-action original touch where Zoro sees flashes of Mihawk with every strike.

Mackenyu (Zoro): Oh yeah, that happened.

—— It felt like a direction that made Zoro’s internal emotional state much more tangible. What were you focusing on during that intense action sequence?

Mackenyu: It’s true that in pure action scenes, a character’s internal emotions can sometimes get lost. Even though it's a "hallucination" of Mihawk, having that dialogue and interaction makes it very clear what Zoro is thinking and how he’s growing through the heat of battle. I think it’s a great scene that only a live-action adaptation could pull off so effectively.Regarding the action itself, rather than me doing anything specific, I think it’s thanks to the script including this non-manga scene that allowed me to perform action that clearly communicates Zoro’s state of mind to the audience.

—— Season 2 is packed with these little "Easter eggs" for the manga fans. For example, Luffy’s signature party trick: the "Nose Chopsticks" (Hana-waribashi).

Iñaki: I saw the "Nose Chopsticks" in the manga and thought it was hilarious, so I really wanted to try it myself! I actually went to the showrunners and asked, "Can I please do the Nose Chopsticks in the live-action version?"To convince them, I ordered sushi to my apartment and took the chopsticks that came with it and stuck them in my nose. I sent them the photo as proof: "See? I can actually do it!" They loved it and let me do it for the shoot! Of course, we were very careful to do it safely so I didn't get hurt.I know the "Nose Chopsticks" is a legendary gag in Japanese comedy culture, so I really hope the Japanese fans—and fans everywhere—get a kick out of it!

—— Another scene fans will love is Zoro carrying Chopper on his shoulder. We see Zoro do that occasionally in the manga and anime. Mackenyu, how did it feel filming those moments?

Mackenyu: The feeling is completely different from any other project I work on. When we recreate these iconic scenes from "One Piece"—a series that is so deeply loved worldwide—my co-stars and I get genuinely excited.In that specific scene, I had this thought: "I might be the only person on Earth right now who gets to carry Chopper on his shoulder." It was such a joyful moment, and as a "One Piece" fan myself, it’s a treasure I’ll never forget.I haven't seen the final edited scene yet, but I remember that moment of filming so vividly.

"There are so many scenes that fans have been waiting for"

—— With original scenes, homages, and surprising character cameos, Season 2 is full of live-action charm. What are the "hype points" you want fans to look out for?

Iñaki: The world of "One Piece" is filled with so many stories and characters. As the original manga has progressed, we’ve started to see the "big picture" of the narrative. Season 2 is built by firmly incorporating those foundational elements.We hid a lot of small details in Season 1, but Season 2 turns the heat up with even more interesting characters and "gimmicks" that will make manga fans cheer. Even the original elements we added don't distract from the story; they act as an essence that makes the live-action world feel richer.

Mackenyu: I think Season 2 includes a lot of those "I really want to see this" scenes that fans—myself included—have been waiting for.I want to say "watch everything," but for Zoro specifically, you definitely shouldn't miss the scene where he gets his new swords in Loguetown, or the moments on Drum Island where he’s acting like he’s not cold even though it’s freezing (laughs). Some of these scenes take place in slightly different locations than the manga, which is also a fun point.But as Iñaki said, even when things differ from the original source, we’ve filmed them in a way that makes you go, "Yeah, this is definitely the world of One Piece." You can enjoy it by noticing things like, "Oh, this was originally on land, but here it's on a ship." That’s the fun of this adaptation.

Iñaki is "Luffy, for better or worse"

—— Tell us more about your impressions of each other and your relationship off-camera.

Iñaki: We’ve been together for a long time since we met when I was 18. Whether it’s training or stunts, I get so much Inspiration and Drive from him because he is such a professional.During the Season 2 shoot, we played board games together and...Mackenyu: We went fishing, too.Iñaki: He’s a truly great guy and a wonderful person.

Mackenyu: You’re praising me too much (laughs). Even Eiichiro Oda was surprised by Iñaki; I truly believe no one else could play Luffy. He’s Luffy, for better or worse.

—— "For better or worse?" (laughs).

Mackenyu: But seeing the effort he puts in to get even closer to the character, you can tell he’s putting his life on the line for this role.

—— Is the relationship between you two similar to the dynamic between Luffy and Zoro? Fans are dying to know how you guys communicate normally.

Mackenyu: Our real-life dynamic is pretty much exactly like the manga. For example, Iñaki will be running around making a scene like Luffy, shouting "Let's go over there!", while I’m just standing in the back like this (crosses arms), just watching him... that happens all the time (laughs). Or I’m just sleeping, like Zoro.

—— (Laughs).

Mackenyu: There are many moments where I think to myself, "We really are like Luffy and Zoro just jumped out of the pages."

—— Finally, tell us about any new challenges you took on for Season 2 or how you’ve "powered up" since the last season.

Mackenyu: For Season 2, I brought a new Japanese action team with me to the set. Because of that, Zoro is going to show off some next-level action sequences.If Season 1 was just a warm-up for Zoro’s action, Season 2 is where you really see his true strength.

Iñaki: For me, I really wanted to bring more of Luffy’s "Quirk" and uniqueness from the manga into the live-action world.As I thought about how to portray him, I realized that Luffy isn't necessarily a character you "relate" to or can easily understand. He is an existence that influences everyone around him and inspires them, but in reality, no one can actually be like him.Once I realized that for Season 2, I was able to play Luffy more boldly and decisively as an actor. I focused heavily on realistically expressing that special charm and energy that Luffy possesses in the manga.

[Interview by Marimo / Edited by Inari Ogawa]

About the Author

Marimo

A freelance writer with a devoted love for Zoro and "One Piece." Covers a wide range of topics including anime, "Oshikatsu" (fandom culture), romance, marriage, and sleep.[Read More]

Netflix Series "One Piece" Product Information

Seasons 1 & 2 now streaming exclusively.

Cast

Monkey D. Luffy: Iñaki Godoy (Mayumi Tanaka)
Roronoa Zoro: Mackenyu (Kazuya Nakai)
Nami: Emily Rudd (Akemi Okamura)
Usopp: Jacob Romero Gibson (Kappei Yamaguchi)
Sanji: Taz Skylar (Hiroaki Hirata)
Mr. 9: Daniel Lasker
Mr. 5: Camrus Johnson
Miss Valentine: Jazzara Jaslyn
Mr. 3: David Dastmalchian
Dorry: Werner Coetser
Broggy: Brendan Murray
Crocus: Clive Russell
Smoker: Callum Kerr
Tashigi: Julia Rehwald
Wapol: Rob Colletti
Dalton: Ty Keogh
Dr. Kureha: Katey Sagal
Dr. Hiriluk: Mark Harelik
Nefertari Cobra: Sendhil Ramamurthy
Miss Wednesday: Charithra Chandran
Mr. 0: Joe Manganiello
Miss All-Sunday: Lera Abova (Yuriko Yamaguchi)
Dragon: Rigo Sanchez
Igaram: Tyonda Thomas
Ipponmatsu: James Hiroyuki Liao
Miss Goldenweek: Sophia Anne Caruso
Chess: Mark Penwill
Kuromarimo: Anton David Jeftha
Tony Tony Chopper: (Ikue Otani)