With Netflix’s live-action One Piece released, fans of the manga and anime can finally see these amazing worlds brought to life and may be wondering where it was filmed. One Piece was written by Eiichiro Oda and would later be adapted into the ongoing anime series. This beloved manga is the next adaptation Netflix has taken on following its failed Cowboy Bebop adaptation. The streamer seems to have put a lot more effort into making sure the One Piece series doesn’t suffer a similar fate.
In behind-the-scenes videos leading up to its release, it was revealed that filming would take place in South Africa. Unfortunately, at the time, the videos didn’t delve too much into where specifically it would be filmed. However, not too long after the video, it was revealed where most of One Piece was made, along with two other locations.
3 Cape Town, South Africa
Covered by Cape Town ETC, the specific location where most of the filming was done was in Cape Town, South Africa. The capital of South Africa, this area has a lot to offer in the way of scenery with its mountains and luscious forest environments, as well as a fantastic coastline. It was here, with the help of the local film studio, that the crew brought many of the massive One Piece sets and ships into reality, such as the Baratie, the Windmill Village, and The Going Merry. Due to the more exaggerated world of One Piece, it did mean that most of the environments had to be built instead of using real-life establishments.
2 Canary Islands, Spain
A popular destination spot, the Canary Islands in Spain were also chosen as a series filming location (via The Cinemaholic). This area is quite a vacation attraction with its beaches and natural landscapes, and the rich culture to be found within the city offers a colorful experience. While it is unclear what specific scenes were filmed in the Canary Islands, the breathtaking environments made it an obvious choice for the series, particularly for exterior and background shots. With most of the work being done in South Africa, it’s quite possible that filming done in Spain was done with a separate crew for footage roll.
1 Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico
The last place that helped in bringing Netflix’s One Piece to life was no other than Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Xcaret is actually a resort within Mexico. Surrounded by a beautiful forest, the resort itself is broken up among the Caribbean Sea and provides plenty for visitors to do. There’s no information as to what exact scenes were filmed there, but its amazing environment blends in perfectly with the other locations. With the amount of time spent out on the sea in the show, it makes a lot of sense as to why these exotic locales were chosen.
Seeing the final product of Netflix’s One Piece, it’s clear that these locations and sets paid off in the end. The blend of on-location filming as well as the well-crafted sets makes for a world that feels lived-in, which may not have been the case had the production relied solely on CGI to replicate the fantastical worlds. Moving forward, it will be fascinating to see how the crew pulls off some of the more elaborate One Piece locations, such as Totto Land or Zou, but the dedication in season 1 is already quite promising.
Sources: Cape Town ETC,The Cinemaholic
