One Piece live-action spirals into another controversy as the official look of Vivi's cast leaves fans conflicted

One Piece live-action finds itself at the center of controversy after the official announcement of Princess Vivi’s casting left the fanbase sharply divided. Following a series of well-documented controversies, the latest firestorm surrounds the first look at Vivi in the Netflix adaptation, a look that has drawn mixed responses across social media.

Some fans appreciated the casting choice for providing a fresh perspective on the character. Conversely, others argued that it strayed too far from Eiichiro Oda’s work. As opinions clashed and discussions intensified, the series faced yet another round of scrutiny, reigniting the ongoing debate over fidelity and creativity in live-action adaptations of anime.

Princess Vivi’s casting in One Piece live-action divided the whole fandom

One Piece live-action is once again facing backlash after the official reveal of Princess Vivi for its second season. The production team cast Charithra Chandran, an actress of Tamil-Indian descent, to portray Vivi, also known as Miss Wednesday.

The announcement included a teaser showcasing Chandran in character, sporting dark teal hair. While Chandran expressed gratitude for the opportunity to embody the character, the difference in her skin tone from the original character design of Eiichiro Oda in the anime quickly sparked debate on social media.

"I get people don't like race swap or whatever, but for the queen of a desert kingdom I'm pretty cool with it tbh," a fan described.

"The character isn’t black," someone said.

"Boycott all shows with race-swaps," a fan mentioned.

"If Oda wanted her, then we need to respect that. He is the creator and he created the characters. So I trust his judgement," someone explained.

"Again, if Oda himself approves of the casting, that should be the end all be all. If you’re a true One Piece fan, you’d respect Oda and his wishes. There’s no room for hate. Flat out. Period," a person said.

Fan reactions to Chandran’s casting in One Piece live-action have been mixed. While some argued that the aesthetic contrast between blue hair and darker skin tone felt mismatched, others were simply disappointed that her portrayal did not hit the tone of the original performance. However, many fans celebrated the casting switch, viewing a brown-skinned Vivi as a good fit for the Alabasta desert setting.

There were also the discussions surrounding Alabasta’s real-world comparisons; some fans expressed confusion about casting an Indian actress for a genre-defining Arabic area. Others saw it as a true representation of the complexities of desert cultures.

Also Read: 7 most influential Amazon Lily women in One Piece, ranked

Final thoughts

Charithra Chandran as Princess Vivi in One Piece live-action (Image via Netflix)

The casting of Charithra Chandran as Princess Vivi in One Piece live-action has sparked controversy across multiple platforms. Some have praised her potential and argued her brown-skinned look fits thematically with the desert climate of Alabasta, while others have criticized the decision, citing differences from Vivi's original light-skinned design or, in some cases, perceived ethnic differences.

Other cast members, like Emily Rudd and Rob Colletti, stood by Chandran, and also creator Eiichiro Oda said that she is his original choice.

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About the author

Mudassir Kamran is an Anime Journalist at Sportskeeda and has over four years of experience covering the anime and manga industry. With a degree in Data Science, he brings analytical precision and structured research to his writing, ensuring factual accuracy and thoughtful insight in every piece.

His passion for anime was sparked by Death Note, whose psychological depth and gripping narrative inspired him to dive deeper into the medium. Over time, Mudassir developed a strong admiration for creators like Isayama sensei, Oda sensei, and Toriyama sensei—praising their visionary storytelling and global influence.

Mudassir maintains high standards in his journalism—cross-referencing Reddit discussions, official updates, and credible sources to provide clear and objective reporting. He respects reader privacy, avoids speculative claims, and strives to maintain a balanced perspective in all his coverage.

Outside the anime world, he enjoys non-fiction books, gaming, and spending time outdoors exploring new places.

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Edited by Mudassir Kamran