Although a live-action adaptation of Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation in Netflix’s One Piece live action is still a long way off, Universal Studios Japan has managed to create the most lifelike portrayal of the iconic form to date. Because he can now manage his elastic body in new ways, Monkey D. Luffy’s changes frequently involve spectacular power-ups. However, his most recent transformation has made him even more cartoonish, which has left many fans wondering how it might appear in real life.
Popular franchises inspire many of the rides and attractions found in theme parks like Universal Studios. While American theme parks are home to several superhero-themed rides, Universal Studios Japan boasts multiple rides based on popular anime shows. Among them is One Piece, which just unveiled a stunning teaser for its 2024 premiere, with real-life actors portraying the Straw Hats and a live-action take on Luffy’s absurd Gear 5 transformation.
Fans Can See Luffy’s Gear 5 Form In The Real World In Japan
An X user and a well-known One Piece fan, @pewpiece posted a brief advertisement showcasing several Straw Hat pirates, with Luffy stealing the show once again. The One Piece stage show, which is only available at Universal Studios Japan, has long been a popular attraction. However, as the new advertisement implies, this year’s event will include Gear 5 Luffy for the first time, incorporating its most recent original plot.
https://twitter.com/pewpiece/status/1802362612321054906
And some will tells us Dragon ball is more iconic
But Dragon ball don’t got a single good live adaptation 😭
— TheFable (@jendrekptsd) June 16, 2024
I'm not going if Sanji is going to rizz my girl up like that
— OdyseaGamingShop (@OdyseaGaming) June 16, 2024
Why wasn't the one piece live action like this 🥹
— Bend – SWITCH 2 🗣️ (@BennoLenno) June 16, 2024
Seems like they’re raising Live Action bar to new heights. Production costs must have skyrocketed though.
— emilios.eth (@emilios_eth) June 16, 2024
The One Piece Premier Show is an annual event that frequently features a lavish stage play with original stories set in the adored universe of superpowers and pirates created by Eiichiro Oda. For those lucky One Piece fans who can attend the show, amazing visual effects and superb acting have become a routine.
Their enthusiasm is fueled by audience engagement, faithfully detailed costumes, and dance performances. And the One Piece Premier Show ad featuring Gear 5 for 2024 suggests that this year’s show won’t be any different.
Universal Studios Japan Will Bring Gear 5 Form To Life
The official Universal Studios Japan website states that the One Piece Premier Show in 2024 would tell a completely new tale about the Straw Hat Crew battling strong enemies, inciting Luffy to use Gear 5 for the first time in the history of the live-action series. In the past, the performances have discovered inventive and enjoyable methods to realistically adapt Devil Fruit powers.
However, Luffy’s latest transformation depicts one of the most reality-bending Devil Fruits in One Piece, which adds to the excitement for fans to see how the well-established stage-play will bring the legendary Gear 5 transformation to life.
Although Netflix has only adapted the East Blue Saga thus far, the Netflix Live-Action One Piece series does a fantastic job of bringing Luffy’s and other Devil Fruit users’ abilities to life. The Netflix series will probably get to the part of One Piece‘s narrative where it has to make its own version of Gear 5 if it keeps doing an outstanding job adapting the manga.
Frequently asked questions
Whose Gear 5 Luffy ‘first look’ is the article actually about?
It is about Universal Studios Japan’s stage attraction, the annual ‘One Piece Premier Show,’ whose 2024 edition features Gear 5 Luffy for the first time — which the article calls the most lifelike live-action portrayal of the form to date. Despite the headline naming Iñaki Godoy, the piece does not show his or Netflix’s Gear 5; the comparison comes from a fan who tweeted ‘Why wasn’t the one piece live action like this.’
Has Netflix’s live-action One Piece shown Luffy’s Gear 5 yet?
No. As the article notes, Netflix has so far only adapted the East Blue Saga — the franchise’s earliest stretch of story — so Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation has not appeared on the show. Gear 5 is a much later power-up the series would only reach if it keeps adapting the manga forward.
What is Gear 5 in One Piece?
In Eiichiro Oda’s manga and Toei Animation’s anime, Gear 5 is one of Luffy’s most powerful transformations, tied to the awakening of his Devil Fruit. The article describes it as making Luffy ‘even more cartoonish’ and as one of ‘the most reality-bending Devil Fruits in One Piece,’ giving him exaggerated new control over his elastic body for spectacular power-ups — which is why a live-action stage version is notable.
