ONE PIECE has a woke score of 44/100, which means it is mixed, with noticeable woke elements. ONE PIECE is the Netflix live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s long-running manga following young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew on high-seas adventures in search of the ultimate treasure while building friendships and clashing with corrupt authorities and rival pirates. Seasons 1 and 2 (available as of the March 2026 review point) stay faithful to the source’s action, humor, and themes of personal dreams and freedom across fantastical islands and battles. Audience-visible woke elements stay limited to casting choices, including a transgender actor in an expanded supporting role and some season 2 appearance debates, without modern identity lectures, plot rewrites, or activist messaging shaping the story.

Is there DEI in ONE PIECE?

The biggest factors in our score are Representation / casting choices, Legacy character or canon changes, Anti-woke backlash / 'too woke' complaints. With his straw hat and ragtag crew, young pirate Monkey D. Luffy goes on an epic voyage for treasure.

TV Show review

ONE PIECE

Woke Score

44/ 100

Lower is better

ActionSci-FiFantasyAdventure

Breakdown

Factors & Ratings

These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for ONE PIECE.

Representation / casting choices

Diverse international cast fits the story’s global pirate setting; includes transgender man Morgan Davies as male character Koby with expanded season 1 role (publicized as LGBTQ+ representation). Season 2 Vivi casting (Indian-heritage actress for pale-skinned manga character) sparked fan debate on source accuracy versus diversity. Creator personally approved all choices as true to character essence.

45 / 100

Political / ideological dialogue

Story shows a corrupt World Government and tyrannical elites as antagonists, with characters fighting for freedom and justice. These elements come straight from the original manga and serve the adventure plot without modern activist reframing or current-events analogies.

12 / 100

Identity-driven story themes

Narrative stays centered on individual dreams, friendship, and personal growth rather than group identity, sexuality, race, or systemic issues. No prominent queer, feminist, or identity-politics character arcs or messaging appear in either season.

8 / 100

ONE PIECE

Factors & Ratings

Summary

Main Cast

Director & Crew