Movies Explore: One Piece Season 2: Live-Action Changes vs Manga & Anime (What Gets Cut)

ONE PIECE Season 2 vs the Manga/Anime: Biggest Changes and What Got Cut

Updated: February 10, 2026

Netflix’s ONE PIECE Season 2 premieres on March 10, 2026. Since it hasn’t aired yet, anything labeled “cut” below is either (1) confirmed not to be in Season 2 based on the officially stated arc coverage, or (2) a best-guess based on the trailer/teasers, casting announcements, and the way Season 1 condensed material.

Spoiler note: This post discusses story beats from the manga/anime up through Drum Island (roughly manga Chapters 96–154).

TL;DR

Season 2 is officially “Into the Grand Line” and is expected to cover Loguetown → Reverse Mountain (Twin Capes) → Whisky Peak → Little Garden → Drum Island.
Alabasta proper is the big “missing” chunk (so far), which is the biggest confirmed “cut” from this phase of the story.
Expect compression: fewer minor characters, fewer “one-off” gags, and faster transitions between islands.
Expect earlier villain setup: more Baroque Works presence and more “big picture” plotting than the manga’s early Grand Line stretch.
Expect selective realism: some anime-only beats (and some very “cartoon logic” moments) will be reworked, not copied 1:1.

What’s confirmed for Season 2 (and what that implies)

Netflix has positioned Season 2 as the big leap into the Grand Line, and the officially stated arc coverage centers on the run from Loguetown through Drum Island. That matters because it tells you what the show has time for—and what it almost certainly doesn’t.

Arc (manga/anime)	Manga chapters	Anime episodes	Why it’s a “change magnet” in live-action
Loguetown	96–100	45, 48–53	Lots of fan-favorite moments in a short arc; anime includes filler that’s easy to drop.
Reverse Mountain (Twin Capes)	101–105	62–63	Big set pieces (Reverse Mountain + Laboon) that may be streamlined for pacing and VFX.
Whisky Peak	106–114	64–67	Many bounty hunters/agents; prime target for character-combining and “logic fixes.”
Little Garden	115–129	70–77	Giants + dinosaurs + Mr. 3’s wax; likely to be visually stunning but trimmed.
Drum Island	130–154	78–91	Chopper’s introduction + emotional flashback arc; likely the season’s heart and finale.

The practical takeaway: Season 2 is covering a lot of ground (five arcs) and introducing a wave of major new players (Smoker, Tashigi, Vivi, Baroque Works agents, giants, and Chopper). That almost guarantees restructuring.

Biggest changes vs the manga/anime (likely)

1) Faster island “handoffs” (less downtime between arcs)

The manga (and especially the anime) can afford long travel beats, comedic detours, and extended fights. Live-action seasons usually can’t. The result is often a tighter chain of cause-and-effect: one island’s ending pushes directly into the next island’s problem.

2) Earlier “season villain” framing (Baroque Works feels present from the jump)

In the manga/anime, Baroque Works grows from mysterious agents to a looming shadow. Live-action seasons tend to signal the big threat early, so casual viewers instantly understand what connects these islands.

3) A “logic pass” on famously weird beats (without losing the fun)

Some moments are iconic in animation but can read differently with real actors and grounded stunt choreography. When the show changes something, it’s often because:

it protects a character’s core motivation in a more realistic tone,
it reduces the number of moving parts (characters/locations/props) needed to tell the same story point,
it focuses screen time on emotional payoffs (especially on Drum Island).

4) Fewer “named” minor characters (combined roles)

Expect the live-action to consolidate small roles—especially in Whisky Peak and Little Garden—so that fewer characters do more narrative work. This is one of the cleanest ways to keep the story understandable for new viewers while still hitting the big beats fans care about.

What got cut (confirmed)

Alabasta (the full kingdom conflict) is not part of this Season 2 arc run

The clearest confirmed “cut” is the absence of the Alabasta Arc as a main storyline. Season 2’s publicly discussed arc scope stops at Drum Island, which means the big desert war, key mid-saga set pieces, and the full payoff against the saga’s top threat are not the “main event” here.

Anime-only filler in Loguetown is unlikely to survive intact

The Loguetown anime block includes filler episodes and extended sequences that the manga doesn’t treat as essential. Live-action adaptations almost always drop filler unless it directly improves character arcs or sets up future seasons.

Arc-by-arc: biggest changes and likely trims

Loguetown (Ch. 96–100): iconic moments, tighter structure

Loguetown is short in the manga but packed with “future of the series” energy: legacy, destiny, and the first real sense that the world is bigger than the East Blue. In live-action, that usually means the arc becomes a high-speed launch ramp into the Grand Line.

Likely trimmed: side quests that don’t change the outcome (especially anime-only diversions).
Likely expanded: tension around the Marines and the “you’re not in East Blue anymore” vibe.
Likely re-ordered: shopping/sword beats may be positioned to keep momentum toward the climax.

Reverse Mountain / Twin Capes (Ch. 101–105): Laboon becomes a season-scale moment

Reverse Mountain is a short arc, but it introduces several huge “Grand Line rules.” In live-action, it’s also a chance to show scale: insane geography, insane weather, and creatures you’d never see in Season 1.

Likely compressed: small travel beats around entering the Grand Line (to get to Laboon faster).
Likely emphasized: the emotional core of Laboon’s story (because it’s a clean “One Piece” thesis: dreams, promises, and stubborn hope).
Potential rework: how the crew gets from “confused” to “understands the situation,” to keep the scene readable.

Whisky Peak (Ch. 106–114): the arc most likely to be “rewired”

Whisky Peak is beloved, but it’s also full of things live-action typically streamlines: a huge crowd of bounty hunters, rapid-fire fights, and a few misunderstandings that can feel out-of-character if played straight.

Luffy and Zoro Whiskey Peak

Most likely “cut or changed” scene: the most controversial misunderstanding-based conflict (many fans expect a rewrite).
Likely trimmed: the number of named bounty hunters/agents (combined roles).
Likely clarified: the “mystery” element—who’s lying, who’s undercover, and what the crew should do next.

Little Garden (Ch. 115–129): giants and dinosaurs, but with fewer detours

Little Garden is where the series dares you to accept the Grand Line as a mythic place: giants dueling for a century, prehistoric monsters, and villain schemes that feel like fairy tales with knives. Live-action can absolutely do this—but usually by selecting the most important set pieces and building around them.

Likely trimmed: repeated action beats that don’t change the outcome.
Likely preserved: the giants’ honor story (it’s central to why this arc matters).
Likely simplified: some “how exactly did that work?” mechanics in the traps and escapes, keeping the feeling without the clutter.

Drum Island (Ch. 130–154): expect emotional priority and a “season finale” shape

Drum Island is a turning point: it’s where the series proves it can break your heart in the middle of a goofy pirate adventure. If Season 2 is built like Season 1, Drum Island is likely to get the most runtime and the cleanest narrative focus.

Likely expanded: character emotion and the “why should you care about Chopper?” argument.
Likely tightened: the mechanical steps of getting from point A to point B on the island (climbs, chases, repeated beat-downs).
Likely upgraded: visual storytelling for the winter setting and the medical theme, so it feels distinct from East Blue.

Baroque Works: why Season 2 may feel “different” from the manga/anime

The early Grand Line arcs are structurally like a staircase: each island introduces a slightly bigger idea until the saga’s main conflict finally ignites. A live-action season tends to “flatten” that staircase by making the connecting thread louder earlier.

If Season 2 leans hard into Baroque Works from early episodes, it changes the viewing experience:

Higher tension sooner: even comedy scenes can carry a “someone is watching” undertone.
Cleaner motivation: islands feel less random, more like stepping stones toward a destination.
More villain POV: audiences may see planning and recruitment that the Straw Hats don’t see yet.

Official teaser (YouTube)

Behind the scenes: why “what gets cut” often comes down to physics

The manga can introduce ten characters in a page, give them wild silhouettes, and move on. Live-action has to cast them, costume them, build their props, and choreograph scenes around them. That’s why adaptations often combine characters, shorten sequences, and convert multiple small beats into one “signature” set piece.

What Reddit Theories Say About this (and what Reddit wants changed)

Reddit expectation #1: “Eight episodes means some arcs get merged.”

A consistent theme in fan discussion is that an eight-episode season can’t give every island equal breathing room. The common prediction is a “two big anchors” structure: a fast front half that gets the crew into the Grand Line and meets the new recurring players, then a heavier back half centered on Drum Island.

The episodes and runtimes of Season 2

Reddit expectation #2: “Whisky Peak’s most controversial moment gets rewritten.”

Another recurring point is that some manga/anime misunderstandings are fun in a heightened medium but can make characters look careless in live-action. When fans talk about “cuts,” they often mean “keep the point, change the method.”

Luffy and Zoro Whiskey Peak

FAQ

Is ONE PIECE Season 2 out yet?

No. As of February 10, 2026, Season 2 has not released. It premieres on March 10, 2026.

How far does Season 2 go in the manga/anime?

Based on the officially stated arc lineup, Season 2 covers the stretch from Loguetown through Drum Island (roughly manga Chapters 96–154), setting the stage for the next major saga steps.

What’s the biggest confirmed “cut” from the manga/anime?

The full Alabasta Arc is not part of this season’s announced arc run (Season 2’s coverage stops at Drum Island).

Will there still be comedy in Season 2?

Almost certainly—ONE PIECE doesn’t work without it. But live-action comedy often becomes faster and more character-based, with fewer long gag chains.

Where should I start reading/watching if I want to compare immediately?

Start at manga Chapter 96 (Loguetown) or the anime’s Loguetown run (Episode 45 and Episodes 48–53), then continue through Drum Island.

One Piece Season 2: Live-Action Changes vs Manga & Anime (What Gets Cut)