Netflix's live-action adaptation of One Piece introduced the iconic character Tony Tony Chopper in the seventh episode of its second season. The cast discussed the complex production process involving multiple performers to portray the human-reindeer hybrid. Chopper joins the Straw Hat Pirates by the season's end, with more characters teased for future episodes.
Netflix's "One Piece" Season 2, now streaming, features the debut of Tony Tony Chopper, the human-reindeer hybrid doctor from Eiichiro Oda's manga, in episode seven. Fans had anticipated this moment since the live-action series was announced, with concerns about adapting the fuzzy character realistically.
The Straw Hat Pirates cast—Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Taz Skylar as Sanji, Emily Rudd as Nami, and Jacob Romero as Usopp—shared insights into the production during a group interview. Showrunners Matt Owens and Joe Tracz approached the challenge seriously. Mikaela Hoover provided the voice and motion capture for Chopper, carrying his tragic backstory. On set, N’kone Mametja served as the proxy performer, while Gavin Gomes portrayed the supersized "heavy point" version in full prosthetics.
Romero explained the collaborative effort: “There’s like eight or nine people that go into creating the experience that Chopper is, from on set to its completion.” He noted Mametja's emotional presence and a stuffed version of Chopper used for blocking scenes. Skylar joked that the stuffy was “a great listener” and could be requested for company. Rudd added, “We do so many takes for him,” with a laugh.
The cast praised the performers' distinct personalities: Skylar described Gomes as “a big, mischievous, energetic dude,” while Rudd called Mametja “the sweetest person you’ll ever meet in your entire life, just so gentle and warm.” Skylar credited Hoover: “Mikaela brings all the character to him.” Romero emphasized the tangible elements: “It’s a layered production, but just like all the sets and everything else, there’s something there that we could reach out to and interact with and help build our emotional connection with this character.”
By season's end, Chopper joins the crew on the Going Merry alongside Princess Vivi, played by Charithra Chandran. Both will feature prominently in Season 3, currently filming in South Africa. The season also teases Dragon, which Godoy called “a cool thing” that “fans that know what’s up” will appreciate. On adapting the expansive anime, Godoy said, “I think it’s something that we’ll just see along the way. And as long as it makes sense... I don’t think we have an answer.” Romero affirmed his long-term commitment: “For the next 150 years, I’m fully committed.”