It's no secret that the One Piece live-action series didn't fully adapt the manga and anime, choosing to focus on the main storyline and removing certain characters from the show. Still, there were a lot of awesome Easter eggs and references throughout the Netflix adaptation. For instance, showrunner Steve Maeda has just confirmed Chou Chou's surprise appearance at the end of Episode 2.
In One Piece Episode 2, Luffy, Nami, and Zoro are captured by Buggy the Clown who has imprisoned Orange Town. The trio manage to defeat the clown and liberate the town, much to the delight of the residents. At the end of the episode, the Orange Town mayor provides the crew with some provisions as some residents come to thank them. One of those characters who bid the pirates goodbye is a fluffy little dog.
That dog immediately had viewers speculating that he was the live-action version of Chouchou, who had a tragic backstory in the manga and anime. Not surprisingly, Steve Maeda confirmed the identity of the pup and celebrated his cameo.
Who is Chouchou in One Piece?
Chouchou is a small dog from Orange Town who is known for his unceasing vigil over the pet food shop founded by his deceased owner Hocker. He initially terrorizes the imprisoned Luffy but later becomes an ally of the Straw Hats Pirates when Luffy saves a box of pet food after the shop is destroyed by Mohji and the lion Richie.
Although Chou Chou didn't get to play a larger role in the One Piece live-action series, it is awesome to see that the loyal little dog got some screen time in the show. Perhaps there will be a special episode focusing on Chouchou's story in the future. In the meantime, we'll have to wait for the second season of the Netflix show.
For now, Netflix has not yet renewed One Piece for a second season. Nevertheless, fans are already anticipating a Season 2 announcement in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for updates on this story. In the meantime, all eight episodes of the first season are now available on the streaming service.
