Summary
- Netflix has a new perfect successor to Cobra Kai in One Piece live-action.
- One Piece and Cobra Kai are similar in themes of friendship, teamwork, and legacy.
- Cobra Kai surprisingly feels like a live-action anime adaptation, embracing adventure and friendship.
Netflix already has the perfect replacement for new Karate Kid movie coming up in 2025 as well, Cobra Kai’s final season feels like a conclusion to the story that began in 1984 with The Karate Kid. Cobra Kai’s finale will have to deliver a satisfying ending not only for iconic characters like Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence but also for a new generation of heroes.
Miguel Diaz, the “karate kid” of Cobra Kai, was the first of many young characters introduced on the show. Cobra Kai’s premise may have been based on The Karate Kid nostalgia, but the show quickly grew beyond it. Seeing returning characters from the Karate Kid movies on the show is always great, but Cobra Kai didn’t become so successful only because of cameos and callbacks. The series introduced Karate Kid to newer generations and became a hit among audiences of all ages. Replacing Cobra Kai won’t be easy, but there is one Netflix show that can follow its legacy.
One Piece Live-Action Is Netflix’s Perfect Cobra Kai Replacement
Netflix’s One Piece live-action premiered in 2024
Netflix’s live-action One Piece show is the streamer’s perfect spiritual successor to Cobra Kai. Despite a known cancelation problem in which promising series with dedicated fanbases don’t always continue for multiple seasons, Netflix’s list of original productions includes some of the biggest shows of the moment. The streamer has also made a name for itself when it comes to shows aimed at young adults and younger audiences in general, particularly with global hits like Stranger Things and Wednesday. While Cobra Kai started as a YouTube Red production, it has been a Netflix original since season 3.
When Cobra Kai first arrived on Netflix, it was deemed by many as the streamer’s potential Stranger Things replacement for when the period sci-fi show would come to an end. While Cobra Kai is not science-fiction nor does it deal with fantastical elements, it does share some similarities with Stranger Things, including but not limited to the 1980s nostalgia. Funnily enough, Stranger Things and Cobra Kai are set to conclude around the same time, as both shows are returning for one final season. Cobra Kai wasn’t Stranger Things’ replacement after all, but One Piece can be Cobra Kai’s successor.
One Piece & Cobra Kai Are More Similar Thank You Think
One Piece and Cobra Kai are both about friendship and dreams
At first, it may seem like One Piece and Cobra Kai are completely different shows. The live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s massively popular manga tells the story of Monkey D. Luffy as he forms his Straw Hat pirate crew and sets sail to the Grand Line in search of the mythical One Piece treasure left by the late Pirate King. The world of One Piece includes countless characters and locations, from fish-men islands full of giants. Not many fictional universes are as rich as the one from One Piece, a story that combines fantasy and adventure.
Cobra Kai is not an adaptation of any IP other than The Karate Kid, yet it feels like a better live-action version of beloved manga and anime than most proper Hollywood adaptations.
Cobra Kai, on the other hand, is a legacy sequel to the Karate Kid movies about karate rivalries. However, going beyond their premises, Cobra Kai and One Piece have a lot of things in common. Both follow a group of characters who have a lot of potential and are trying to find their place in the world while fighting for their dreams. Cobra Kai and One Piece are all about friendship and the power of teamwork, although they also include a lot of rivalries and treacherous villains. Both stories also deal with legacy and combine old and young characters.
One Piece's Current Straw Hat Pirates |
Actor |
|---|---|
Monkey D. Luffy |
Inãki Godoy |
Roronoa Zoro |
Mackenyu |
Nami |
Emily Rudd |
Usopp |
Jacob Gibson |
Sanji |
Taz Skyla |
Cobra Kai is essentially a story about the previous generation ing the torch to the next one, which also applies to One Piece. In both shows, viewers get to follow the journey of the main characters as they become stronger and stronger. Cobra Kai has had quite a few training arcs and redemption storylines, both of which can be found in almost every One Piece saga from the manga. Although none of the Cobra Kai characters have Devil Fruit powers, the show features some amazing fight scenes, just like One Piece is also supposed to deliver.
Cobra Kai Is A Better “Live-Action Anime” Than Many Adaptations
Cobra Kai strangely feels like anime
Cobra Kai is not an adaptation of any IP other than The Karate Kid, yet it feels like a better live-action version of beloved manga and anime than most proper Hollywood adaptations. Unlike shows like Cowboy Bebop or movies like Knights of the Zodiac, which failed to capture the tone and tropes anime fans love, Cobra Kai nailed the spirit of adventure and friendship that defines so many anime series. From training arcs to power-ups that come after a flashback sequence, Cobra Kai perfectly uses a lot of anime tropes.
Netflix even released a “Cobra Kai anime opening” highlighting how much the show felt like live-action anime. Cobra Kai was never ashamed of its tone or of how absurd continuing karate rivalries from the 1980s three decades later could be, which is exactly what made the show so good. The best live-action anime adaptations are also the ones that are not afraid of embracing the tone of the source material, something that One Piece understood. This is why Cobra Kai and One Piece do feel similar despite dealing with very different worlds.
Cobra Kai’s Final Season Can Do Something All Original Karate Kid Movies Failed To
Cobra Kai season 6 will conclude the legacy show with a three-part event, and it has the chance to fix one of the biggest Karate Kid mistakes.
Will One Piece Be As Big For Netflix As Cobra Kai?
One Piece could go on for dozens of seasons
One Piece was very well received by fans of the source material and new audiences alike, which is something not many adaptations have managed to do. The fact that One Piece was renewed for season 2 means that Netflix is happy with the results of the first season and that the show could have a bright future ahead of it. One Piece season 1 received a great marketing campaign that lived up to how popular the manga and the anime are, which will hopefully continue to be the case for season 2 and beyond.
One Piece season 2 will cover the Arabasta saga.
Whether One Piece live-action will be the “new Cobra Kai” in of success and longevity is difficult to say. However, Luffy’s journey can give Netflix years and years’ worth of stories if the live-action show continues to be successful. The One Piece anime currently consists of 1104 episodes, of which only the first 50 or so were covered in season 1 of the live-action show. Netflix’s One Piece could go on for dozens of seasons based on the length of the anime, making it the streamer’s perfect replacement for a show as popular as Cobra Kai.
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Cobra Kai
8/10- Release Date
- 2018 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Netflix, YouTube
- Showrunner
- Jon Hurwitz
Cast
Ralph MacchioDaniel LaRusso
Johnny Lawrence
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingCobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
- Seasons
- 6
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
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One Piece (Live-Action)
7/10- Release Date
- August 31, 2023
- Network
- Netflix
- Showrunner
- Matt Owens
Cast
Iñaki GodoyMonkey D. Luffy
Emily RuddNami
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingOne Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy's relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
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