This iconic One Piece character will be making its live action debut in Season 2

One Piece fans, get ready to meet one of the most beloved characters from Eiichiro Oda’s world in the Netflix live-action series. Season 2, officially titled Into the Grand Line, will reportedly introduce Tony Tony Chopper, aka the Straw Hat crew’s reindeer doctor.

Yes, the adorable blue-nosed medic with a pink hat is finally joining Luffy and the gang. The reveal was confirmed during Netflix Tudum 2025, where fans got their first look at this iconic One Piece character’s live-action version.

---

A new crewmate joins the adventure: Meet Tony Tony Chopper

There’s a new addition coming aboard the Going Merry in One Piece Season 2, and that is Tony Tony Chopper. During Netflix Tudum 2025, the cast, including Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero, and Taz Skylar, surprised fans with a first look at Chopper, the reindeer-boy hybrid who’s as cute as he is brave.

Voiced and performed by Superman and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 star Mikaela Hoover, Chopper will bring a decent level of cuteness and humor to the Straw Hat crew in Season 2.

In a chat with Netflix Tudum, Hoover explained why she fell in love with the role. To this, she said:

“What excited me about playing Chopper is the tug of war between his standoffishness and his huge heart...”

She also described him as a character who:

“Tries to hide his emotions but can’t help his love from showing.”

She added,

“I believe there is a little Chopper in all of us. We all want to be loved and accepted.”

Her words perfectly capture the essence of what makes this One Piece favorite such a fan magnet.

The visual effects company Framestore brought the reindeer doctor to life, carefully keeping in mind Oda’s original manga and analyzing it into a realistic live-action character.

The visual-effects supervisor Victor Scalise revealed to Netflix that the team poured their hearts into it. They say:

“We’ve got a great team leading that process with Chopper… I think the audience, when they see him, they’re going to be very happy.”

---

Why Tony Tony Chopper matters so much to One Piece fans

If you’ve ever watched the One Piece anime or have read the manga, you know that Chopper is more than just a comic relief character. He’s the crew’s doctor and also someone with an interesting origin story.

He's a reindeer who ate the Human-Human Fruit, and with this, Chopper can now change himself into different human-like forms. Introduced in Chapter 134 of the manga and Episode 81 of the anime, this tiny reindeer became an important member of the Straw Hat family.

One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda also revealed his excitement when talking about Chopper being involved in Season 2. In a post on X, he wrote:

“The key to Season 2 is, of course, our weird talking animal. After extensive trial and refinement by the entire team, the day has come to finally unveil him!”

He praised the team behind the design of the character and also praised how they worked on everything from his fur to his expressions to make him believable in the live-action world.

Beyond the show, Chopper’s impact is also very well known. From the 2011 spin-off manga Chopperman to his own Tamagotchi Nano called the Choppertchi, he’s become one of the franchise’s biggest fan favorite characters.

---

As One Piece makes its way to its next live-action season, Tony Tony Chopper’s debut feels like a long-awaited entrance for fans who have grown up with him.

With Mikaela Hoover voicing the role and Oda giving his approval, Season 2 promises to perfectly capture the adventure that defines this beloved manga.

With that being said, the Straw Hat Pirates are gaining a new crewmate, and it’s the cutest doctor on the Grand Line.

---

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more.