Who Plays Chopper In Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 (And How The Voice Compares To Japanese & English VAs)

Fans are eagerly awaiting the second season of Netflix’s live-action One Piece, which premieres in March. The recent trailer got everyone excited, hinting at more exciting journeys, undiscovered islands, and the introduction of beloved characters. A highlight was the first full reveal of Tony Tony Chopper, who quickly became a fan favorite.

Tony Tony Chopper is a fan-favorite character created by Eiichiro Oda. This reindeer developed human-like intelligence by eating a Devil Fruit. He’s a vital part of the Straw Hat Pirates, serving as their doctor, a source of comic relief, and the crew’s emotional center. Despite his adorable appearance, Chopper is a skilled doctor and a dedicated pirate, making him a truly special character in the exciting world of One Piece.

Ever since Netflix announced its live-action version of One Piece, fans have been curious about how the character Chopper would look in real life. Would he appear strange or too cartoonish? Now we have the answer: actress Mikaela Hoover is playing Chopper, and the trailers for season 2 show she’s bringing a believable and expressive performance to the role.

Mikaela Hoover Plays Chopper In Netflix’s One Piece

The Live-Action Chopper Is Brought To Life By An Experienced Actor

Mikaela Hoover will be voicing Tony Tony Chopper in the second season of One Piece, and fans are particularly excited about her casting. Netflix didn’t choose a newcomer; instead, they selected an experienced actor known for her work in similar projects, especially through her frequent collaborations with James Gunn, and who has a strong track record in voice acting.

Teri Hatcher has consistently worked in both live-action and animated projects. She’s known for her role as Cat Grant in the 2025 film Superman, where she played the Daily Planet reporter with a great sense of humor and a lot of warmth. That role demonstrated her ability to combine comedy and genuine emotion – qualities that really shine through in her portrayal of Chopper.

Movie/Show	Mikaela Hoover’s Role	Release Year
Superman	Cat Grant	2025
Guardians of the Galaxy 3	Floor the Rabbit	2023
The Suicide Squad	Camila	2021
Airplane Mode	Claire	2019
The Belko Experiment	Raziya Memarian	2017

She’s experienced at portraying characters with strong emotions. For example, she voiced Floor the Rabbit in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and her performance was surprisingly touching. The character’s sad story needed a delicate and understanding voice, which made Hoover perfect for capturing the softer side of Chopper as well.

For the live-action One Piece cast, it’s important that actors can deliver both physical performance and voice work. Chopper isn’t simply a computer-generated character; he’s a well-developed personality with the same depth and complexity as the other Straw Hat crew members like Luffy, Zoro, and Nami. Miakeka Hoover’s experience shows she’s capable of portraying both Chopper’s adorable side and his more serious, thoughtful moments.

How Chopper’s New Voice Compares To Original & English Voice Actors

A Softer Delivery Sets The Live-Action Chopper Apart From The Anime’s High Energy

Chopper’s unique voice is a key part of what makes him, him. In the One Piece anime, both the Japanese voice actress, Ikue Otani, and the English dub actress, Brina Palencia, use a very high-pitched and energetic delivery. This really emphasizes Chopper’s funny moments and his innocent, childlike personality.

I’m really enjoying Mikaela Hoover’s performance as Chopper in the live-action One Piece! It’s a different take than the anime, which is cool. Instead of going for that over-the-top, cartoonish energy, she plays Chopper as much more gentle and shy. It really highlights his quiet personality instead of just focusing on the funny, slapstick stuff, and I think it works brilliantly.

This change fits with the show’s commitment to feeling realistic. Netflix’s One Piece successfully blends fantasy with genuine consequences, and a higher-pitched voice for Chopper might not have felt right alongside the live-action style. Hoover’s performance makes Chopper seem like a real, breathing character who exists in the same world as Luffy, played by Iñaki Godoy, and Roronoa Zoro, played by Mackenyu.

Emily Rudd’s portrayal of Nami is already impressive. In the recent One Piece season 2 trailer, her delivery of lines shows both vulnerability and kindness, perfectly capturing Chopper’s innocent and uncertain nature. This approach feels more about developing the characters than relying on quick jokes, which is a better fit for the live-action series’ overall tone than simply imitating the voices of the original voice actors, Ikue Otani and Brina Palencia.

Chopper Will Make His Debut In The Drum Island Arc

Season 2 Adapts The Grand Line’s Opening Sagas Before Ending With Chopper’s Origin

Season 2 of One Piece quickly moves the story into the challenging Grand Line, starting in Loguetown. The Straw Hat crew then navigates Reverse Mountain and the Twin Capes, facing greater and greater dangers along the way. These locations not only increase the tension but also reveal more of the expansive world beyond the East Blue sea.

After that, the crew travels to Whiskey Peak and Little Garden, where they face new foes and explore unusual places, all while learning more about the dangerous Baroque Works organization. But the story really focuses on emotions when they reach Drum Island, particularly regarding Chopper’s backstory.

This is where audiences will be introduced to Chopper and his teacher, Dr. Hiriluk (played by Mark Harelik in the live-action One Piece), and discover what inspired the reindeer to pursue a career in medicine. This storyline combines sadness with optimism, making Chopper’s backstory one of the most impactful in the entire One Piece series.

Finishing the live-action One Piece series with the Drum Island arc feels like a natural stopping point. It delivers a strong emotional conclusion and successfully introduces Chopper as a full-fledged member of the Straw Hat crew. By the end of this arc, Chopper isn’t just an acquaintance – he’s become part of the family.

How One Piece Season 2 Brought Chopper To Life

Cutting-Edge CGI And Performance Capture Make The Reindeer Feel Real

As a huge One Piece fan, I was honestly really worried about how they’d pull off Chopper in live action. Finding actors for the human pirates felt straightforward, but a little reindeer who can change shapes and show all those human emotions? That seemed almost impossible! If they didn’t get Chopper right, it could have totally ruined the whole experience for me, breaking that feeling of being in the world of One Piece.

Netflix used a combination of advanced computer-generated imagery and motion capture technology to bring Chopper to life. The trailers show incredibly realistic details – like fur and lighting – and natural movement, making Chopper feel like a real creature and not just a cartoon character added to live-action scenes. Each movement, from walking to tilting his head, appears believable and weighty.

Mikaela Hoover’s acting is key to bringing Chopper to life. They used detailed facial and voice recording to capture even small emotions, making his expressions – like smiling, flinching, and crying – feel real. This creates a fully developed character, not just a costume. Importantly, Chopper’s design isn’t overly exaggerated; he remains adorable and believable, fitting seamlessly into the live-action world.

One key question remains about how Tony Tony Chopper will look in the live-action series: we haven’t seen his frightening Monster Point form yet. If the show’s second season covers his battle with Wapol, that transformation could be the most visually impressive effect we’ve seen so far.

Judging by the trailers, Netflix has already succeeded in making Chopper feel like a natural fit in the live-action world of One Piece. These effects, along with Mikaela Hoover’s voice work, strongly suggest that Chopper will be just as popular in this adaptation as he was in the original anime and manga.

2026-02-10 17:31