The excellent casting in One Piece season 1 has contributed to its overall positive reception, and with One Piece season 2 on the way, there’s a strong chance viewers will see the beloved character, Portgas D. Ace. Notable for his Mera Mera no Mi Devil Fruit, Ace is protagonist Monkey D. Luffy’s surrogate older brother. Ace’s introduction in the Arabasta arc plays a crucial role in the series’ storytelling, so the One Piece season 2 character casting is important. Although not related by blood, Ace and Luffy’s physical similarities and their affinity for helping others is the connective tissue between them.

The Mera Mera no Mi Devil Fruit grants Ace the ability to use his body to manipulate fire, thus serving as a metaphor for his hot-blooded, bad boy persona that he displays early on. As such, the proper casting of Ace necessitates hiring an actor who possesses Ace’s imposing visage and edge. Moreover, Ace’s actor needs to display a similar level of optimism and empathy as Iñaki Godoy’s Luffy, since they both possess the same vigor and zest for life. With many suitable, quality actors, Ace’s storyline in One Piece season 2 will be one of its most important inclusions.