How ‘One Piece’ Composers Are Redefining Soundtracks for Beloved Franchises

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Musicians Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli often dive deep into well-loved series without hesitation.

Lately, I’ve been diving deep into some exciting projects, most notably contributing to the live-action adaptation of the legendary anime “One Piece” for Netflix. Alongside that, you might recognize my name from my work on Netflix’s hit series adaptation of “The Witcher,” where the catchy tune “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” skyrocketed us to the top of Billboard’s rock sales chart and even made it onto the Billboard 200 with the soundtrack. Up next, I can’t wait to lend my talents to the upcoming film, “Red Sonja.

Belousova and Ostinelli’s extensive contribution to the music of season one of One Piece, boasting a total of 79 tracks, was recently honored with a Children’s and Family Emmy for their original song “My Sails Are Set,” which showcases Norwegian pop sensation Aurora.

After winning, they expressed that ‘My Sails Are Set’ was the primary emotional motivator for season one. Its theme developed progressively throughout the series, reaching its peak in both intensity and poetic beauty during the final episode, marking a musical pinnacle of their journey. For them, this Emmy victory holds immense significance as it beautifully encapsulates and celebrates their real-life journey.

Below, Belousova and Ostinelli delve into the surprising longevity of “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher,” their award-winning piece on One Piece season one, and discuss the progress of season two.

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Belousova and Ostinelli offer insights into the enduring appeal of “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher,” their acclaimed work on One Piece’s first season, and share updates about the development of season two.

Working on One Piece is a significant task due to its extensive manga and anime content, as well as the strong fanbase it enjoys. Since it already possesses a unique musical identity, how do you handle that and create something new and distinctively yours?

BELOUSOVA I think the way we approach it is that we fearlessly dive straight into it.

OSTINELLI With One Piece, we were already fans before.

BELOUSOVA Your insight is tremendously valuable! We were already acquainted with the One Piece universe, but what caught our attention was the opportunity to create a complex musical world, which we’ve been passionate about for quite some time now, given our experience in world-building with The Witcher, One Piece, and Red Sonja. Engaging in such a project is exactly what excites us and fuels our creativity because it allows us to construct an intricate, expansive musical universe. It’s like painting on a vast canvas, where the possibilities are virtually endless. What makes this endeavor particularly exciting is that we’re not confined to a specific geographical setting or limited by the instruments traditionally associated with those locations. Instead, we have the freedom to make our own creative decisions.

OSTINELLI Feel free to unleash your imagination and visualize freely, much like when you’re reading a book and picturing the scenes in your mind. Go ahead and do that!

As a passionate gamer and die-hard fan of “One Piece”, I understand the significance of honoring the established world and dedicated fanbase that came before us. This knowledge, combined with our affection for the franchise, allows us to navigate what could resonate with fans effectively. Yet, it’s equally crucial for me and the entire team, even including the legendary creator Eiichiro Oda, that the live-action adaptation of “One Piece” stands on its own two feet as a unique universe.

OSTINELLI The live adaptation derives from the manga. Of course, there’s also an animated series. Since there are variations between the anime and the manga, we aimed to create a unique sonic universe specifically for the live-action version.

AS A FAN, I’M EXCITED TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THIS. FROM THE GET-GO, ODA MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEIR PRIMARY GOAL WAS TO CREATE SOMETHING UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT. THAT WAS THE SINGLE GUIDELINE WE RECEIVED.

OSTINELLI Yet, it’s crucial to remember that the anime has been developing its unique musical language for over 25 years. It would be similar to making a James Bond film without using the iconic theme song. We felt we had to honor this. Our team was mindful about maintaining the essence of the anime and were constantly asking, “How can we seamlessly blend these elements in a way that feels organic and authentic?

Out of all the pieces you’ve worked on, is there a particular composition that stands out to you, one that you feel especially proud of? Is there a specific song that really showcases your best work?

PARAPHRASED The music in this project is like having multiple favorite children, each with their unique characteristics. It encompasses a score, songs, and various styles ranging from grandiose orchestral swashbuckling to fiery flamenco guitar by Marcin, hip hop and rap, big band jazz funk fusion, folk, and even circus music. On top of that, there’s a song performed by Aurora. For me, composing such a diverse range is exhilarating because it prevents tunnel vision, offering endless creative opportunities.

Ostinelli also points out that variety keeps things exciting in One Piece, unlike a long playlist of the same song. After listening to eight hours of music from season one, you might start feeling repetitive and bored. But with One Piece, the quick and frequent changes in pace make it so enjoyable that you can’t pick a favorite because each part is unique and fun in its own way.

BELOUSOVA I can’t pinpoint one reason, as the project and the season are always in a state of high intensity. It was crucial for everyone, including Oda, to maintain this level of energy at all times. We’re always on the move, go, go, go, and having such a variety of music genres and styles that cater to diverse and distinct characters ensures you never get bored. Each day is exciting because we’re constantly working with different tools, making it feel like a massive sandbox filled with various toys. In fact, our studio is so cramped due to the abundance of instruments we have.

When you stepped into The Witcher, did you ever envision this would be the result? It’s quite extraordinary, in a good sense, that it unfolded this way, but I find it hard to believe many composers enter a project with such an outcome in mind.

The song we used in the episode drew both anticipation and focus due to its prominent role within the storyline. We knew it would pique fan interest, but the extent to which it became a viral sensation, like a “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” meme, was unexpected.

OSTINELLI I recall the times when we were composing it. I also remember attending yoga classes where you’re encouraged to clear your mind. It made me think, “Flip a coin…

Reflecting on it now, that could have been a hint, but we didn’t give it much thought at the time. Then the song was released and all of a sudden, we found ourselves at the top of the Billboard rock charts – not just on soundtrack charts, which was particularly astonishing because this was when Panic! at the Disco released “High Hopes.” They were in second place while “Toss a Coin” took the number one spot. That was absolutely mind-blowing. As of now, we’ve accumulated over 100 million streams on Spotify alone, with the soundtrack for The Witcher racking up over half a billion streams. One Piece is estimated to be around 300 million, but it hasn’t been out as long as The Witcher, so we’ll catch up soon. To address your point, these numbers are extremely uncommon in the soundtrack realm; they almost never happen. So, for me, this is a massive tribute to the fans and their immense dedication and passion.

One highlight for me was when the song was released, my longtime friend from our shared hometown in Europe unexpectedly sent me a remixed version of “Toss a Coin.” We go way back.

Regarding your query, there’s immense pleasure working on such properties as they offer a blank slate for creativity, allowing us to produce something that resonates deeply with the audience. This connection is truly rewarding. As for that particular song, we crafted it diligently, producing seven distinct versions across various genres. The writing process was swift, but refining and integrating it into the show required approximately eight months of dedicated effort.

Is there anything to add about what you’re working on at the moment?

Currently, we’re engrossed in the thick of season two of One Piece, and I can’t help but wish we could discuss it. Fans are eagerly anticipating this season, so it’s taking up a significant portion of our attention. Up next is Red Sonja, due in the summer, which we’re incredibly enthusiastic about. It’s another grand undertaking, inspired by the legendary comic character, a fierce female warrior wielding a sword. The film promises to be stunning, with an abundance of action scenes and a fast-paced narrative. However, beneath this high-octane exterior lies a deeply layered emotional story that forms the core of the film. Composing the music for it was a delightful experience, and here’s something exciting – there will not only be scores but also songs in the film as we meticulously craft this musical universe from the ground up.

BELOUSOVA It’s fantastic to have the chance to compose both scores and songs because it’s all about determining what best serves the story at hand. At times, it’s the score that fits, while other times it’s a song. The ability to pen a song that resonates deeply with the narrative and craft lyrics that are profoundly connected is truly rewarding.

BELOUSOVA Sometimes, when viewing an unfinished scene, it becomes apparent that a certain type of music would greatly enhance its impact. For instance, a breathtaking montage might call for an energetic, epic score, while a different montage with specific lyrics could underscore and emphasize its emotional depth. Making these musical choices in the context of such projects significantly contributes to the story’s overall effect.

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2025-03-29 21:55