Casting features international diversity, including a British-Indian actress as Vivi from the Middle East-inspired Arabasta kingdom, alongside returning diverse actors like a Mexican Luffy and Black Usopp, but these choices were hand-selected and approved by creator Eiichiro Oda, aligning with the fantastical world's island-hopping diversity rather than forced DEI mandates. Some queer, trans, and non-binary actors appear in roles fitting the original's campy okama characters like Bon Clay, but without altering plots or adding identity politics.

Plot adaptations exist for pacing, such as omitting certain fights or drag scenes, but none introduce social justice lectures, systemic oppression narratives, or critiques of traditional norms. Audience backlash centers on perceived race-swaps, labeled 'woke' by a vocal minority, yet the show prioritizes entertainment, earning broad praise for fidelity and fun, free from preachiness or activism.