One Piece's Chopper Actor Thought Role Was Just Voice Acting

Mikaela Hoover initially turned down the part before realizing it involved performance capture.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 10:52am

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Mikaela Hoover, the actress who portrays the character Chopper in the live-action adaptation of the anime series One Piece, revealed that she initially turned down the role because she thought it was only a voice acting part. However, after re-reading the script, Hoover discovered the role would involve physically embodying the character through performance capture, similar to the work of actor Andy Serkis.

Why it matters

Chopper is a beloved character from the One Piece anime and manga, so fans will be eager to see how the live-action adaptation brings the character to life. Hoover's comments shed light on the technical challenges of translating an animated character into a live-action performance.

The details

Hoover said the role of Chopper, the Straw Hats' doctor who can transform into a larger, more fearsome figure, ended up being "similar to what I've seen Andy Serkis do" in terms of performance capture. She was initially hesitant when she thought it was just a voice acting role, but after re-reading the script, she was excited to land the part and "couldn't believe it."

  • Hoover appeared as Cat Grant in a Superman film last year.
  • One Piece season 2, featuring Hoover as Chopper, is set to premiere.

The players

Mikaela Hoover

The actress who portrays the character Chopper in the live-action adaptation of the anime series One Piece.

Andy Serkis

The legendary actor who pioneered performance capture with roles like Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy.

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What they’re saying

“I initially thought it was just a voice audition, so I turned it down.”

— Mikaela Hoover, Actress (The Seattle Times)

“It was similar to what I've seen Andy Serkis do. It was great because I didn't have to worry about makeup or looking pretty, I could just embody the character.”

— Mikaela Hoover, Actress (The Seattle Times)

“That was quite the shock when I found out. I was crying. I was so excited. I couldn't believe it.”

— Mikaela Hoover, Actress (The Seattle Times)

What’s next

One Piece season 2, featuring Hoover as Chopper, is set to premiere soon.

The takeaway

Bringing an iconic animated character like Chopper to life in a live-action adaptation requires innovative performance capture techniques, as demonstrated by Mikaela Hoover's experience. Fans will be eager to see how the character is translated on screen.