Manga Mavericks

Launched on the weekend of New York Comic Con 2025, the One Piece x Mercer Labs immersive exhibition transported visitors into the world of the series through 11 rooms featuring a variety of digital and physical installations themed around the Wano arc. LumRanmaYasha sat down for two interviews with Nasir Dean, the Manager of Special Projects at Mercer Labs and driving force behind the immersive One Piece exhibition. We discussed Nasir’s history with One Piece and anime, his pathway to collaborating with Toei on the exhibition, curating the exhibition around the Wano arc, the themes of the different installations, what makes One Piece such a natural fit for an immersive experience, and how the installation encapsulates the series’s messages of freedom that’ve resonated and inspired people worldwide. PODCAST BREAKDOWN:00:00 - Manga Mavericks Books Promo00:44 - Intro06:42 - Nasir Dean Interview at the Mercer Labs, 10/12 38:07 - Nasir Dean Interview over Zoom, 10/291:09:21 - Wrap-Up Enjoy the show, and follow us