How Netflix plugged ONE PIECE into Malaysia’s Ramadan culture

Netflix Malaysia has taken localisation to the next level for the launch of ONE PIECE season two, by creating its very own Ramadan bazaar, and yes, it’s as wild and wonderfully detailed as it sounds.

Timed almost serendipitously with the fasting month, the team skipped the usual premiere events and instead leaned into a cultural mainstay: the Ramadan bazaar. The result is the “ONE PIECE Grand Line Bazaar”, an on-ground activation held at Pavilion Bukit Jalil from 4 to 8 March, ahead of the show’s 10 March premiere.

And Malaysians clearly showed up. The bazaar drew over 1,000 visitors within its first two days, with some fans even travelling from as far as Penang to experience it.

Inspired by the Grand Line, a treacherous and unpredictable ocean route central to the ONE PIECE universe, the activation transforms the mall's open outdoor space into a series of themed “islands”, each packed with interactive challenges, local food references, and deep-cut fan service.

Don't miss: Netflix Malaysia dishes out trishaw experience for Stranger Things Season 5 

But what really made this activation stand out is just how hyper-localised it was.

Every booth is named in Malay, cleverly blending ONE PIECE lore with familiar bazaar staples. There’s “Gerai Ikan Baratie” ('Baratie's fish stall'), where visitors rearrange a fish under time pressure, and “Kurma Import Usopp” ('Usopp's imported dates'), which turns date-throwing into a slingshot challenge.

Over at “Lemang Sehangat Zoro” ('Zoro's hottest lemang'), participants balance lemang (bamboo rice) while wielding swords, while “Dodol Asli Luffy” ('Luffy's original dodol') lets fans stretch (literally) with long prosthetic arms to scoop dodol (traditional Malay toffee) from a kuali (wok).

Even the quintessential Malaysian air balang (container drinks) gets a ONE PIECE twist at “Air Balang Dari Seberang” ('Container drinks from across the shores'), featuring character-inspired drinks such as “Mikan Menawan” ('Pretty mandarin orange') for Nami and “Beri Biru Hensem” ('Handsome blueberry') for Sanji.

And it doesn’t stop there. A “Manisan Viral Drum Island” ('Viral dessert from Drum Island') stall serves up Chopper-themed cendol, complete with the character’s iconic red hat, while door gifts come in the form of kerepok lekor (fish crackers), rebranded as “Lekor Ikan Tuna Gajah Sirip Biru” ('Blue brand tuna fish crackers').

True to any Netflix activation, there’s also a stamp card mechanic. Visitors collect stamps through a “Buku Pengembara” ('Traveller's book') passport by completing challenges across the bazaar, to redeem exclusive ONE PIECE-themed sampul raya (raya packets). And to top the experience off, the Netflix team also created a picnic space, for visitors to bersantai (sit and relax) for iftar (breaking fast). 

Visually, the experience goes big. Guests enter through a towering Reverse Mountain gateway featuring Laboon the whale, essentially walking through its mouth to step into the bazaar. Elsewhere, fans can spot a recreation of the Going Merry’s goat head and even a Transponder Snail model on display.

Upon opening, visitors posed for photos, taking on pirate-inspired challenges, and immersing themselves in a world that feels both unmistakably ONE PIECE and unmistakably Malaysian.

The activation celebrates the upcoming premiere of “ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line” season two, continuing the story of the Straw Hat crew. The live-action series, based on Eiichiro Oda’s globally popular manga, has already proven to be a major hit for Netflix, reaching number one in over 75 countries and spending eight weeks on the platform’s Global Top 10.

With the Grand Line Bazaar, Netflix Malaysia offers a standout example of how global entertainment IP can be localised meaningfully, not just through language or casting, but by meeting audiences where they are, quite literally at the bazaar during Ramadan.

The ONE PIECE Grand Line Bazaar follows Netflix Malaysia’s previous activation for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. As part of its global “One Last Adventure” fan event, Netflix brought the Upside Down to the heart of Kuala Lumpur, rain and all, at Daily Dose Coffee last November. The space was fully transformed, immersing fans in themed games and challenges. A standout feature was the series of themed beca (trishaws), each paying homage to iconic elements from the show.

Prior to this, Netflix Malaysia also localised its Wednesday season two launch with a larger-than-life mobile version of Thing, dubbed the “Thingmobile”, scuttling around the Klang Valley. On social media, it was cheekily referred to as the “ibu jari pelik” (“weird hand”), alongside a short film, “Adam’s Family”, which gave the Addams Family a Malay twist with characters such as Mak Tisha and Rabu.

And in June 2025, “Squid Game: The Exhibit” took over LaLaport Bukit Bintang. A standout was a giant dalgona installation featuring a wau bulan (traditional kite), putting a local spin on the iconic honeycomb game. Season two’s flying stone game was also reimagined as a larger-than-life version of baling selipar (slipper throw), with visitors tossing giant slippers to knock down targets to the delight of the crowd.

Be part of #Content360 Malaysia, 13 May 2026, where creativity and community collide. Explore how AI-powered imagination, culturally resonant storytelling, and platform-savvy strategies are shaping the future of content. Gain practical insights, discover new tactics, and learn how the region’s top creators and brands are crafting campaigns that truly resonate.

Related articles: 
Squid Game gets a Malaysian twist with batik ddakji and on-ground thrills
From Morticia to Mak Tisha: Netflix MY puts a Malaysian spin on the Addams Family 
Netflix brings Nevermore Academy to MY in spooky activation for Wednesday S2