One Piece Season 3: Cast reveal what it took to build Alabasta—160,000 pounds of sand and more
Dubai: Building a desert kingdom from scratch takes more than a good location scout. At MEFCC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, the cast of Netflix's One Piece pulled back the curtain on just how much work goes into bringing the show's world to life, starting with a number that made everyone gasp in the room: 160,000 pounds of sand. 160,000 pounds of sand Charithra Chandran, who plays Nefertari Vivi, was asked…
For the upcoming third season of One Piece, titled The Battle of Alabasta, the cast of Netflix's hit series shed light on the immense effort required to bring the world of the popular manga to life. During a panel at MEFCC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, actress Charithra Chandran, who portrays Nefertari Vivi, revealed that constructing the desert kingdom of Alabasta alone took roughly 160,000 pounds (72 tonnes) of sand brought in from outside.
The grueling nature of the shoot, with long hours and demanding conditions, was also emphasized by the cast members. Zoro, played by Mackenyu, recounted the challenges of transitioning from the snowy setting of Season 2's Drum Island to the sweltering desert of Alabasta. Jacob Romero, who stars as Usopp, highlighted the production's commitment to maintaining a balance between the show's absurdity and grounded realism.
He noted that the team already built "insane" sets before the cast even arrived. The panel also touched upon the unique experience of fully immersing oneself in a character, with Vivi's distinctive blue hair leading to a certain level of public anonymity for the actress.
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