'One Piece' Retrospective
Image Source: IMDb
If you are an anime fan, then you have heard of One Piece. The series is one of the longest-running anime with more than 1,100 episodes. The series is not only beloved by fans across the world, but it is also loved by mangaka (manga writers) who have used the manga and anime as inspiration for their own creations. With almost three decades under its belt, the anime is one of the most influential of all time.
The anime is based on the manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, and like the anime, the manga is still going strong. It was first released in July 1997 and now boasts 110 volumes, with more on the way. The series follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, The Straw Hat Pirates or “Straw Hats,” as they make their way to the Grand Line in search of former Pirate King Gol D. Roger’s treasure. Luffy has one goal, and that is to become King of the Pirates. This goal takes him and his crew on an outlandish adventure through different countries, meeting new people and monsters along the way. While One Piece has been massively influential throughout the manga and anime world, it has been most influential within the shōnen anime genre. Shōnen anime are those that are targeted at young adult male audiences and typically focus on action, adventure, and battles.
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Image Source: IMDb
One of the things that has made One Piece so influential is that it is not episodic even though it has more than 1,000 episodes. Most anime, regardless of genre, have smaller arcs within their major story that do not directly connect to the characters’ ultimate goal, and this is especially true for shōnen anime. One Piece has done the exact opposite, and every single arc within the series directly connects with Luffy’s ultimate goal of becoming King of the Pirates. The series also gave the blueprint for how to create a strong but simplistic power system. Within shōnen anime series, there is always a power system, but it is typically complex and difficult to understand due to there being different rules for different characters.
One Piece completely changed this by creating a power system centered around Devil Fruit powers. Devil Fruits are seen throughout the series, and if eaten, they grant that person a unique power while also costing them the ability to swim. The rules of the Devil Fruit are the same for every character, which results in a straightforward system that is easy to follow and understand. Lastly, One Piece proved that shōnen anime could have intricate world-building without having to confuse fans. World-building is something that in the 80s and 90s many anime series were not successful with. Oda created a world that is as unique as it is beautiful, but he created a map that is shown to fans routinely at the beginning of episodes, helping them to understand where the crew is currently.
We have already discussed a lot of the ways that One Piece has been influential, but I wanted to make sure that Oda’s character development got its own shoutout. I love anime more than almost anything else, but it is abundantly clear, especially in older anime, that diversity and representation were not important. One Piece was different, and it is one of the reasons that we have more diversity in anime today. It is no secret that female characters in anime are typically sexualized or used as love interests. Instead of following this flawed structure, Oda decided to create strong female characters that routinely shut down male characters that attempt to treat them like the main characters of the past would. The female characters have incredible back stories and skills, regardless of whether they are a part of the main cast or a quick side character.
The women of One Piece are just as impressive as the men, and they hold their own in battle. Another way that Oda revolutionized characters in anime was through his creation of characters of different races. Every single character is created with the same level of respect as his asian characters, and they are given unique character designs so that they perfectly blend in with the rest of the animation style. He also creates different races based on which island or country the crew visits, which aids in the world-building that we discussed earlier.
One Piece is not only one of the most influential anime series of all time, it is also one of the most complex and heartwarming series. Eiichiro Oda created a series that has stood the test of time and influenced many of the series that we love today.
One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.
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