Eiichiro Oda’s beloved Weekly Shonen Jump manga One Piece began serializing in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1997 and has taken the crew to several islands since then. The manga is currently in its Final Saga, and we have seen several of Luffy’s victories on every island he visits. Coming from a small village tucked away in the corner of the East Blue Sea, Luffy has dreamed of nothing more than becoming the Pirate King. However, the journey ahead is brutal and full of trials that he can’t pass alone. This is why he gathered a crew of like-minded people who all have their own dreams and aspirations. The crew has been facing one problem after another ever since they began their journey, but it’s thanks to these challenges that they are able to become powerful and are now a part of the Yonko crew.
One of the most common complaints readers have regarding One Piece is how the series is often repetitive since it’s the same cycle of Luffy visiting an island, finding out about the people being oppressed there, defeating the person responsible for it, and liberating the island before heading towards his next destination. However, a major part of One Piece’s charm comes from the story being repetitive, and it probably couldn’t have worked this well in any other series, but there are several qualities that set One Piece apart from the rest.
The original anime by Toei Animation has been ongoing since 1999, and it has released over 1100 episodes, which always overwhelms new fans. Over time, the pacing of the anime was significantly slowed down, and the anime became lengthier than it should have been since it had to keep up with the weekly schedule. While the Elbaph Arc has changed the schedule for the first time ever, the anime will still adapt one chapter per episode. While the series is still just as popular as ever, the remake aims to attract new fans with a steadier pacing and modern animation.
They lack a personal agenda or any free will, which makes them easily forgettable. Villains often have a grand purpose in mind, which piques the viewers’ interest. Oftentimes, even if a villain is wrong, fans can empathize with their actions and understand their depth. Characters such as Madara Uchiha from Naruto and Sosuke Aizen from Bleach feature all the great qualities a villain should possess. Even in One Piece, Donquixote Doflamingo is often argued to be the best-written villain thanks to his twisted morals, his perception of the world, and his mysterious goals.
However, the ones working under Imu lack that kind of drive or personality, which is why they are not only underwhelming but just too bland to like. At this point, the only hope is Shamrock and Garling Figarland, who only seem intriguing now since not much is known about them.
The Straw Hat Pirates are the central characters in One Piece, each with a different role and goal in the story. They decide to follow Luffy in his journey not only because of their personal reasons, but also because they believe he is the only one who can become the Pirate King. Before arriving on the Grand Line, the crew only had five members, including their Captain.
However, as their journey continues, more members with their own dreams and aspirations decide to follow Luffy in his path to becoming the Pirate King. Their dreams define their identity and character writing, giving the characters more depth and drawing their connection to Luffy, who helps them turn their dreams into a reality. Although Luffy can’t become the Pirate King without any of them, the story is created in such a way that all crew members play a crucial role, and it varies significantly.
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