Character Discussion Why aren’t One Piece villains as iconic and memorable as Naruto/DBZ villains?

[Shiroyru]

Ngl, I forgot that existed.

 

[ZenZu]

It’s too bad that this -100000 aura moment is all that people remember of him

Yup, this basically answers your thread. Oda clowns them, which adds another dimension to them but it just doesn't help them reach that icon status.

Enel on paper, design, personality, is a very very well written and elite villain. Oda is great at character concepts, and in pockets Enel had insane aura, however we saw how that turned out...and tbf it does make sense (he was a big fish in a small pond, who ran into his natural counter, Enel was spoiled with a top tier logia on an island where nobody could even touch him), but it just doesn't help his staying power.

 

[Roo]

Because every Naruto and Dragon Ball villain did shit. Whenever the Akatsuki appeared on screen, someone was dying. Same with Dragon Ball, Freeza, Buu and Cell were all racking up bodies.

 

[TheAncientCenturion]

You’re focusing too much on the specifics. The name of his parents’ killer and what he looked like are totally irrelevant. The only way it would be relevant is if Jiren hadn’t yet beaten him, which would be pretty nonsensical because then why not recruit him to the ToP? All we need to know is why Jiren’s the way he is, and his backstory explained that to us

I'm sorry, he doesn't have the personality to carry him here. If his backstory is basic and a little silly, he's stoic as a rock, what do we get out of him? His strength? That only carries a character so far and he way outstayed his welcome there.

 

[ZenZu]

Another iconic goat

Mihawk is pretty iconic as far as One Piece antagonists are concerned. His design stands out, the time and place he showed up in did a lot for him. He had a very impactful few chapters very early on, setting the tone for one of the MCs dream. When I never read or watched One Piece, Mihawk was one of the 1st characters who would pop up in my head.

 

[Shiroyru]

I'm sorry, he doesn't have the personality to carry him here. If his backstory is basic and a little silly, he's stoic as a rock, what do we get out of him? His strength? That only carries a character so far and he way outstayed his welcome there.

The point of Jiren was to show why just strength alone isn’t all that matters. Universe 11 lost because Jiren wasn’t a team player, he pretty much let all of his allies get knocked out and even mocked Toppo for losing. He thought friendship was worthless and thought his strength alone was all that matters. This contrasts nicely with Goku

 

[Johnny B. Decent]

Because every Naruto and Dragon Ball villain did shit. Whenever the Akatsuki appeared on screen, someone was dying. Same with Dragon Ball, Freeza, Buu and Cell were all racking up bodies.

But everyone always gets revived at the end of a Dragon Ball arc.

 

[Gauntlet]

Ngl, I forgot that existed.

Can't see how you could forget that face when that shit is plastered on all kinds of heads as a reaction meme, especially on Spongebob's.

Hell I'd argue that this face of his is more iconic than Enel the character.

 

[TheAncientCenturion]

The point of Jiren was to show why just strength alone isn’t all that matters. Universe 11 lost because Jiren wasn’t a team player, he pretty much let all of his allies get knocked out and even mocked Toppo for losing. He thought friendship was worthless and thought his strength alone was all that matters. This contrasts nicely with Goku

So jiren boils down to a Captain Planet friendship is power, message?

 

[TheAncientCenturion]

Can't see how you could forget that face when that shit is plastered on all kinds of heads as a reaction meme, especially on Spongebob's.

Hell I'd argue that this face of his is more iconic than Enel the character.

I think that’s why, I see that face all over the story and the community, I entirely forgot it came from Enel

 

[Roo]

But everyone always gets revived at the end of a Dragon Ball arc.

They are a meme now but if you watched the show with no spoilers they really weren't a huge safety net. In the Frieza saga there was only one set and Frieza was after them, Cell threatened to destroy the earth and that destroys the ones on earth, and Buu was a universal threat.

 

[AkainuTheGrimReaper]

Most one piece villains are not really memorable or have luffy story in it .
Even Jiren is more famous than one piece villains due Jiren jokes and memes .

Villains to be famous are need to create outrage to fanbase or be meaning to main character.

‘Akainu has chance to be iconic villain since he kill Ace which it piss off many one piece fanbase which it did become famous.
‘Blackbeard is also potentially to be icon but most people remember real life pirate than fictional one.

Even villain fight has good fight like zoro vs king . King didn’t become number 1 iconic one piece villain . King is ain’t meanful character to zoro. Just a guy to beat up .

 

[Shiroyru]

So jiren boils down to a Captain Planet friendship is power, message?

I mean he’s just an arc antagonist, he doesn’t need the writing of Johan Liebert. You’d be hard pressed to find a Shonen arc antagonist who doesn’t have a very simple thematic message

 

[Johnny B. Decent]

They are a meme now but if you watched the show with no spoilers they really weren't a huge safety net. In the Frieza saga there was only one set and Frieza was after them, Cell threatened to destroy the earth and that destroys the ones on earth, and Buu was a universal threat.

But in the end, every bad guy's actions become totally meaningless thanks to a literal Deus Ex Machina. Namek and its people after Frieza is dead? Totally fine like nothing happened. Earth and its people after Buu is dead? Totally fine like nothing happened.

 

[ZenZu]

Most one piece villains are not really memorable or have luffy story in it .
Even Jiren is more famous than one piece villains due Jiren jokes and memes .

Villains to be famous are need to create outrage to fanbase or be meaning to main character.

‘Akainu has chance to be iconic villain since he kill Ace which it piss off many one piece fanbase which it did become famous.
‘Blackbeard is also potentially to be icon but most people remember real life pirate than fictional one.

Even villain fight has good fight like zoro vs king . King didn’t become number 1 iconic one piece villain . King is ain’t meanful character to zoro. Just a guy to beat up .

King is probably one of the most forgettable characters Oda has ever created. I can't stress it enough, Oda somehow managed to turn a Yonkou First Mate into some generic "born to be Zoro victim"

Though he does have a kickass design and demeanor. No first mate has disappointed there.

 

[Johnny B. Decent]

Even Naruto was guilty of this with Pain's assault and the Shinobi World War, everyone magically coming back to life.

....well, except Neji. XD

 

[Shiroyru]

King is probably one of the most forgettable characters Oda has ever created. I can't stress it enough, Oda somehow managed to turn a Yonkou First Mate into some generic "born to be Zoro victim"

Though he does have a kickass design and demeanor. No first mate has disappointed there.

All style no substance, like his captain

 

[Roo]

But in the end, every bad guy's actions become totally meaningless thanks to a literal Deus Ex Machina. Namek and its people after Frieza is dead? Totally fine like nothing happened. Earth and its people after Buu is dead? Totally fine like nothing happened.

And? the impact they left on the viewer is still there because when we were watching/reader we had no idea if the deaths were permanent. Frieza to this day is considered one of the most iconic shonen villains and everybody he killed is alive in the current story.

 

[ZenZu]

All style no substance, like his captain

This is why I love BB pirates and Shiryu. Shiryu is his own man, you remove the BB pirates and Shiryu of the Rain is still Shiryu of the Rain. King is just Zoro Victim #21 but with the YC1 sauce.

 

[Mr. Reloaded]

Because DBZ has been a world wide phenomenon since the 90's and Naruto the 00's.

One Piece never really hit with the mainstream until about 2020. Marineford gave it a big boost sure, but not to the level we see today.