Character Discussion Oda's theme naming: Shichibukai and Animals

[sanjikun]

Oda actually gets fairly lazy with names, like all of Kaido's crews being either suits or card games.

With the Shichibukai it's the same, and you can tell who was originally planned to be a Shichibukai, and who wasn't (Law, Blackbeard, etc.)

Mihawk - Hawk

Doflamingo - Flamingo

Boa - Boa

Kuma - Bear (Kuma in Japanese)

Crocodile - Crocodile

Weevil - Weevil

Gecko Moriah - Bat (“-cko Moria” = “Koumori” is bat in Japanese)

Jinbe - Whale Shark (Jinbezama)

To me the interesting part is that the new Shichibukai don't have these themes (Law, Blackbeard, Hanafuda - this one is the Kaido card theme) but Weevil does.

This means that Oda saw him as a Shichibukai first and foremost, and not necessarily just as WB's son.

 

[soupongo]

The difference would be that Law and Teach aren't introduced to us as warlords, and they basically never really are in the actual story.

Teach only has his position during Impel down, but obviously in that arc he's pretty openly going against the government, and not really pretending otherwise. Same with Law on PH, though there's a bit more nuance with the PH situation(Vergo is a pirate). Generally same is true with Buggy. Weevil is intro'd as a warlord, and while he doesn't get to do much as one, it's still different. Though, I'm not really sure why we would assume this has anything to do with him being WB's biological son.

 

[MonochromeYoru]

This means that Oda saw him as a Shichibukai first and foremost, and not necessarily just as WB's son

There's a theory that the top right dude was supposed to be Weevil. So yeah.

 

[sanjikun]

There's a theory that the top right dude was supposed to be Weevil. So yeah.

Oh shit. Never seen that.

 

[Shivercalero]

Law is a snow leopard, Blackbeard is a Hippo and Habafuda has a dino theme.

 

[NikaInParis]

Or, hear me out, Gekko Moria could be based on a gekko

 

[Monster Zoro's Tesla Supplier]

Law is a snow leopard, Blackbeard is a Hippo and Habafuda has a dino theme.

This is all true but these aren't things in their name or something that is obvious when you look at them (i.e "Boa" Hancock always being followed by a huge snake).

Or, hear me out, Gekko Moria could be based on a gekko

Honestly it's likely both

 

[Juanpiz]

Or, hear me out, Gekko Moria could be based on a gekko

I thought a cone

 

[Dr.ShiNoGekai]

I don’t think it’s lazy at all. Themed naming lets Oda convey rank and faction identity which is useful in such a huge cast. For example King/Queen/Jack which immediately imply that they’re a squad, and we know the pecking order.