General & Others What do you love from One Piece?
- Thread starter Blax Blah
- Start date
Everything about it really
The world is intriguing, the characters are amazing, and it really feels like this series embodies freedom better than any other. I think the One Piece Fan Letter perfectly sums up what made so many people fall in love with the world of One Piece
Now, if I had to pick one thing that makes One Piece stand out for me it would have to be it's goofiness. Almost everyone I've ever met talks about how One Piece is "too goofy" before they actually give the manga/anime a chance. Once they actually start it they realize that goofiness is a huge part of the appeal
From the weird artstyle, to the different wacky islands, even down to how characters laugh you can tell Oda's had a blast coming up with different ways to make One Piece stand out
What always surprises people (including myself at times) is how serious things can get in a series that portrays itself as being incredibly goofy. That blend (while not always perfectly balanced) is what makes One Piece what I know and love
I just can't find that anywhere else!
The world is intriguing, the characters are amazing, and it really feels like this series embodies freedom better than any other. I think the One Piece Fan Letter perfectly sums up what made so many people fall in love with the world of One Piece
Now, if I had to pick one thing that makes One Piece stand out for me it would have to be it's goofiness. Almost everyone I've ever met talks about how One Piece is "too goofy" before they actually give the manga/anime a chance. Once they actually start it they realize that goofiness is a huge part of the appeal
From the weird artstyle, to the different wacky islands, even down to how characters laugh you can tell Oda's had a blast coming up with different ways to make One Piece stand out
What always surprises people (including myself at times) is how serious things can get in a series that portrays itself as being incredibly goofy. That blend (while not always perfectly balanced) is what makes One Piece what I know and love
I just can't find that anywhere else!
One thing I forgot to mention is I really love how Oda reuses his characters, giving them roles, redefining them and maybe even redeeming them somewhat at least. We've seen this many times with characters both from early one piece to more recent arcs returning and being given glow ups. New roles, some humility and thus growth, a change of attitude and such.
IIRC, Oda said he doesn't like to kill off characters unless he has no more use for them. I'm purposely ignoring Ace here as he's far too much of "hot topic" in this regard but I really respect this mentality of Oda if its true.
Characters deaths can be amazing when done right but too many or too little will also ruin a story and certain other series have too many deaths for my liking. My younger edgier self would have preferred that but as I get older and more boomer tier, I start to understand and appreciate the value and importance of individual lives and thus people themselves and it makes me appreciate how "deathphobic" some authors can be or are now too.
This is why I'm really glad about Kuma not dying after all. Oda pretty much gave us the ending I truly and secretly wanted as many of us did too ofc and I am extremely grateful for it. Seeing Kuma reunited with Bonney finally after all those hellish ordeals and her having to survive without him and their full story was some of the most beautifully bittersweet but ultimately inspiring and joyous payoffs. Also seeing child Bonney all chibi in the hands of her gargantuan, cyborg, adoptive but also true/best father was priceless beyond words.
Egghead had some amazingly beautiful art/panels/moments despite its many overwhelming, irredeemable, story ruining flaws.
IIRC, Oda said he doesn't like to kill off characters unless he has no more use for them. I'm purposely ignoring Ace here as he's far too much of "hot topic" in this regard but I really respect this mentality of Oda if its true.
Characters deaths can be amazing when done right but too many or too little will also ruin a story and certain other series have too many deaths for my liking. My younger edgier self would have preferred that but as I get older and more boomer tier, I start to understand and appreciate the value and importance of individual lives and thus people themselves and it makes me appreciate how "deathphobic" some authors can be or are now too.
This is why I'm really glad about Kuma not dying after all. Oda pretty much gave us the ending I truly and secretly wanted as many of us did too ofc and I am extremely grateful for it. Seeing Kuma reunited with Bonney finally after all those hellish ordeals and her having to survive without him and their full story was some of the most beautifully bittersweet but ultimately inspiring and joyous payoffs. Also seeing child Bonney all chibi in the hands of her gargantuan, cyborg, adoptive but also true/best father was priceless beyond words.
Egghead had some amazingly beautiful art/panels/moments despite its many overwhelming, irredeemable, story ruining flaws.
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The characters. So many cool groups and factions with at least some stand out members. Makes the arcs where Oda has tons of different factions extra satisfying like Marineford for instance. I also like how even with little background info, they can leave an impact like somone like Jozu or Vista, and leave you hoping they make a return. Of course the more important characters too.
Devil fruits are a cool system with great abilities (Luffy's, Ace's, Kuma's Marco's and so many more) and I hope we see more logias and maybe another special paramecia beyond Katakuri's. I also think some of the fightimng styles that aren't necessarily linked to fruits, but can be amplified by them, are cool. Rokushiki is great, black leg style is terrific, Zoro's moveset will always be cool and so on.
I also think it's pretty great how Oda always goes all out with designing the islands after coming up with a cool concept. Whole Cake Island was just amazing, Egghead was cool and even Elbaph is shaping up to be great in that regard.
Basically, the detail Oda puts island to island, the large cast of characters with notable additions to the series and the fighting styles and power system of devil fruits. Of course the relationships between characters too like Luffy/Vivi, Luffy/Zoro, Luffy/Sanji, Zoro/Sanji, Usopp with Luffy, Zoro, Sanji back when he gave us great moments like in Water 7 and Enies Lobby. One Piece isn't as consistent as it once was but I'll appreciate it's greatness.
Devil fruits are a cool system with great abilities (Luffy's, Ace's, Kuma's Marco's and so many more) and I hope we see more logias and maybe another special paramecia beyond Katakuri's. I also think some of the fightimng styles that aren't necessarily linked to fruits, but can be amplified by them, are cool. Rokushiki is great, black leg style is terrific, Zoro's moveset will always be cool and so on.
I also think it's pretty great how Oda always goes all out with designing the islands after coming up with a cool concept. Whole Cake Island was just amazing, Egghead was cool and even Elbaph is shaping up to be great in that regard.
Basically, the detail Oda puts island to island, the large cast of characters with notable additions to the series and the fighting styles and power system of devil fruits. Of course the relationships between characters too like Luffy/Vivi, Luffy/Zoro, Luffy/Sanji, Zoro/Sanji, Usopp with Luffy, Zoro, Sanji back when he gave us great moments like in Water 7 and Enies Lobby. One Piece isn't as consistent as it once was but I'll appreciate it's greatness.
In volume 49, chapter 471, Oda was asked in the SBS if Robin had a change of heart after the events of Enies Lobby because she started referring to the Straw Hats by their names. He replied:
"[...] I'm glad to see that lots of readers picked up on this. In this volume in chapter 475, you'll see Robin say, 'Are you okay, Nami?!' It seems that she now refers to Nami by name. The same goes for the rest of the crew. You'll see her referring to them by their names too. After the incident at Enies Lobby, Robin is really starting to open up to the rest of the crew.
Even if the stories that occur in One Piece get bigger, I want to continue to draw out these really minor, yet crucial, human relationships."
This is what I love about One Piece, and I think that is a large reason why this story sets itself apart from other shonen manga. Sure, the worldbuilding and lore are interesting, but what really makes it stand out are these little, and very relatable, interactions characters have throughout the series. People unfamiliar to One Piece often take what they see about it at face value. The cartoony art style and sometimes unserious story are off-putting to many, yet these aspects are crucial because they contrast well with the underlying themes, and helping every character come alive.
One of my favorite examples of this is the conversation Sengoku and Law have about Corazon at the end of Dressrosa. After retiring from position of Fleet Admiral, we get to see a very different Sengoku. One that has been stripped of all responsibility in the Marines. Through this little exchange with Law and Sengoku, we learn so much about him.
"[...] I'm glad to see that lots of readers picked up on this. In this volume in chapter 475, you'll see Robin say, 'Are you okay, Nami?!' It seems that she now refers to Nami by name. The same goes for the rest of the crew. You'll see her referring to them by their names too. After the incident at Enies Lobby, Robin is really starting to open up to the rest of the crew.
Even if the stories that occur in One Piece get bigger, I want to continue to draw out these really minor, yet crucial, human relationships."
This is what I love about One Piece, and I think that is a large reason why this story sets itself apart from other shonen manga. Sure, the worldbuilding and lore are interesting, but what really makes it stand out are these little, and very relatable, interactions characters have throughout the series. People unfamiliar to One Piece often take what they see about it at face value. The cartoony art style and sometimes unserious story are off-putting to many, yet these aspects are crucial because they contrast well with the underlying themes, and helping every character come alive.
One of my favorite examples of this is the conversation Sengoku and Law have about Corazon at the end of Dressrosa. After retiring from position of Fleet Admiral, we get to see a very different Sengoku. One that has been stripped of all responsibility in the Marines. Through this little exchange with Law and Sengoku, we learn so much about him.
The cast
Oda is one of the few Mangaka where the cast doesnt feel muted and samey. Like in many other Manga i can "tell" this is a character created by the same mangaka, jjk being a recent example, in one piece because oda has range. And its fun to see those characters interact.
I must say im less fascinating about his worldbuilding, oda is creative but when he needs to go into detail he historically always fumbles, so i like if we see or learn about a new thing, power or place but the more we dive in the more its jumbled
Oda is one of the few Mangaka where the cast doesnt feel muted and samey. Like in many other Manga i can "tell" this is a character created by the same mangaka, jjk being a recent example, in one piece because oda has range. And its fun to see those characters interact.
I must say im less fascinating about his worldbuilding, oda is creative but when he needs to go into detail he historically always fumbles, so i like if we see or learn about a new thing, power or place but the more we dive in the more its jumbled