Monkey D. Luffy managed to captivate anime fans' hearts all over the world with his infectious spirit, indomitable will, and a wide smile. Thanks to the wondrous world of the One Piece live-action show, viewers can embark on an epic adventure and explore a one-of-a-kind world filled with wacky characters, mysteries, and adventure. The first season featured some of the most iconic Luffy moments that made the anime and manga fans fall in love with him, and solidified his status as one of the most legendary fictional pirates of all time.
Viewers get to know Luffy's unique journey and even learn about his background and life as a little kid. OPLA brings his unique story to life, immersing fans even further into this addictive world while letting them embark on an unforgettable journey through the high seas. Here are some of the stretchy pirate's best live action moments so far.
7 Young Luffy Cutting His Face
Luffy was strong-willed even as a kid, and would do impulsive and even dangerous things without thinking. That's how he ended up eating one of the most powerful devil fruits, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. However, his most fearless act was when he wanted to prove his worth to the great pirate Red-Haired Shanks by cutting his own face.
Even as a kid, Luffy knew he was a pirate at heart. He wanted to join Shanks' pirate crew so badly that he didn't mind enduring great pain. While Shanks didn't change his mind about the young boy joining his crew, Luffy did learn a valuable lesson that changed his life for the better.
6 Escaping Garp
One of the most heart-pounding moments of the One Piece live-action show was when Luffy had to go against his formidable grandfather, Monkey D. Garp. Garp, a legendary Marine hero, wanted to bring his grandson to justice while teaching him a lesson. Not only Luffy, but many other powerful characters in the series were trained by Garp, who himself is a powerful fighter.
However, Luffy used his devil fruit powers to fight back by stretching his belly to unbelievable lengths. In doing so, he managed to escape Garp and his crew. It was a visually stunning and powerful scene that proved that despite his young age, Luffy is a powerful opponent.
5 His Goodbye to Koby
While there are plenty of powerful Marines in One Piece, only a few of them are actually well-intentioned. That's one of the reasons why Luffy's Marine friend, Koby, is so special. Luffy had barely begun his journey, yet he already inspired others to become their best selves no matter what they chose to do.
Luffy even managed to form a strong bond with the young Koby after saving him from an evil pirate and motivating him to become a Marine. While the two of them said goodbye soon after their first meeting, they still had a strong influence on each other. One of OPLA's most heartwarming moments is when the two say goodbye. They tell each other to no matter what happens, to be good Marines and be good pirates.
4 Luffy Is Always There For His Friends
One of the most cathartic moments in One Piece happens between Luffy and Nami, after Nami finds out that Arlong was lying to her all along. Luffy has many good qualities, but his best one is that he's always there for his friends. He trusted the brilliant navigator from the start, despite knowing that she had a mysterious past.
When Nami needed his help, Luffy stepped in and confronted Arlong and his crew. This powerful moment proved that Luffy always stands by his friends and protects those he cares about.
3 Luffy Defeating Arlong
One of the most intense fight scenes in One Piece Live Action took place between Luffy and Arlong, the ruthless fish-man pirate. By the time The Straw Hat Pirates arrived at Arlong Park, viewers already knew about Arlong's tyranny over Nami and her hometown, and all the other evil acts he committed. This perfectly set the stage for a showdown that decided the fate of the entire region.
Luffy's determination to free Nami and liberate the villages from Arlong's grip further fueled this epic confrontation. Fans could see Luffy pushing himself to his limits for the first time, and watched him unleash his devastating powers to defeat Arlong and end his reign of terror.
2 Luffy Recruiting His team
While Luffy is a powerful pirate, he always knew he'd need a fantastic crew if he wanted to fulfill his dream and become the King of Pirates. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for, but he planned on finding others who share his passion for adventures and want to fulfill their own dreams.
Even though Nami initially conspired against Luffy, she soon became his skilled navigator and one of his most trusted friends. Thanks to Zoro's exceptional fighting skills and his unyielding dedication, he became his captain's right-hand man. In Sanji, the Straw Hats found their cook, and Usopp became the crew's sniper and resident storyteller. Each of Luffy's recruitments was special and showed his knack for recognizing extraordinary talents.
1 Luffy Finds Going Merry
One of the most touching Luffy moments that tugged at the heartstrings of One Piece fans was when Luffy found his soon-to-be beloved ship, the Going Merry. Luffy stumbled upon the unique ship in a shipyard, and knew at first sight that the Going Merry would become a cherished member of his crew.
The Straw Hat Pirates had no money to buy the ship, but thanks to their unique skill sets and good hearts, they were able to protect Kaya. They got not only their dream ship,, but also a new crew mate and friend, Usopp.