One Piece is one of the most iconic anime series in history, featuring an expansive world full of rogues, heroes, and everything in between. The setting is original and everything seems to fit perfectly within the world. On top of that, inspiration is taken from nearly everywhere in order to create one of the most diverse and interesting sets of characters in the industry (some of whom really deserve more time in the spotlight).
Here are some of the most notable characters in One Piece. They seem to take inspiration from a large range of literary works, spanning multiple languages, times, and genres. It all just shows how expansive the foundation for One Piece really is.
10 Charlotte Perospero Could Almost Be A Roald Dahl Creation
With the Sweet-Sweet Fruit and a particularly flamboyant style of dress, it is hard not to see this member of the Big Mom pirates as a funhouse mirror version of Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
While Willy Wonka's methods and actions can certainly be questionable at times, he has nothing on this criminal confectioner who seems to stop at nothing to achieve the will of Big Mom. The fact that a character this eccentric blends so well into the story is a real testament to the strength of One Piece’s writing.
9 Shirahoshi Closely Resembles A Famous Fairy Tale Character
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It is almost impossible to escape the parallels in the circumstances between Shirahoshi and the Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen's iconic story. Apart from being mermaid princesses, both feel trapped in the depths of the ocean and wish to explore the wider world, although the shadow of danger looms large (especially with the revelation that Shirahoshi is actually one of the three ancient weapons).
While Hans Christian Andersen's classic is infamous for having an incredibly dark ending, hopefully the presence of the Straw Hat Pirates will lead Shirahoshi to a better ending!
8 This Mythological Figure Has A Lot In Common With God Enel
Although his resemblance to Slim Shady definitely suggests that multiple sources might have influenced the character, God Enel seems inspired by a number of mythological thunder gods. Raijin from Japanese mythology, who is also associated with a ring of drums around his person, seems chief among them.
Both Raijin and God Enel can be seen to have a strongly mischievous streak (though that's probably underselling it in God Enel's case) and are protective of the lands they rule over. Ultimately, God Enel ends up in space with a lunar army. This is certainly not a traditional part of the Raijin mythology.
7 Charlotte Cracker Just Might Have A Sweet Spot For This Classic Character
Another member of Big Mom's crew, and still sweet-themed, though inspired by an entirely different and much older piece of source material. While far more aggressive than his counterpart from literature, this biscuit-based brawler is very reminiscent of the classic folktale of the Gingerbread Man.
However, he's definitely less sweet than the original and far, far more dangerous. As such, it's more likely that those who encounter him would have to run, run as fast as they can, to ensure that they aren't caught by this gingerbread man.
6 Donquixote Doflamingo Takes His Name From An Iconic Spanish Novel
The Spanish novel Don Quixote tells a tale of disenchantment and a changing world, and in some ways, the book's namesake represents this in One Piece too. A member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and a fighter alongside the Marines at the Summit War of Marineford, he helps prop up the corrupt regimes that the Straw Hat Crew find themselves in conflict with.
Luffy's fight against this villain in the Dressrosa Saga is a real turning point for the series, as he clashes against a character who embodies the opposite of his ideals and threatens to shake up the world order. Their conflict is perhaps among the best fights in the anime, although it has some real competition for that title.
5 Boa Hancock Seems To Be Inspired By Greek Mythology
Along with her sisters, Boa Hancock is seemingly based on the terrifying yet iconic gorgons of Greek mythology, underscored by the fact that they are surrounded by serpentine imagery and are named likewise. She also has the ability to turn those who cross her to stone, although this is because of a Devil Fruit and not the curse of a vengeful god.
Despite her formidable power, this member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea is far friendlier to Luffy than Medusa would ever be likely to be.
4 Gecko Moria Perhaps Has His Roots In The Creations Of A Famous Sci-Fi Writer
This creepy customer is deeply evocative of H.G. Wells's Doctor Moreau, right down to the island filled with his own monstrous creations. Both men are tragic but antagonistic figures that give a distinctive horror feel to their respective texts (the genre is a wonderful mix with anime).
The link between the Thriller Bark arc and The Island of Dr Moreau are underlined by the existence of Dr. Hogback. The doctor actually makes human-animal hybrids, which roam the island in addition to the other monsters that lurk there. This is exactly what the protagonists of H.G. Wells’s novel encounter.
3 Cavendish Is As Complicated As This Victorian Icon
With a primary persona of a sweet cultured gentleman, juxtaposed against a dark personality that can emerge and wreak havoc, Cavendish evokes the duality of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The two-sided figure central to Robert Louis Stephenson's novel may be played more threateningly, but there's a litany of frightful figures in the world of One Piece.
Cavendish's dark side Hakuba is certainly not portrayed as weak. In fact, he might be one of the strongest Grand Fleet captains. Furthermore, the place that a murder occurs in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is called Cavendish Square, drawing a stronger line of connection.
2 Usopp And Pinocchio Are Practically Soulmates
In the Straw Hat Crew, Usopp is a long-nosed liar with a youthful spirit, who grows in courage and honesty as the series continues. Clearly, there's a comparison to be drawn to Pinocchio, the eponymous character from the classic Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio.
Moreover, both Pinocchio and Usopp are looking to prove themselves in the eyes of their respective father figures, Gepetto and Yasopp (though Usopp is not the only shounen protagonist to do this). With increasing amounts of Pinocchio-related content being released, it will be interesting to see if Usopp's star also rises in the future.
1 Luffy Is Based On A Classic Archetypal Character
While Luffy is truly an icon in his own right, the character actually seems strongly inspired by Dragon Ball's Son Goku (the archetypal shounen hero with some hidden depths). Goku, in turn, was seemingly based on Sun Wukong from Journey to the West, a 16th century Chinese novel by Wu Cheng'en. Luffy and Sun Wukong are both characters defined by their bravery, with outlandish powers that aid them on their adventures.
Almost every anime fan will be familiar with Luffy's rubber powers, but Sun Wukong's size-changing staff and ability to transform add another layer of similarity.