Highlights
- One Piece's story is initially a fun treasure hunt, but it becomes a nuanced tale filled with mystery and intrigue, making viewers want to continue to find out more.
- The length of One Piece can be daunting for new fans, with over 1100 chapters and 1089 anime episodes, but the complexity and ambition of the story justify the expansive content.
- The art style of One Piece may seem childish to some, but it allows for imaginative and fantastical designs, adding to the series' unique identity and creative storytelling.
There are very few franchises that have had the same global impact as One Piece. For the past 27 years, this series has seen success that only a handful of other anime/manga franchises have enjoyed, garnering support and fans from all over the globe, many of whom have grown up with the series since its first chapter dropped back in 1997. However, this has also led to many potential fans turning away from the series.
Although most people started this odyssey much later on, many more seem to think that the sheer scope of the franchise is just too jarring to get into and that there is too much information that they need to catch up on. At the same time, some are turned off by the animation style while others may not like the themes and setting of the story, so let's break down how One Piece will subvert everyone's expectations.
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One Piece's Story and Themes
One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his ragtag crew of pirates as they navigate the world and set out on a grand adventure to find the mysterious, titular treasure; the One Piece. The treasure was originally hidden by the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and upon his sentencing of death, he told the world about its existence, prompting pirates and sailors alike to take to the seas in the hopes of finding it.
What starts as a straightforward story with a clear goal opens up to a far more nuanced and detailed tale filled with mystery and intrigue. One Piece is unique in its storytelling as it initially comes off as a fun treasure hunt, but the true nature of the treasure itself remains a mystery, prompting the viewer to want to continue in order to find out what it is.
While the treasure originally does seem like the typical pile of gold, the story shows many twists and turns that change the nature of the entire world around it, and in doing so, makes the treasure out to be something far more important than just riches. The global treasure hunt that ensues after the death of Gol D. Roger introduces some of the most important and memorable characters in all of fiction, all of whom want to get their hands on the One Piece.
Throughout their journey, Luffy and his crew unravel more of the world and in doing so, unlock secrets that threaten to either destroy or remake everything that they have known. One Piece has the makings of any great odyssey like it, filled with humor, drama, political strife and the ability to completely blow viewers' minds like nothing else every now and then.
The Length of the Series is a Roadblock for New Fans
Naturally, if a story has been going on regularly for the past 27 years, it is going to be a long story. This is especially true for One Piece as this series has, at the time of writing, over 1100 chapters in the manga and 1089 episodes in the anime. No matter how anyone slices it, that is a lot of content to catch up on! Many of the episodes and chapters tend to drag and the amount of filler can be jarring for anyone looking to get into the series.
However, once someone eventually does get into the series, the common sentiment is that there should be even more of it! At first glance, it's easy to assume that the story is fairly simple and childish, but once the complexity of it truly opens up, the viewer begins to understand why the length of One Piece is as expansive as it is, because a story as ambitious and of this scale can only be told a certain way.
The filler still exists though, and due to this, the story can still seem to drag on at times. So, because of this, both the manga and anime adaptations have their pros and cons. While the manga adaptation also has the filler, the chapters are each only around 20 pages long, so the viewer can cover a lot more in a lot less time, but unlike the anime, they miss out on the immersive aspects that the voice acting brings.
The Different Kinds of Pirates in One Piece
One Piece is made up of all sorts of Pirates, each with their own motivations. Here's a closer look at the kinds of people sailing the Blue Sea.
The Art Style Might be Off-Putting to Some
Another very common aspect of the series that many detractors speak about is the art style of both the anime and manga. Again, the criticism here is that it is far too childish for anyone who is looking for a serious story to immerse themselves in. Since each new anime or manga coming out these days is animated in a very sleek and stylistic manner that promotes realism, One Piece stands out from the crowd.
This, however, is completely intentional, as this carefree and unrealistic art style allows for the creator of the series, Eiichiro Oda, to come up with the most fantastical and imaginative designs ever seen in the industry. These are an essential part of the identity of the series as they allow the Mangaka to be as creative as possible when it comes to characters, landscapes and set pieces that other writers couldn't dream of coming up with due to the fear of them looking too ridiculous. One Piece doesn't have this problem and, in fact, benefits from it!
One Piece Has Plenty of Over-the-Top Aspects
Jumping off from the last point of the art style, One Piece has some elements that seem so over the top and ridiculous at first glance that outsiders often think that there is no way a significant or impactful story can be told. However, this juxtaposition of funny elements with serious aspects is what makes Oda such a master at his craft.
One Piece: How Egghead Island Mirrors Sabaody Archipelago
As One Piece enters its final arc, Egghead and Sabaody stand as two significant locations that shape the future of the series.
Quite often, viewers of the series will eventually meet a character whose design inspires nothing but laughter. Such an example is one of the main characters of the series, Usopp, whose entire appearance is tough to take seriously coupled with his personality of being a massive coward. However, this is beautifully contrasted with his tragic backstory, which makes him immensely endearing to the viewers. One Piece is filled with brilliant storytelling and characters from all walks of life that evoke emotions from the fans.
The Setting May Not be for Everyone
The main setting for One Piece is that of a grand pirate adventure with extremely fantastical elements. Though pirates and such things may not be everyone's cup of tea, it should be noted that this series does not have pirate elements such as what is commonly known in the world. This is because pirates simply serve a specific role in the story, and the true themes and setting of One Piece have more to do with adventure and action, something that has made the series huge across all demographics.
This series has something in it for almost everyone and the world-building is unmatched across all of fiction. One Piece is quite often called 'the greatest story ever told' and it deserves to be viewed by everyone who has come across it!
One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
