Eiichiro Oda is known for his magnum opus One Piece, which started serializing in the Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 and, since then, has become one of the best-selling manga of all time. It is clear that it is because of Oda's hard work and the support of the fans that One Piece has attained the heights it has.

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Very few fans know about Oda's other works, one of which is Monsters. It is one shot that Oda wrote in 1994, and it was focused on Ryuma, the greatest swordsman in the world. With the confirmation that the anime adaptation will be released in January 2024, more and more fans will get the opportunity to learn about this particular series.

Who Is Ryuma?

Ryuma was a legendary swordsman who lived many centuries prior to the current timeline. He was a master swordsman whose strength was renowned throughout the world. Ryuma's swordsmanship earned him the title of the strongest swordsman in the world.

Ryuma is Zoro's ancestor, and the two share a few attributes. For instance, both Ryuma and Zoro took down a dragon with a single strike. The two also share a scar over their eyes.

5 Epic Sword Battle

Ryuma's Skills Will Be On Display

Considering the series is based on the greatest swordsman of that particular time, it is obvious that there is going to be a lot of action in the anime. Ryuma was an exceptionally talented swordsman who likely fought against some of the strongest characters of his time and came out on top.

In Monsters, Ryuma will face new challenges that will require him to be in the best shape. If the studio gets the animation right, it will be enough to keep the fans on the edge of their seats and give them an experience that they will never forget.

4 High Quality Animation

E&H Production's Biggest Project

The anime is being produced by E&H Production, which is a rather new studio. E&H Production does not have any big projects to its name, which might raise doubts in the eyes of One Piece fans. However, the studio will be aware that millions will be watching Monsters 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation.

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If they do not make a good adaptation, it will leave a massive stain on their CV and jeopardize their future products. Judging from the key visual, the characters look rather cool, and they suit the style that modern anime fans like. The character visuals are also outstanding. All these things are enough to get fans hyped for the series.

3 The Story Of Ryuma

Covers The Life Of A Legend

Monsters focuses on the life of Ryuuma, a swordsman hailing from the land of Wano. In One Piece, Ryuma made an appearance in the Thriller Bark arc, albeit as a corpse. Gecko Moria had stolen Ryuma's body along with the Shusui. This probably happened when Moria fought against Kaido. The latter decimated Moria's entire crew, which resulted in his desire to create an unkillable army. Moria must have thought that Ryuma would have made a great minion, which is why he desecrated the swordsman's grave to steal his corpse and Shusui.

In Monsters, Ryuma will be alive. So, fans will get the opportunity to see him in full force as the Thriller Bark Ryuma only displayed a fragment of his power. It will show what kind of man Ryuma was and whether he had any hobbies in common with his descendant, Roronoa Zoro.

2 Solid Supporting Cast

Other Characters To Make Things Interesting

Ryuma won't be the only character who will appear in the anime adaptation of Monsters. In fact, there are some other characters, namely Cyrano, Flare, and D.R., who will be involved in the story. The character visuals look rather impressive and clean.

Cyrano and D.R. are the main antagonists of the series. Cyrano appears to be a swordsman, which means that he will clash with Ryuma at one point or another. The battle between the two will be interesting to watch. D.R., on the other hand, looks like an eccentric individual. He also carries a sword, and his skills will be on display in the anime adaptation. Flare is going to be a supporting character in the story, and she might aid Ryuma in the journey. Fans will have to wait for the adaptation to be released to find out more.

1 Tying In With The Rest Of The Story

Ryuma's Connection To One Piece

Many fans will be confused about whether Ryuma's character is a canon or a filler. In order to answer this question, it is imperative to take a look at how Ryuma has been represented in One Piece and Monsters. In One Piece, Ryuma's corpse had its eye covered with a bandage. In Monsters, Ryuma has no damage to his eye. Also, there is a difference in the hair color between the two. Ryuma in One Piece had white hair, while the one in Monsters had black hair.

While some fans may think that the two are different, Ryuma from Monsters carries Shusui. It is the same blade that was wielded by a corpse in Thriller Bark and found its way to Roronoa Zoro. Despite the minor differences, it is safe to say that Ryuma from Monsters is canon.

One Piece (1999)

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Creator

Eiichiro Oda

Studio

Toei Animation

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Netflix , Hulu

See at Hulu