Highlights
- One Piece draws inspiration from real-world places, such as Japan and Egypt, to create its elaborate universe, adding new elements and themes.
- The islands of Water 7 and Dressrosa are inspired by Venice and Spain's Park Güell, respectively, reflecting their architectural styles and characteristics.
- The Rommel Kingdom (London) and Mary Geoise (Château de Chambord) in One Piece are inspired by England and France, influencing both the settings and storylines.
The One Piece series is well known for its elaborate world-building and intriguing settings, both of which allow mangaka Eiichiro Oda a lot of creative freedom. These serve as backdrops to the arcs, setting the tone and allowing for the introduction of new elements and themes.
To craft this elaborate and detailed universe, Oda often finds inspiration in real-world places, which he then elaborates on and adapts to fit the story. A commonly referenced example of this is how both Wano and Arabasta are based on Edo Period Japan and Ancient Egypt respectively, but these aren’t the only parallels there are. In fact, One Piece is full of direct references to famous landmarks, many of which have been eagerly identified by fans all over the world.
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Water 7 and Dressrosa Were Both Inspired by Italy and Spain
Oda finds inspiration for One Piece islands from countries all around the world, with Southern Europe being no exception to this. In fact, Italy and Spain have inspired Water 7 and Dressrosa respectively, with Water 7 being based on Venice, and Dressrosa drawing inspiration from Spain’s Park Güell.
The parallels between Venice and One Piece’s Water 7 are evident. Just as is the case with Water 7, Venice is built on water and susceptible to high tides and flooding. People use canals to travel between places, and the small islands are connected by a system of bridges that allow pedestrians to move around. On the other hand, the connection between Dressrosa and Park Güell may be harder to spot for those who haven’t visited this destination, but it is obvious to anyone who has been there and compares them. Antoni Gaudí’s characteristic architectural style features heavily in the entire Dressrosa arc, and alongside the lush gardens and use of characteristic tiles, it clearly references this very distinguished park.
England And France Inspired Some of One Piece's Most Gaudy Kingdoms
Two locations in the One Piece world draw inspiration from England and France. These are the Rommel Kingdom, clearly inspired by London, and Mary Geoise, which references Château de Chambord in France. The Rommel Kingdom features London’s classic architecture and a tower that is very reminiscent of Big Ben, whilst Mary Geoise’s elegant architecture is a clear reference to the French Renaissance.
In both these cases, these real-world landmarks inspired not only the setting but also the themes. Rommel introduces the story of Hakuba, a serial killer that references London’s Jack the Ripper and is responsible for cutting people down throughout the city. Mary Geoise is instead home to the World Nobles, who are based on the French Aristocracy. As Château de Chambord is one of the most famous noble mansions in France, it is a fitting reference that highlights the lavish and entitled lifestyles shared by both groups.
Asbestos And Smokey Mountain In The One Piece World
In the One Piece universe, the Gray Terminal is a testament to both the toxic attitude of the rulers of the Goa Kingdom, and the subsequent extreme poverty in those territories. This tragic location is a city of garbage, inspired by the real-world Smokey Mountain in the Philippines. Known as the slums of Manila, this so-called mountain consists of over two million metric tons of waste, and gets its name from the frequent fires caused by the decomposing flammable waste.
Another instance of Oda drawing inspiration from a sad reality of the real world was the case of Asbestos, a Canadian town named after the substance Asbestos that served as the basis for One Piece’s Flevance. Just as Flevance was given the moniker “White City” after the Toxic Amber Lead that was mined there, Asbestos was once home to one of the largest asbestos mines and gets its name from there. Similarly to what happened in Flevance, the Canadian government and the companies involved in the mining lied about the negative health effects of mining the mineral, leading to high cancer rates in its community to this day.
Iceland’s Elephant Rock In The One Piece World
As One Piece is quirky in nature, Oda often draws inspiration from unusual and fascinating locations he comes across. One such landmark can be found in Iceland, and it inspired an equally strange island in the One Piece world. This place is Iceland’s Elephant Rock, a large elephant-shaped mass that likely inspired Zunesha, the elephant that carries the civilization Zou on its back.
The variety of the locations ensure fans never get bored of the One Piece world. The detail and care put into this world are a testament to Oda’s skill as a mangaka, and his ability to take inspiration from the real world and adapt it to suit the needs of the story shows both great creativity and forethought. The One Piece community is excited to see where the Straw Hats will travel too next, and many fans hope that, as stated, once they escape Egghead Island they will be heading to Elbaf.
One Piece is available to stream on Prime Video.
