One Piece is a series that is no stranger to legendary and heroic figures that have freed entire islands and civilizations from subjugation. In fact, the main character of the franchise, Monkey D. Luffy, is one such character who has freed an innumerable number of people since he and his crew set sail on the Grand Line, especially since he is the inheritor of the legendary Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika Devil Fruit.

However, just like Luffy, there have been many other characters in One Piece who have served to be great liberators for their people. For the Fishmen, Fisher Tiger was one such figure. This character was the founder and leader of the Sun Pirates and was an important enemy of the villainous Celestial Dragons, having freed many slaves from under their grasp. So, let's take a look at the amazing story of the legendary Fisher Tiger.

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Who Was Fisher Tiger?

Fisher Tiger was born in the relatively harsh living conditions of the Fishman District on Fishman Island. Relations between humans and Fishmen have always been strenuous, due to which, most members of the race have grown up with a deep hatred for those that dwell above the ocean, being driven by generations of prejudice that only furthered their negative worldview.

At some point during his youth, Fisher Tiger came into power and gained control of all of Fishman District, where the anti-human sentiment was the strongest. Here, Tiger became known far and wide as an adventurer who was famous on his island and unanimously loved by everyone. His nature as someone who ventured beyond the depths to the world of the humans became the basis for his eventual heroic tales.

A Great Liberator

Since he was a character who was known around the world as a famous adventurer, the tales of his exploits made him a hero and 'big brother' figure to much of Fishman Island. However, on one of his adventures, he was captured and subjugated to slavery by the Celestial Dragons, where he witnessed the true horror of what humans were capable of, regardless of whether the ones suffering were Fishmen or even other humans.

Eventually, Tiger made his escape from captivity, upon which he returned to Fishman Island. Though he looked to be as he always was to everyone else, he revealed the truth about his latest adventure to King Neptune and Queen Otohime, stating that no one should go through what he had gone through. Despite having the utmost respect for his Queen, Tiger admitted his intentions to break into Marijoa to free all the slaves there, which directly went against Otohime's plans of fostering peaceful relations between Fishmen and humans.

Despite knowing what this would entail, King Neptune sanctioned his actions, which led to Tiger breaking into Marijoa and freeing all the slaves there, regardless of whether they were humans or Fishmen. During this revolt, he caused an incredible amount of destruction to the city, labeling him as a huge enemy to the World Government. All his spite and dislike for humans aside, Fisher Tiger always told his crew that not a single innocent human was to be harmed.

This eventually led to the birth of the fabled Sun Pirates, a crew of Fishmen pirates led by Tiger himself. These pirates fought against the World Government to liberate and free captivated people. Tiger even told his crew that, upon defeating any human forces, they should not kill them, since it would only serve to tarnish their image and prove the humans right. Despite push-back from some of his crewmates like Arlong, Tiger stood true to this.

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The Legacy of Fisher Tiger:

One day, the Sun Pirates came across a young girl named Koala, who was revealed to be one of the many slaves that were freed by Fisher Tiger during his raid on Marijoa. Eventually, the Pirates took her upon their ship to deliver her off to her home, at which time she became loved by many in the crew. After finally being dropped off to her family, it was later shown that the people of her hometown had called reinforcements to try to kill her saviours.

Though he did not die on the spot, he bled out a lot and was in critical condition on his ship. As he lay on the stretcher, he refused to accept a transfusion of human blood, stating that it carried generations of unjust hatred and discrimination towards his people, and that he could live with that blood running through his veins. Here, he admitted that despite him wanting humans and Fishmen to live separately, Queen Otohime's solution of coexistence was the right way.

However, he had seen what depravity humans were capable of achieving himself, so he could never bring himself to accept them. He claimed that this hatred of his was wrong but all that he had seen prevented him from doing anything about it.

In the end, Fisher Tiger's death struck the whole of Fishman Island to its core, but upon his last request, the true nature of how it happened was not revealed to them, since Tiger realized that Otohime was right all along. From then, Fisher Tiger's legacy was one of being a legendary liberator, who freed people from subjugation regardless of who they were, which is why he is one of the best characters in the extended One Piece universe.

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One Piece (1999)

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga's popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Seasons

20

Story By

Eiichiro Oda

Number of Episodes

1082+

See at Hulu