With over 1,000 episodes,One Piececan be a bit scary for new viewers, but there is more to it, and it has one of the most heartwarming stories in anime. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates have entertained millions for over two decades, making One Piece a global phenomenon.
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This begs the question: There has to be more to this series than its lengthy runtime. And yes, there is a lot, ranging from epic battles and emotional backstories to moral dilemmas. In short, One Piece has something to offer everyone. If you haven’t started the series yet, here are all the best reasons you should.
10A Legendary Story With Layers of Mystery
At its core, One Piece is a story or, rather, a quest for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece. The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, left it behind with his last words, “You want my treasure? You can have it!” These words sent many on a quest to find this treasure on the open seas.
However, don’t let that fool you as the story is not just some treasure hunt. It’s a journey with plot twists, ancient secrets, and long-lost truth.
As the anime progresses, you will be introduced to mysteries like the Void Century, which contains a history of 100 years that is lost. It can only be learned by finding all the Poneglyphs spread throughout the world.
These Poneglyphs are also connected to the One Piece and will help find it. This is just one example, and One Piece is filled with many such mysteries, and as you watch more, you will be left theorizing quite a lot.
9A World-Building Masterpiece
One Piece has one of the best world-building in fiction, and I have used it as a prime example of good world-building on multiple occasions. The series is set in a highly diverse world due to the hundreds of different islands, each with its settings and cultures.
For example, there is the Alabasta Kingdom, a desert-based nation with a rich history and political rivalries, while Fishman Island is an underwater civilization home to the fishmen people. Then, there is the Skypiea arc, which introduces the sky-dwelling Skypieans, who have their own unique culture and beliefs.
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Furthermore, Eiichiro Oda’s attention to detail makes every island memorable and it connects them to one another. Those connections are revealed much later in the series.
Overall, the diversity of these locations and their inhabitants is a testament to the depth and creativity of the world-building in One Piece.
8Memorable Characters
When it comes to the cast of characters, One Piece features more than a thousand characters that are unique and have depth. The main crew is a great example of that, with each member having their own dreams and struggles.
Luffy dreams of becoming the Pirate King, Zoro (my favorite) wants to be the greatest swordsman, Nami intends to map the entire world, Sanji’s dream is to find the All-Blue, and others have their own goals—all of which adds more to the story.
When it comes to side characters orvillains, they are just unforgettable. So characters like Big Mom, Doflamingo, Crocodile, or the Marines each have their character, motives, and backstories.
During Luffy’s journey, you will also meet allies who will leave a lasting impression on you. For example, Trafalgar Law and his backstory will leave you in tears. All in all, One Piece has some of the best fictional characters, with a great deal of depth and relatability.
7Emotional Arcs That Hit Hard
At first, One Piece might look goofy, but don’t be fooled by that, as One Piece has some of the best emotional arcs in anime. Great examples of that are the backstories of the main characters, which will leave you in tears.
For example, in episode 31, Nami’s backstory begins, and you will start to see her struggles with Arlong. Once the backstory builds up One Piece will peak.
On a side note, I would recommend watching One Piece until episode 45, as the starting 30 episodes don’t really show what it has to offer. By the time you reach episode 45, Arlong and Nami’s arc will come to a conclusion to give you a taste of what One Piece has in store for you.
6Power System With Limitless Creativity
One Piece has one of the most complete power systems in anime. Fights are not limited to just swords or guns, as there are devil fruits and haki.With devil fruits, users gain unique abilitieslike becoming light or turning into a dragon.
Then there is Haki, which has three types: Armament, Observation, and Conqueror. Armament Haki is used to counter devil fruit properties, deal additional damage, and protect the user from powerful attacks.
Observation Haki lets the user predict the enemy’s attack and fight. Lastly, Conqueror’s Haki lets the user dominate anyone who is weaker than them, but only a handful have Conqueror’s Haki.
All of that, combined with legendary weapons and unique user implications of everything, makes this power system one of the best in anime.
This results in epic battles and the use of the brain rather than solely relying on one’s abilities. So sometimes weaker characters might have an upper hand due to the conditions, making every fight worth watching.
5An Inspirational Hero Like No Other
On the surface, Luffy seems like any other Shounen protagonist, but there is one thing that makes him stand out:freedom. Like others, Luffy is goofy and wants to get stronger to protect his friends.
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But Luffy is free and is always fighting for the freedom of others. In any One Piece arc, there will be one thing in common, and that is Luffy’s fight to bring freedom.
Therefore, he stands out as his own character despite being like mostother Shounen protagonists.
4Explores Complex Themes
One Piece isn’t just an adventure story, as it explores complex moral themes. It discusses themes of freedom, justice, and corruption, with The World Government standing in the middle of everything.
Instead of protecting the citizens, the government has its own agendas and priorities by giving special rights to a specific group. That group wreaks havoc on the world by enslaving people and destroying entire nations without a second thought.
Despite all this, some honest people in the government want to bring reform and change things for the better. On the other hand, there are good and evil pirates, which makes you question which people are truly in the right.
3A Long But Worthwhile Journey
Yes, One Piece isone of the longest anime series, with over 1,000 episodes, but that is part of what makes it so special for the fans. The pacing rarely feels sluggish, and the world and mysteries continuously build and expand on top of each other.
Each conclusion is a new beginning and gives some answers for the bigger puzzles, which keeps you hooked and wanting more. Furthermore, the characters themselves are rewarded with new power-ups or weapons.
2Epic Battles That Combine Strategy And Emotion
Fights in One Piece are some of the bestout there. Firstly, there is the complete power system, which makes fights more than just flashy moves. There is depth and strategy involved in each battle, so there is rarely a plot armor moment.
Moreover, each fight carries emotional stakes and build-ups that get you invested. For example, Luffy’s battle with Arlong has Nami’s future at stake and her past as the build-up.
So, when you watch fights in One Piece, they are not just eye candy; there are personal stakes and emotional build-ups. But this doesn’t take away from the fantastic choreography and creative use of abilities to make battles fun likeother Shounen animes.
1A Fandom That Feels Like Family
And finally, watching One Piece means you will be becoming part of the fandom. There are only a few other fandoms that feel like family as much as this one does.
Many people like me are eager to talk about their favorite things about the show and what makes it so special. Sharing your experiences and perspectives is part of what makes One Piece so special.
The One Piece fandom is like the Star Hat crew, which is not just a team but a family that shares their adventure. With that, set sail and join us on this great adventure.
