One Piece is a work created by mangaka Eiichiro Oda and, over the years, has established itself as one of the most iconic animes of all time. Its popularity and its long duration, totaling more than 1000 episodes, are some of the most well-known points among the public, but there are things you don't know about One Piece. Curiosities, surprising facts and news are recurrent in the universe of anime and today we will reveal the secrets of One Piece!
Even though many fans are dedicated and research details about the work, there are still little-known facts that surprise even the most avid fans. Discover today the biggest curiosities about One Piece, as we will provide a complete list with interesting and little-discussed facts, so that you can further expand your knowledge about the history of the Straw Hat Pirates!
It is one of the best-selling mangas of all time.
One of the things you may not know about One Piece is that it is one of the best-selling manga in Japan! Manga is a type of Japanese comic book, where the stories of anime are originally written. Anime is responsible for adapting these literary works and bringing even more popularity to this type of entertainment. Thus, One Piece is not only one of the best-selling works of its kind, but also one of the best-selling works of its kind. country of origin, but also around the world!
On average, it is estimated that more than 523 million copies of the One Piece manga have been sold worldwide. And as intense as this number is, the tendency is only to increase, considering that the work has not yet been finished and its chapters are released recurrently.
Haki has the power to change the world of One Piece
As a fan of One Piece, you probably know how important Haki is to the story. But one thing you may not know about One Piece is that this Haki is a very mysterious power and makes its users manifest spiritual energy in different ways, depending on each person's personality.
This is an essential tool in Oda's universe, and can increase the physical abilities of its users, or even allow the presence of other characters to be felt. The fact is that Haki is often brought into the story, to make the characters' adventures even more intense.
Zoro was created to be a bad guy
Another fact on our list of “things you didn’t know about One Piece” is that Zoro, one of the most beloved and popular characters of the Straw Hat Pirates, was supposed to be a villain. Roronoa Zoro is a very daring swordsman who shows off his great sword skills by fighting alongside Luffy and his crew, but Oda intended to put him on the side of the villains.
Zoro was originally created to be one of Buggy the Clown Star's bodyguards! Buggy is one of the most memorable villains in the franchise and every One Piece fan knows this character. But fortunately, Zoro had his destiny rewritten and became one of Monkey D. Luffy's main allies!
It shouldn't last more than five years
Today, One Piece is a story with over 1000 episodes released and everyone knows the series for its abundance of episodes and years on the air. However, one of the things you don't know about One Piece is that the series was not supposed to have a long run. Although the story was initially planned to last until 2002, Eiichiro Oda continued writing new adventures for his characters.
Speculation is that Oda already knows the outcome of the story and has the official ending completely planned and prepared, but it seems that we are still far from finding out if Luffy will actually become the Pirate King.
Scenario Inspiration
Just like the inspirations in reality to create its characters, other things you don't know about One Piece is that even the settings are inspired by real places. The universe of One Piece is extremely rich and diverse, with the settings being a spectacle in themselves, but much of this is reflected in the current world.
Water 7, for example, was inspired by Venice and its canals that allow the city's architecture to blend with the aquatic architecture. Or Dressrosa, which, with its bright and vibrant colors, is directly influenced by Spain and its culture. The fact is that we can always see glimpses of the real world in Oda's work.
Meaning of the Names of One Piece
Perhaps one of the things you don't know about One Piece is that even the characters' names have meanings and symbolism. An example of this is the letter "D." present in the names of the protagonist (Monkey D. Luffy) and also of other characters, such as Portgas D. Ace, Trafalgar D. Water Law and others. Despite the mysteries behind this letter, it is believed to be linked to an ancient and mysterious lineage that plays a fundamental role in the plot.
Many other names end up being cultural references and even puns, being carefully chosen by Oda to further enrich his narrative.
Oda was inspired by real people to create some characters
Eiichiro Oda has always been an extremely creative man, but he uses his creativity combined with reality to inspire and bring his characters to life. One of the things you don't know about One Piece is that many of the characters created by Oda are inspired by real people! That's right, the author was inspired by several famous personalities, whether they are celebrities or historical figures.
Even real-life pirates helped Oda create his own pirates. An example of this is Jewellery Bonney, one of the characters based on Anne Booney, known as one of the most terrifying pirates who ever existed. Or Zoro himself, who was inspired by a French pirate named François I'Olonnais, known for being a legendary swordsman.
One Piece and its CDs
One Piece also stands out when it comes to its soundtrack. Whether it's its openings, endings, or even the theme songs for each moment... They are recognized for being extremely catchy and unforgettable! Popular artists perform these songs and help to popularize them even more.
But one of the things you don't know about One Piece is that there are many different albums, full of different soundtracks and songs from episodes that marked One Piece. In total, there are 17 CDs with different soundtracks, between the anime, the films and adaptations of the games!
One Piece is heavily inspired by Dragon Ball Z
Considering that Toei Animation is adapting the One Piece anime, this may not be much of a secret, but one of the things you don't know about One Piece is that Eiichiro Oda took a lot of inspiration from Dragon Ball Z! Without Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball, there would be no One Piece.
Oda has already revealed that he was a big fan of Goku in his childhood, which led him to create a group (the Straw Hat Pirates) as close-knit as the Z Warriors from Dragon Ball. In several promotional arts and even commemorative arts and tributes, we can see how Oda has a great affection for DBZ and how this directly influenced his story over the years.
Luffy didn't kill a single enemy
Although One Piece is a shounen work and deaths are common in this genre, Luffy stands out for being a different protagonist from the others. Among the things you don't know about One Piece, is the fact that Luffy has never killed a single enemy. Not only because Luffy is a good-hearted character, but according to Oda, there is more behind this decision.
Oda states that when Luffy defeats him, the impact is much more devastating on his enemies than an immediate death. Luffy is a character who destroys the terrible dreams of his opponents, which ends up being much more effective and striking for the plot. In addition, it is possible to notice the recurrence of his rivals returning throughout the story.
Conclusion
One Piece is, without a doubt, one of the most memorable works of all time. Even though there are things you don't know about One Piece, this is a story that brings new things and captivates the audience for many years and deserves not only recognition, but the dedication of fans in learning more and more about the magnificent universe created by Eiichiro Oda!
And if you like anime and manga, be sure to also check out our articles on One Piece's 13 biggest rewards e the 13 most watched animes in the world!