Take a Pick Tuesday: One Piece
For as popular as the series is, for as many people that enjoy
it, it still amazes me how I’ve never truly seen anything like it. It’s easy
to get swept up in the popularity of a show and while that isn’t a bad thing,
it can mask shows that truly change the game and shape of things. One Piece is
one of those shows, with its wild art, to its storylines, to its infinite array
of characters, One Piece has stood strong for over fifteen years and I’ve yet
to see it repeat itself.
Years of watching this show I’ve come to carry the firm belief that it is one of the most important, intricate layered shows that on every side of it is enjoyment and something truly important, a shining representations of anime as well as storytelling. Not just that but motivation to see the firm connections in our lives as well as it's reflection. Certainly with watching it and those I’ve shared it with, it’s something we can completely agree on. For however strange the world and characters seem they always have one foot into ours, emotionally you can relate to them and feel attached. One Piece allows you to dream with them, hope with them and come off feeling firmer in your belief. It's about living for today, enjoying the moment in a more positive light then is probably associated with the term. This isn't about the impossible odds, it's about overcoming them.
Years of watching this show I’ve come to carry the firm belief that it is one of the most important, intricate layered shows that on every side of it is enjoyment and something truly important, a shining representations of anime as well as storytelling. Not just that but motivation to see the firm connections in our lives as well as it's reflection. Certainly with watching it and those I’ve shared it with, it’s something we can completely agree on. For however strange the world and characters seem they always have one foot into ours, emotionally you can relate to them and feel attached. One Piece allows you to dream with them, hope with them and come off feeling firmer in your belief. It's about living for today, enjoying the moment in a more positive light then is probably associated with the term. This isn't about the impossible odds, it's about overcoming them.
Yet that is something you expect even from the beginning,
that promise of a truly epic story. One thing you can’t wave away is the
humor in One Piece, strange characters, strange faces and their interaction
shows how it is able to dominate a person’s emotions when they invest in the
long run of episodes. How do you go from a character that uses boogers as explosions to a heartfelt promise to a scared whale that has waited years for a friend. From a skeleton that is asking to see women's panties to a queen that makes the unpopular decision to accept humans, trying to bridge the gap of two species only to pay the ultimate price for it. What is fear compared to the freedom of happiness. What are an infinite amount of mountain like obstacles compared to dreams. How the hell does a boy made of rubber who starts out without a ship or a crew believe he'll be King of The Pirates. That is the power of One Piece.
Diversity rules the day in this series from the early introductions in the East Blue arc to the promise as they approach the grand line, to them entering their major arcs from then on which is everything from Alabasta, Skypiea, Water 7, to Thrillerbark and and the game changer War of The Best. Since then the stakes have only continued to be raise, the addition of more plates spinning at the same time, the great zany factor keeps growing and the explorations of characters familiar and new dives deeper with plans to go even further. One Piece is in control of all the corners of this sort of story telling, it's just waiting for you to find out and see.
Diversity rules the day in this series from the early introductions in the East Blue arc to the promise as they approach the grand line, to them entering their major arcs from then on which is everything from Alabasta, Skypiea, Water 7, to Thrillerbark and and the game changer War of The Best. Since then the stakes have only continued to be raise, the addition of more plates spinning at the same time, the great zany factor keeps growing and the explorations of characters familiar and new dives deeper with plans to go even further. One Piece is in control of all the corners of this sort of story telling, it's just waiting for you to find out and see.
In the manga on
one of the side panels or author notes if you will, it has Eiichiro Oda
describing what the life of another type of pirate was like, Vikings. In
speaking of it he said that to most they were a terror, a danger lurking, and a
based fear. But to them what they did, no matter how horrible, was just them
working, they would go home to feed their families. I think in a way its an excellent
insight into how this show’s story unfolds. The main focus are a group of
pirates with a goal of being the greatest of or the finding something legendary
and in all sense though in there case they are the good guys, which makes their pursuers the bad
guys though not all pirates are that great ( they are pirates after all) and not
all of the navy are awful people. Except the Straw Hats still seem to be the unique exception, there intentions are good and it's through this that they gain a reputation of infamy and they become known to the most dangerous elements of the sea.
It’s not so much as the grey line as it is an ocean worth of stories and dreams. Dreams build this show as does ambition, as does tragedy. Your introduction to the main cast has a way of becoming a tear jerker and even some of their adversaries have stories themselves that would shock you. For those that don't actually know what One Piece is about well as said before, Monkey D Luffy dreams of being King of The Pirates, good luck trying to change his mind, it isn’t happening? The man knows what he wants. Against all odds he gets quite the impressive, diverse, unexpected crew. His first mate who sets out to be the greatest swordsman that ever lived, Zoro, who also happens to be a pirate hunter. Nami the thief that in the beginning always seems to have her own agenda but despite this is a genius in drawing out and mapping any destination in the world. Dreaming of one day having the first comprehensive map that entails on lands in the world as well as all the seas.
Usopp the liar, who tells tales of adventures that were never something he was involved in, until he is and through the majority of the show and even now is a coward. Even so he is the crew’s sniper seeking to live up to the myth that he holds for himself. Sanji the cook, who dreams of seeing the all blue, a fabled ocean who just can’t help but be a horn dog chasing after every woman possible. He fights with his legs because his hands are only meant for cooking. Having survived once at the near point of starvation and thanks to a great sacrifice of another he has kept the value of food close and can cook just about anything. Chopper the reindeer who wants to continue the dream of another in being a Doctor. Something that almost seemed impossible until Luffy and the crew came to Drum Island. His power allows him to transform in various forms we see when we first meet him and others forms he keeps secret. His knowledge in medicine is invaluable for the crew.
Nico Robin their archeologist who had been a part of an illegal organization only to be hidden from something even more, she dreams of finding the great wonders and inscriptions of an ancient text that are the key to something of great importance. One major storyline that is built and foreshadowed through the series. Naturally you need a shipwright, someone to look after the ship repair it, or simply keep it from being damaged. Then you have Franky, the shipwright who is the definition of cool. Wavy blue hair, well at first, and wears a speedo and Hawaiian Shirt oh and he’s a cyborg too whose main power source is Cola. Finally there is the musician Brook, a skeleton who when they first met him didn’t even have a shadow. The sole survivor of a crew long since dead who holds a promise he still hopes to fulfill. As sad as his story is Brook usually is in good spirits as is most of the crew which at least to me says something about the enduring spirit.
It’s not so much as the grey line as it is an ocean worth of stories and dreams. Dreams build this show as does ambition, as does tragedy. Your introduction to the main cast has a way of becoming a tear jerker and even some of their adversaries have stories themselves that would shock you. For those that don't actually know what One Piece is about well as said before, Monkey D Luffy dreams of being King of The Pirates, good luck trying to change his mind, it isn’t happening? The man knows what he wants. Against all odds he gets quite the impressive, diverse, unexpected crew. His first mate who sets out to be the greatest swordsman that ever lived, Zoro, who also happens to be a pirate hunter. Nami the thief that in the beginning always seems to have her own agenda but despite this is a genius in drawing out and mapping any destination in the world. Dreaming of one day having the first comprehensive map that entails on lands in the world as well as all the seas.
Usopp the liar, who tells tales of adventures that were never something he was involved in, until he is and through the majority of the show and even now is a coward. Even so he is the crew’s sniper seeking to live up to the myth that he holds for himself. Sanji the cook, who dreams of seeing the all blue, a fabled ocean who just can’t help but be a horn dog chasing after every woman possible. He fights with his legs because his hands are only meant for cooking. Having survived once at the near point of starvation and thanks to a great sacrifice of another he has kept the value of food close and can cook just about anything. Chopper the reindeer who wants to continue the dream of another in being a Doctor. Something that almost seemed impossible until Luffy and the crew came to Drum Island. His power allows him to transform in various forms we see when we first meet him and others forms he keeps secret. His knowledge in medicine is invaluable for the crew.
Nico Robin their archeologist who had been a part of an illegal organization only to be hidden from something even more, she dreams of finding the great wonders and inscriptions of an ancient text that are the key to something of great importance. One major storyline that is built and foreshadowed through the series. Naturally you need a shipwright, someone to look after the ship repair it, or simply keep it from being damaged. Then you have Franky, the shipwright who is the definition of cool. Wavy blue hair, well at first, and wears a speedo and Hawaiian Shirt oh and he’s a cyborg too whose main power source is Cola. Finally there is the musician Brook, a skeleton who when they first met him didn’t even have a shadow. The sole survivor of a crew long since dead who holds a promise he still hopes to fulfill. As sad as his story is Brook usually is in good spirits as is most of the crew which at least to me says something about the enduring spirit.
Every pirate
since the previous King Gold D Roger was executed, have been after his treasure
he spoke of right before he was killed, it started a new age of piracy and it
is Luffy’s goal too but as much as the journey is for these goals for the crew
as a whole and as individuals, it’s also about freedom, to live one’s life, to
be happy unchained to the world. It seems so simple but it essence to enjoy
life can be the greatest thing to achieve of all not to mention something that
you may find challenge you, in fact in the case of the Straw Hat crew there is
an entire institution against them as they are of all pirates.
The shows wears
humor as if it were its clothes, it is not simply a layer it is the core of the
show as is some of its most serious issues and storylines. It also is what
makes the show so balanced and so fluid in its animation. If you wonder the
depth of this series I think it’s always important to bring up, people that
enjoyed it are swelled up in the story that we don’t always speak on what we’re
seeing but everyone knows the same thing. The show can go in depth, it’s
amazing how much of a reflection you can find from it on us, almost
effortlessly from the subjects that range from racism, drug use, corruption, religion,
war, friendship, family, even love.
With this a massive intricate world is established, one that
is stranger and even more fun as you progress.
Everything is more than it seems, you don’t just get pirates, you get
pretty sophisticated levels of power, with characters that are infamous from
all places in the world. Some of the strongest and most feared pirates are
called The Seven Warlords, feared for their power they are granted immunity as
long as they come to the aid of the Navy when asked. Then you have the Four
Emperors, easily these pirates can be the next king after Gold Roger. Each with
their own domain and claim to land, and some of these characters are actual kings,
loved rulers, dictators, or straight up war criminals. Others are kind hearted and
with closers connections to Monkey D Luffy then you think. Not to mention that
alliances at times can be formed, by people more powerful than you can
imagine.
Power at times
for characters can come from what is called the devil fruits, they appear as fruit but taste terrible, each
one gives a different power, the way the world on One Piece is, many that hold
any control or hope and dreams are devil fruit users, not all but Luffy is one
of them. His may seem like a strange power when there are so many out there but
at least to me it may be the greatest power of them all, the power to stretch
his body like rubber. Luffy hadn’t eaten it for the intention of power, like
most things he was guided by his stomach, it was an item belonging to his
mentor and friend Shanks, leader of The Red Haired Pirates.
It comes with a
cost though, anyone that eats the devil fruit can no longer swim, they drown
like a sinking stone. There is even an item used against devil fruit users or
has weapons or bars made up of it to contain them called Sea Prism Stone. Still
if that was enough to stop the devil fruit users from both sides whether pirate
or marine than this wouldn’t be One Piece. It doesn’t stop Luffy or his crew with
half of them being devil fruit users. Being made out of rubber does help with physical damage and if anyone
ever had a power like say over lightning than you might be the one person that
could stand up to them. I’m not saying anything. Even the Devil fruits have
their own categories, like I said intricate but I could talk about this all day.
You’ll get to
see these users and the many places, every episode is unpredictable, whether they’re
on the seas with the weather changing constantly the further you are on the
grand line or the islands, all different from each other, some could feel like you’re
on a different world. It can be an island of snow with giant rabbits or an
island of giants period, high above the clouds or below in the sea, it can be
an island where one half is a blazing fire and the other a snow
wilderness. Others are like ports in normal cities, some are kingdoms. Then you have ones where there are toys and people
walking around them. So it sort of
breaks even I suppose.
With all these characters and powers and worlds it doesn’t
allow you to believe that the Straw Hat Crew are the most powerful. They are
beasts of power for sure. Zoro has no devil fruit powers but lifts weights with
his legs that are as big as the ship and can cause whirlwinds with his swords,
Sanji can air walk and his legs can come down with you while on fire and Usopp can shoot
something out of the sling shot and giant plants emerge. Nami with her navigating
skills seems perfect to manipulate the weather with her particular weapon. Even
so with them and the other devil fruit users, one being a skeleton, they don’t
for a minute allow you to believe that there isn’t a threat that can't challenge the Straw
Hat Crew. They tend to be outmatched and the power seems to be just to beastly in the series causing them to get stronger as they go through their adventures. However that shows
you there is more to the show than fighting, after all their pirates at sea,
through it all they really just want to have fun.
One Piece as
you’re coming to understand is a lot of things but above all its heart, so many
adventures if done right can have a lot of heart in them. You understand
it’s ok to dream, and it’s a reinforced thing in a show that’s gone on for years. You think that’s a lot but spend the time
with the characters, with the story and the adventure and you’ll dread every TO
BE CONTINUED that they place at the end of an episode. One Piece has a lot
being said about it, it’s gone on long enough to earn that and it’s innovative
and challenging story telling is why it only grew larger with age, especially
in these last few years One Piece is proven to be a global phenomenon. The reason for that is, the depth in one piece, storytelling
, characters, dedication and adventure
is an example of a well done anime. One Piece
is a dream waiting for us to follow.
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