It has been 26 years since Eiichiro Oda’s manga began its publication and 24 years since the anime was released weekly. To date, One Piece has reached over 1100 chapters and more than 1000 episodes have been aired. Recently, Oda mentioned that he intends to conclude his beloved series in three more years. However, predictions about the length of the story have always been considered “still far away,” especially when considering the vast narrative still present.
The story follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy who gains the abilities of the Gomu Gomu no Mi fruit and aspires to become the Pirate King. His adventures include exploring numerous islands, battling pirates, and confronting the World Government, as well as engaging with the ever-volatile Sea Emperors.
Initially, Oda intended One Piece to last only 5 years. However, the storyline has expanded significantly, primarily due to the introduction of the Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea), a crucial group of characters in the story. Before facing powerful characters like Kaido and Big Mom, two of the Four Emperors ruling the New World, Luffy had to confront the “Warlords,” which were not part of the original plan.
The Shichibukai are notorious pirates who have been granted amnesty due to their actions against the World Government. Although the members of this group change throughout the narrative, they consistently play vital roles. The introduction of the Shichibukai later in the story was a significant addition by Oda, extending the plot far beyond the original timeline.
This development has led to spectacular battles such as Luffy’s confrontations with Crocodile in Alabasta, Gecko Moria at Thriller Bark, and Donquixote Doflamingo in Dressrosa, among others. The additional characters not only provide thrilling fight scenes but also contribute to Luffy’s growth and enrich the story’s universe. This extended narrative is a hallmark of One Piece.
Oda acknowledges that One Piece initially took shape as a story intended to last for 5 years, focusing mainly on battles against the Warlords. However, the emergence of the Shichibukai within the plot is the primary reason why the series is still ongoing. Oda has even considered limiting this group to 2 to 5 members instead of 7, as a way to streamline the story.
The presence of the Shichibukai was first introduced in the early segments of the series, particularly in the Baratie arc, where Sanji joins the crew and Dracule Mihawk is introduced. Initially, Oda did not foresee how many members this group would have, but it ultimately expanded significantly throughout the story.
Nevertheless, the existence of the Shichibukai brings both positive and negative aspects to the narrative, especially with Jinbei’s inclusion into the Straw Hat crew and the introduction of notable new characters in the film series.
