One Piece: A Cultural Phenomenon in Anime and Manga
One Piece is one of the most famous and beloved works in the world today. The story follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, and his crew as they embark on an adventure to find the greatest treasure in the world, the One Piece, with the ultimate goal of becoming the next Pirate King.
With thousands of chapters published, the characters in One Piece have left a profound mark on the hearts of fans. The total number of female characters in One Piece has reached over 250 – a remarkably “huge” number for an anime series. Notably, many female characters in the story have become “waifus” for numerous fans worldwide.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has often shared his thoughts, noting that there are no “ideal” female characters in his work. In a past interview, he expressed the following:
“Before One Piece started, I was very troubled when my editor said, ‘There are no female characters of yours that are ideal!’ That was the most shocking advice I had ever received from my editors. I couldn’t understand and continued to create female characters that were unique.”
The editor mentioned in this context is Kaoru Kushima. Oda began working with Kushima in 1994 when he started his career in manga as an assistant.
Not only Oda, but fans deeply resonated with the insightful comments about the design of female characters in One Piece. Many fans have shared their thoughts about the female characters they love, showcasing the impact of Oda’s design choices.
Additionally, in the poll “Top 100 Most Beloved One Piece Characters Worldwide” in 2021, many female characters ranked highly. Let’s take a look at the top 10 of this ranking:
- Monkey D. Luffy (1,637,921 points)
- Roronoa Zoro (1,445,034 points)
- Nami (1,085,141 points)
- Sanji (970,268 points)
- Trafalgar Law (646,686 points)
- Nico Robin (599,835 points)
- Boa Hancock (392,951 points)
- Carrot (388,565 points)
- Portgas D. Ace (355,503 points)
- Sabo (318,689 points)
This ranking reflects the strong affection that fans have for the characters in One Piece, showcasing the series’ enduring popularity and cultural significance.
