One Piece

One Piece (Japanese: ワンピース, Hepburn: Wan Pīsu) is a Japanese shōnen manga series created by Eiichiro Oda, both written and illustrated by him. Serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997, the series has been compiled into 96 tankōbon volumes as of April 2020. The narrative revolves around Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy who acquires the elastic properties of rubber after inadvertently consuming a Devil Fruit. Accompanied by his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy explores the Grand Line in pursuit of the legendary treasure known as “One Piece,” aspiring to claim the title of Pirate King.

The manga has spawned a robust media franchise, including festival films produced by Production I.G and an anime series by Toei Animation, which debuted in Japan in 1999. Toei Animation has also released fourteen animated feature films, an original video animation, and thirteen television specials. Various companies have developed merchandise and media adaptations such as a trading card game and numerous video games. In North America and the United Kingdom, Viz Media holds the English-language license for the manga, while in Australia, it is licensed by Madman Entertainment. Initially licensed by 4Kids Entertainment for English release in North America in 2004, the anime rights were subsequently acquired by Funimation in 2007.

One Piece has garnered acclaim for its narrative depth, artwork, character development, and humor. Several volumes of the manga have set publishing records in Japan, including the highest initial print run for any book. Recognized by Guinness World Records, the manga series holds the record for “the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author.”

By April 2020, One Piece had surpassed 473 million copies in circulation across 43 countries, establishing it as the best-selling manga series globally. It has topped the annual manga sales charts for eleven consecutive years, underscoring its enduring popularity. The franchise ranks among the highest-grossing media franchises of all time, generating over $21 billion in revenue from manga, anime, films, games, and merchandise.

Synopsis

Premise

The story centers on Monkey D. Luffy, inspired by the legendary pirate “Red Haired” Shanks, who embarks from the East Blue Sea to find the titular treasure and proclaim himself the Pirate King. In his quest to assemble a crew, the Straw Hat Pirates (麦わら海賊団, Mugiwara Kaizoku-dan), Luffy rescues and allies with Roronoa Zoro, a swordsman. Together, they search for the elusive One Piece, accompanied by Nami, a navigator and thief; Usopp, a sniper and habitual liar; and Sanji, a flirtatious chef.

Acquiring the ship, the Going Merry (ゴーイング・メリー号, Gōingu Merī-gō), they clash with notorious pirates of the East Blue. As their journey progresses, additional members join the crew, including Tony Tony Chopper, a doctor and anthropomorphized reindeer; Nico Robin, an archaeologist and former assassin; Franky, a cyborg shipwright; Brook, a skeletal musician and swordsman; and Jimbei, a fish-man helmsman and former member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Upon the loss of the Going Merry, the Straw Hat Pirates obtain a new ship, the Thousand Sunny (サウザンドサニー号, Sauzando Sanī-gō). Together, they encounter pirates, bounty hunters, criminal organizations, revolutionaries, secret agents, soldiers of the corrupt World Government, and an array of allies and adversaries as they sail the seas in pursuit of their dreams.

Setting

The world of One Piece teems with diverse races, including humans, fish-men (human-fish hybrids akin to mermen and mermaids), dwarves, minks (humanoid animals), and giants. It is spanned by two vast oceans, bisected by the colossal mountain range known as the Red Line (赤い土の大陸レッドライン, Reddo Rain), which serves as the world’s sole continent.

The Grand Line (偉大なる航路グランドライン, Gurando Rain), intersecting the Red Line perpendicularly, further divides the oceans into four seas: North Blue (北の海ノースブルー, Nōsu Burū), East Blue (東の海イーストブルー, Īsuto Burū), West Blue (西の海ウェストブルー, Uesuto Burū), and South Blue (南の海サウスブルー, Sausu Burū). Encircling the Grand Line are two regions known as Calm Belts (凪の帯カームベルト, kāmu beruto), where wind and ocean currents are null, and monstrous sea creatures called sea kings (海王類, kaiōrui) roam freely, posing formidable barriers to navigation.

Sea-prism stone (海楼石, kairōseki) enables navy vessels, under the World Government’s auspices, to traverse the Calm Belts undetected. Other vessels must navigate via Reverse Mountain (リヴァース・マウンテン, Rivāsu Maunten), a canal system where waters from the four seas converge and cascade into the first part of the Grand Line. The latter half of the Grand Line, beyond its second intersection with the Red Line, is designated the New World (新世界, Shin Sekai), renowned for its treacherous currents and unpredictable weather.

Near islands, climates are stable, but the Grand Line’s open sea remains tumultuous. The region’s magnetic fields disrupt conventional compasses, necessitating Log Poses (記録指針ログポース, Rogu Pōsu) for navigation. These instruments lock onto island-specific magnetic fields, with the time required contingent upon each island’s unique magnetic signature. By contrast, Eternal Poses (永久指針エターナルポース, Etānaru Pōsu) provide a fixed compass setting for a specific island, unswerving throughout.

Within the One Piece universe, anachronistic elements such as Transponder Snails (電伝虫, Den-Den Mushi) function as communicative devices affixed to electrical apparatuses, assuming roles akin to rotary phones, fax machines, and surveillance cameras. Dials (貝ダイアル, daiaru), hailing from airborne creatures, conserve energies like motion, wind, sounds, images, and heat, manifesting varied utilities.

Devil Fruits

A Devil Fruit (悪魔の実, Akuma no Mi) denotes a fruit that, upon ingestion, confers a unique ability to its consumer. Every individual can partake of only one Devil Fruit during their lifespan, as consuming a second spells sudden demise. Classifications comprise Paramecia (超人系パラミシア, Paramishia, “superhuman type”), furnishing users superhuman attributes such as Luffy’s rubber manipulations. Zoan (動物系ゾオン, Zoon, “animal type”) permits full or partial transformations into specific fauna. Certain Zoan variants even facilitate metamorphoses into mythical entities.

A method developed by scientist Dr. Vegapunk allows inanimate objects to “ingest” Devil Fruits, such as Spandam’s sword Funkfreed, transforming it into an elephant. Logia (自然系ロギア, Rogia, “nature type”) grants dominion over and the ability to transmute one’s biological composition into elemental phenomena, such as Ace’s command of flames. Traditionally, these fruits are the devil’s embodiment, resulting in their consumers’ aquatic aversion. Submersion in seawater or contact with sea-prism stone induces a loss of all faculties and coordination, albeit residual capabilities may endure.

For instance, Luffy retains stretching abilities despite complete immersion. In contrast, active water, such as rain and waves, elicits no reaction. Upon a consumer’s demise, their abilities undergo transmigration into a fresh Devil Fruit. Notably, individuals cannot consume a subsequent Devil Fruit, as doing so guarantees catastrophic corporeal rupture. Yet, antagonist Blackbeard successfully acquires a second Devil Fruit, by means undisclosed. An enhancement process, termed “awakening,” markedly amplifies and broadens the applicability of a user’s endowments.

Haki

Haki (覇気, “Ambition”) is an innate aptitude inherent in all sentient beings within the One Piece realm, though rare are those to awaken it, let alone master it. Three Haki variants exist: Observation Haki (見聞色の覇気, Kenbunshoku no Haki) enables individuals to discern the presence of others and perceive partial foresight. Armament Haki (武装色の覇気, Busōshoku no Haki) empowers users to enshroud body segments and even inanimate entities with an imperceptible armor, possessing both defensive and offensive traits. It also allows infliction of harm upon Devil Fruit users.

A select few possess Conqueror’s Haki (覇王色の覇気, Haōshoku no Haki), distinct from its counterparts. Conqueror’s Haki empowers its wielder to override the volition of the weak-minded. It can compel submission or induce unconsciousness. Those of resolute will can resist or wholly disregard its influence, despite their frailty. Conqueror’s Haki demands its mastery. Consequently, Luffy, Whitebeard, and Roger stand counted amongst its esteemed practitioners. A single match between them denotes who holds the title of “Pirate King.”