There’s no stopping One Piece from completing Luffy’s long, great pirate journey. Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus has over a thousand manga chapters and anime episodes, with Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates at the center. Fans have grown up watching Luffy sail the seas and face powerful opponents, but his journey is not yet over in One Piece.
However, according to Eiichiro Oda, one character, who’s obviously not Luffy, could’ve ended One Piece in one year if they were the protagonist. This character is one of the most hated and underestimated characters in One Piece, but Eiichiro Oda himself cherishes them so much. Maybe it's time to give them the credit they deserve? Oda would probably agree as well.
One Piece: Oda Has Already Revealed Luffy's Fate At The End Of One Piece
Luffy's fate has already been decided. Oda reveals his plans for this beloved character in One Piece.
One Piece Has Been Running for Over 27 Years Now
Luffy’s Journey Continues After Two Decades
Back in the day, One Piece was just a simple tale about a protagonist named Monkey D. Luffy. His world was still small, but Luffy’s vision was clear: he wanted to become the next pirate king, with loyal and strong crew members by his side. While he has yet to assume the title that Gol D. Roger owned years ago, he has formed a solid crew from Zoro to Nami to Sanji in quick succession.
Eiichiro Oda has given Luffy an adventure of a lifetime, and there’s no stopping him from reaching his dreams. More than 27 years have passed, but Oda’s dream, as well as that of Luffy and the Straw Hats, is still alive. They have come a long way, from a single one-shot published in the 1996 Summer Special of Shonen Jump to a sprawling saga loved and respected worldwide, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.
A huge part of the success of One Piece could be credited to Luffy. He is a compelling main character, known for his unwavering determination, infectious optimism, and relatable flaws. Fans love him for his personality but also for his powers. He is one of the most powerful characters in One Piece, destined for greatness from day one. However, Oda admits it's challenging to continue writing Luffy as the main character now that he has grown stronger, though it would have been worse if Akainu was the protagonist.
Eiichiro Oda Says Akainu Could End One Piece in a Year
Akainu Is Too Powerful to Become a Protagonist
- If Akainu were One Piece's MC, he would have ended the series in one year.
- Eiichiro Oda believes Akainu is too powerful to be One Piece's MC.
Akainu is one of the most hated characters in One Piece for killing Luffy’s sworn brother, Portgas D. Ace, in Marineford, even to this day. Despite his negative reputation with many fans, he is still recognized for having one of the strongest abilities in the series. On top of that, he has one of the greatest feats, having killed Ace, defeated Aokiji, and outpaced Whitebeard on multiple occasions.
When creating a protagonist, it is important not to make him too strong. For example, Akainu is so strong that he can put an end to One Piece within a year. Akainu (Bunta Sugawara) is the most handsome guy in the world. I'll cherish him.
-Eiichiro Oda (2012 Sound & Recording Magazine Issue 4)
It’s safe to assume that Eiichiro Oda would agree that Akainu is one of the most powerful characters in One Piece. He is so strong that even Oda admitted Akainu could put an end to One Piece in a year if he were the main character instead of Luffy in an interview published in the 2012 Sound & Recording Magazine Issue 4. If so, Akainu would have been able to defeat Kaido, Big Mom, and even Blackbeard in just one year. Also, he would have been able to find the One Piece treasure and become the next Pirate King.
I won't forgive the evils of piracy.—Akainu
Oda’s revelation speaks volumes about Akainu’s strength. He is so powerful that he would not pass as a good protagonist for Oda. If he were to use Akainu as the main character over Luffy, there would probably be no real suspense in battles or challenges. One Piece might have also lost its sense of danger and urgency and, worse, weakened or made the side characters irrelevant.
Eiichiro Oda Thinks Highly of Akainu
Oda Cherishes Akainu
The best part about Akainu is probably his sense of absolute justice, which helped shape his character and identity. No wonder Eiichiro Oda puts Akainu in high regard even if his favorite character is Gaimon. In fact, in the same interview, Oda revealed that Akainu is the most handsome guy in the world for him and that he will cherish him.
Apparently, Akainu resembles Japanese actor Bunta Sugawara, who starred in three movies with Sakazuki in the title. Akainu’s real name is Sakazuki, making it obvious Oda drew him based on the Japanese actor.
All in all, while most fans see Akainu as the ultimate villain, Oda sees Akainu in a different way. He deserves recognition for his immense power and remarkable feats, and fans know he is destined to take on an even greater and heavier role at the end of One Piece.
Source: X (formerly Twitter)
- Release Date
- October 20, 1999
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
Cast
-
Mayumi TanakaMonkey D. Luffy (voice) -
Kazuya NakaiRoronoa Zoro (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
- Franchise(s)
- One Piece
- Creator(s)
- Eiichiro Oda
