10 One Piece Characters That Shine in the Manga

The animated adaptation of One Piece by Toei Animation has been a huge success since 1999, becoming one of the most renowned anime in the world. By bringing it to television, it has allowed a wider audience to appreciate Eiichiro Oda's captivating pirate adventure.

Despite the adaptation's faithfulness, astute manga fans have observed significant discrepancies. These differences have altered the portrayal of iconic characters, often due to censorship, pacing concerns, or the omission of supplementary material that has never been animated. Here is a list of One Piece characters that manga readers have found more enjoyable.

10. Edward Newgate AKA Whitebeard

Takes More Damage

Whitebeard, known as one of the most formidable pirates in the series, remains etched in the minds of fans due to his awe-inspiring showdown in the Marineford Arc of the anime. During this epic clash, he bravely endured a staggering 267 sword wounds, 152 gunshot wounds, 46 cannonball impacts, and numerous other injuries.

9. Trafalgar D. Water Law

However, his performance in the manga was far more impressive than in the anime. Not only does he endure considerably more damage in a visually graphic manner, but one of the most powerful strikes was censored in the animated version. In the manga, when Admiral Akainu attacks Whitebeard, his face is half obliterated by the scorching lava; whereas, in the anime, only his mustache is singed.

Censorship Softens His Attitude

Trafalgar Law's character development in One Piece is notably profound. Although he currently stands as one of Luffy's most trusted comrades, he initially portrayed a more rebellious nature when introduced as one of the Supernovas during the Seabody arc.

The manga provides a superior introduction, showcasing Law's defiance by boldly extending his middle finger towards Eustass Kid. This gesture is further utilized to taunt Doflamingo in their ensuing battle. Unfortunately, the anime censored both occurrences, thereby detracting from Law's impudent demeanor.

8. Zeff

An Important Backstory Detail

Renowned for his ability to craft captivating backstories, Oda masterfully weaves a heart-wrenching tale for Sanji. Witnessing the arduous journey of the aspiring chef and his mentor, Zeff, as they endure days of starvation on a secluded island, audiences gain a profound appreciation for their unyielding love for food.

But the original work had a much better backstory. While in the anime Zeff cuts off his leg to save Sanji from drowning, in the manga he actually goes a step further and eats his own leg after giving Sanji all their rations. This adds depth to Zeff's character and ties in with his culinary skills. Fortunately, this aspect of his story remained uncensored in the live action series.

7. Viola

Better Design & Expanded Backstory

One Piece often receives criticism for the unconventional designs of its female characters. While the mangaka, Oda, is partially responsible for this, Toei tends to amplify the proportions of the women even more in the anime adaptation. One notable example is Viola, as evident from the comparison above.

Adding to that, Oda hinted at a significant aspect of Viola's backstory in one of his SBS columns, which unfortunately never made it into the anime. He revealed that she had a close relationship with Doflamingo, adding depth and intrigue to both characters.

6. Enel

More Screentime in the Manga

Enel, with his divine status and mastery of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, is widely recognized as one of Luffy's most formidable adversaries. However, anime enthusiasts may question the enigma surrounding his disappearance, with few updates on his whereabouts.

5. Camie & Pappag

Manga enthusiasts, on the other hand, possess knowledge of his cover story. In this concise narrative, readers gain insight into Enel's post-Skypea journey, wherein he successfully embarks on a lunar expedition and even aids a legion of diminutive androids in combating a gang of interstellar pirates. As a result, this development has left fans pondering: Will Enel make a return appearance in the primary storyline?

5. Camie & Pappag

Introduced Earlier

Cover stories in the manga have been underutilized in the anime, failing to fully incorporate certain characters and their backstories. One such example is the introduction of the mermaid Camie and her starfish companion Pappag.

In the anime, these characters and their strong bond with Hatchan may appear sudden and confusing. However, manga enthusiasts had already been familiar with them for years prior to their reappearance in the Seabody arc. This prior knowledge significantly enhanced the credibility of Hatchan's redemption and added to the captivation of Camie and Pappag's rescue.

4. Kuzan AKA Aokiji

Introduced In a Canon Arc

In the anime, Kuzan, also known as Aokiji, made a peculiar entrance by saving a group of unrelated individuals in a filler arc. However, his introduction in the manga held a greater significance.

3. Kaido

marks the initial appearance of Kuzan towards the conclusion of the notorious Long Ring Long Land arc, bringing about a substantial shift in the arc's overall tone. Notably, he extends support to Tonjit, a beloved character nurtured by the readers throughout several chapters, in contrast to an assortment of unfamiliar individuals. All in all, this introduction excellently showcases his enigmatic perception of justice.

Seems Much Stronger

The initial battle between Luffy and Kaido in Wano is a standout moment in the anime. It showcases Luffy's growth and highlights Kaido's immense power as the captain of the Beasts Pirates.

However, readers find this clash to be even more impactful in the manga. The anime's slow pacing stretches the fight and presents Luffy and Kaido as evenly matched. In contrast, in the manga, Kaido rises once and swiftly defeats Luffy with a single attack. This effectively showcases Kaido's true strength and emphasizes that Luffy was clearly overpowered, hinting at the necessity for further training before he can triumph over this formidable opponent.

2. Franky

Aging Voice Actor

Franky, often hailed as one of the most unforgettable characters in the world of One Piece, owes much of his popularity to the iconic voice of the renowned Kazuki Yao. It was Yao's extraordinary talent as a voice actor that led Oda to create the character of Shipwright specifically with him in mind, following his remarkable portrayals of Bon Clay and Jango.

1. Monkey D. Luffy

Unfortunately, the man is currently 64 years old and is experiencing a gradual deterioration of his distinctively hoarse voice. During the Wano Arc, Franky boldly confronts Big Mom, fearlessly declaring his defiance towards an Emperor. In the manga, this particular moment stands out as one of his most remarkable achievements. Regrettably, in the anime adaptation, Franky's vocal delivery seems strained, as if he is struggling to project his voice. Fans are hopeful that Kazuki Yao, the voice actor for Franky, takes adequate measures to preserve his voice prior to the anime's final Saga.

Extended Backstory, Better Pacing, and More

Toei's peculiar choices in adapting One Piece have had a significant impact on Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of the series. In the original manga, Luffy demonstrates his toughness by stabbing his own eye in front of Shanks, a scene that was completely excluded from the anime's initial broadcast. Similar to Kaido, Luffy suffers from Toei's pacing issues, particularly evident in his final confrontation with Doflamingo. In the manga, Luffy swiftly defeats the villain with a single punch, whereas in the anime, this showdown is dragged out to give the impression that they are evenly matched. This trend occurs repeatedly throughout the anime, undermining the true extent of Luffy's abilities.

Another interesting tidbit about Luffy is that he never has any thought bubbles in the entire manga, which cleverly highlights his impulsive nature. Unfortunately, this element is lost in the realm of animation since speech and thought bubbles do not exist.

One Piece

Release Date October 20, 1999Genres Action, Adventure, Comedy, FantasyStudio Toei AnimationCreator Eiichiro Oda

Editor's P/S

1. One Piece is one of the most popular manga and anime series in the world, and it has a huge fan base. 2. The article discusses 10 One Piece characters that shine in the manga. 3. I agree with the author that these characters are more impressive in the manga than in the anime. 4. For example, Whitebeard's fight in the Marineford Arc is much more brutal in the manga, and Trafalgar Law's character development is more nuanced. 5. Overall, I think that the manga is a better representation of the One Piece story than the anime.