Eiichiro Oda Unveils the Epic Tale of Monsters in his New Anime
Eiichiro Oda dives into the captivating world of Monsters manga, unraveling the gripping storyline behind the popular anime adaptation on Netflix Discover the secrets and thrilling adventures that await in this epic tale
Monsters has been generating a lot of excitement with the Netflix anime adaptation, and here's how Eiichiro Oda explains the story.
Prior to the manga debut of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda published a series of one-shots that were later compiled in the "Wanted!" volume, which included five side stories. Among these stories is one that follows the legendary swordsman Ryuma, who lived approximately 400 years ago and continues to be a popular legend in the land of Wano.
The original net animation "Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation" was announced in July 2023 and is scheduled to premiere in January 2024. Directed by Sunghoo Park, known for his work on Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1, the anime is being produced by E&H Production, the studio founded by director Park. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Park's involvement has generated high anticipation for the upcoming series.
Eiichiro Oda explains Monsters story in the manga
E&H production
In the additional panel at the conclusion of the one-shot, Eiichiro Oda provides an explanation for the title. He expressed, "When I created this manga, Monsters, I somewhat forced the title. I was really into titles ending with 'ters' at the time, like 'Drifters,' 'Southern All Stars,' and the movie titles 'Grift-ers' and 'Mobsters.' I was determined to have a similar title, so when I established the main storyline, I thought, 'There will be a dragon and a group of formidable men. They're like monsters. That's it: Monsters!'"
Furthermore, he elaborated, "As for the storyline, it was primarily based on my desire to depict the slaying of a dragon in a double-page spread. I also wanted to illustrate a showdown between a rugged Samurai and an honorable knight."
“If we use cooking as an example, it would be like enjoying a homemade samurai’s miso soup and a medieval knight’s marinade, inspired by a cowboy film, with a side of ‘dragon soup’ and a bottle of refreshing ‘chivalry rose’... 'How is your dinner?' 'Lovely, chef, it tastes very acrobatic.' 'Thanks, madam.'
Lastly, Oda revealed that he created the Monsters manga when he was just 19 years old. "I drew this right after finishing my job as an assistant to Kaidani Shinobu-sensei, and started working on Tokuhiro Masaya-sensei’s 'Jungle no Ouja Taa-chan,'" he explained.
"I will never forget; I was 19 and it was either summer, fall, or spring? Maybe summer? Anyway, I crave hotpot guts."
Monsters will debut on Netflix on January 21, 2024. According to Netflix, the official synopsis says, "A Samurai's journey brings him to a waitress from a town destroyed by a dragon. He wants to avoid trouble, but it seems to find them regardless."
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of Eiichiro Oda's work, I am thrilled to learn about his new anime, Monsters. The premise of the story, which revolves around a samurai's encounter with a waitress from a dragon-ravaged town, has me intrigued and eager to see how Oda weaves his signature blend of action, adventure, and humor into this tale. The fact that Monsters was created when Oda was just 19 years old adds an extra layer of fascination, as it showcases his early talent and creativity.
The involvement of Sunghoo Park, known for his work on Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1, as the director of the anime adaptation further elevates my excitement. Park's meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring dynamic action sequences to life make him an ideal choice to helm this project. I am confident that under his direction, Monsters will be a visually stunning and engaging anime that will captivate audiences worldwide.
