One Piece's Unexpected Romances: Top 10 Surprising Love Storylines!
Despite One Piece's creator's aversion to canon romances, the anime surprises fans with unexpected love connections Discover the top 10 surprising romances that have stolen the hearts of viewers, featuring Zoro X Robin, Sanji X Pudding, and more!
Summary
Despite the creator's dislike for romance, unexpected relationships have developed in One Piece, captivating fans.
Zoro's and Robin's initial doubt transformed into a captivating love story when Zoro took on the role of her guardian.
Despite the challenges that arose due to their arranged marriage, Sanji and Pudding's relationship may still find hope as Sanji sincerely revealed his feelings.
Shipping characters in One Piece can be challenging, as the creator himself does not support canon romances. Eiichiro Oda, the mangaka of One Piece, has expressed his belief that romance has no place in shonen manga. Although there are a few married couples in the series, fans should not anticipate any official relationships. However, despite Oda's aversion to love, unexpected romantic moments have managed to captivate the audience. Oda's disregard for romance has inadvertently made certain scenes even more impactful and surprising. The smallest hints of romance have garnered significant fan attention, regardless of their official status. Throughout the story, Oda has skillfully inserted unexpected romances that have managed to catch One Piece fans off guard.
10 Zoro X Robin
When Nico Robin joined the Straw Hat crew, no one expected it. After all, she was a former assassin who only joined after her plans with Baroque Works fell apart. While Monkey D. Luffy accepted her right away, Roronoa Zoro was more hesitant. This initial skepticism adds to the excitement of a potential romance between them.
Zoro immediately clashed with Robin and made it clear that she wouldn't have an easy time fitting in with the crew. Little did he know that he would end up saving her repeatedly. While Sanji and Luffy have also come to Robin's aid, their rescues don't carry the same romantic weight as Zoro's iconic moments in Skypeia and against Kaku.
9 Sanji X Pudding
Sanji and Charlotte Pudding were married through an arranged marriage, but few believed that there was any true connection between the two. This belief was reinforced when Pudding revealed her ulterior motives, using Sanji as a pawn in her family's plot against the Vinsmoke Family.
When Pudding cruelly mocked Sanji's heartfelt declarations of love during a difficult time in his life, fans quickly turned against her. However, their opinions shifted once again when Sanji's genuine love for Pudding managed to change her heart. Despite their initial meeting in unfavorable circumstances, fans now eagerly anticipate the potential development of a romantic relationship between the two.
8 Smoker X Hina
7 Sai X Baby 5
Apart from their shared occupation as Marines, there was initially little to suggest a romantic connection between Smoker and Hina. Each showcased their independent resilience and a penchant for dispensing justice, with their paths crossing on Alabasta. In fact, if it weren't for Zoro's involvement, some fans might have even shipped Smoker with Tashigi instead. Hina's involvement seemed non-existent until Oda surprised fans with a cover page in Chapter 586, depicting Smoker and Hina together while shopping. This simple act ignited a fire in fans' minds, transforming the previously separate and fierce individuals into a bickering couple within the series.
The unexpected twist in the story took everyone by surprise, as there was minimal foreshadowing for the connection between Sai and Baby 5. Their paths crossed on the battlefields of Dressrosa when the Straw Hats clashed with Donquixote Doflamingo. Although both started off as adversaries, Sai and the Happo Navy eventually switched sides, aligning themselves with the Straw Hats.
6 Rayleigh X Shakky
This led to his confrontation with Baby 5, who, true to her unique charm, quickly found herself smitten with him. Having grown up in a world devoid of love, Baby 5 had always been eager to find romance, even in the midst of a chaotic battlefield. While most individuals would shy away from love in such perilous circumstances, Sai displayed an exceptional open-mindedness and bravely intervened to rescue her from the clutches of the Donquixote Family. Eventually, he went one step further and tied the knot with her, welcoming her into his own life.
For those who are not familiar with the additional materials or have encountered different translations of the series, the revelation of Rayleigh and Shakky's relationship may come as a surprise. Initially, it may seem like they are merely close acquaintances when the Straw Hats encounter them. However, Oda has confirmed that they are indeed a couple, with certain translations and interpretations suggesting that they are even married. In Volume 2 of One Piece's Vivre Card Databooks, there is a direct confirmation of their relationship. While this may not be an overly thrilling revelation, it certainly sheds light on the deep bond between Rayleigh and Shakky.
5 Sabo X Koala
4 Sanji X Viola
:Prior to the Dressrosa Arc, Sabo and Koala were separate entities whose paths seemed unlikely to intertwine within the story. Sabo's role had temporarily faded into the background after Luffy's backstory was unveiled, while Koala's story appeared to have reached its conclusion when the Sun Pirates returned her to her homeland. The subsequent revelation of Koala's affiliation with the Revolutionary Army and Sabo's survival not only thrilled fans, but also sparked excitement with the portrayal of their close bond. While the initial building blocks were absent, witnessing the interactions between Sabo and Koala on the pages and screens resonated harmoniously with devoted One Piece admirers.
It comes as no surprise that Sanji, famously known for his flirtatious nature, has a fleet of admirers. However, the sudden appearance of this particular romantic involvement caught everyone off guard. While strolling through the bustling streets of Dressrosa, Sanji inadvertently collides with a distressed woman desperately seeking refuge. To evade her pursuers, she finds solace in the form of a kiss planted on Sanji's lips. This unexpected encounter not only lingers in Sanji's mind but also sparks the imaginations of passionate fans. Despite the inevitable trap lurking beneath the surface, Violet, also known as Viola, appears to be the perfect fit for Sanji. With her striking beauty and fiery spirit, she employs an aggressive fighting style primarily focused on kicks. In the realm of Shonen narratives, the harmonization of combat techniques holds significant meaning.
3 Doflamingo X Viola
2 Chopper X Milky
:Despite its seemingly extensive and intricate narrative, One Piece surprisingly omits several significant details. One such omission concerns the turbulent history shared between Viola and the enigmatic figure known as Donquixote Doflamingo. Although Eiichiro Oda has refrained from explicitly labeling their connection as a "romance," he has subtly alluded to a more mature relationship in the SBS for Volume 83. Sadly, it appears that Oda's superiors restrict him from divulging the specific intricacies of this particular bond.
Being the mascot of the franchise and one of the few anthropomorphic animals in the story, Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece has seldom been associated with any romantic relationships by fans. However, an interesting twist occurred during the Zou Arc when the Straw Hats arrived at a kingdom populated with anthropomorphic animals. While Luffy and the rest of the crew were occupied in Dressrosa, Chopper's team found themselves in a mission to rescue Zou after the devastating attack by Jack. During this challenging period, a captivating reindeer emerged as his nurse, and it became evident that Chopper had developed feelings for her.
1 Luffy X Hancock
It's hard to believe that, at one point, people didn't ship Luffy with the empress of Amazon Lily. When Bartholomew Kuma first sent Luffy to the land of strong women, he immediately clashed with the locals, particularly Boa Hancock. Not only did she harbor a deep hatred for men, but Luffy also stumbled upon her vulnerable secret tattoo while trespassing in her bathing area. In an act of revenge, Hancock attempted to have him killed, setting the bar quite low for any potential romance. However, with his cleverness and compassion, Luffy managed not only to win her over but even make her fall in love with him.
One Piece is not likely to transform into a romance-focused manga anytime soon. Unlike franchises like Naruto and Dragon Ball, which have explored evolving relationships, One Piece has placed less emphasis on romance. Nonetheless, this does not mean that the well-known pirate manga/anime series lacks its fair share of romantic undertones. Love may not be the central theme of One Piece, but the few glimpses of genuine romance that do exist hold a special place in the hearts of fans.
