The Marvelous World of Arlong: Unveiling Netflix's Epic Live-Action Fishmen Saga
Discover the captivating world of One Piece's fishmen and their unique powers Uncover the deep-rooted anger of Arlong towards humans as we delve into their intriguing history
WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for the One Piece manga and anime.
Summary
Netflix's One Piece introduces Arlong in the ultimate storyline, shedding light on his enslavement of Nami and his merciless attitude towards humanity.
The live-action adaptation depicts fish-men as beings with human-like forms bearing distinct fish characteristics scattered all over their bodies.
Fish-men in One Piece are more powerful than regular humans, possessing unique abilities such as water bending. They harbor a deep resentment towards humans due to past discrimination and enslavement. While Netflix's One Piece does not explore Arlong's background and race in depth, it is important to understand the insights provided in the original manga and anime. As the live-action adaptation progresses through Luffy's pirate-filled journey, it unveils Arlong's character in the final arc and sheds light on his cruel treatment of Nami. Unlike the manga, which gradually reveals the fish-men's true motives and their hatred towards humans, the live-action series explicitly explains why Arlong exhibits no mercy towards other human beings.
Despite the initial establishment of a clear backstory for the fish-men, One Piece refrains from introducing other characters of their species. For example, Momoo, a significant member of Arlong's crew in the source material, is absent from the show. Additionally, Netflix's adaptation of One Piece does not extensively explore the history, abilities, and motivations of the fish-men due to time constraints. Therefore, the following is a comprehensive explanation of Arlong's race in One Piece.
What Fishmen Are In One Piece's World
In the universe of One Piece, there are two main humanoid races living underwater: the fish-men and the merfolk. Unlike the merfolk who have the upper bodies of humans and the lower bodies of fish, fish-men have a mixture of human and fish-like features throughout their bodies. For instance, in the ending arc of the One Piece live-action series, fish-men are depicted as standing on two feet like humans, but with webbed hands and feet, gills under their necks, and sharp teeth. The live-action adaptation also accurately portrays how fish-men can vary in size and appearance based on the type of fish they resemble.
Biologically, fish-men have both lungs and gills, enabling them to survive in both water and on land. While some fish-men exhibit features of a specific fish species, many possess a combination of features from various fish species. In the live-action series, the character Arlong takes after saw sharks. Furthermore, fish-men have the ability to interbreed with humans, merfolk, and even giants. There are over 30 known subspecies of fish-men and at least 5 hybrids between fish-men and other races. Due to their higher level of intellect compared to other fish species, fish-men believe they are destined to rule over all underwater beings and establish their dominance.
What Powers Fishmen Have Compared To One Piece's Humans
Netflix's portrayal of the fish-men in One Piece accurately depicts their immense strength on land, making them formidable opponents against regular humans in one-on-one battles. In Volume 8, chapter 17 of the manga and episode 31 of the anime, it is mentioned that fish-men are born with ten times the strength of an average human, explaining Luffy's struggle to keep up with Arlong in their showdown. Furthermore, when in their natural underwater habitat, fish-men exhibit even more exceptional strength and speed, surpassing even the fastest human swimmers, although they are comparatively slower than merfolk in swimming.
Not only do fish-men differ in appearance, but they also possess unique abilities. For example, some fish-men possess the ability to effectively communicate with other fish species and can even use them as weapons in battles. Among the strongest fish-men is Arlong, whose shark-like teeth can effortlessly crush even the hardest substances. In the event of any damage, Arlong's teeth have the ability to regenerate or straighten themselves. In the live-action adaptation, Arlong effortlessly sends Luffy flying with just a splash of water, demonstrating the fish-men's "water bending" abilities that allow them to hurl water at their enemies and cause significant damage.
The fish-men are skilled in two specific forms of martial arts called fish-man karate and fish-man jujutsu. These martial arts consist of various techniques and combat styles that enable them to manipulate water, transforming even the tiniest drops into powerful projectiles akin to bullets. Additionally, the Netflix series depicts individuals like Luffy, who consume a Devil Fruit, gaining unique powers but permanently sacrificing their ability to swim. Similarly, when fish-men consume the fruit, although they lose their ability to swim, they are still able to effectively breathe underwater.
Why One Piece's Arlong Is Angry At Humans - History Explained
Arlong's deep-seated aversion toward humans is vividly portrayed in Netflix's One Piece. This animosity stems from centuries of discrimination faced by fish-men at the hands of humans and their subsequent enslavement by the World Nobles. Both the fish-men and merfolk were stifled with the derogatory label of "fish," rather than being recognized as equals to humanity, reflecting the enduring disdain humans held towards them. Their historical mistreatment has led many fish-men, including Arlong, to adamantly deny any possibility of humans possessing good intentions.
