Why Oda's Epic Decision to Make Luffy the Protagonist of One Piece Will Blow Your Mind!

Highlights

Luffy is the ideal protagonist for One Piece because he represents freedom and adventure, captivating both kids and adults.

To maintain interest and prevent boredom, Oda intentionally developed Luffy as a character who is both idiotic and mysterious.

Throughout his journey, Luffy's growth as a pirate is vividly portrayed, as he transitions from being a relatively unknown pirate to one of the highly esteemed Yonko. Amazingly, he manages to retain his cheerful and free-spirited personality, remaining true to himself.

Luffy, the protagonist of One Piece, is undoubtedly Oda's masterpiece character. He flawlessly embodies everything that Oda aims to portray in the world of One Piece, adding depth and beauty to his character effortlessly. It is undeniable that Luffy is the perfect choice to lead the story, as evidenced by Oda's numerous thrilling explanations that further solidify the belief that Luffy is indeed Oda's greatest creation.

4 Luffy's Journey To Find The One Piece

In the beginning of the One Piece series, fans witness Luffy embarking on a grand adventure in search of the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. Inspired by the pirate Shanks, Luffy assembles his own crew and sets off towards the Grand Line. His ultimate goal is to uncover the greatest of all treasures, the One Piece, which was left behind by the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. Even before setting sail, Luffy stands out as an extraordinary individual, gaining the attention of Red Hair Shanks. His crew also recognizes his exceptional qualities, particularly when he consumes the Gomu Gomu no Mi and gains unique abilities. While fulfilling his destined path, Luffy remains committed to his individuality and values freedom above all else, an integral aspect of his character right from the start.

By the end of their journey through the East Blue, Luffy forms a formidable and loyal crew consisting of Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji. Venturing into the treacherous Grand Line, they experience both awe-inspiring adventures within exotic locations such as Desert Islands and Sky Islands, as well as encounters with formidable pirates and clashes with the Navy. Through victories and defeats, Luffy continually learns and evolves as a pirate. Each loss he endures strengthens his resolve to protect his loved ones and maintain his freedom, driving him to strive towards becoming the strongest of all. Currently, he has attained the status of one of the Yonko, proving that Luffy has reached the pinnacle of his powers.

3 Oda's Thoughts on Luffy

Oda has strong opinions on Luffy as the protagonist and he has several reasons for choosing him to lead this amazing series. One of those reasons is because Oda sees Luffy as a bit of a fool in certain ways. Oda describes Luffy as his ideal child, someone who possesses a unique ability to persuade and can assume the role of a pirate captain when necessary, but ultimately remains a child at heart. In Oda's eyes, Luffy's character remains mysterious, even to the creator himself, to some extent. Oda believes that if he knew everything about Luffy, the audience would eventually become bored. Therefore, it is the enigmatic nature of Luffy's character that continually keeps him intriguing.

One Piece is a manga primarily targeted towards kids and teenagers. In order to captivate and hold their interest in this captivating story, Oda purposely crafted Luffy to be the way he is. Luffy's personality captivates younger readers and serves as an inspiration, while at the same time, his complexity appeals to adults, making him the perfect protagonist. Ultimately, Oda selected Luffy to be the way he is because at the very core of his manga, he desires a sense of excitement and adventure, which can only be explored through a quirky character like Luffy.

2 Oda's Perfect Protagonist

Luffy's fun and goofy personality may be one of the main reasons why he is the protagonist of One Piece, but according to Oda, there is much more to it. In 2012, Oda spoke about what makes a perfect protagonist and emphasized that it is crucial for the character not to be overly strong. He used the example of Akainu, a very strong character, stating that if he were the protagonist, the story would end too quickly. Oda also mentioned that Akainu's inspiration, Bunta Sugawara, is the most handsome man in the world and that he would take good care of him.

Essentially, Oda expressed the importance of ensuring that a character grows and progresses alongside the readers over the years. This allows for a stronger connection between the readers and the protagonist, while also allowing the author to introduce formidable villains for the protagonist to eventually overcome and surpass. While there are protagonists who are already strong or exceptionally talented, Oda intentionally avoided placing Luffy in this category. At the core, Oda wanted Luffy to embody freedom, which has shaped his character throughout the series.

1 How Luffy Has Fared So Far

Oda's choice of Luffy as the protagonist of One Piece has undeniably been a massive success. This character has captivated fans of all ages, deeply touching their hearts as he takes them on an incredible journey alongside the Straw Hat Pirates. Luffy's cheerful and carefree nature has made him a truly unique and beloved character, attracting not only those within the One Piece world but also the readers who have been charmed by his personality and brought endless laughter over the years.

Fans have been able to witness Luffy's growth and development from a mere unknown pirate into one of the powerful Yonko in the new world. Despite his rise to the top, Luffy has always stayed true to himself and embraced his own nature. In fact, Luffy's ultimate power-up, Gear 5, only amplifies his imaginative and childlike personality, bringing him closer than ever to who he truly is.

Ultimately, Oda's intention was to create a character that represents freedom and rebellion against tyranny, while still embodying a lightheartedness and infectious smile. Luffy precisely embodies these qualities, which is exactly why Oda brought him to life.

One Piece can be read legally and for free by fans through Viz Media on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus app. The anticipated release date for the upcoming chapter, One Piece 1092, is September 18, 2023.

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.