#i think about one piece. a lot.

[namisweatheria]

Conversation from these posts-

I'd like to address both of these at once, because I think they're very much related.

One Piece is not actually very interested in explicitly condemning almost anyone. Constantly, characters who have done things many may view as beyond unforgivable, are still portrayed in ways that make them likable, and are accepted by main characters. Not because the main characters approve of their past actions, but because as they're not actively harming anyone at the moment, they see no reason to disapprove of them. Or, because they have no inclination to judge them and simply take them as they are.

There are countless characters whose terrible deeds are not censored or sugarcoated, who are still made to be enjoyable, likable characters. Their motivations are not just explained, but portrayed with the full depth of their emotions. This could be interpreted as sympathetic, but I think it's rather matter-of-fact. There's a wide spectrum of this, and it may come across that those on the lighter end of it are being justified or forgiven by this portrayal, but taken in the full context of what One Piece has to say about these characters, I think it's clear that the judgement is left up to us.

In a lot of simpler stories aimed at younger audiences, the main characters are moral guides for the reader. One Piece is not one of them. Not that I don't think it's not trying to teach us anything, but rather than right and wrong, it's how to enjoy life to the fullest. Right and wrong is left for us to discern ourselves without the overt cues of a morally didactic story. I think the depth of the portrayal of bad and questionable actors is primarily to be compelling and enjoyable, but it's also a candid expression of humanity.

I don't think Shanks is a perfect moral character, nor is he supposed to be. He's Luffy's hero, not ours. Same with Roger.

It's true that being called to the sea is given a particular romance, but their misdeeds made in the name of following it aren't just glossed over. Rather, I think the focus on it is very much on purpose, because the same will lives in Luffy and The Strawhats.

Who aren't just avoiding the same mistakes because they're inherently better, but because they're informed by the mistakes of the previous generations.

Usopp, like Yassop, longed for the sea. But he anxiously made sure Kaya was on the way to health, taken care of, and okay with him leaving before he left. He's looking forward to coming back to see her. As much as Usopp has always had a kind heart, you can't say this wasn't influenced by his experiences with his parents.

Luffy, like Roger, longed for the sea. Like Roger and Garp, he has deeply selfish inclinations. However, Luffy is sensitive to the suffering of others, and would never leave anyone behind. This has a lot to do with loving Ace and Sabo, respectively victims of Roger's selfish pursuit of his dream and the institution of injustice Garp carelessly lives by.

I don't think it's a stretch to say Nami was influenced by Arlong's inability to forgive humanity, strengthening her resolve to break the cycle and forgive Jinbei for letting Arlong loose.

Anyways, I think the lack of judgement on the part of Luffy and Shanks is a big part of their power to get people to follow them, and a big part of their successes. But the narrative isn't telling us to also accept murderers and deadbeats, or that they're actually great people. It simply shows them how they are, which is human.

[cottagedreamy]

They're such a good duo...Pls let's talk about them more.....

[sualne]

he's fiiiiine.

[purpleneutrino]

“I’ll teach you, little eggplant.”

[Sanji Week, Day 1: Childhood]

[wardingshout]

Zelda goes mushroom girl

[mooneln0ne]

Sanji walking into the kitchen to see Luffy and Jinbei watching a shrimp make fried rice (Luffy asked Jinbei if shrimps can make fried rice)

[elvyn]

doodles some of my favs from One Piece because after two years I'm finally almost up to date with this anime😭

[beanghostprincess]

Dragon giving Luffy to Garp with the assumption that he's going to take care of him until he's ready to meet his son (because it's dangerous to have a child while he starts a fucking revolution, thank you very much) and then Garp just- Leaving Luffy on a village where he spends 24/7 alone waiting for the pirate he now considers his role model (because he doesn't have anybody else and Shanks is the only father figure around and he's just that nice) to come back from his adventures, and only being taken care of by Makino who has no responsibility over Luffy but still takes care of him because otherwise the kid would probably die from starvation, and lucky for him she's a sweetheart. And then he loses Uta, his only friend (with no explanation at all), to then carry the guilt of Shanks losing an arm for him and suddenly his legacy as a pirate. And then he's sent to another place with other people he doesn't know, because Garp thought "oh, yes, wonderful idea to leave my grandson with this depressed kid and some bandits" and Luffy luckily befriends Ace and Sabo because they're good people. Luckily. And luckily, Dadan is a good mom and loves them. But then Sabo fucking dies because nobody with authority was protecting these kids (I wonder who could've done that). And now Luffy has to carry both guilt, a legacy, and the biggest abandonment issues I've ever seen after losing his best friend and his brother when they were just children.

And I'm not saying Garp has made horrible decisions but he has made horrible decisions and Dragon should hit his own dad with Sabo's metal pipe.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Thank you all for an incredible 500 days of love and support. I offer you: answers to questions that no one has asked.

(As always, more can be found in the tags <3)

[vikary401]

cuddling zosan posting is my favorite posting ever

[nikossasaki]

Why do you care so much about that old thing anyway? It looks like you fished it out of the trash.

ONE PIECE (2023) | 1.02

[sen-ya]

Sennnnnnn I don’t know if you’ve already addressed this before, but can we get a height check between the idiot captains??

Also also- I think it’s super funny that you literally made so much content you had to go and get a different website just to document it all out, that’s insane! Keep up the amazing content! Indulge your silliness!!

Two idiots over time!!

Also also, tysm that warmed my silly heart 😭❤️

[ruporas]

i’ll find you again in every universe. let us be a little more honest, let us have a little more time.

[sassypantsjaxon]

So I'm watching one piece, and the episode with Zoro's tragic backstory made me realize that he didn't really seem to realize how important Kuina was to him until after she had died. And then it occured to me that it's probably the same with Sanji. So he's spent all this time in this rivalry with this guy, constantly fighting together, pushing each other to be better, and he just...never realizes how similar it is to what he had with Kuina.

And then the time skip happens, but since he's away from the whole crew and he's fighting someone else, he doesn't realize anything about Sanji specifically. And then Whole Cake and the wedding. And he's like 'yeah, sure. Cook thinks that's what he wants, let him go.' And he thinks he's fine without him.

Except meals are different. They're fine. But they're different, and he can't figure out exactly why.

Except when he eventually finds his way to the kitchen, there's no onigiri waiting for him as a snack while he's on watch. Except there's no one to gripe about him sneaking alcohol even as he unlocks the cupboard for him. Except when he practices his swordfighting with any of the Heart pirates, they don't already know all his moves. Except they're afraid to taunt him if he slips up. Except they can't even tell when he slips up. Except when he tries to pick a fight with anyone because he's bored, the Heart pirates don't know what to do with that, or Usopp will start to freak out or Robin and Franky just won't rise to his bait.

And then he remembers Koshirou telling him that he pushed Kuina to be better.

And he realizes that's what Sanji is to him.

And it's fine. It's fine. Luffy will bring the Cook back, and everything will go back to normal. Except Nami was really freaked out by Sanji leaving. Except what if he really does get married? Except what if he doesn't really come back? And Zoro just doesn't think he can go through that again.

But of course Sanji does come back and he's different and he's trying to pretend he's the same. And now Zoro knows. And he's got all of these feelings that he's suddenly become aware of, except he still has a negative amount of emotional intelligence, so he's still just picking all these stupid fights because he doesn't know what else to do.

And everybody else is like 'well, Sanji's back, and everything's the same' and Zoro's the only one going 'No! everything has changed!' because he's still the only one aware of his feelings, and he just...doesn't know what to do with them?

[dogzoro]

[astrozure]

A little taste [sanlu]