One Piece's Luffy hasn't changed as a character over 25 years - and that's what makes him the perfect hero of the franchise
25 years is a long time for any show, but One Piece has somehow made it look easy. Almost every week it comes out with a new episode, with more than 1000 of them available to watch as we speak. Through all their trials and adventures, the crew of the Straw Hats has changed dramatically, but its leader remains stubbornly consistent throughout. Monkey D. Luffy doesn’t change much over the course of One Piece – and that is why he works so well as its hero.
This isn’t to say that Luffy is a boring character. He wouldn’t be the star of one of the most iconic and popular anime of all time if he was boring. His consistency is part of the fabric of One Piece, which is all about the struggle for freedom in the face of overwhelming oppression. It doesn’t take long to figure this out – one of the first islands Luffy goes to is ruled by a corrupt, tyrannical representative of the World Government whom Luffy promptly punches in the face repeatedly. When he says "Shoot down that flag," he means tearing down the oppressive systems that deny people the freedom they need to thrive.
All the way through the 'Alabasta' arc, that is the general formula One Piece follows – Luffy and his crew arrive on an island, find that the people are being repressed, and punch whoever doing the oppressing. They often recruit new people to help punch tyrants in the face but sometimes they simply leave a place freer and more just than they found it.
Read more
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings