One Piece Mega Convo Thread, the 2nd Chapter

[Razh]

I've seen japanese guys that look just like him.

I've seen white guys everywhere that have hair like that. It's not naturally like that.
Oda made it simple enough. He gave Mr.5 and others some features which make them look black, and they have darker tan in anime. I don't think anime staff was guessing who could be black, like we do here.

 

[◆ T.D.A ◆]

Aokiji is based on a japanese actor. Know your stuff.

 

[Razh]

Aokiji is based on a japanese actor. Know your stuff.

Lol, it's not exactly a secret.
But that doesn't change the fact that Aokiji has some african traits. He may have been based on a japanese actor but Oda has added some different features. It's not like he made a carbon copy of him. He copied the general appearance, manners and gestures. Unless I'm mistaken, Matsuda wasn't taller than most of the NBA players. That alone shows that Oda made changes to the original.

Damn, now that I think about it, Sengoku had afro when he was younger. Could he also have mixed origins?

 

[Schabrak]

Why did I have to press Esc yesterday... XD All my text was gone and I was to lazy to rewrite it.

Can't white or tanned people in One Piece have such type of hair only "black" people have in real world? Racial traits may not be asscociated/belong to some race like we have in the RL. Just remember those bushman from the isle Chopper fell onto. They are clearly white and tanned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBf38d3pxmM 8:30 Hm I'm working against my Anime!=Manga point right now. ^^

Here's the Cover with Miss Monday? and Mr.5.
I don't know if Oda intended to let them look black or just tanned, but both have those characteristic lips. No racism here. At least not as african as in the Anime... And if they are of the offpring of some racial mixture we are definitly missing some clearly black people in OP.

On the japanese isle in Rocket Girls, there was a dark tanned population too.

 

[Razh]

Seems to me that Daz Bones is the only real black guy. Others have mixed origins.
Why is it so hard to think that the african traits are a result of having black ancestors? Why is it easy to think that white men in One Piece have african characteristics?

I think it's rather simple. One Piece world probably has a long history and races have intermixed through that history.
I think Oda didn't think about it as much though. We could end up finding out that there are a lot of black people in some region. Right now, it's open to guessing.

I don't think the animators decided to darken them on their own though, Mr.5 and Monday.

 

[Schabrak]

We have seen people from all over the OP world(every Blue) and in none of them I have seen a pair or group of people looking different from the usual "white" man. While on the real world people from different lines of latitude have clearly different traits. Those "different" in OP must come from secluded isles. And most likey as you have pointed out, races must have mixed up pretty much with all those pretty "little" isles and ship and trading connections without constrictions to travel around the world.

 

[goldb]

Alrighty, I'm just gonna make a list of characters I consider to be of black or mixed origins, so we can discuss this and mattes or race properly.

PS. This is my list and from my own conclusion...

-Sengoku- I used to think he was white, but after seeing the flashback and the afro I think like Razh said he could be of mixed origins.

-Aokiji- I have always seen him as black
-Mr.1
-Mr.5
-Miss Monday
-Gedatsu
-Ussop- mixed
-Brook-
-Yassop
-Masira
-Shoujo
-Vice Admiral Yamakaji
-Commander Ripper
-Lieutenant Junior Rokakku
-John Giant
-Ohm
-Doberman- he could just be dark skinned
-Onigumo
-Rockstar

There's definetly more but my head hurts, so if anyone can add to it or whatever...

 

[SenninSage]

Alrighty, I'm just gonna make a list of characters I consider to be of black or mixed origins, so we can discuss this and mattes or race properly.

PS. This is my list and from my own conclusion...

-Sengoku- I used to think he was white, but after seeing the flashback and the afro I think like Razh said he could be of mixed origins.

-Aokiji- I have always seen him as black
-Mr.1
-Mr.5
-Miss Monday
-Gedatsu
-Ussop- mixed
-Brook-
-Yassop
-Masira
-Shoujo
-Vice Admiral Yamakaji
-Commander Ripper
-Lieutenant Junior Rokakku
-John Giant
-Ohm
-Doberman- he could just be dark skinned
-Onigumo
-Rockstar

There's definetly more but my head hurts, so if anyone can add to it or whatever...

You forgot Afro Thunder Luffy!

 

[Akainu]

and that's exactly it. an "afro" doesn't make you of african origin in any kind of way.
especially for characters like Aokiji for whom we got definite models, in this case Yusaku Matsuda (even from a single role he played), we can tell it's just a little more tan and no racial issue. here it even includes the hair, which despite being curly, also is formed after the actors example.

as for some others of your list, I wouldn't put Masira and Shoujo on there. they are likely apes or ape mixes. I know about the stereotype, so it would be unappropriate for that reason alone.

 

[◆ T.D.A ◆]

If Oda really did created a black character he wouldn't given them dark skin, like Killer Bee, Raikage, Tousen have.

 

[Razh]

If Oda really did created a black character he wouldn't given them dark skin, like Killer Bee, Raikage, Tousen have.

You're talking about different mangas from different authors with different styles. If there were black people in One Piece Oda would have drawn them like Kishimoto and Kubo did. That's what you're saying?

Yeah, who gives a shit about anime. It's not like Oda instructed the animators how to color people's skin. They just decided on their own.

And I believe you meant "would have".
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and that's exactly it. an "afro" doesn't make you of african origin in any kind of way.

HINT: Luffy had a wig.

We don't know that. Afro is a typical black people trait. Maybe Oda did decide that he's going to extend afros to other races too. Who knows.
There really isn't any way to know, and that question will pop out in SBS like never.

 

[deffkryz]

If Oda really did created a black character he wouldn't given them dark skin, like Killer Bee, Raikage, Tousen have.

Right, he created a black character and didn't give him a dark skin. You guys remember that 4kids censorship because of some "blackface" argument (ANN news)? That guy is also in the manga, in chapter 11. Black without having a dark skin - his face might be masked, but his arms aren't, I think.

I don't think Oda wants to rely on that scheme because it would only provoke certain people to interpret racism into his work. That's why he creates real "other human races" like fishman, mermaids, long-armed humans, skypieans etc. which have some real differences unlike some color of their skins.

 

[Lord Rayleigh]

Seriously though, I don't recall seeing a monkeyman on the slave auction listing.

That's because there was not the word monkeyman on the slave auction listing. Actually, the monkeymen we've seen in the Shabondy Archipelago were slave hunters in the " Coffee Monkeys " : see here

 

[Razh]

That's because there was not the word monkeyman on the slave auction listing. Actually, the monkeymen we've seen in the Shabondy Archipelago were slave hunters in the " Coffee Monkeys " : see here

Don't take me for an imbecile. I thought it was strange that there are no ape-men (sounds better than monkeymen don't you think) on the slave auction list since all of the races should be included.
See, I forgot that Masira and Shoujo actually had tails too. It happens I guess.

We've only seen about 8 ape-men. Does it mean that there aren't others on some island? No it doesn't. So why believe that there is no black race except those few guys?

 

[Bugzee]

Anyone think that Pandaman will eventually become a character in OP and will be introduced formally? It would be cool! lol

I get the feeling tho Oda won't!

 

[Poneglyph420]

Anyone think that Pandaman will eventually become a character in OP and will be introduced formally? It would be cool! lol

I get the feeling tho Oda won't!

yeah man I think he will remain an "Easter egg" character..
It's too fun to play where's Pandaman!

But I do hope to see more of him.

 

[Bugzee]

hehehe me 2, Pandaman is awesome!!!!!

 

[sarutobi_sensei]

I've just remembered something, wasn't Rayleigh supposed to coat Sunny? If so isn't it possible that he arrives @ the war, with the Strawhats (or some of them) via underwater like WB did? I'd love that x)

Maybe it's chopper who tends to WB's and everyone else's wounds

 

[Black Lagoon]

Luffy was lucky enough to cross the sea in a Marine ship ...

 

[sarutobi_sensei]

But we don't know the mechanics behind coating and how fast it can travel.