Discussion Why is One Piece also number One?

[FanOfAniManga]

As you can tell by the title of this thread, I'm here to ask the fans of One Piece why this series is doing so well, it's virtually indestructible. Most of the time, it's number 1 on the WSJ rankings, excluding series that also made cover pages.

I happen not to be a fan of this particular series (not that I know why), so I don't know much about it. Having said that, let me stress that I'm NOT the least bit jealous of this series' success. I'm stressing this out because I've been trolled and dissed in the past for arguing against a One Piece fan, even though I never meant any sort of jealousy at all against the series and was merely playing devil's advocate, as I do all the time.

My true reason for asking is just because I'm seeing so many other WSJ series tank even though I find a lot of them not that bad. For that, I was wondering what it'd take for other series to do better.

Thanks.

 

[Naruffy]

IMO, One Piece's success comes from it's great storyline. It's probably more appealing to some people because its simple (Pirates going after treasure vs. ninja's in a world of hatred or death gods). Along with these I also believe that One Piece has been more consistent in other areas such as power-levels; When Luffy meets someone he's not able to beat, he doesn't pull out some random power-up and beats them. Luffy as a main character is also very appealing, I find personally him funnier and more interesting to watch than Naruto or Ichigo.

I'm sure other people have plenty more reasons why it's is doing so well. Just keep in mind that One Piece as a whole is a fun and exciting adventure story, and if you read it with an open mind you'll find out for yourself why it's so popular.

 

[Zeltrax]

I think the easiest way to know is watch or read it yourself.

One piece greatness lies in its well written story and its well developed characters. The reason why people love it, and continue loving it is because it never fails to deliver. Then there is the dramatic and emotional moments in the series that captures the readers hearts, it takes a good story writer to do that. I also love it for the adventures and the various element of surprise that makes reading it fun.
One of the reason people tend to avoid reading one piece is due to the art style. However, the art gradually improve and after reading it for a long time, you'll feel that it is not one piece if this kind of art style isn't used.

The characters, the plot, the world and the stories are all masterfully weave together by Oda which all makes One Piece amazing.

 

[Josl]

Well the obvious reasons are story telling, character handling and world building.

Oda is a master of story telling in the shonen genre. He has planed the whole story before he begun to make the Manga but of course not everything is planned. He always adds new elements and sub plots to make his world bigger and more believable. You have “little” self contained arcs and a big overlapping plot. About the big plot you get the first sign 200chapters in and learn what it is truly about 400 chapters in but we still don’t know pretty much anything about it. Because of the self contained arcs, the island system (new people, new environment) it always fells fresh. He uses a lot of foreshadowing which gives his story consistency. For example something from chapter 1 becomes really relevant 500 chapters later. A lot of things people COULD have seen coming but most people didn’t.

He uses constant build up, which means his world gets always bigger and the Manga gets “better”. The first 100 chapter are just introduction, after that it really starts off BUT he still uses this build up system, which means it gets better and better

His world is enormous, creative and full of excitement and fun. It is also a breathing world which means an action in one location can have catastrophic consequences somewhere else.

He has an enormous cast. Nine main characters and an endless supporting cast. He handles them very well. Pretty much no useless characters. All of the main characters got an incredible sad past which makes people sympathize with them and makes the characters 3 dimensional.

Those are the usually reasons what are given for the success but I think besides those reasons given there is one very important.
The author implements his soul in his work. He does care for the world, the characters, the readers and the Manga. He loves what he is doing.
He is able to touch the people in their hearts. There is a very good mixture between drama and comedy. It makes you laugh, cry and sometimes both at the same time.

If you wish to get an impression of what OP is all about than I advice you to watch Movie 9.
This movie is half filler, half canon. The Villain is probably the worst of OP but the movie isn’t about the villain. It’s about one of the main cast. It is also spoilery because they implemented people there who don’t belong there and it takes the WTF effect away when they do appear in the Manga.

There is an interesting blog where people from different Blogs wrote essays about OP:
http://precur.wordpress.com/one-piece-mmf/
Everything from ABCBTom is readworthy but ESPECIALLY this one:
http://karaconner.com/blog/?p=225

There is also one Japanese documentary which asks the same question as you about why is it as popular as it is. There are no subtitels but a summary. If you wish I could send it to you

 

[scandalous']

The biggest reason for me is the humor. The strawhats always manage to crack me up. Other than that, the way the story is told is amazing and its a very balanced manga. The way powers are displayed makes a lot of sense and the characters don't get random powers up. For example,

Spoiler

when Kuma started to teleport all of luffy's crew mates away, he got real angry and tried to stop him, yet couldn't even touch him

. At a moment like this, every other character in another series, would go "kyuubi, super saiyan 7, or ichigonator" for example. Stuff like this doesn't happen in one piece. If you have a limit you don't suddenly go over it out of the blue.

The fact I like the most is that everything gets explained sooner or later, which always makes you go: ohhhh, so that's it. It doesn't leave stuff unexplained as for example how did kakashi in naruto get his MS.

When it comes to story telling, one piece takes the cake.

 

[matzik1212]

'cause it's a one of a kind manga IMO with a original storyline and yeah it's very funny and i can't stop laughing sometimes when i watch an episode or read a chapter i could say that when i'm sad sometimes all i need to do is watch baka luffy and his "awesomeeeeeee" face and my bad mood just flies away

 

[FujiNumberOne]

First of all, the characters. Oda has made great, lovable characters that are also very 3-dimensional and therefore believable. All of their actions make sense with their personalities. So you really care about and sympathize with all of the characters and want to know how their dreams will turn out.

Second of all, the ever-expanding worlds. With other mangas, you have certain specific sets. For example, with Naruto, you have Konoha and the various buildings within it and glimpses of the other main villages, but besides that, you rarely see any other areas. With Bleach, you have Soul Society, Karakura Town, Hueco Mundo, and that's about it. But with One Piece, you constantly see brand new islands that are extremely unique. You see various areas of the world, and therefore can really believe that it's a world, instead of just seeing a very few areas and just assume that it's actually a vast world.

Thirdly, it's more mature than some other series.

Spoiler: Spoilers for Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach

As others have said, you don't always have the main character pull a power-up from out of nowhere to win against characters who are actually stronger than him. Luffy lost to Crocodile twice, lost to Magellan, lost to Kuma, etc. It's not like Naruto, where he beat Pain, but we're supposed to somehow believe he's going to have trouble beating Sasuke. And Ace and Whitebeard, both good guys, have died. It's not like Bleach, where Yamamoto can get hit by the flames of Ryuujin Jakka and use a sacrificial kidou and still make it out alive, or Hiyori can get literally cut in half and still survive.

 

[NoLimit89]

I watch it for the characters. Each character is grounded in an engaging backstory and each character grows with time. The characters all have their quirks and traits but what differentiates them from other manga characters is that they grow with time. They're multidimensional character instead of one dimensional.

I also watch it for the story. The story are all interconnected and I find it unbelievably amazing when one thing written 30 chapters back could be elaborated upon and given new meaning. See Laboon and Brook, or Jimbei or Ace's tattoo or Kuma's backstory. I find it absolutely amazing how creative and well planned each of these unveil is. Also the theme behind the story, it's not merely about friendship being stressed over and over again, it's about dreams, freedom, adventure, differing ideologies and governance, love, loss, fear, family, growth AND friendship. It's basically real in the sense that it's a reflection of our own society. Therefore, the story is much deeper than almost any other manga.

Thirdly, the drama and the comedy - I guess this is a personal preference for style, and it won't be everyone's cup of tea.

 

[Saint Markus]

it's generally the story itself. and all stories that are written really well, with well-thought out plots and take good risks always pay off. besides, Oda writing skills are like the old school mangakas.

doesn't surprise me, One Piece would sell so much in Japan. makes you really wonder why, it's not doing the same here in the states. i personally think, the story represents an ideal rather than overused and predictable plot lines.

 

[ANBU4U]

The depth and expansiveness of the WORLD of One Piece really makes it unique. As mentioned before, the Island system really allows Oda to expand and elaborate the world map more than any other shonen, and really, any other manga currently in publication...I can't think of anything that comes close...HunterXHunter and Berserk get honorable mentions but its still no contest so far as known/visited locations.

Still, most importantly its the diverse and intricate themes of One Piece that make it so special. Adventurer, Freedom, Oppression, Good-Evil, Justice, Righteousness, Friendship, Camaraderie, Responsibility, Leadership, Legacy, Race, Sacrifice, Values. I mean, just what is treasure in One Piece?

And it all works. I mean their are People you HATE in One Piece, People you love, and people you're conflicted about, all based on their values and actions. How many Shounen can we really say that about? Thats why One Piece is the most popular Shounen, somehow Odas made such a deep......and yet VERY shounen story at the same time. Has that ever happened before?

 

[RaveDragon]

One Piece isnt in a rush, the characters are developed in such a way i have never seen before, tha arcs are very imaginative, and even though the arts not the best it is appealing in its own unique way. but its the first thing that makes me love it, every character has been explained (almost all of them) and everyone of them whom was especially important has a story which was told beautifully, the Mugiwara are an example ^^ Princess Vivi is another and even Boa Hancock

The chapters have something which brings out the curiosity in people and many issues have been dealt in a way in this manga; slavery, democracy in a way which is easy to understand and very emotional and enjoyable (not the situation the plot i mean).

 

[javimgol]

For me the true key of OP success is that Oda is always rewarding his readers.Let me try to explain it.

You can begin to read a manga for a lot of motives. After you read a bunch of chapters, there are two ways: you quit or you continue. There are two reason to continue: you like the story and/or you like the characters. Art is important but hasn't got the same importance.

When you have read, I don't know, 100 chapters of a manga, most of them begin to result boring. The story is predictable (main characters has to win) and the characters you love can not appear is all the chapters. But you still continue. OK, there are surprises and OMG chapters, but they appear very rarely.

OP is different because Oda is always rewarding his fans, the older have they been following the series, the better. Why? On one hand, due to the fact he is always recycling old characters in a reasonable fashion. On the other hand,you can always find that what happens in the story is logical and elements of hundreds of chapters ago fix like a puzzle. The reason has been explained before: he is a master of storytelling and likes to prepare things waaaaay before it finally appear in the manga.

 

[Franckie]

One Piece outclasses every other current shounen when it comes to portraying drama, humor, and sense of adventure. One Piece is also complex in terms of mythology, world depth, character diversity, and from recently published volumes, only HxH is as brutal and uncompromising. The quality of writing has led One Piece to achieve the multigraphic appeal that has led to unprecedented levels of popularity.

 

[kulugo]

read it and you'll understand.

 

[Uriel]

Internal Cohesion.

Except Hunter X Hunter, I haven't found ANY manga with such a high level of coherence.

ALSO I think it's number one because adults like it more than teens, and they have more money to buy. So it will be always ranked first :P

 

[shouryuujo]

i like the vast world and interesting characters. I don't mind powerups that much but it is nice to see the crew not always be "invincible" even though they win (well they have to) most of the major fights. One thing I dont particularly like is the character design.... the chars have really long legs and arms imo and that gets a bit used to...

 

[Aikidoka]

$nipe in another topic described it best with the following:

I've always thought of One Piece as a masterpiece of 'pop' art, and I think that's why it's so beloved by children and adults. Compared to other shonen heros (at least the ones that I know), Luffy is basically an antihero in the sense that his values aren't really 'good'. He's not a good person, he's just a very, VERY humane person: selfish and nonchalant. His goals lie within a realization of his self-conceited whim: being 'free', having people his beloved people near him and doing as he wishes.

Anyone would fall into loving a character that turns the world upside-down and actually shifts it in a right direction just by acting selfishly. By putting moral principles and centering them in self-satisfaction, it creates a hero that doesn't believe in doing good or a better world, yet it manages to do it. As unreal as a 10-minutes workout, non-fat yogurt and free beer, One Piece draws the proverbial "child" in transactional analysis out of every reader. As 'pop' as it can get. Now compare it to Naruto, where the reader is put into emotional distress by a character who doesn't know what to do to actually change the world. Of course, readers don't want the conflict or the difficult paradoxes: they want the easy way out. That's why they love One Piece.

I love it too.

I do love the moral quandaries and struggles, which is why I enjoy manga like Naruto as well -- but I started really getting into One Piece at a time when "dark and edgy" heroes were in. To me someone as carefree as Luffy is a refreshing change from the usual, cliche wangsty heroes.

And of course there are all the reasons that everyone's given already, not least of which is storytelling -- as much as Bleach is a great manga, there are those (me included) who are starting to get bored by the sudden change in mood between two major story arcs, and the "slow" pacing compared to last year. But you don't get that with One Piece. Oda knows exactly what to do to keep us readers interested and the plot moving forward. He's taken manga, something usually seen as juvenile and for kids, and made it into a story that people of all ages can (and do) enjoy.

 

[manuelmachado]

Imho, one piece have so many strong characters (hero or villain) and each have a unique story/goal/objectives.... like Dragon Ball Z.
for example:
-ichigo (bleach) is always trainning and battling when you could evolve the 12 commanders, chad, urahara, Isshin ( ichigo father),......
- in naruto, shikamaru could be much more important and strong, byakugan lost importance,....
- in HSD kenichi, only kenichi matters and the masters win/survive always. kenichi friends could be more powerful
- fairy tail have great potecial( explore the dragons quest, lily with the keys, black guilds and raven tail).
- hunter x hunter was iincredible/great! but Yoshihiro Togashi is crazy!!! he f**k the story....i dont wanna talk about that guy!

 

[Nonlife]

One Piece has an assortment of pros - and few cons; but Oda's FOCUS is by far very impressive. He's literally breathing life into his own little world, filled with numerous unique individuals & its worldly affairs, etc.

Naruto: I DON'T believe in, or like, the main character anymore - or his character development. (IMO, Luffy made more progress with his training than Naruto.)

Bleach: The other characters just suck compared to Ichigo, who constantly gets thrown into a handful of battles ahainst MAJOR opponents. (Everyone else: one fight, & they "throw in the towel.")
Fairy Tail: My second favorite manga. My only qualms were the character designs - like knockoffs of the Rave Master characters - & the neverending winning streak against world-class Dark Guilds. (Would it kill Mashima to expand on the other Guilds & not give FT the BEST of BEST mages in the world.)

 

[RaveDragon]

Imho, one piece have so many strong characters (hero or villain) and each have a unique story/goal/objectives.... like Dragon Ball Z.
for example:
-ichigo (bleach) is always trainning and battling when you could evolve the 12 commanders, chad, urahara, Isshin ( ichigo father),......
- in naruto, shikamaru could be much more important and strong, byakugan lost importance,....
- in HSD kenichi, only kenichi matters and the masters win/survive always. kenichi friends could be more powerful
- fairy tail have great potecial( explore the dragons quest, lily with the keys, black guilds and raven tail).
- hunter x hunter was iincredible/great! but Yoshihiro Togashi is crazy!!! he f**k the story....i dont wanna talk about that guy!

Agreed Oda focuses on all characters introduced developing them to thier best if not thier fullest,

Bleach lacks this and we only see Ichigo growing and little bit his friends when the captains have so much potential, he could use many for a story like Liza and Nanao and the captain who was sent to the royal army.

Fairy Tail is my Fav. along with one piece not because thier similar but the story has potential and keeps to the viewers age liking and is also very imaginative in its own, and i think you meant Lucy or Layla and the keys xp

Bute One Piece has always had that speciality, its like the characters come to life, know what i mean, we feel like, i think, we are going along wih Luffy in this journey and many of us grew up with him on his adventures, i was small when i started one piece (it aired on tv) and i loved it, and now that i can understand the many messages Oda sends thorugh it i am awed and absolutely adore his work