When it comes to the world of One Piece, Luffy has emerged as the quintessential pirate, yet creator Eiichiro Oda initially fretted that fans might gravitate more toward supporting characters.
Since its inception in 1997, the One Piece manga has followed the adventures of Luffy, a charismatic and humorous protagonist who has managed to win over a vast audience. In many Shonen works, it’s common for secondary characters to eclipse the lead.
This phenomenon concerned Oda early on, as he feared that prominent figures like Shanks or Zoro might outshine Luffy. Although these two characters remain fan favorites within the series, Luffy’s popularity is unparalleled.
In a 1998 entry in the Weekly Shonen Jump, Oda expressed gratitude to fans who participated in the “Character Popularity Vote,” stating, “I’m truly pleased to see Luffy in first place. I was anxious that Zoro or Shanks might surpass him.”
Oda is so fond of Luffy that he worried early on in the One Piece saga that fans might prefer Shanks or Zoro instead, but thankfully, everyone grew to adore Luffy. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/6dh4p8301a
— Pookie Piece (@realpewpiece) October 11, 2024
This sentiment gained traction after a popular leaker shared Oda’s thoughts, noting his concerns that characters like Shanks or Zoro might be more favored initially, yet ultimately to his relief, Luffy won the hearts of fans.
Luffy stands out as one of the anime’s most cherished main characters, making his consistent triumphs in popularity polls a joy for his supporters. According to the One Piece fandom webpage, Luffy has consistently dominated every official popularity poll since the series launched.
Another fan noted, “Just a fun tidbit, Luffy has maintained his status at number one in the popularity polls for over 20 years, which is incredibly impressive. He might be the only character in Shonen Jump history to achieve this.” source.
As the One Piece anime takes a break, find out the positive reasons behind this decision.
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