Nami’s Absence in Elbaf: Exploring One Piece’s Alice in Wonderland Inspiration

One Piece chapter 1127, released on September 21, 2024, marks the beginning of the Straw Hat Pirates’ adventure on Elbaf Island. However, fans are still puzzled about how Nami found herself inside the enigmatic LEGO castle, particularly since she has no recollection of how she arrived there.

The key to this mystery appears to lie in a cultural reference, specifically the 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland. This suggests that the Straw Hat Pirates might just be experiencing hallucinations. Clues to this theory include Luffy not wearing his straw hat, confusingly referring to Gear 3 as Gear 4, and Nami’s inability to identify who was calling her name.

Disclaimer: This article may contain potential spoilers from the One Piece manga series and reflects the author’s personal opinion.

One Piece: Decoding the Alice in Wonderland Reference

Nami as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation) — Nami as depicted in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Chapter 1126 included a peculiar panel where someone called out to Nami, and upon awakening, she discovered herself amidst a LEGO castle. Following her awakening, chapter 1127 features Nami battling gigantic creatures. What does all of this signify?

These events may be a nod to the 1951 classic film, Alice in Wonderland, which narrates the story of a girl named Alice who dreams of a whimsical world and ultimately enters it. Similar to Alice, Nami might have inadvertently found herself in the LEGO castle while daydreaming, potentially due to the Absinthe she consumed with the giants.

This lack of memory regarding her transportation could explain her disorientation. Additionally, the person calling her name could represent her true self from the real world, reminiscent of how Alice was summoned back after being taken to her dreamlike Wonderland.

Alice inside her wonderland (Image via Walt Disney) — Alice in her wonderland (Image via Walt Disney)

So, who might have sent Nami to this LEGO castle? This could be the giants’ prince, Loki, who might possess powers similar to those of the Cheshire Cat, who confined Alice in Wonderland.

While chapter 1127 did not delve into why Nami drank the Absinthe, it could parallel Alice’s experience, where the drink urged her to indulge. Absinthe might have similarly coaxed Nami, granting Loki powers akin to Big Mom’s Soul-Soul Devil Fruit, bestowing life-like properties on inanimate objects.

A color spread showing a giant Nami (Image via Shueisha) — A vibrant color spread showcasing a giant Nami (Image via Shueisha)

How will the Straw Hat Pirates escape the LEGO castle? It could mirror Alice’s return from Wonderland, as Nami’s body in the real world may continue calling out to her counterpart in the LEGO castle. This might lead to Nami growing larger, similar to how Alice became a giant at the film’s conclusion.

This potential transformation was hinted at in the recent color spread of One Piece, featuring a giant Nami. Therefore, the Straw Hat Pirates are likely under the influence of Absinthe, and the only one capable of alleviating its effects may be Nami herself.

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