Prior to starting the One Piece manga in 1999, Eiichiro Oda had previously created a one-shot manga called MONSTERS, which was included in the Shonen Jump Autumn Special in 1994. This story follows Ryuma’s journey outside of the Wano Country. However, MONSTERS was not integrated into the One Piece series until the ‘Thriller Bark’ arc.
During the ‘Thriller Bark’ arc, Ryuma, a swordsman from the Wano Country, was introduced. This revelation sparked the realization among fans that Ryuma from MONSTERS was the same character in the One Piece saga. Despite the connection between the two, there had been no instances of crossover until the release of the anime adaptation of MONSTERS.
One Piece: Eiichiro Oda’s Anime Original Scene in MONSTERS
Near the end of the MONSTERS anime movie, viewers were treated to a special post-credit scene created by E&H Productions. This scene featured Roronoa Zoro in Thriller Bark, where he received the legendary Black Sword Shusui from none other than the Sword God, Ryuma of the Wano Country. However, it was not until the release of the MONSTERS anime that audiences discovered Zoro’s surprise cameo appearance.
During a recent interview about the one-shot manga MONSTERS, Eiichiro Oda shared that he was offered an anime adaptation for it approximately 10 years ago. However, at the time, fans were eagerly anticipating new content for Oda’s ongoing work.
Despite feeling that introducing MONSTERS to his fandom would have a negative impact, he ultimately turned down the offer. However, a few years later, Oda was presented with a new offer for an anime adaptation.
Oda felt that the fans’ familiarity with Ryuma from both the ‘Wano Country’ and ‘Thriller Bark’ arcs made it the ideal moment to showcase the Sword God’s adventures as a substory to his ongoing work. Despite giving the producers permission to adapt the anime, Oda did not clarify the connection between MONSTERS and One Piece.
Upon receiving the storyboard for MONSTERS anime, Oda was surprised by Zoro’s cameo. This caused him to contemplate the ending.
“Yeah, that’s perfect.”
One Piece: All You Need to Know About Sword God Ryuma
Shimotsuki Ryuma, a renowned samurai from the Shimotsuki Family of Wano Country during its prosperous “Country of Gold”period, was known as the Sword God for his unparalleled sword skills and for defeating a dragon. He is the ancestor of both Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Roronoa Zoro. 23 years prior to the current events, Ryuma’s tomb in Ringo was violated by Gecko Moria, who took his body and sword.
Reanimated with the help of Brook’s shadow, Ryuma joined Moria’s forces as a General Zombie on Thriller Bark. He remained an enemy to the crew until Zoro ultimately defeated him. During his lifetime, Ryuma was known for his mastery of Ryuo, which he honed through countless battles and used to transform his sword Shusui into a permanent Black Blade, a feat that is depicted in both of his renowned works.
Final thoughts
The addition of a post-credit scene featuring Roronoa Zoro, created specifically for the MONSTERS anime adaptation, not only brought joy to fans but also further strengthened the relationship between the two works.
Ryuma’s portrayal as a legendary figure and the importance of his creations serve to emphasize the vastness of Oda’s world-building. This thoughtful inclusion enables fans to fully grasp the complexity of Ryuma’s persona and his lasting impact on the One Piece universe.
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