Fans of One Piece were eagerly anticipating the debut of Figarland Garling, the leader of the World Government’s Holy Knights, and Toei Animation once again delivered a surprise, sparking mixed reactions among viewers. The anime adaptation of Garling presents him with blonde hair and a more refined beard design, offering a noticeable shift from previous perceptions.
While the changes are subtle, they have caught many fans off guard, especially considering the air of mystery that surrounds Garling. For a considerable time, there was speculation that Garling had red hair, leading to intriguing connections with Shanks, or at the very least, assumptions that his hair might be gray due to his age. This updated design, however, has likely dismantled some of those fan theories.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the One Piece series and reflects the author’s opinions.
Figarland Garling’s New Look in the One Piece Anime Surprises Fans
As mentioned, Figarland Garling is a character laden with questions in the One Piece universe. His position as the leader of the Holy Knights, the elite fighting force of the World Government, combined with his recent ascension to a member of the Gorosei in the manga, has cultivated numerous theories surrounding his identity. However, his recent appearance in the anime has altered many fans’ speculations.
Historically, fans theorized that Garling had red hair, which sparked associations with Shanks—particularly given ongoing theories suggesting that Shanks might be a Celestial Dragon or has ties to the World Government. However, Toei Animation’s portrayal of Garling as a blonde character was unexpected, especially for those who expected at least gray hair due to his age.
The decision to design Garling this way has raised further questions about his character, particularly as his beard has also undergone slight redesign changes to a more fashionable appearance compared to the one in the manga.
Fan Reactions on Social Media
The connection between Garling and the Gorosei is quite intriguing, especially with Saturn recently being killed by Imu and Garling stepping into that role. This shift implies a dynamism in Gorosei membership, suggesting that the group hasn’t always consisted of the same five men seen throughout the series, thereby amplifying Garling’s status and accomplishments.
Garling’s involvement in the flashback during the God Valley incident, where Marine hero Monkey D. Garp and the Pirate King Gol D. Roger allied, raises significant questions regarding his character, particularly in relation to the lore connecting him with Shanks within the One Piece fandom.
“Also what happened to his beard, why did Toei just randomly give him a casual redesign??”someone commented.
“TOEI really stole Yuji’s cloth and thought we wouldn’t notice,”another user remarked.
“The anime nuked my guys aura,”one user added.
Regardless of individual opinions on the design, Figarland Garling remains one of the most enigmatic characters in the series, and fans have high expectations for his role moving forward.
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