One Piece’s Foreshadowing of the Continents Before the Void Century: Debunking the Pangaea Theory

The world of One Piece is made up of numerous small islands surrounded by the expansive Blue Sea. This body of salt water is separated into four sections, each corresponding to a cardinal direction. The Grand Line, a treacherous stretch of ocean, and the Red Line, a massive circular land formation composed of reddish minerals, divide the world and create a cross-like shape.

In chapter 1115 of One Piece, Dr. Vegapunk revealed that the world was vastly different centuries ago, with multiple full-sized continents. However, during the Void Century, a cataclysmic event caused by the use of the Ancient Weapons drastically altered the shape of the globe. This resulted in a rise in sea levels by 200 meters, submerging the continents and leaving behind only fragmented islands that exist in the present day.

It was hardly surprising that this revelation came to light, as numerous fans had already foreseen that the world of One Piece was previously composed of continents before undergoing a transformation during the Void Century. What is truly intriguing is that a seemingly insignificant yet brilliantly executed foreshadowing had already alluded to this significant truth well before chapter 1115 was released.

Please be aware that this article includes significant spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1115.

The geography of the One Piece world

The popularity of the Pangaea theory among fans has been longstanding

The Pangaea Castle in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise (Image via Toei Animation)

It is now a known fact that the One Piece world was previously composed of continents, but this revelation holds little surprise for many fans. The concept of the numerous islands being connected as one piece has been a widely accepted theory for years.

The basis of this claim can be traced back to the revealing of Pangaea Castle, the residence of Imu-sama and the Five Elders. It is widely acknowledged that the Earth looked vastly different millions of years ago. The landmass was one massive continent, which was eventually split apart due to tectonic movements. This supercontinent was known as “Pangaea.”

Considering Eiichiro Oda’s renowned use of foreshadowing and meticulous attention to detail, it is highly unlikely that the mangaka’s decision to name the World Government’s most prominent structure after the real-life supercontinent was a mere coincidence.

Back then, the map of the world didn't look like this (Image via Toei Animation) — Back then, the map of the world didn’t look like this (Image via Toei Animation)

Many fans believed that the name was not only a nod to the World Government’s supposed representation of unity among all the seas and islands, but also a clear indication that the One Piece world underwent a similar transformation as our own.

In Eiichiro Oda’s fictional story, the reshaping of the globe by the World Government was an artificial process, unlike the natural process that occurred in real-life history. As a result, readers were left to make a range of different assumptions.

Despite their differing final conclusions, both groups of fans were united in their belief that either reuniting the islands or discovering the Pangaea supercontinent would lead to the discovery of the true One Piece treasure. Some believed that piecing back the islands would bring back the Ancient Kingdom, while others suggested that the Pangaea supercontinent itself was the One Piece.

Despite this, the majority of the fandom was in agreement that the idea of fully-formed continents existed prior to the formation of the World Government. Although the name “Pangaea”captured everyone’s interest and still does to this day, it is important to acknowledge that the series also subtly hinted at the hidden truth about the One Piece world’s history.

Oda’s Genius Foreshadowing

The cover of chapter 905 (Image via Shueisha)

The cover of chapter 905 of the One Piece manga contains a seemingly insignificant detail that, when viewed with a contemporary perspective, holds much greater significance. In the forefront, we see Orlumbus, a character known to fans as a small ally in the Dressrosa Arc and one of the captains of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.

In typical fashion for Eiichiro Oda’s series, the cover features Orlumbus beginning his day as a pirate by neatly folding his pajamas. Yet, the most intriguing aspect of the drawing is the background.

Within a furniture item, one can observe two globes located on opposite ends of a map. These globes depict the current layout of the One Piece world, including the Blue Sea, the Red Line, and numerous islands. However, the map presents a contrasting image.

The map is striking in its lack of a Red Line, but instead draws attention to the presence of numerous expansive continents. These continents bear a resemblance to the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia in the real world, though they are depicted in a stylized manner.

The title couldn't be more evocative (Image via Shueisha) — The title couldn’t be more evocative (Image via Shueisha)

In light of chapter 1115’s revelations, it is clear that the seemingly insignificant detail hidden within the cover of chapter 905 was actually a reference to the appearance of the One Piece world during the Void Century. It is astounding to note that this particular chapter was titled “What a beautiful world”and was part of the Levely Arc, which introduced the character of Imu.

It had been heavily hinted at through various events and details, such as the sea level rising after the destruction of Lulusia, the Holy Land being situated on top of the Red Line, the circumstances in Water Seven, and even small details like Silvers Rayleigh’s profession as a ship-coating mechanic and the absence of Devil Fruit powers among the Red Hair Pirates, that the One Piece world was destined to eventually sink.

Similarly, the expectation of continents existing prior to the massive flood triggered by the Ancient Weapons was foreshadowed by a seemingly insignificant detail mentioned in chapter 905. The map of the current One Piece world, characterized by its straight lines and distinct divisions, has always appeared to be of human creation.

The current world of the series (Image via Toei Animation)

It is evident that the World Government benefits greatly from the population being divided into multiple small, distant islands. This allows the tyrannical institution to have more control over the people by preventing them from uniting and limiting their ability to freely explore the world.

The Celestial Dragons are believed to be the offspring of the world’s creators, also known as the Ancient Alliance. This alliance overcame Joy Boy and formed the World Government, making it fair to say that they played a significant role in shaping the world. Through artificial flooding, they were able to physically reshape the globe.

Currently, Imu and the Five Elders are determined to complete their plan of sinking the remaining islands. It is Luffy and his crew’s responsibility to thwart their wicked intentions. Fortunately, with Vegapunk’s revelation to the world, the Straw Hat Pirates will have plenty of allies joining them in their final battle against the World Government.