Recent Hiatus News Confirms the Importance of the Sun Symbol in One Piece Anime

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, the highly popular anime series One Piece officially declared that it would take a six-month-long hiatus. This break, set to last until April 2025, aims to provide Toei Animation the opportunity to create a sufficient gap between the anime and Eiichiro Oda’s original manga, which is known for its captivating pirate adventures.

The decision for a hiatus comes in response to the slower pacing of the One Piece manga, which caused the anime adaptation to inch too closely to the source material. This pause allows Toei Animation to craft the conclusion of the Egghead Arc with cinematic visual quality, similar to the first segment, while preserving the narrative pace.

Intriguingly, the announcement artwork features a compass rose design with a stylized sun containing eight rays. This detail, seemingly minor, has captured the interest of many fans, as it suggests a link to the mysterious Ancient Kingdom from the One Piece lore.

Disclaimer: This article includes significant spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1130.

The Ancient Kingdom’s emblem was hinted at One Piece’s latest major announcement

A deep-seated symbolism that resonates throughout the series

The sun symbol in the recent One Piece announcement (Image via Artur - Library of Ohara/X) — The sun symbol in the recent One Piece announcement (Image via Artur – Library of Ohara/X)

It’s not the first occasion that the One Piece franchise has showcased a sun-shaped emblem. This symbol has appeared multiple times across the series:

In Arabasta, on the country’s flag.
In Skypiea, at Heaven’s Gate entrance, and as a tattoo on Wyper.
In Fish-Man Island, inked on King Neptune.
In Wano, as part of the Kozuki Family’s crest.
In Sorbet Kingdom, in the church associated with Bartholomew Kuma’s family.

Though the design of this emblem may vary, it consistently retains the form of a circle encircled by eight rays, resembling a stylized sun. The true significance of this symbol remains undisclosed, yet it is widely believed to relate to the historical conflict between the Ancient Kingdom championed by Joy Boy and the oppressive World Government.

The sun motif on Luffy and Zoro's early Wano outfits (Image via Toei Animation) — The sun motif on Luffy and Zoro’s early Wano outfits (Image via Toei Animation)

Most likely, the central sun symbolizes the Ancient Kingdom, while the eight surrounding rays represent regions allied with it, including Wano and Fish-Man Island. Another compelling theory is that the sun reflects Joy Boy’s powers akin to the “Sun God” Nika, with the eight rays representing Joy Boy’s comrades.

This theme relates to the strikingly similar sun motifs found on the outfits of Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro during the Wano Arc’s initial phase. The distinction here is that their sun symbol features ten rays, possibly alluding to Luffy’s desire for approximately ten crew members.

In stark contrast to Joy Boy and Luffy’s sun-related symbols, the emblem of the World Government comprises only five circles, likely representing the Five Elders, the high-ranking Celestial Dragons executing the directives of Imu-sama. Notably, Imu’s existence is a closely guarded secret, unreferenced in the World Government’s flag.

The recurring sun emblem in One Piece (Image via Shueisha)

Furthermore, it’s evident that all locations displaying the sun symbol share a connection to the enigmatic history of the One Piece universe.

Arabasta stands out as one of the twenty nations that founded the World Government, notably being the sole nation whose monarch declined the title of Celestial Dragon. This country is also home to the Poneglyph detailing the whereabouts of Pluton, one of the Three Ancient Weapons of devastating power. Skypiea holds another Poneglyph indicating the location of the second Ancient Weapon, Poseidon.

Joy Boy, recognized as the first pirate to navigate the seas and opponent of the World Government’s founders during the Great War, left an apology to the people of Fish-Man Island. This island also housed one of the four Road Poneglyphs that, when combined, can locate Laugh Tale, the legendary resting place of the One Piece treasure.

Wano, previously known as the “Country of Gold,” safeguards another Road Poneglyph and the hideout of Pluton. Sorbet is recognized as the birthplace of a clan of Buccaneers, who carry forward the legend of “Sun God” Nika through their generations.

Connecting the past, present, and future, the sun embodies Nika

Joy Boy vs his adversaries (Image via Shueisha)

The common thread weaving together these regions and their sun-shaped symbols is the legacy of the conflict that resulted in the downfall of the Ancient Kingdom over 800 years prior to the current events of One Piece. The rulers of twenty nations allied to vanquish this thriving and technologically advanced society.

Post-war, the kings from these nations assumed the title of Celestial Dragons, whose heirs now wield power through the World Government. Joy Boy, from the Ancient Kingdom, was defeated in this strife. He possessed the Human-Human Fruit Model: Nika, allowing him to transform into “Sun God” Nika, mirroring Luffy’s current abilities.

The title of “Sun God” was earned through accolades, as Nika was celebrated as a liberator who fought against oppression, offering hope and joy. Luffy is often seen as the reincarnation of Joy Boy, sharing similar powers akin to Nika, championing the cause of the marginalized.

One Piece's Ancient Kingdom (Image via Toei Animation) — One Piece’s Ancient Kingdom (Image via Toei Animation)

Through the Gear 5 transformation, which grants him surreal, reality-altering abilities reminiscent of Nika, Monkey D. Luffy emerges as the hero poised to usher in a new era, metaphorically echoing the role of the sun. It’s hardly coincidental that Luffy and his companions liberated Arabasta, Skypiea, Fish-Man Island, and Wano.

Luffy has been acknowledged as Nika by Bartholomew Kuma’s descended kin and his adoptive daughter, Jewelry Bonney. Thus, from historical roots to present dynamics, a Nika-esque hero wields the powers of the “Sun God” to cultivate liberation and joy in the world. This elucidates the consistent presence of the stylized sun, serving as a clue to both the past and future.

The countries bearing the sun emblem likely sided with Joy Boy and the Ancient Kingdom during the monumental war of the Void Century. Fascinatingly, these regions are now allied with Luffy, the modern embodiment of Joy Boy and current inheritor of Nika’s abilities.

Luffy embodies Nika's powers now (Image via Toei Animation) — Luffy embodies Nika’s powers now (Image via Toei Animation)

The sun symbol displayed in the announcement of the anime’s upcoming hiatus is yet another illustration of this recurrent emblem found throughout One Piece lore. Although it may seem far-fetched, it’s plausible to interpret it as a subtle Easter Egg, nudging fans toward increasingly strong hints about the secrets that are likely to unfold in the story’s finale.

As the Egghead Arc marks the beginning of the series’ final saga, it’s logical for the franchise to amplify references to the mysteries that are soon to be uncovered in the climax of the narrative.

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