Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Although the protagonist of Eiichiro Oda’sOne Piece, Monkey D. Luffy, has always been at the top of his game, critics have always criticized him for not following the basic Shonen protagonist trope. Not only is Luffy’s personality unlike anything the Shonen world has ever seen, but his physical stature and the initial stages of his abilities have also been made fun of.
This was majorly witnessed when Luffy first unlocked the Gear 5 form, which was supposed to be the most dangerous and threatening transformation for theOne Pieceprotagonist. However, when it was first revealed, it disappointed a lot ofOne Piecefans because the continuous laughter made it look less scary. However, what fans fail to realize is that it was an intentional move by Oda.
The Gear 5 form was not only a revelation about Luffy’s connection to Joy Boy and Sun God Nika, but it was also Oda’s way of foreshadowing the basic pirate traits in Luffy’s personality. Not only that, it also helped in making Luffy look more maniacally scary than any of his other forms inOne Piece.
The criticism Luffy went through as a protagonist
WhenOne Piecefirst started, fans had no confidence in Luffy and his goofy personality, as it went against everything that described a Shonen protagonist. Hewas not the chosen onewith a special power; he didn’t have any world-saving goal, and he didn’t care about changing the world at all. He was a weak rubber man who wanted to roam the seas and become the King of Pirates.
One Piece Foreshadowing From 1998: You Will Believe Eiichiro Oda Can See Into the Future Once You Learn About This
Because of this, he was criticized a lot, and even thoughOne Piecebecame a big deal as a story, Luffy’s fame as a shonen protagonist was still not whatEiichiro Odahad hoped. While his confidence in himself and his ability to attract the people around him was certainly commendable, it was not something that would earn him recognition.
However, whenOne Piecefans understood what Luffy truly stood for and how his uniqueness was the biggest weapon in his arsenal, they started connecting with him. Ultimately Luffy went on to become one of the, if not the greatest, main characters the Shonen genre has ever seen.
Luffy’s Gear 5 form might have a scary side
While Luffy earned some fame and recognition as he progressed through his journey inOne Piece,his transformations (also known as gears) helped him deal with the criticism of his physical stature and his inability to look like an ideal Shonen protagonist. However, all of this criticism returned when Oda finally revealed his Gear 5 in Wano.
One Piecefans assumed that Gear 5 would make Luffy look even more savage and frightening as it was thereincarnated form of Sun God Nika.
However, his continuous laughter along with his white small physical structure made fans lose confidence in him. But what fans failed to understand is that Oda intentionally planned for it.
We Can Agree Sanji is Weaker Than Zoro But Even Passionate Sanji Haters Will Deny That He is One of the Worst Yonko Commanders in One Piece
This form was made to look comical because it would add to the scary element of his battle. Imagining a weak young white adult defeating characters like the Five Elders and the Strongest Creature in the world, Kaido would send chills down the spine, and that’s exactly what happened during the battle of the Egghead Island arc inOne Piece.
One Pieceis available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
More from Tarun Kohli
One Piece: Why Luffy’s Final Fight Will Break Shonen (& It Won’t Be Against Imu or Blackbeard)
How Many Episodes Are Left in One Piece Egghead Arc? Explained
10 ‘One Piece’ Characters With Major Death Flags
Recommended
New ‘Harry Potter’ BTS Image Reveals Nick Frost’s Shockingly Perfect Look as Hagrid
Upload Season 4: How Many Episodes Will the Final Season Have?
Japan’s 10 Most-Watched Anime of 2025: Naruto Not Even in Top 5
18 Years Later, 47%-rated Mark Wahlberg Action Blockbuster Is Still Conquering Streaming
Ne Zha Ending Explained: How The Major Deaths Set Up Ne Zha 2?
When Is Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black: Season 2 Releasing?
Monkey D. LuffyOne Piece
