Eiichiro Oda’s female characters in One Piece come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes defying conventional standards entirely. While most of them are drawn with exaggerated model-like proportions, there are some that have ridiculous forms. Yet, regardless of appearance, Oda’s female characters also carry strength, whether through physical power, combat intelligence, or just sheer will.
Unlike other popular shonen anime where female characters are sidelined or reduced to mere romantic partners, One Piece places them at the center of the action. The likes of Nami, Robin, Boa Hancock, and even Big Mom break the mold as strong women worthy of respect. The way these characters shape One Piece with their strength has probably made Oda happier than anyone else. After all, he deliberately wanted his female characters to be strong.
The Strong Women of One Piece
From Nami and Robin to Big Mom
- One Piece is never lacking in strong female characters.
One Piece is full of strong male characters, but it also has its fair share of highly capable female characters. These women are not just pretty faces, as they carry strength and power, each leaving a lasting impact on the story. Sometimes, these female characters even hold power far superior to the opposite sex, proving that gender has nothing to do with strength, authority, and influence in the world of One Piece.
Nami can give anyone a run for their money, as she has successfully defeated quite a lot of powerful opponents in the story. Her strength is not just about combat prowess but also her intelligence and resourcefulness. Robin is also an indispensable member of the Straw Hat Pirates, serving as their archaeologist. She even defeated a Tobi Roppo with her power, making her a formidable fighter.
Boa Hancock, on the other hand, is feared for her immense strength and devil fruit powers. She is also a warlord and has a commanding presence over Amazon Lily. On top of that, she can even use all three types of Haki, making her a difficult opponent in battle. Then there’s Big Mom, who is infamous for her unbelievable strength that could leave even the strongest pirates trembling.
Eiichiro Oda Created Strong Female Characters Who Can Fight
Why Oda Dislikes Damsels in Distress
- Eiichiro Oda explains the truth behind his strong female characters.
- Eiichiro Oda dislikes heroines who can’t fight for themselves.
One Piece would not be complete without its strong women. They have made the story more enjoyable with their unique personalities, big responsibilities, special abilities, and terrifying strengths. While fans are still divided when it comes to the role of these female characters, Eiichiro Oda spoke about the truth behind the many strong women of One Piece in an interview he did with The New York Times while promoting the Netflix live-action series in America.
Here’s what Eiichiro Oda had to say:
In the manga I read as a kid, there was always a point where the heroine existed just to be rescued. That didn’t sit well with me; I didn’t want to create a story about women being kidnapped and saved. I depict women who know how to fight for themselves and don’t need to be saved. If a moment comes where they’re overpowered, their shipmates will help them out, and vice versa.
-Eiichiro Oda
True enough, Eiichiro Oda rejected outdated tropes when it comes to his female characters. He was tired of helpless heroines who do nothing but wait around for their saviors, so he ensured that the women of One Piece would not experience the same suffering and become passive. Instead, he replaced these damsels in distress with independent and resourceful women who know how to fight for themselves and for their loved ones. It’s not that Oda hates the idea of female characters being rescued, but he refuses to accept heroines who just wait around for their knight in shining armor.
If you think I’m just another cute girl, you’re dead wrong!—Nami
For instance, Nami carried the sole responsibility of saving her village for a very long time, while Nico Robin saved Sanji from Black Maria in Wano when he called out to her. Nefertari Vivi even went to extreme lengths to protect her country. There are more female characters with the same story in One Piece, showing that Oda gives her heroines immense strength in different forms, whether through courage, sacrifice, or unwavering determination.
The Women of One Piece Is Getting a New Anime
One Piece Heroines Will Feature Female Characters
It’s the perfect time to be alive, as the women of One Piece will finally get the spotlight they deserve. They are set to star in the upcoming spin-off anime of One Piece, titled One Piece Heroines, as announced in the previously held One Piece Day. The upcoming anime is based on the novel of the same name written by none other than Jun Esaka.
One Piece Heroines is the perfect stage for the many strong women Eiichiro Oda created in his magnum opus. Each episode of the upcoming anime will most likely focus on a certain female character, from Nami to Luffy’s childhood friend, Uta, based on the novel. The official release date has not yet been announced.
Source: The New York Times
One Piece
- Release Date
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October 20, 1999
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
- Writers
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Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
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Mayumi Tanaka
Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
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Kazuya Nakai
Roronoa Zoro (voice)
