[Research] One Piece — The usual conflict
In this piece of academic anime research we are going to talk about the usual conflict that exists in the One Piece verse. In order to become more specific regarding the word “conflict”, what we are going to talk about is the fact that for some fans this particular anime is considered the best out there — while for some others one of the best out there.
Getting straight to the main point of our discussion, we must first point out the fact that the issue we are going to point out is based on each one’s very perception of manga and anime — so by pointing out this we shall hopefully avoid any kind of any possible misunderstanding. By taking a good look at this anime we would be lying if we were to say that this is not a good anime. The hell it is. Of course it is. However, regading the judging of an anime we must say that only those who are tactical readers and viewers and thus being able to dive deep into the depths of anime can truly form an honest opinion about it. Elevating further on this we shall say that when getting into the circle of pointing out the cons and pros of an anime, we can safely say that we may not like a particular anime but not that this particular anime is not good or/and has failed. This is for sure the wrong attitude to go with.
In order to be able to pass judgement on an anime (in the good sense always!) this has to be done with the right and realistic way always. In order to be fair, we shall focus on the following things:
- What the anime/manga we are watching/reading represents.
- What messages wants to transfer based on it’s element of representation.
- How each character preserves his/her role and how it unfolds together with the general plot inside it.
- Its’ graphics (especially for its’ animated version — anime) thus respectively its’ drawing/layout for the manga version.
- If the appropriate attention is being passed on to all of its characters (not just the protagonists and/or its’ antagonists)
The above things and some others further (which probably will be mentioned in another article) constitute the points which we must take into consideration and see what is happening with the conflict that exists regarding this widely known anime.
[ Οne Piece ]
Let’s first take a look at wikipedia and in the next start to analyze it..
[ One Piece (Japanese: ワンピース ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 19, 1997, with the chapters collected into eighty-four tankōbon volumes to date. One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a young man whose body gained the properties of rubber after unintentionally eating a Devil Fruit. With his crew of pirates, named the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy explores the Grand Line in search of the world’s ultimate treasure known as «One Piece» in order to become the next King of the Pirates. ]
In the above excerpt we can see regarding its plot and we are getting informed about its main character, the notorious Monkey D. Luffy! The main goal of this anime is for “one piece” to be found. Of course nobody knows what this “one piece” is, however many fans have expressed assumptions which are based on their observance on the anime’s story and on its’ plot’s general unfolding. Its story has to do with pirates who cross the whole world in their quest of finding one piece. What we can conclude from the above statement is that this anime is full of adventure and general action. It demonstrates with the great success the bonds that are being developed through friendship, how a team should be working/cooperating, why each character possesses a unique ability and why each character regardless the quest of one piece, hasa personal goal that which wants to fulfill. By taking these things into consideration we can say that we are talking about a very unique anime which is being included in the top ones.
Let’s see now in Wikipedia something else interesting..
[ One Piece has received praise for its art, characterization and humor. Several volumes of the manga have broken publishing records, including the highest initial print run of any book in Japan. The official website for Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga announced that the manga has set a Guinness World Record for «the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author». As of November 2016, the manga has sold 406 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling manga series in history. ]
The remarkable thing we see here in the honor that has been awarded with for its very good drawing, its characters and its’ humor too. We also see something else important: The fact that is has sold the most copies as an anime which has been created fully by one person, the well known Eiichiro Oda, rendering it as the best in the sales. In order to say the truth — That is truly remarkable.
But what happens with the conflict that is arising around it? Lets see it.
[ The fans who define it as the best anime..]
By being someone who is curious to search and watching anime all the time, even those who are not “moving” my interest to watch them, i would like to point out the following phenomenon: The biggest one piece fans, if they get asked of should some discuss with them, at the highest rate — these people entered the animeverse by starting to watch what else? One Piece! It was their first anime. For example, i started with another giant, the well known bleach.
So what’s the deal here? Why are we mentioning such a thing?
Its perfectly simple. I made bleach my favourite anime! By extension the same exact thing happened with these big one piece fans! Regardless my very first belief with bleach being the best, i of course no longer consider it the best one and not because it is not good but because when somebody enters the anime society will slowly start understanding that each anime/manga is different, each one has its own uniqueness. What is interesting in this point — and thus the phenomenon here is that the majority of fans who consider one piece as the best anime started with this and despite having watched more on the next — they kept it as their favourite. But we cannot judge them. It is their personal perception which produces this opinion and if they have determined that they liked it above all others then it is okay.
[ One Piece — One of the best.. ]
Speaking now from my own point of view, all i can say is that One Piece is indeed one of the best anime out there however that does not make it the best. We can say that it very naive to define it as the best while there are other anime which can easily surpass it. Of course like we said this fact stays always in the perception of each viewer/reader. If someone asks many people he/she will see that each one will express a different opinion regarding this claim. And of course they will.
[ Drawing/ART ]
One thing we must question ourselves by looking at its art is the following: Does the drawing differs from mangaka to mangaka? The answer on 95% possibility is none other than yes! Nobody can draw with the same way another can draw. Each one develops his own style. In this point even though i believe to be common sense we must point out something important on the drawing matter.
[NOTICE!] Please note that the first two of above images are being found on Mangafreak.net. Whatever copy/paste you might wish to do must always be followed by the source that these images are being on.
In order to rate a drawing and say it is good — this must be happening when we are taking a look at a drawing(whether it is the drawing of a mangaka or a wannabe) we can easily recognize the character/s that we are seeing. Regarding one piece’s art if you ask me and if we want to be realists, i am going to say that it is not necessary to be regarded as one of the best. It is true that it is very good (carrying its’ own style) , but being honoured as one of the best, well that is another thing. A different thing. This judgment of course does not aim on a negative side having as a goal to downgrade or put a bad mark on one piece. We have to mention once more that as an anime is being included on the list of the best ones — and is always recommended. This academic research on one peice targets only the analyzation of the conflict regarding it and nothing less and nothing more.
We must also mention one important fact too — that in order for somebody to have the full “image” on an anime must also have read the manga too. This is very important and without it you are lacking basic and very core things about the elements that an anime is being built on.
[ Regarding the epilogue.. ]
What we discussed and “touched” on this write-up were done with the goal to see an anime in which a lot controversy thus conflict has been arisen when of course things are relative enough. But not all. Taking into consideration what things must a reader see before starts to point out the cons and pros of an anime is a start in order to know at first where he/she stands. In other words from where to begin. The basic conclusion and the deep message that this write-up wants to state is that the fanatic reader under no circumstances should take into consideration and by extension judge an anime based on how famous or how much it has be spreaded — but the very first thing that should do is to start reading the manga version of it. Then he/she will be able to form an opinion but always based on the most possible realism. Finally if we expand the analysis of an anime and include in it the discrimination of anime based on their genre then as we understand the conflict with this anime will become even more complicated.
