Since its debut in 1997, One Piece has become a global sensation, with the series’ cheerful and determined main character, Monkey D. Luffy, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. However, creator Eiichiro Oda initially worried that Luffy might not be the most beloved character, fearing that some of the fan-favorite supporting characters could eclipse him.
In many Shonen series, it’s not uncommon for side characters to gain significant popularity, sometimes even more than the protagonist. This was a concern for Oda early on in the series, as he believed characters like Red-Haired Shanks and swordsman Roronoa Zoro could overshadow Luffy. While both Shanks and Zoro remain among the most beloved figures in the series, Luffy’s appeal has proven to be unmatched.
In 1998, Oda addressed these concerns in a Weekly Shonen Jump comment, where he expressed his relief at Luffy’s ongoing popularity. “Those who participated in the ‘Character Popularity Vote,’ thank you very much,” Oda wrote. “I’m really happy that Luffy came in first. I was worried that Zoro or Shanks might overtake him.”
This comment resurfaced recently after a prominent One Piece leaker shared Oda’s thoughts on social media, causing it to go viral. “Oda loves Luffy so much that he was worried at the start of One Piece that people might actually vote for Shanks or Zoro as their favorite instead, but to his relief, everyone ended up loving Luffy.”
Luffy has not only become one of the most beloved characters in One Piece but also one of the most recognizable protagonists in anime. Since the manga’s inception, Luffy has consistently taken the top spot in every official One Piece popularity poll, as noted by the One Piece fandom website. Fans have embraced Luffy as the face of the series, with one fan writing, “Luffy is the face of One Piece. Even people who don’t watch the show know him. If Zoro or Shanks were the main character, it wouldn’t have worked the same way. Luffy is just built different.”
Another fan added, “For over 20 years, Luffy has never lost the number one spot in popularity polls. It’s impressive. He might be the only Shonen Jump character to hold that record.”
A third fan echoed this sentiment, remarking, “Oda knows that if Luffy isn’t one of your favorite characters, you don’t really love One Piece like that.”
Despite the ongoing hiatus for the One Piece anime, Luffy’s legacy remains strong, with fans eagerly awaiting his return. For more about the series, check out details on the Red Hair Pirates and rankings of the strongest Straw Hat members.
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