Why One Piece isn't bad? V

           Mina-san! Konnichiwa! This the the fifth and final post in the series "Why One Piece isn't bad?" With those three points of today I will have finished discussing most if not all of the complaints about One Piece. I tried to be reasonable in my justifications and defense, but I can't deny, afterall, I might be a bit biased. One Piece is my favorite anime and the Straw-hats feel like family, one might get emotional XD. Beware of the SPOILERS!!

1) Lame Fights!

            Most of those who dislike One Piece have complained about that. Luffy and his goofiness detract from the seriousness of the fight. Well, I recall I read an article some time ago, in which Oda was saying why he chose the Gomu-Gomu devil fruit for Luffy. I don't remember the exact text he said but what he meant was that he wanted the reader to be relaxed even during the intense fight scenes. A comical power like Luffy's would do the job. It can be strong and funny, all the same. So, I think that's why you think the fights are silly. It was done on purpose. Apparently, Oda didn't aim for the kind of experience you were expecting. He was aiming for a different one, which I, personally, found enjoyable. Also, it's not like all the fights in One Piece, always, have the comical atmosphere. They get serious when they need to. Besides, It's, always, interesting to see Luffy's newly developed techniques. I'm no expert in fight scenes, honestly but I don’t think that I liked the figt scnes in One Piece any less than those in other high rated Shounen-battle anime. I have a little confession though, Usopp's fight are sometimes very boring that I might skip them.

2) Unmemorable Soundtracks!

              There are anime that I’d make sure to get their OST discography after I watch them and other anime that I don't even notice that they had soundtrack playing in the back ground. As for me, One Piece is from the first type. Like any other point this one is arguable too. Generally speaking, I like the One Piece OST and I think it suits it. Memorable? Yes, many of them are to me, and they remind me of certain scene and arcs. Overtaken reminds me of the crew guys heading to Arlong Park, it reminds me of many other cool scenes. To the Grand Line! Reminds me, particularly, of the earlier episodes, before they cross the Grand Line. Fight continues reminds me of Shanks in the end of Marineford. Gold and Oden reminds me of Garp and Ace's moment in the execution platform and Garp's confession T_T. There are loads of other awesome tracks like Luffy's attack, Difficult, Angry, Three Towers, Mother Sea…etc. I'll talk about One Piece music in a separate post in the future.

 3) How come these are Pirates?!

              Pirates are bad people, they don't help others, and they kill and steal. That's right, but are there no such pirates in One Piece? There are, but the straw hats are not, white beard pirates for example are not, the red hairs are not, so it's not all right to call them pirates. Let's see! Why did Luffy start a pirate crew? It was his dream since his childhood to find One Piece and be the pirate king. So, he became a pirate because that's his mean to finding one piece, he didn't opt for piracy because he wanted to steal and kill. Zoro was a pirate hunter for the money and to develop his skills, and that's it. He thought that accompanying Luffy would help him find stronger foes and on top Mihawk, that's why he followed, again not for stealing or killing. That's the case for the rest maybe except for Nami, initially. They didn't become pirates because of what comes with it. They became so because it was their only mean to get what they want.  Anyone who watches One Piece, even till before the time skip, should know that there's something fishy about the world government.  So, opposing the government is not necessarily a bad thing. If they call themselves the authority, and opposing them is a crime. Then the straw hats are criminals. So, it’s not completely unreasonable to call them pirates.

Breaking into governmental premises, assisting in the escape of wanted figures and declaring war on the government, I guess that's one form of piracy! :D

              To sum up, I'm not saying that all the previous points are completely wrong, but it's not bad to be a little bit of an open mind and flexibility. It needs patience.

One piece is along running anime/manga If you watch let's say the first 2 sagas, and that's 135 episodes and then accuse it of being lacking in development, it would be like watching a 25-episode anime and judging it after 2 episodes. Long running anime take it slow, and are more detail oriented, if you have no patience for that, then why watch them in the first place?

This manga has been running for 15 years. I can’t help but compare it to another of my favorites "Hunter X Hunter", since they both started around the same time. One might say Hunter X Hunter is more interesting or it has less fillers or it's faster paced; but the only reason for that is because of the too many breaks. Hunter X Hunter has 340 chapter made when One Piece has 764 up this week, more than the double. You can't expect every single chapter to be packed with action. The manga is doing just fine by holding itself with no long breaks till today. One piece is a manga with a plot and main goal that gives it a sufficient space to become as long as it can get, while still providing the reader or the watcher with something interesting. I am saying that whole heartedly because I've seen anime that declined in quality, plot and lost their charm, like for example (personal opinion) Fairy tail. There are also manga that ended abruptly with manga plot holes to avoid that decline like Beelzebub. So I can be nothing but Grateful to One Piece and Eichiiro Oda. ^_^

Here's the link to all the 5 posts of the series : Why One Piece isn't bad? 

Why One Piece isn't bad? IV

              Konnichiwa! This the fourth post in the "Why One Piece isn't bad?" series. Today I'll be discussing two other points or complaints about One Piece, explaining why I thinks they are not justified. So, let's start!

1) Lack of character development!

               I don't think this is entirely true, or what was the forced disbanding in Sabaody Archipelago and Marineford for? It's true the characters's attitude is generally the same as when they made their debut, that's why I said that the claim is not "entirely" true. However, I never thought of One Piece characters as defected. I mean we have here nine main characters and there will probably be more, and each has his/her unique identitiy. They might share things but all in all they are different. Also, though many may differ with me on that, I like the female main characters in One Piece. It's very rare that I like the main female characters in anime. They are most definitely different from others. For instance, neither Nami nor Robin is in love with any of the crew members. So that's one annoying storyline in every Shonen anime that never comes to a conclusion (since Shounen is not about romance) gone. I read many times about people hating Nami because she's a coward and she hides behind the other male characters pushing them in the face of danger, but that's one thing I like about Nami. She knows her limit. She's not like other female characters who want to save everyone when they can't even save themselves and end up causing even more trouble. That doesn't mean Nami is a selfish person, she cares for her comrades, that's why she's always developing herself, and that's why she's doing her best in her job as a navigator and that's what Luffy had her join for, not for her strength or courage. Another character that's stated to have been downgraded is Sanji, because of the nosebleeds. Well, One Piece has been doing many silly things lately, and that's one of them. However, Sanji is a very cool character to begin with. Among the strongest three of the straw hats, he's the smartest, or the only smart one. I can't exactly say Luffy and Zoro are smart. His womanizer attitude is supposed to be his funny side, but it went overboard after the time skip, just like the fan service. As for villains, One Piece is not the best anime in that certain aspect, however, I find the world government an interesting villain. What's confusing in One Piece is that the marines might be the enemies of the pirates to which our main characters belong, but they are not villains, not all of them,  so why should I hate them? Anyway, single characters that I find as interesting villains in One Piece, I don't think there is; but there are the Yonko, the Shibukai, the world governments, the Cipher Pol…

The Straw-hats after the time skip.

The Straw-hats before the time skip.

It would have been fine  if not for the explicit fan service after the time skip;

another fail beside Sanji's nosebleeding! -_-  

               Bottom line, it might be true that the main character's attitude or traits barely changed along the series, but the thing is I don't see how or why the will. Changes happen for a reason and so far there was none that require a change in one's trait. Take Ace as an example, though he's not main character. His character most definitely developed from his offensive younger self we've seen in the flashback, and his friendly and caring older self in the current timeline. He was offensive for a reason and became a better person for a reason. As for the main characters I can't imagine a reason for them to change within the current timeline. The only development they needed was becoming stronger, in order to proceed, and they do when they find out the hard way, in Saboady, that they need to, but why else should they change? If we're talking about Usopp's cowardice, than that's one thing I believe he can't change, maybe unless he gets himself a devil fruit which would ruin his identity.  And again this is mainstream Shounen manga for you, I count only a few characters from all the anime I've watched that had some significant character development.

2) Too many filler!  …. What?! Come on! You can't be serious about that. Well, let's compare it with Bleach, one of the big 3, to prove how wrong this statement is, since I haven't watched Naruto, so I won't compare with it but I heard loads of complaints about the amounts of fillers in it. Bleach started in 2004 it had 366 episode among which 164 were fillers that's about 45% of it. Now One Piece started in 1999, it's still running with 665 episodes to the moment, among which 90 episodes are fillers, that's about 14%. Do you still think One Piece has too many fillers? (I like Bleach by the way, I'm not trying to offend it, just proving a point.)

If we're talking about canon arcs that has no significance to the plot, I'd say there's no such thing. All the cannon arcs however irrelevant they might seem had their significance. Actually, one thing I like about One Piece is that everything happens for a reason; but since One Piece is a very long running manga, the reason might turn out years after.

That's all for today. See you next post! ^_^

For the previous posts from the series check the links:
Why One Piece isn't bad?
Why One Piece isn't bad? II
Why One Piece isn't bad? III

Why One Piece isn't bad? III

          Min'na, Konbanwa! This my third "Why One Piece isn't bad?" post. Today I'll discuss three other points or complaints about One Piece. Beware, this post is full of SPOILERS!! If you haven't finished at least the Summit war saga in One Piece, then I suggest you don't read this. Now, let's move to today's three points:

Straw Hats Shot from the 13th Opening "One Day" T_T

1) Predictability? Let's see about that. You cannot expect a manga that has been going for over 15 years now, non-stop, and is supposed to continue for 10 more, to be entirely unpredictable. Also, you can't judge it to b predictable until you see the end of it. And come on! When it comes to surprises. One Piece had many, really unpredictable. I am not talking here about the outcome of a fight between Luffy, or Zorro and some other antagonist. It's naturally predictable they'd finally win, or there won't be one piece. That's the case with anything we watch, maybe except for Game of Thrones. I mean how come the fact that Luffy is a marines' vice admiral grandson is predictable, or that Ace is Gol D.Roger's son, or that Luffy is Dragon's son… or that I spoiled at myself most of these surprises -_- …never mind that. The point is One piece has a good deal of unpredictable surprises.

2) Nobody dies! … I thought of checking the date on which that reviews were written before judging the writers, which turned out to be this year. Well, seriously?! I am not going to talk much about that. Anyone who's actually watching one piece up to the latest arc, would know that this is false accusation, and anyone who watches Shounen anime knows that, generally speaking, no one dies! (Maybe except for shingeki no Kyojin). It's not like this is One Piece's problem, and its alone. That's of course on the assumption that no one dies in One Piece, which is again not true.  

3) The story is simple, or it lost its purpose… I don't know about that. If you mean because they stop by other islands and do stuff, of course you were not expecting them to head directly to One Piece without any obstacles or distractions. If that was the case then the story would have deserved to be called too simple. Actually, the story and the plot of One Piece is the best thing about it. One piece was good as to give you something to look forward to from the very beginning. That way you'll always have something to be curious about. Even if you are the biggest hater of one piece, but since you started watching it and knew about it, you'd care to know what One Piece was after all. Many anime are so good but they lack that ultimate purpose, they'd just depend on current events and temporary mysteries, which could become boring at some point, you'd find yourself purposeless while watching it and you'd stop. That's one thing. Now, if you go through One Piece you'd realize that the purpose might be much more complex than it initially seemed to be. We're not looking for some mysterious treasure and that's it. There's a much bigger story behind that, a story with too many mysteries that we keep coming across along the anime. So, if you ask me now, if the only thing I'm looking forward to is one piece. I'd say not. I'd like to know about the secret of the Will of D, the void century, how the world government came to be, the poneglyphs, the three ancient weapons. I'd like to know more about the revolutionaries and more of what they know. There's also that other goal of meeting Shanks once again. There are loads of interesting characters that I wish to know more about, characters I wish to witness their development, and characters I wish to see their end. I am currently watching the on-running Dressrosa arc, slow paced as it is, it alone has loads of mysteries that I am dying to see solved by the end of it. See? All these interesting topics and mysteries were aroused and discovered because of the obstacles they faced and the islands they stopped by. Also, crossing the grand line to One Piece is not hindered only by natural causes there are big forces other than the Marines, like the Yonko and the Shichibukai that you need to overcome or you'd never dream to go far. The world of One Piece is so interconnected and interesting. It always gives you something bigger to look forward to.

Some "If we knew back then..." moments! :D

That's all for today! See you next post! Ja ne! 

For the two previous posts from the series:

Why One Piece isn't bad? 

Why One Piece isn't bad? II

Why One Piece isn't bad? II

            As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm starting a series of posts about why One Piece isn't bad. In the series, I'll discuss the claimed negatives of One Piece. I'd like to notify before I start, that, by no means, I am offending anyone. I am just telling what I think.

One Piece art back in the old days ... I kind of miss it!

So, let's start with the one I cannot entirely defend: The Art!

         Even I can't deny that the art of One Piece is, well, a bit eccentric, but I think it suits the atmosphere in One Piece. In the first couple of episodes I had a hard time adjusting, but later on I got so used to it that I can't imagine it any other way. Now, I'd rather call it unique, and it's most ertainly not poor in quality. Also, it's not like One Piece is the only anime with weird art. I love Fullmetal Alchemist, but I thought the characters were too chubby and I didn't like that, did that make me dislike the anime any less? It might have discouraged me from watching it at first, just like with One Piece, but I didn't like it any less, for that, when I started watching it.

         So is it okay to think that the art of One Piece is too weird to watch? Well, yes, but I can't imagine someone not being curious to know why a manga with such art is so popular. And is it okay to hate One Piece because of the art, after I read the manga or watched the anime? Well, I personally think it’s not okay since Oda has more than made up for it with a brilliant plot.

Some Manga volume covers, manga and anime art samples

         To the second point, which I can partially debate, but not completely: One Piece defies logic.

I've read many complaints about One Piece not being logical sometimes, and that it doesn't obey laws of physics and such. Did I think One Piece was being illogical sometimes? Yes! Was it because it didn't obey the laws of physics? Absolutley not!

          If you’re expecting the anime you watch to be realistic, then don't go and watch a fantasy anime, and then complain that it's not realistic or illogical. First of all, the world of One Piece is made of 4 seas divided by the grand Line and Red line, does that sound like the planet Earth we live in, to you? Of course, not. Then why do you expect it to follow the rules that apply in the world we live in. Does it look like we have such a thing as devil fruits? Then why does it surprise you that the clouds in One piece are not condensed vapor but something massive with people living on it and to which Doflamingo can attach his strings and swing. I won't deny that I was annoyed by Sanji's nose bleeding in Fishman Island, and going as far as basing event on something so silly, and turning something that was supposed to be for gags into something serious, but this and that are completely different. Why? Because one piece resided to logic in that one. It’s not possible for someone to nose-bleed like that for such reasons, I'd let it pass if it's only for gags, but to make the nose bleeding actually life threatening and base events on that… I didn't like it, half doing things. There's also Sanji changing Duval's look by reforming his facial bone structure; that was another thing that I thought was stupid. I've just noticed both times it's about Sanji! :D No offense to Sanji, he's one of my favorite anime characters and one of the coolest ;and I have to admit I was disappointed at how the mystery of the Merry's repair in Skypea was solved, thought that has nothing to with it being unrealistic, it's just that I was expecting something more interesting. Anyway, I can't recall being provoked by the illogicality in anything else, the anime is a fantasy, in a world that's no ours. It can has its own rules, creatures and phenomena.

One Piece World Map!

Skypiea! <3 

Weatherea... another sky island!

Sanji's annoying nose bleed! -_-

Devil Fruit

                           This is what I think about these two particular points, that some think of as major negatives in One Piece. I'll be discussing other points in tomorrow's "Why One Piece isn't bad?" post. Mata ne! ^_^ 

Why One Piece isn't bad?

         This post is the product of too much free time and boredom. Don't be surprised at the fact that I spent a while writing this. I've nothing else to do. That's a fresh graduate's life for you; one that decided to take a break instead of getting a job.

         This was supposed to be a one-time post, or whatever you call it, but it turned out too long; that's why I decided to make it into a series of posts. I wouldn't like to test the patience of our dear fictional reader.

Excuse the old picture. I am just being very paranoid
 about manga spoilers, can't go deep in search. -_-

        

           Well, I've been checking One Piece reviews out of curiosity a while ago. I am up to episode 665, the latest one released, and I never read any before then. I decided to watch it when I did 2 years ago, because I knew it's very popular and because It had too many episodes and I like to watch long running anime. I knew about One piece much earlier than that but I resisted watching it for 2 reasons: the very same reason why I am watching it, too many episodes has already been made, and the art. Now, I am grateful to my curious self that got over the art and decided to watch the anime, for the art simply grew on me later on. Also, I would have missed a lot.

          However, what I am writing is not a one piece review. I review, only, finished shows, and if we take Oda's word for it, then see you after a decade! I am writing this after I read a good deal of reviews. Naturally, I didn't read the reviews that gave it 8+/10. For I have enough reasons to give it such rating. I noticed that the most common rating was a 10/10. A rating I wouldn't give if I'm being fair but one I'd give if I am being emotional. I've been, lately, in the habit of giving ratings based on how much I enjoyed and not how good a show really is. If I am being fair, up to the point I'd give it an 8/10, it has its faults. However, I postpone such decision to the end of the manga and anime, since the end is going to be the major factor, in my opinion.  Back to the point, I said this is not a review, so why am I writing this, because I noticed that one piece rarely got an average score by viewers, it either got very high ratings as by the majority, or a very low rating as of 3-/10 by a minority. Everyone is free to think of whatever they watch as they please. No one is forced to like anything, even if everyone says it's good. I, for instance, don't like Death Note at all, though everyone, literally, is hyped about it. I didn't think Cowboy Bebop was anything special, in spite of all the recommendations and good reviews. I couldn't even bring myself to complete Steins; Gate. This is not me saying those anime are bad, I know they are very popular. It just that we all have different views on things and different preferences. You can never find a single anime that everyone would say is good. One Piece is very popular. It has loads of fans and much fewer haters, but they hate it too much and that's what grabbed my attention. Maybe, they've been provoked by what they thought as exaggerated popularity, when they thought there was nothing special about it. I am familiar with the sensation, nothing provoked me like the extreme hype over Death Note when I thought it was actually boring, and when they decided to make some unpredictable twist to refresh, they brought on its doom, or that's what I thought.

          None the less, I was surprised by the fact that some people actually rated One Piece with a rating as low as 1/10. I wouldn't give a show however bad it is such a rating. I'd at least by sympathetic with all the effort that was made into it, especially if it had been there for over 15 years. I read the reviews to understand on what basis the reviewer gave it such rating. Well, again I emphasize on the fact that everyone has the right to think of whatever they want as ever they want; that's why I read some of the reviews calmly and with an open mind as much as possible. However, there were a few ones at which I couldn't hold myself from pressing the dislike button. I think it's very childish, but I thought that these were not some personal opinions. The things, based on which they gave the ratings were mostly a proof that they don't get One Piece. Let me clarify first, that I couldn't object to those who dislike the anime but like the manga. I didn’t read the manga so I don’t know about that, and besides that means that their objections are purely technical and I won't object to that. As for who disliked One Piece as an existence, I've got the main points they mentioned in mind and I'll prove that most of them are not true in this series of posts. So, await our daily "Why One Piece isn't bad?" post! ^_^