More than a thousand episodes, a hundred volumes in bookstores, twenty-six films and now a series… For 26 years, the One Piece wave has been sweeping the world and continues to make new fans. From a generation of manga born in the wake of Dragon Ball in the late 90s, this fantastic odyssey of a young pirate in a straw hat has survived all the other sagas that appeared at the same time. While its main competitors, Bleach and Naruto, ended in 2016, One Piece continues its epic.
In fan circles, we even predict three or four more years of life for the saga. And for good reason, One Piece never ceases to delight its readers. According to its publisher, Glénat, a volume of Luffy’s adventures is sold every 1.5 seconds. In France, one out of 8 manga volumes sold is labeled One Piece. The saga is now adapted as a series on Netflix. The first two episodes, posted online on the platform on Thursday, have already won over the saga’s thousands of fans. In addition to an audience already won over to the cause of piracy, the series could bring a new audience – less familiar with Japanese comics – to discover the adventures of the pirate. Because the formula of One Piece, seems to adapt to all audiences and all times.
The adventure started in 1997 in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. In Japan, most successful sagas are first pre-published in this press title aimed at young teenagers, with one chapter per week. A springboard for the production of Japanese comics, then collected in a book, then declined in animation if the success is there. Failed three times by the prestigious magazine, the adventures of the pirate Luffy are finally accepted and published. Success is immediate.
The adventure begins with the death of the pirate king, Gold Roger. Caught up by the navy, whose main goal is to track down these delinquents of the seas, the man is executed in the public square. Before the final blow is dealt to him, the pirate invites the crowd to find his treasure, which he has hidden somewhere, in a secret place. After this last speech, thousands of young sailors set sail in the hope of getting their hands on the precious treasure. Among them, Monkey D. Luffy. The “straw hat”, nickname given to him because of his headgear, will gradually gather a crew before traveling the world, from island to island.
This 20th century odyssey revolves, like most shonens (manga intended for an audience of young men) around three cardinal values: friendship, effort, victory. One Piece is no exception to the rule. Very quickly, the title is a hit. Readers of Weekly Shonen Jump rank it number 1 weekly in the magazine’s titles. Sales of the first volumes took off in Japan. “At the time, the country was mired in a major economic crisis linked to the speculative real estate bubble which had just exploded, recalls Matthieu Pinon, author of History (s) of modern manga (Ynnis editions). Young people, who only know the recession and feel they have no future, are touched by these dunce characters who want to conquer the world.
Like his alter ego Naruto – character who gives his name to another successful saga of the 90s -, Luffy is a young marginal. Neither heir nor genius, the boy is driven only by his work and his thirst for freedom. “Many Japanese teenagers find themselves in this desire for independence, observes Matthieu Pinon. The author makes the young people of his time dream. The two characters, intrepid, blow a new wind on Japan. “The values of the work may seem naive, but they showed an entire generation of young people that anything was possible,” said the Youtuber duo Mont Corvo, whose channel is entirely dedicated to the saga.
Both manga are inspired by great mythologies. Naruto, whose universe is set in a world of Ninjas, is inspired by Japanese legends. The work is a success of esteem especially in Europe, because this universe appears more exotic. One Piece sees bigger. Its story is inspired by mythologies from around the world. From the deserts of Arabia to the forests of the Amazon via a haunted castle inspired by Tim Burton, pirates cross all lands. “The plot draws from a lot of cultures. The different islands through which Luffy’s crew passes are inspired by European, African, American landscapes…”, explains Mont Corvo. The manga manages to renew itself without tiring.
Abundant, the work offers a rich gallery of characters with whom it is always possible to identify. The crew has about ten members including a young navigator, a coward who will have his moments of glory and even a Frenchman, Sanji, the band’s seducer and cook. “At the end of the day, whoever you are, you can find yourself in One Piece,” says Mount Corvo.
Over the years, the manga drains entire generations of readers. According to the most hardened fans, the work offers several levels of reading and is not intended only for teenagers. “If we pay close attention to the plots, we realize that the author takes a position on several social issues such as racism or the dangers of industrialization”, explains Hervé of the YouTube channel “One Piece Passion”. The videographer, who celebrated his 46th birthday this year, introduced the work to his 9-year-old son. “You can compare the manga to the works of Pixar studios, which manage to address both parents and children,” he says.
A true phenomenon, One Piece has risen to the rank of the best-selling manga of all time. Its author, Eiichiro Oda, had not anticipated its success. To satisfy his publishers, he adds narrative arcs to a plot of which he already knows the end. “What is impressive is that the universe is enriched in a coherent way and the author manages to renew himself without losing sight of his red thread”, thinks Matthieu Pinon. Despite an intense publication rate – 19 boards per week – the author manages to stay one step ahead of his readers. “Oda uses Chekhov’s rifle method,” explains Hervé. He introduces a new element into his story and gives it meaning long after. With that, we have the impression that everything is coherent, that he has a perfect mastery of his universe.
The work may well be the last of its time. With such longevity, One Piece could end after manga born from the generation after its own. “This manga is a dinosaur, it is no longer of its time!” Judge Mont Corvo. In question, the insane publication rate. Like many cartoonists, Eiichiro Oda has devoted his entire life to his work. Even if it means not really living anymore. “The end of One Piece will surely mark the end of the sagas-rivers, which we stretch to the point of disgust, believes Matthieu Pinon. The new generation of authors increasingly refuses these work rates to enjoy life more.”
The manga marks the end of an era but paradoxically, it also begins a new era. One Piece has seen the birth of different streaming platforms specializing in the distribution of manga around the world. So much so that the works, which have met with success well beyond Japan and largely contributed to Japanese soft power, are today written for an international audience. “Today, most of the works continue to come from Japan but some, more recent ones, are successful especially in Europe and the United States,” estimate Mont Corvo. There is a desire on the part of publishing houses to attract a foreign audience with a lot of marketing, events in Paris and elsewhere, goodies… In fact, the manga industry is “Americanizing” to please the whole world.” One Piece, whose success arrived almost by accident, will remain the privileged witness of this era when mangas were the prerogative of the Japanese.
