Before they became what you know them as, the Straw Hat crew was designed differently! What was Oda’s original plan for them? Check out the full review in the following article!
1. Zoro was originally planned to be part of Buggy’s crew!
onepiece.fandom.comZoro’s initial design was revealed in One Piece volume 3. There Oda revealed that Zoro was originally intended to be part of Buggy’s crew!
Zoro’s position in Buggy’s crew is also explained, namely as bodyguard Buggy. Not only that, Buggy’s group was also originally designed as a family group with Zoro given the role of an older brother.
What would it be like if Zoro really was part of Buggy’s crew? Would he still join Luffy?
2. Sanji was originally named Naruto!
Sanji in One Piece. (Doc. Toei Animation/One Piece)One Piece Green: Secret Pieces revealed that Sanji originally wanted to be named Naruto, similar to the main character of the anime next door!
In fact, this name actually still has traces in Sanji. See Sanji’s spiral eyebrows? Naruto in ramen is identical to the spiral shape.
However, due to Naruto was published before Sanji appeared in the manga One Piecefinally Oda decided to change Naruto’s name to Sanji.
In addition to that in One Piece Color Walk 1, Oda revealed that Sanji was originally armed with a gun and not a bare-knuckle (or bare-knuckle) fighter. Not quite the Sanji we know, right?
I’m curious too. If Sanji remains Naruto, will his family name remain Niji, Yonji, Ichiji, or will it be topping ramen?
3. Usopp originally wanted to be made vice-captain!
duniaku.com/Fahrul Razi Uni NurullahIn One Piece Green: Secret Pieces Usopp’s initial design was also shown by Oda along with the rest of the Straw Hat crew.
Usopp there has a short nose so that he looks more like his father, Yasopp. Not only that, outside of his position as a sniper, it turns out that Usopp is also intended to be a vice captain!
However, as we know, no one has officially occupied the position of vice-captain in the Straw Hat crew.
So, this position is still possible for Usopp to occupy!
4. Nami originally had robotic arms and was armed with an axe!
onepiece.fandom.comStill from One Piece Green: Secret PiecesNami’s initial design was shown fighting with an axe.
Not only that, One Piece Color Walk 1 also shows that not only the axe, Nami also has a mechanical left arm that she uses to lift her large axe.
This Nami design was apparently later used by Oda for the character Gerd, the ship’s doctor of the New Giant Knights. Except that Gerd is a giant and doesn’t have a prosthetic arm!
5. Vivi didn’t have an important role at first!
funimation.com/One PieceSandman from Arlong Park managed to translate an interview with Oda that stated that Vivi wasn’t originally planned to be a Princess!
In fact, Vivi was originally going to be defeated by the Straw Hats and left at Whiskey Peak. In other words, Vivi’s role was not originally planned to be this big!
Imagine if arc Alabasta doesn’t have Vivi, what do you think?
6. Jinbe was originally planned to be an evil antagonist!
onepiece.fandom.comAccording to the Library of Ohara, Jinbe was originally planned to be one of the enemy characters considering his role as a Shichibukai. In addition, he was the one who released Arlong to the East Blue!
So, Johnny’s warning in chapter 60 to the Straw Hats about Jinbe might have been a hint of a new enemy someday.
Even so, in the end Jinbe became Luffy’s partner who even joined Luffy recently in Totto Land until finally gathering with the entire Straw Hat crew in Wano!
Jinbe is also the only one Shichibukai original who was never Luffy’s enemy. Jinbe immediately helped since Impel Down. Even if they had a conflict, the conflict was more between colleagues rather than enemies.
Of course, the decision to make Jinbe a friend can be said to be very appropriate, right?
7. Chopper used to be more “mature” and not cute!
onepiece.fandom.comAs can be seen in the picture, Chopper was originally designed to resemble a reindeer man rather than a mink like he does now.
Design in One Piece Green: Secret Pieces It also shows Chopper smoking and having zebra stripes when angry. Totally unlike the cute and health-conscious Chopper, right?
Maybe if the design remained like this, Chopper wouldn’t be a mascot. One Piece!
That’s the original plan for the Straw Hats, different from the final design! Which one do you think is the coolest? Leave your feedback in the comments below!
First published August 5, 2021, reissued August 4, 2024.
