The view of justice in One Piece changes from character to character. We might know what’s morally right, but characters like Akainu or Doflamingo have blinded themselves to their definition of justice. Eiichiro Oda, however, has made the core theme of One Piece very clear.
One Piece’s core has always been freedom and liberation. Monkey D. Luffy has never once talked about wanting to be a hero. He even explicitly states he isn’t one and has selfish motives. His only wish is for adventure.
Attack on Titan’s ending left the anime community incredibly disappointed by how it handled these themes. Because of this, some believe One Piece will have a similar morally ambiguous ending. Eiichiro Oda, however, handles freedom differently.
One Piece and Attack on Titan are very distinct series and won’t have similar endings
Luffy isn’t a hero in One Piece but he’s certainly not an anti-hero like Eren Yeager. He might fit the hero archetype but not once has he been driven by selfless motives. While he has made some reckless sacrifices, it has never been for the good of humanity.
The only reason Luffy acts against any cruelty is because he just feels like it. He isn’t obligated to nor is he a soldier. Eren Yeager, however, sacrificed everything and believed he had to commit atrocities to free everyone. Luffy would probably laugh at this.
The anime community, however, believes since One Piece and Attack on Titan tackle the idea of freedom, Eiichiro Oda might write an ending in a morally ambiguous way as Hajime Isayama did.
this quote is why I think one piece will have a very morally ambiguous ending similar to AOT https://t.co/yjGPm76mrO
— Geo (@Geo_AW) February 26, 2025
However, many fans vehemently disagree.
AoTs ending was NOT morally ambiguous😭
Word tho— FNJay🍇☀️ (@FinestNiggyJay) February 26, 2025
Definitely not.
OP has taken Narutos route.
When MC defeats the big bad Im(mysterious Kaguya type figure). Everyone will settle down to a nice big party lyk the end of punk hazard.
Sure marine will keep chasing pirates & we will get Luffy vs Koby one final time but that’s it.— Harbinger (@Fatui4ever) February 26, 2025
That’s the opposite of the theme though. His relativism is meant to be a cover for his reprehensible behavior and enslavement of the people. This is “justice” to him, just like Akainu’s justice made Ohara.
The point is that there are morally good things to oppose this.— Ben (@DrPloxo) February 26, 2025
One piece is, on a big picture scale, a fight over who gets to decide history. Luffy and his friends have time and again stood for truth and defiance against those who would write history for their own ends. It wouldn’t be satisfying to have an ending where the truth isn’t free.
— Tall Appreciator (@droboform) February 27, 2025
Doflamingo’s quote has more to do with who gets to write history, something the World Government is actively manipulating. The Final War will certainly be a fight against who gets to rewrite it.
No, One Piece will not end tragically
Another core theme in One Piece we haven’t touched upon is dreams. The Straw Hat Pirates all have their dreams they and the fans want to see come true.
As Dr. Hiriluk says, people only die when they are forgotten. Their dreams live on in the people who remember and share them. Even a villain as terrible as Blackbeard states that people might die but their dreams don’t.
So while Attack on Titan has always taken a more pessimistic route to freedom, One Piece is a beacon of hope. Eiichiro Oda won’t end the show without fulfilling their dreams. It’s up to the fans to respect and live with whatever ending the mangaka decides is right.
One Piece and Attack on Titan are available on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
