Summary

• One Piece boasts an incredible cast of characters with deep backstories, unique abilities, and enduring friendships.
• Eichiro Oda's character design shines through wacky, interesting characters with beautiful stories and signature traits.
• Characters like Akainu, Boa Hancock, and Sanji evolve over time, becoming multi-layered, intriguing figures in the series.

One Piece is widely regarded as having one of the best cast of characters in all of anime. The blend of humor, tragedy, and triumph in their journeys, alongside their unique abilities and bonds of friendship, makes them relatable and unforgettable.

Eichiro Oda has solidified himself as an incredible character designer, creating some of the wackiest and most interesting characters. Giving them a beautiful story, unique laughing styles, and signature tropes, One Piece boasts memorable characters in every sense of the word.

One Piece has won multiple awards, including the Tokyo Anime Award (2002) and the Crunchyroll Anime Awards (2024).

15 Akainu Is the Cruel Hand of Justice

Debuts in Chapter #397

Sakazuki "Akainu" is one of the best fighters in the world, and received the highest praise from Eichiro Oda, saying that the series would be very short if he was the main character. As the current Fleet iral of the Navy, Akainu serves as one of Luffy's final and most dangerous antagonists, and their showdown will be one for the ages given their history with each other.

Although Akainu hasn't been a central character since the time skip, his role is surely becoming bigger, and with the secrets of the world being exposed, Akainu is finally back in action. Akainu is a very peculiar character, as he is a keeper of justice, but his ruthless methods and disregard for collateral damage raise questions about the morality of his actions.

14 Hancock Is One Piece's Favorite Heroine

Debuts in Chapter #516

Boa Hancock, also known as the Snake Empress, is one of One Piece's strongest female characters and Luffy's potential love interest, although it is one-sided. She was strong enough for even an Emperor to be wary of her, and she is one of the few characters to possess the Conqueror's Haki. Despite her initial arrogance and disdain for others, rooted in her traumatic past as a slave of the Celestial Dragons, Boa Hancock still powers on and protects her people from suffering a similar fate.

She was strong enough for even an Emperor to be wary of her

Her leadership of Amazon Lily, her ability to balance her fierce warrior nature with moments of vulnerability, and her evolving relationship with Luffy showcase her depth and growth. Her tragic backstory, coupled with her formidable presence and evolving character, makes Boa Hancock one of the most intriguing and beloved figures in the series.

13 Sanji's Backstory Made Him As Layered As His Best Dishes

Introduced In Chapter #43

The Baratie is arguably one of the best arcs during One Piece's East Blue saga, and it's an emotional introduction to the fourth Straw Hat member and cook extraordinaire, Sanji. His bond with the legendary former pirate Red-Leg Zeff and his band of headstrong chefs created a compelling debut for the character who'd grow into one of One Piece's strongest characters and wing of the future King of the Pirates. Still, after the series time-skip, the Whole Cake Island arc helped Sanji's character graduate from a good character to a fantastically multi-layered character.

Receiving the entire backstory of Sanji's tragic childhood provided a lot more insight into his behavior toward women and how it stems from a deep-rooted lack of self-worth. It was tough for fans to keep their eyes dry when he and Luffy had their disagreement and reconciliation in chapter #856. Sanji's incredible strength and complex character building help make him one of One Piece's best characters, and by the series end, he may fly even higher.

12 Buggy Is More than Just Comic Relief

Debuts in Chapter #9

In a series full of the most hilarious characters, such as Luffy and Brook, Buggy The Clown asserts himself as one of the funniest, if not the funniest. He's also one of the earliest characters and villains, introduced back in the Orange Town arc. Although he invokes smiles and laughs every time he's on the screen, he is very significant to the story.

He was in Gol D. Roger's crew, is a "friend" of Shanks, and is currently one of the Four Emperors, making him one of the series' most important and feared characters. Through sheer luck, charisma, and cunningness, Buggy evolved from a comedic villain and a small-time pirate to one of the most powerful, highlighting just how One Piece can get.

11 Usopp Is The Most Relatable Character In A Sea Of Super-Powered Pirates

Debuted In Chapter #23

Among the incredible Straw Hat Crew, Usopp is often overlooked by fans, even though he's played a vital role in several of the series' most perilous arcs and faired exceptionally well in one of One Piece's best fights. The world that Eiichiro Oda has been crafting for over twenty-six years is filled with super-powered fighters capable of destroying cities and much worse. Usopp, who has no super-strength or Devil Fruit Powers of his own, is an easy-to-relate character who helps ground the audience to the chaotic action that populates the story.

While Usopp doesn't wield considerable strength, he's proven incredibly helpful with his brilliant use of tools and weapons and his world-class Observation Haki skills, which have developed throughout the series. His character proves that even the cowardly can rise to the occasion to help save the day, even if it is sometimes not done intentionally.

10 Vivi Is the Sweetheart Princess of One Piece

Debuts in Chapter #102

Nefertari Vivi is the embodiment of duty, sacrifice, and courage, infiltrating the dangerous Baroque Works in order to save her kingdom. She journeyed with Luffy, and although not an official member yet, she is a favorite to the Straw Hat Pirates. She is also more relatable, bringing normalcy to a crew of diverse and absurdly powerful characters.

Vivi's transformation from a struggling princess to a determined leader showcases her personal growth and resilience, and her emotional depth, marked by sacrifice and loyalty, resonates with audiences. Although Alabasta is in the clear for now, Vivi is still fighting against the oppressive World Government and The Five Elders, and her path will definitely lead her to meet Luffy and the Straw Hats once again.

9 Dracule Mihawk Showed Fans How Big The World Was

Debuts in Chapter #49

Luffy's goal of becoming King of the Pirates is physically manifested as the task of finding the One Piece, but Zoro's dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman didn't have a clear endpoint until Mihawk made a grand entrance in the Baratie arc. The design of his character and ship exudes competence, and the sharpness of his dialogue is matched by the giant blade on his back.

Mihawk's demonstration of strength against the Kreig Pirates and the naive Zoro showed the young Straw Hats and the audience what level of strength Luffy and his crew would eventually need to reach to rank among the world's best. It would be some time before One Piece would again show someone of Mihawk's level, but he's undoubtedly not done showing off the title of the current greatest swordsman in One Piece's world.

8 Blackbeard Is The Dark Version Of Luffy's Progress

Debuts In Chapter #223

Ever since Marshall D. Teach was introduced, he'd established himself as the opposite of Luffy, and ever since then, his character's journey and progress have evolved at a similar pace as the Straw Hat Captain. Being a surprisingly knowledgeable student of One Piece's histories, Blackbeard has consistently been the wrong person at the right place to trigger some of the storyline's largest world-shifting events.

The leader of the Blackbeard Pirates has proved more than capable of waiting years for the right time to strike, which is how he acquired the mighty Dark-Dark Fruit that gives him a range of intimidating powers, including the ability to negate other Devil Fruit powers. Several lingering mysteries with his character will surely be unraveled in One Piece's final saga, where he plans to become the next King of the World unless Luffy has something to say about that.

7 Shanks Is the Series' Most Badass Character

Debuts in Chapter #1

Red Hair Shanks is one of the Four Emperors of the Sea and one of the coolest characters in the series. He consistently places high in the popularity rankings despite having barely any screentime, and his fanbase grew even stronger when he solidified himself as one of the best during the Marineford War arc. He is one of the best Haki s and among the strongest non-Devil Fruit s in the series, and highly respected and feared by even the most powerful.

With One Piece nearing its end, Shanks is finally taking up a more important role, as highlighted by his fight with Kid, and declaring his intent to finally search for the great treasure. The full extent of his power is yet to be displayed, and it is very possible that Shanks will have one of the most anticipated fights soon, as hinted at by Eichiro Oda. What makes Shanks such a great character is his huge impact on the story and Luffy, despite not having that much screen time.

6 Ace Is Luffy's Fiery, Tragic Brother

Debuts in Chapter #154

Fire Fist Ace is almost a mirror of his younger brother Luffy, and the two's bond is unbreakable even if they aren't blood-related. The way he wholeheartedly believes in his brother's dream, even before Luffy was strong, makes him an exemplary sibling and fans can only respect him for that. His tragic death during the Marineford War while protecting Luffy is a pivotal and emotional moment in the series, highlighting his bravery and cementing his legacy as a hero in the One Piece world.

The son of the former Pirate King, Ace is characterized by his love for his love. Whether it is Garp, Sabo, Luffy, or the man he loves with all his life, Whitebeard, his dedication to the people he holds close is honorable. Furthermore, his motto of living life as freely as possible and with no regrets makes him one of the series' best pirates, and overall characters.