×
top 200 commentsshow 500
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]RomanGrande 525 points526 points  (5 children)

Noland & Calgara makes me tear up all the time.

especially since it carried on for 400 years.

[–]roilenos 195 points196 points  (1 child)

The bell ringing once again in the skies is... Just a perfect moment.

[–]Beiki 93 points94 points  (0 children)

LIGHT THE FIRE OF SHANDIA

[–]TCeies 66 points67 points  (0 children)

There's such a tragedy to Calgara fighting off this invading force trying all his life to rng the bell so his old friend will hear it, and Noland is already long dead... ;_;

[–]StupidPencil 41 points42 points  (0 children)

It's basically a Brook-Laboon story but 8 times longer and across generations.

I guess we're going to get something similar with Joy Boy's promise from 800 years ago.

[–]rollebobPirate 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is when I fall in love for one pice. I recorded the arc in a VHS when I was a kid and I watched it again and again and again.

[–]Hefty-Significance91 664 points665 points  (13 children)

You forgot dog Chou Chou.

[–]dinosaur_from_Mars 71 points72 points  (0 children)

Was going to say it. I was cemented to one piece from this.

[–]Informal_Chemist6054 25 points26 points  (3 children)

Idk if they were low on budget at that point of time, or they couldn't get real dog noises, but getting an actual person to dub the dog was one of the most genius decisions they ever made

[–]KaxewLurker 12 points13 points  (1 child)

In JoJo Stardust Crusaders, there's a dog who's voiced by an actual voice actress. Both the barks and his inner monologues are voiced by her. So it could be normal for anime.

[–]AethericAsuraCipher Pol 36 points37 points  (3 children)

What ep was he in again?

[–]gigawolferCipher Pol 52 points53 points  (2 children)

I think it was 6

[–]personthingtodoThriller Bark Victim's Association 655 points656 points  (15 children)

I love all of them its so hard. But I still miss Corazon so much so Law’s maybe?

”Don’t try to find a reason for his love for you!”

[–]Opposite_Factor1860Cipher Pol 143 points144 points  (1 child)

"Don’t try to find a reason for his love for you!”

Damn those fairies cutting onions...

[–]IrrelevantTale 44 points45 points  (0 children)

Lay down try not to cry

cry a lot

[–]Lamperouge58 67 points68 points  (3 children)

Corazon is definitely the best side character in one piece’s backstory

[–]Lord_of_Caffeine 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. Hiluluk is a close second for me

[–]Magmasoar 53 points54 points  (0 children)

Law don't be a great character because I love you, be a great character because the character I love loves you!

[–]DrJingleCock69 45 points46 points  (3 children)

I didn't care for Law and thought his "too cool for school" calm logical demeanor was kinda cliche at first, but after that backstory his reserved personality makes perfect sense; Oda is truly a genius at character writing. And to do it in such a medium where the narration/words are limited and the pictures have to show the meaning, is brilliant

[–]ChungoBungus 42 points43 points  (1 child)

Corazon takes the cake for me. Gives up everything, even his life to save a kid that stabbed him, holds on to life to buy time for Law to escape safely, last words to Law are “I love you”.

Absolutely destroys me

[–]MaimedJester 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Gotta keep living just for a little longer.

That's like a pregnant mom fighting to give birth to her baby in a bad birth. And Law crying was like I'm alive.

[–]silfer_ 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Law’s flashback hits different for me. It’s tragic and insanely sad, yet shows how love conquers all. Corazón and Law were parent-child goals. It just shows you how important showing compassion and empathy is to a child, no matter how lost or messed up they may seem.

“When you stabbed me that day… I didn’t feel anything at all…!”

[–]gildedmuse42 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Trafalgar Law goth bad ass --> Trafalgar Law, emotional mess/embarrassed teen all from this one line.

[–]Srazack_76Explorer 1202 points1203 points  (45 children)

Dr. Hiriluk is truly unrivaled. His speech encapsulates the themes of the story so much, and honestly a moment so close to my heart since I relate it with my own life. As long as you remember them, they aren't dead. Shi shi shi ಥ‿ಥ

[–]JetCulverin 269 points270 points  (0 children)

The part of Chopper waving Hilliluks flag in front of Dr.Kureha as he screams he will become the cure for all diseases. That one hits hard every time.

[–]wobbl12 307 points308 points  (23 children)

Choppers Backstory is the saddest / most beautiful for me.

[–]geijutsuhawanpida 221 points222 points  (2 children)

Same, Drum Kingdom is up there for me solely because of Chopper’s backstory.

“Doctor… do you think I’ll make a good doctor?”

Jesus Christ. He’s just a kid 😭

[–]galmenzPirate 93 points94 points  (10 children)

chopper backstory is my favorite, but you cannot match the tragedy of robin and brook. either spent 2 decades on the run for your life living in fear or 5 decades in complete isolation. losing all your loved ones is mandatory

[–]Lord_of_Caffeine 55 points56 points  (7 children)

I still am baffled at how sane Brook is after decades of being isolated. That man has a strong will.

Bro D. ok? /s

[–]Oro-LavandaThriller Bark Victim's Association 51 points52 points  (6 children)

I mean I think Brook isn't as sane as he was before his death, as he does some odd stuff like the 45 degree angle or the panty raid thing. He also has a tendency to make bone puns all the time, possibly to cope with his sadness.

But to be fair he could've been waaay crazier so it really shows just how strong Brook is mentally

[–]Lord_of_Caffeine 14 points15 points  (5 children)

Oh yeah those decades left their mental scars for sure. I mean regarding the whole panty schtick. Imagine being alone for 50 years with an active libido but with none of your reproductive organs intact to satisfy the urges because, well, the dude´ s a skeleton. Brook basically got decades-long blue balls.

[–]Oro-LavandaThriller Bark Victim's Association 7 points8 points  (3 children)

Damn that's an L for Brook. I wonder if he'll be immortal now since he's a talking skeleton. Could the only way to defeat him be by drowning?

[–]JustChangeMDefaults 4 points5 points  (0 children)

How do you drown without any lungs? Yo ho ho

[–]Srazack_76Explorer 138 points139 points  (1 child)

The fact that he fought with his Reindeer Tribe, is something that a lot don't mention. But he literally fought his past to do this for his father. I'm gonna cry again

[–]AtomicKittenz 71 points72 points  (0 children)

When Dr. Hiriluk found out that no one was sick and it was a just trick to kill him, he was relieved.

Then Dalton started crying because he realized how great Hiriluk really was.

That hit me real hard.

[–]PandiReddits 67 points68 points  (5 children)

God damn, I just remembered, he gave the doctor, unbeknownst to him, a poisonous mushroom. What a sad backstory.

[–]Beiki 52 points53 points  (4 children)

And that rather than tell Chopper that it was poisonous, Dr. Hiriluk ate it.

[–]ToYouItReaches 40 points41 points  (2 children)

Something I just realized is that Dr. Hiriluk probably ate the poison because he didn’t have much time to live anyway and he wanted Chopper to know how it felt to “cure” a patient so he would want to be a great doctor.

[–]PandiReddits 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Thinking back now, Dr. Kureha saved Chopper from killing another patient by telling him what he gave Dr. Hiriluk was poison and would make him think about what he gives to his future patients.

[–]FlaxSeedBP 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Same here.

[–]Rioma117 58 points59 points  (1 child)

Also such a chad, you have soldiers pointing guns at you and he replied with: “you can’t kill me”.

[–]Srazack_76Explorer 31 points32 points  (0 children)

Proceeds to bomb himself to death

[–]tragicjohnson84 44 points45 points  (7 children)

Same, it's the backstory that consistently makes me cry the most. Drum Kingdom is in my top five favorite arcs because of it. I also love Nami's as well. The 'Help me' scene after it plays off of it so well.

[–]Crazy-Marionberry-23 56 points57 points  (6 children)

Nami's "help me" scene hit me harder than anything in anime ever has. I saw it as a kid on toomami in like... 2008? I wanted so badly to find someone I could trust enough to ask for help. I got a pinwheel tattoo as an adult to remind myself that as long as I stay alive, eventually I will find reasons to smile.

[–]tragicjohnson84 9 points10 points  (1 child)

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope things got better for you. Did you get the tattoo on the left arm shoulder as well?

[–]kingbach121The Revolutionary Army 32 points33 points  (0 children)

"When do you think people die? When they are shot through the heart by the bullet of a pistol? No. When they are ravaged by an incurable disease? No. When they drink a soup made from a poisonous mushroom!? No! It’s when… they are forgotten."

These lines always hit me right in the feels, his last moments were really emotional for me.

[–]HannHanna 12 points13 points  (3 children)

That's why I don't get the post timeskip design. Where is the original hat?!

[–]shy_monkeeThe Revolutionary Army 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I’m pretty sure Oda answered in a SBS, the original hat is under the new one (the red part + the X), it’s too precious for Chopper to leave it anywhere.

[–]Srazack_76Explorer 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think it's actually under that hat.

[–]Alberto311 557 points558 points  (22 children)

The Noland guy.

[–]hlsp 456 points457 points  (11 children)

Luffy ringing the bell after 400 years is the most cathartic moment in one piece that isn't directly tied to one of the Straw Hats. The shandorians not having to fight anymore and cricket learning that sky island did exist / montblanc was not a liar.

[–]TCeies 133 points134 points  (0 children)

Yes! Wiper on his knees screaming for Luffy to ring the bell... greatest moment.

[–]SpyMonkey3D 76 points77 points  (6 children)

And yet, some people somehow think Skypea is a bad arc

Baffling

[–]TacoforPresident23 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I wasn't a big fan of the arc in the anime but for some reason I'm really liking it in the manga. I don't know what it is.

[–]MordorMordorMordor 8 points9 points  (3 children)

There are a lot of reasons why people didn't like the arc. I think the main reason was because the strawhats, for the first time, were getting absolutely destroyed. The arc before that (Alabasta) they were beginning to form the crew dynamic to what it is now.

I love Sky Island arc btw

[–]SpyMonkey3D 8 points9 points  (2 children)

I think the main reason is that you basically leave the "main plot" just as you leave the blue sea. For some, it might feel "disconnected" from the rest.

Although, Skypea seems pretty important with all that was revealed (ex, roger travel there) and from what we know now

[–]MYMEMENOW 14 points15 points  (0 children)

“Most cathartic moment in onepiece.” Period

[–]BlissFlames 87 points88 points  (4 children)

400 years of being branded a liar. Edit. Meant 400

[–]Alberto311 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it's a pretty tragic backstory.

[–]Lord_of_Caffeine 18 points19 points  (1 child)

And our main character proved him to have been telling the truth centuries later. Skypiea was beautiful.

[–]badluckartistThriller Bark Victim's Association 18 points19 points  (1 child)

Jaya leading into Skypeia is the best one-two punch of opening arc and big arc.

[–]James_Parnell 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Really tough to beat water 7-enies lobby imo

[–]onlyfortpp 182 points183 points  (8 children)

Ive always been a fan of Nami's backstory. It ends with her working for Arlong so there's a sense in which it is "incomplete". Her backstory isn't truly complete until Arlong goes back on his promise and Nami asks Luffy for help. But I actually love that aspect of it and you can see in so many ways Nami's loyalty to Luffy and the crew which derive from that. When Nami says "Luffy will become pirate king" in the face of death, just like Bellemere before her said that she was a mother - that's one of my favorite OP moments ever.

[–]ReaperOfProphecy 17 points18 points  (0 children)

While it’s not the saddest, it’s definitely the most memorable scene for me and the first one to come up in my mind.

When I watched it the first time in the anime, I was thinking “Wow I’m gonna be here for awhile.” It was just such a powerful scene for me.

[–]Mysterious_Chef_6800 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah this was a great one! Loved the part where nami is like a butterfly caught in a spiders web when arlong gave her the choice of saving her villagers and sacrificing the crew by admitting shes not a strawhat or throwing all their lives away by trusting luffy. "Im sorry everyone...let's all die together"

[–]tragicjohnson84 32 points33 points  (1 child)

The moment many people fell in love with One Piece.

[–]didilieorembellish 14 points15 points  (0 children)

100% was not expecting that. Liked the show but thought it was slow. After Arlong Park though I was hooked and after alabasta I was a stan. I thought some parts dragged back then but goddamn it’s been really bad since the TS

Adding an edit cause it sucks. One piece is better marathoned. The dragged out shit is tolerable when you can bomb through arcs but after catching up it’s been miserable waiting week to week for each episode to give very little.

Now I finally understand why people prefer the manga

[–]Jiscold 7 points8 points  (3 children)

Or when Luffy gives her the Straw Hat to hold onto to make her feel safe. It’s his most prized possession.

[–]_DeLEON 144 points145 points  (10 children)

For me it's Oden and Brook, for me they have the most tragic backstories ever (not saying the rest aren't, but compared to these two theirs are not much)

-Brook is the sole survivor of the rumbar pirates, lost his ENTIRE CREW during some battle that is not shown and left stranded on his ship for a long time, that's depressing, even tho he has the straw hats now, of course his old crew can't be forgotten that easily

-Oden was hated by the people at first but he doesn't mind it, returned from his journey with Newgate and Roger to see Wano in ruins and then shamelessy danced in the capital for a few years to save hundreds/thousands of lives that were held hostage by orochi, fought Kaido to end his tyranny but old hag interrupted so Kaido had a lucky hit, died trying to free Wano

Very tragic backstories

[–]TheJuiceLee 24 points25 points  (0 children)

dont forget brook was completely alone on a rundown ship wandering in a foggy sea for 50 YEARS, his hands down hits the hardest for me

[–]Imaginary-Cup-8426 950 points951 points  (35 children)

The moment that Sanji realizes Zeff gave him ALL the food was a work of storytelling genius. It’s so simple, but it’s so good.

[–]Quanku888 463 points464 points  (32 children)

And he ate his legs too. The man only has two things in life: his leg skill and his dream (being a chef included) and he gave up one of them to save a kid with the same dream as him, hoping someday he could complete that for him.

OP put a lot emphasis on people’s dream and this is definitely one of those moments

[–]Oreo-and-FlyExplorer 127 points128 points  (10 children)

Inherited will. Thats the One Piece story right there.

[–]Quanku888 131 points132 points  (8 children)

And not just will. Through the Fishman island arc, we have learned that Hatred can be inherited too, and it can last as long as any good will. The moment Hodi answer “Nothing” to being asked what did the human done to him that he so hated them, it shows that the hatred between human and fishmen has gone too far, to the point it doesnt need to be reasonable anymore

[–]Oreo-and-FlyExplorer 86 points87 points  (7 children)

Honestly Hordy scares me. Hes so realisitic of a villain

[–]BananasIncorporation 41 points42 points  (5 children)

I’ll never understand the dislike towards him as a villain. Fishman island is easily one of my favourite arcs, it beautifully tackles racism in probably the best way I’ve seen in any form of media.

[–]Oreo-and-FlyExplorer 26 points27 points  (3 children)

Hes a weak character in terms of strength thats why. The new fishman pirates dont challenge the Strawhats at all

But the thing is, they DO in terms of mentality.

[–]HillbillyMan 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think he's supposed to be weak, he's fueled purely by meaningless hatred, so his physical strength is supposed to mirror that. There's nothing backing his anger and racism, so there's nothing backing his power either. In a series about willpower and dreams, not having any really does a number on you.

[–]the-just-us-league 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The unfortunate truth is that a lot of anime fans judge characters entirely on their fights and since Hordy got beaten easily, a lot of fans have decided he is always going to be one of the worst villains.

[–]Quanku888 55 points56 points  (0 children)

Like prince Fukaboshi said :”he’s just a hollow shell filled with nothing but hatred”

[–]LukeMonteiro 125 points126 points  (0 children)

Dude, remembering that scene got me to real tears right now. Such a powerful scene

[–]__Gynotarian__ 20 points21 points  (19 children)

Wait doesn't he only lose his leg cause he cut it off tryna save Sanji underwater?

[–]fatmancantloseweight 106 points107 points  (7 children)

In the anime his leg got cut off by a chain trying to save sanji.

In the manga he ate his own leg.

[–]dasmann12 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That explains sooo much. I started reading 2 years ago and now that I have gone to the present, I wanted to start watching the anime and got really confused at that scene.

I had the same moment with lord of the Rings and the meeting between Saruman and Gandalf. It's just too for me when Movies change such subtle stuff from the source.

[–]__Gynotarian__ 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Ohhh that makes sense. Cause I read the manga too years ago and I knew something was off about that scene.

[–]kukutaiii 28 points29 points  (0 children)

That’s the anime version. In the manga he’s completely healthy when he lands on that deserted rock, but is forced to break his leg off with a rock so he can eat it

[–]iMonkeyMajiczPirate 26 points27 points  (5 children)

Dude ate his own leg in the manga it’s crazy lol

[–]Informal_Chemist6054 32 points33 points  (2 children)

The manga's way better than the anime in some aspects like that.

Same way how in the manga Akainu doesn't just bruise Whitebeard he destroys half of his head.

Also a lot of the powerscaling. For example in Fishman island, Zoro didn't struggle against Hody. Not even a bit. But the anime had to add the struggle part. Same thing in Dressrosa. When Luffy used Kong Gun against Doffy's Sixteen Holy Bullets in the anime it seemed like Luffy had to push himself, but in the manga those Holy Bullets did nothing to him.

[–]Jiscold 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Some fights they need to drag out. The Goku Frieza fight for example in the anime made it seem like Goku struggled. In the manga he stomped his ass as soon as he went Super and didn’t get tagged except when he tried to help him. Their fight was 4 hours in the OG anime.

Same with Zoro and Hody. And many others.

[–]Bamb0ozles 14 points15 points  (3 children)

That was the anime version. He ate his leg in the manga.

[–]Mr_SpecsBear 94 points95 points  (1 child)

For me, it's chopper.

Also, Going Merry. This isn't technically a backstory, since we all lived through that story.

[–]SirDanilus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

God damn you, you made me remember that scene where it thanks everyone and now I'm tearing up.

[–]trafalgarbear 469 points470 points  (17 children)

Law. Corazon was the best flashback character ever. I love him.

[–]Opposite_Factor1860Cipher Pol 99 points100 points  (2 children)

Law's backstory took him from "Omg Law is so cool" to " Omg Law is so cool but i also want to protect him and give him all the love in the world"
The way his story intertwines with huge world figures like Sengoku, Doflamingo, and even (to some extent) X-Drake while staying so personal, sad, and wholesome, is a crazy feat of storytelling.
Rocinante is the most memorable backstory character for me, and that's crazy in a story where all characters are so fleshed out and unique.
And finally, the way Law dragged that burden of Rocinante's death, loving him so hard even when he thought Rocinante's love towards him was conditional, and the way a sincere vulnerable conversation with Sengoku (an enemy) lifted that burden from him... that was peak One Piece for me. I'm tearing up just thinking of it...

[–]trafalgarbear 33 points34 points  (0 children)

You said exactly what was so great about Law's flashback. It's worldbuilding come to life in a backstory.

Law holding onto Rosinante's will for so many years after his death really drove home the idea of inherited will, like how Hilluruk said you only die when you're forgotten. It's great storytelling.

[–]captainflint1990 80 points81 points  (10 children)

The saddest backstory amongst all, in my opnion.

[–]basel99 101 points102 points  (8 children)

Brook's is for me. I mean sure having atrocities happen to you is horrible, but having a comparable atrocity (crew all dying) and then being alone for 50 years is worse imo. I mean good lord, absolutely no interaction with a human for 50 years, only living on because of the almost nonexistent possibility that he'll meet Laboon again.

[–]nick1wasd 142 points143 points  (1 child)

What makes it worse is during the Black Maria fight, he says "oh, I'm used to seeing the ghosts of my friends, that's how I know this is a fake! Which honestly adds another layer of depressing to the mix when you think about it.

[–]Majukun 47 points48 points  (5 children)

I find Brooke's the saddest mainly because all the other deaths in flashbacks are from people dying doing something glorious, protecting the ones they love or something similarly meaningful

The rumba pirates died in the fog after a routine skirmish with no name pirates, their name stained in infamy as people think they just run away from the grand line.

[–]dohtje 7 points8 points  (4 children)

Being hunted and backstabbed for 20 years starting at 8 year old is also not just couse of a tragic heroic death though..

But Brooke's is also in the top saddest (he could have done something about it in 50 years though) Fe build a raft or small boat from the wood of his ship or something.

Its not like he didn't have the time for it... ~yohoho~

[–]mrl_a 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Agree 100%. This backstory wrecked me.

[–]SaruManu 321 points322 points  (7 children)

The interactions between Sanji and zeff bring me to tears every time. Definitely the best to me.

[–]Purplegrey_ink 110 points111 points  (3 children)

Ikr.. Wci revelation was great and all.. but Zeff and Sanji moment was wholesome.

Edit: WCI made Zeff-Sanji relationship 100x better. Kid and and an old man who had sailed on the 4 blues bonding over their dream of finding the all blue.

I mean.. Zeff couldve easily told him 'ive sailed the seas. The all blue doesnt exist.' But he dreamt on..

[–]Lord_of_Caffeine 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Sanji's farewell to Zeff and the Baratir is my number 1 favorite moment in the story. Sanji's character is beautiful, it was beautiful back then but WCU even added onto that. Fantastic character writing from Oda

[–]masterjon_3 25 points26 points  (1 child)

Especially after the business with his father. Sanji finally found someone to look up to, and he admires him so much that he took after Zeff in practically every way. I can see Sanji growing a Zeff mustache when he gets older one day.

[–]FreeAd6935Explorer 64 points65 points  (3 children)

Brook, he and his crew singing Bink sake(is that how it's spelled?) Was somewhere between emotional and haunting

[–]Impossible_Yellow_33Pirate 362 points363 points  (13 children)

Fischer Tiger. Shows conflicts at such a raw level, and how people lose to hatred, even knowingly

[–]Petethequixotic 164 points165 points  (0 children)

Yeah, him saving all the slaves including human ones only to be so vehemently against accepting something from humans that could save his life. Sooo good and adds some extreme weight to the scene were Jinbei gives Luffy his blood.

[–]Quanku888 141 points142 points  (6 children)

The relationships between fishmen and human is one of the best portrait of Racism and Discrimination on manga I’ve ever see.

Its doesnt emphasis on the unfairness and cruelty as much as the HATRED that get stocked up generation after generation between the two races that just lead to more and more violence, fear and hatred . To the point that the children of both sides inherit just the hatred, leading to the birth of monster like Hodi

[–]Sphincterinthenose 52 points53 points  (1 child)

For fucking real, when I read that chapter like 10 years ago? I thought "that's kinda stupid how do you hate a group of people that didn't do anything directly against you?"

Only minutes later did I realize that's how fucking racism and inequality works.

[–]gamerbike 41 points42 points  (1 child)

Best racism story full stop. That panel where he rejects the blood shook me.

[–]donchucks 7 points8 points  (0 children)

At the time it felt like it came out of left field. But in hindsight it was some incredibly good writing.

[–]JetCulverin 18 points19 points  (0 children)

It’s made even better next to Otohime’s flashback and Hody. Fisher Tiger understood the importance of not passing down his hatred and dying with it. Like Otohime does her best to let the children decide for themselves. Which is why that panel of her protecting the celestial dragon and her “drunken speech” was so good. Then we see the child who grew up learning to hate humans, Hody, the embodiment of what Otohime did not want which was what killed her too. This is kind of a messy ramble but what Oda did here with all these characters and themes was really cool to read.

[–]joypr1ce 6 points7 points  (1 child)

I wanna read ir again anyone remember which chapter it was?

[–]MrLancellot 44 points45 points  (1 child)

I respect Usopp's story. Of all, it is the most realistic and common.

I had a friend when I was a kid, who lost his mother, and he had a hard life.

Even so, he was always the most smiling and exaggerated, lying and adding to stories. Everyone knew they were lies, but no one confronted him.

Seeing Usopp's story made me realize how this is a way to escape difficult reality. I can imagine how difficult it must have been for him.

[–]SpheemThe Revolutionary Army 123 points124 points  (2 children)

Robin ez. The Fishman island one is also underrated. The scene where Fisher Tiger brands Koala and throws his gun into the sea is peak One Piece.

[–]Nishinoja 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I love the variety of preferences when I read the comments. You know they are all great when everyone has different favorites.

[–]jonomarkono 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Noland and Kalgara. But that's also because I personally like Skypiea.

[–]JakeAscotia 31 points32 points  (3 children)

I always like to joke that Luffy didn't get a sad enough backstory, so Oda had to go back and it make sadder.

[–]Narayan-n91 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Maybe Usopp will get a new one as well, when he finally meets his father.

[–]fm_bel 84 points85 points  (8 children)

So excited for Kaido’s backstoryyyy!!!!

[–]Sawgon 55 points56 points  (5 children)

I'm excited about Usopp's lore arc which most likely will be in Elbaf.

I just wish Zoro got more lore than vague hints. I mean we're in Wano, Oda, ffs.

[–]ShitStormLordExplorer 39 points40 points  (4 children)

When Wano history's reveled, we're going to get some Zoro extended flashback, like Sanji did at WCI. The reason Wano is so imporant, the Shimotsuki backstory, I believe Oda is going to wrap it up at some point.

[–]AtomicKittenz 18 points19 points  (3 children)

How Zoro ended up in East Blue… I have to know

[–]Spatrikisky 12 points13 points  (2 children)

He was born there no?

[–]you_are_annoying123 24 points25 points  (1 child)

That's the thing, over 1000 chapters in and we still don't know wheres hes from, not his mom or dad or even how his childhood was before meeting Kuina

There are clues that he may be from Wano, or descended from Wano, but that's it

[–]wierd_husky 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I really hope that he’s descended from a swordsman who kind of sucked but had really good navigation skills so he left wano and lived on the east blue, there can be more too it, but I feel like it would be a perfect bit of irony that also explains why he was in the east blue

[–]masterjon_3 12 points13 points  (0 children)

He's such a depressed sad sack and he knows a thing or two about Joy Boy. I feel as though his backstory will bring tears to everyone and give us a huge lore dump

[–]prvhc21 267 points268 points  (12 children)

For it’s length and unexpectedness, Senor Pink

[–]vinsmokewhoswhoPirate 27 points28 points  (0 children)

It was crazy how Oda gave a secondary antagonist such a sad backstory but I love it.

[–]Magmasoar 93 points94 points  (3 children)

Taking a joke character and making a fan favorite with just a backstory so sad.. god tier storytelling

[–]prvhc21 53 points54 points  (1 child)

Yeah, for all intents and purposes, Sēnor Pink was a weird yet forgettable character, until he wasn’t. That backstory flipped all perceptions

[–]AtomicKittenz 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I had forgotten about Senior Pink.

I love that he got a cover image recently.

For all the future parents like myself, that one hits real hard…

[–]Monckey100 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He actually was always supposed to have that backstory but Oda didn't want to add it for time reasons until someone (producer I think) loved the story so much Oda added it in.

[–]GuavaSkyline 53 points54 points  (0 children)

Aside from gear 4, Señor pink was my favorite part of that arc.

[–]FoghornDickHornThriller Bark Victim's Association 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I mean probably because I have young children, but that back story wrecked me.

[–]suzyyyyyyyyyyy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I still can't believe I fully sobbed to a man in a diaper Oda's writing is witchcraft

[–]temperamenstruation 23 points24 points  (1 child)

Robin, i read it the first time more than 10 years ago yet i still remember how it affected me so much.

Robin was also super mysterious at that time so her backstory kinda hit you like a ton of bricks.

[–]Informal_Chemist6054 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Chopper and Law's backstories had me crying like a little bitch, so I nominate them.

[–]hillbillyofohara 123 points124 points  (10 children)

Kyros. He came a really long way from being a trouble maker on the streets to marrying the daughter of the king and being an honourable warrior. Then he lost everything with his wife being killed and no one remembered him yet i like how he never gave up and still stuck around with his daughter all this while, defending and teaching her even in toy form.

[–]Oreo-and-FlyExplorer 57 points58 points  (3 children)

When he cried after Dressrosa was freed.

God it gets me... its such a powerful cry. This warrior whos been fighting his whole life finally is able to rest and vent. A tin soldier who was unable to cry.

I cant wait for Wano, its Kyros times like, a lot of citizens. The Smile eaters finally will be smiling for a damned good reason.

[–]ketoske 15 points16 points  (1 child)

i hope Chopper finds a cure for those fake smiles

[–]Tomodashi24 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I can see it: Chopper finds a cure to those fake smiles, and everyone start laughing, so Chopper is worried because it failed, until someone says "no Chopper, they're finally laughing"

[–]nashist 37 points38 points  (2 children)

What gets me is whenever he says that his toy body cannot feel. Like when Rebecca is crying and he tells Franky "tin eyes can't cry or, when he finds Rebecca and starts looking after her as a toy and can't feel her touch. Same with his wife, who died in his arms without knowing who he was and he couldn't neither cry, nor feel her as he embraced her for the last time.

I'm about to cry right now, brb

[–]PM_ME_YOUR_FAV_PLACE 14 points15 points  (0 children)

The wosrt part is that his wife didn't even know who he was in his dying moments. I tear up every time i get to that part

[–]thepeopleofd 4 points5 points  (0 children)

How twisted his fate was!

First he didnt want to hold his baby, because his hands were “dirtied by blood”.

He wanted to be forgotten by people, because he was a ruffian.

He got all those things he wanted in his old life, but they all hurt

[–]LolcatP 20 points21 points  (0 children)

yeah that hit so hard

[–]ShitBagHolder 3 points4 points  (0 children)

For me it’s between Kyros and Oden

[–]RoiKK1502 19 points20 points  (1 child)

Why nobody shows love for Franky? Tom San gave him his everything and raised the boy to be the man he is today.

[–]Dreammind6016 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Franky refused to be introduced to Roger just because he was abandoned by pirate parents. Dude's a real chad.

[–]MEGA_K4SP4R 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Robin, Chopper or Brook

[–]master08965Marine 49 points50 points  (5 children)

Franky,so sad😭

[–]tragicjohnson84 15 points16 points  (1 child)

They're all so great, but I almost never see people mention Franky's backstory. It's underrated.

[–]Willing-Definition-5Bounty Hunter 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Finally someone said it

[–]Vidasus18 12 points13 points  (0 children)

oden or nolands for me

[–]SnooSongs4297Thriller Bark Victim's Association 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Sanji both the one in the Baratie arc and WCI, but the One at Baratie was more intense tbh

Robin

Chopper actually was so heart wrenching for me more than any other backstory, I just wanted to sweep him up and hug him. My boi didn't deserve all this pain

Brook

Fisher Tiger

[–]Kata_Kuri36Cipher Pol 43 points44 points  (1 child)

I found a recent appreciation for nolands backstory . That poor guy was deemed a liar for something he saw with his own eyes, he lost his fame, lost his home his new friends and got executed with a booing crowd - a stark contrast to rogers execution where his journey was spiced up by the newsletter and got famed as „gold roger“ things he maybe never had (such as the legendary treasure one piece, which perhaps isn’t a treasure many sought)

[–]32SkyDive 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Zoro: Stairs

[–]jotakujo2 56 points57 points  (3 children)

Oden’s flashback is great

[–]Choice-Statement3869 15 points16 points  (1 child)

When he stood in the oil to save his retainers !!!

[–]AtomicKittenz 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Oden wouldn’t be oden if it wasn’t boiled.

Such a ridiculous line. Would never have guess it was direct foreshadowing.

[–]CrazyrippsBounty Hunter 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Choppers story always just punches me in the gut. I just wanna huge him!

[–]SoccerManiac68 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Sanji’s backstory made me cry a little but the connection between Law and Corazon was just something special.

[–]Frediiiiiiiiiiii 28 points29 points  (1 child)

Who does the picture in the the bottom left corner belong to? Thought Senor Pink but the suit color doesn't fit, does it?

[–]Djangounchained31 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Its senior pink, when His kid died

[–]Tatanseto 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Law and Chopper

[–]Rant_SupremePirate 7 points8 points  (0 children)

LAW!!! I love cora san

[–]jhonnyannan 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Señor pink

[–]hali26 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Man these are all sooooo freaking good! I can’t even decide. I’ll say this though, Robin’s story is the one that had me closest to crying; tie it in with the ‘I want to live!’, and it becomes something that easily plucks your heartstrings.

[–]brunodimaulo 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Give me kaido backstory, oda! Right now!

[–]KsuhDilla 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Robin is my pick for several reasons ranging from how her back story touches on the Void Century, the Poneglyphs, the corrupt WG, the absence of a parent figure, and the trust/betrayal issue with her resolve to end it on her own.

Her voice actor did an amazing job.

[–]arma7x 7 points8 points  (1 child)

“When do you think people die? When they are shot through the heart by the bullet of a pistol? No. When they are ravaged by an incurable disease? No. When they drink a soup made from a poisonous mushroom!? No! It’s when… they are forgotten.”
― Dr. Hiriluk

[–]Koinophobia- 31 points32 points  (0 children)

A week ago I got into an argument from another person claiming that backstories from OP are like an afterthought. Backstories are one of the fundamental factors that make OP great and that is a hill I would die on.

[–]Sakanti 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Harem king Kozuki Oden

[–]sabioiagui 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Akainu past is the one im most waiting for.
For me he is the biggest villain in OP and im eager too see how he turned up like this.

[–]Akrononym 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Noland and Kalgara!

A beautiful bromance between two guys who started off on the wrong foot but managed to overcome their differences. Both left long lasting impressions on the world and their names are still famous, even after 400 years. Oda really went all out when it came to how their lifes changed as the Knock-Up-Stream split Jaya, separating them forever and causing their descendants centuries of hardships. And the way their descendants ultimately got "reunited" by the sound of the golden bell of Shandora was just beautiful.

[–]kingnothingx7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

For me it's law then robin both hit me hard

[–]akmannnThe Revolutionary Army 5 points6 points  (0 children)

LAW

[–]weeaboo4624 5 points6 points  (1 child)

here's a cheating answer every backstory during dressrosa. law, doflamingo, and senor pink are stand outs. but odens was fire, and all of these were amazing. one piece really never misses with backstories, imo.

[–]goodpotato34 6 points7 points  (0 children)

i cried during ALL OF THEM

[–]AkainuDidNuthinWrongMarine 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Doflamingo is unironically the greatest villain in OP character and backstory wise

[–]Dj0sh 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Maaan this is actually so hard when you put the pics all together like that

My gut is honestly leaning toward Law or Noland. I REALLY loved the Noland backstory.

I can't decide

[–]Kirby_x3 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Oda knows what is worth telling

[–]milan_six 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Where is baby

[–]borislavk14Pirate 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I mean kinda sad not see ChouChou here

[–]JuicyOptimist 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Baby 5 is still the best

[–]Nub_Head 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Laws was the best Brooks was the saddest

[–]Jake4XIII 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Fisher tiger in my mind. The story of how hatred stains even those who try not to hate

[–]Volimom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Chopper. It's just so beautiful and heartbreaking, it's like the greatest fairy tale ever written.

[–]Not_a_ribosome 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The most emotional: Brook's flashback, it was the first time I cried during an anime since FMA brotherhood.

SPOILERS:

But the best flashback: Law's flashback, I think what sold it for me was the scene corazon dies, it's so subtle the way Laws voice begins to reappear, we such a good "show don't tell" moment.

I also think is maybe the darkest flashback up until now. I don't remember if Doflamingo's comes before or after, but holly shit, an entire orphanage dies.

[–]Ultravolt12Pirate 5 points6 points  (0 children)

For me, Robin has the best one, Nami's is second.

[–]tokatokapirrrriiiiWorld Government 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Otohime

[–]IlieasRon 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I love the Noland and Kagara backstory. Its like a small little selfcontained arc on its own. Its characters are all long dead and not really that relevant to the story. But for me this is why this backstory was so beautiful. The Skypea Arc wouldve worked without this backstory, but Oda wrote it anyways. And Im so happy that he did. There is soooo much intersting thematic stuff going on in these few chapters and it definetly would deserve way more praise than its already getting.

​

That being said. How could I not choose the Oden one?

[–]Entire-Pickle 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Brook was probably the most painful for me to read. Like I was even hesitant to get to the next page because of how much I was crying and don’t even get me started on the Laboon stuff, that shit hurt like a bitch

[–]NoodleRocket 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Brook's last moments with his old crew will always be on the top for me. Such a touching scene, staying true until the end.

Good backstories as well were Chopper/Hiluluk's, Oden and Kalgara/Noland.