One Piece: The Deceptively Simple Way Eiichiro Oda Has Remained at Top Is Exactly Why He Gets the HateEiichiro Oda has followed a constant narrative structure to ensure the success of One Piece but it also resulted in the series being hated by others.
SUMMARY
One Piece has remained at the top of the pinnacle for almost 30 years.
The secret behind this success is the similar narrative structure that Eiichiro Oda uses in almost every arc.
However, this secret has also become the reason why some fans have started disliking the series.
Creating an enticing story that remains relevant for almost 30 years is almost impossible unless you are Eiichiro Oda. The One Piece manga creator has been at the top of the game for almost three decades, and he is only getting better with every arc. However, the secret behind One Piece’s success is also the reason why the series gets so much hate.
One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation
One Piece fans know very well that although every arc follows a unique storyline, the main structure is almost similar and has been this way since the beginning. The thing that makes every arc intriguing is the introduction of new characters, an eccentric plot, and an unexpected twist that is connected to the main story going on in the background.
Oda has cracked this formula to the core and makes sure that almost every arc follows the same formula, no matter how much the story differentiates. This keeps the thrill constant, and fans remain addicted to One Piece in an attempt to find out more about the narrative.
The secret sauce of One Piece
One of the most appreciative aspects of One Piece is that every arc offers Eiichiro Oda the creative freedom that he needs. He can create the story in whatever way he wants, as almost everything is new with a new arc. From characters to world-building, Oda can explore all the elements of the story and draw it in a way that he sees fit.
However, even though Oda has creative freedom, he makes sure that the structure of the narrative remains the same throughout every arc. It involves the Straw Hat Pirates entering a new country or kingdom that is being oppressed by the villain. Luffy and the crew develop a bond with the oppressed people and thus help them by defeating the villain and liberating them.
Monkey D. Luffy | Credit: Toei Animation
Be it Alabasta, Skypiea, Thriller Bark, Fish-Men, Dressrosa, or Wano, the aspect that has remained constant in all of these arcs is the narrative structure. It is the secret sauce that has helped One Piece remain at the top for so long and also helped Oda introduce new plot points that maintain the mystery within the series.
One Piece’s success formula is also the reason behind its hate
One Piece’s long streak of success is the result of the secret sauce that Oda has been using since the beginning of the series. It has kept One Piece at the pinnacle and will continue to do so as fans of the series are well-versed in this secret formula. However, those who do not understand Oda’s formula tend to hate the series and form a negative image of it.
Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation
Although the repetition of the narrative structure is a sure-shot ride to success, it is also the reason why One Piece gets so much hate. It adds predictability to the plot, and the central storyline becomes expected. Some also believe that the repetition undermines the new revelations and twists that Oda creates for every individual arc.
But what fans need to understand is that predictability and repetition are the only ways through which Oda can get the creative freedom to write the story however he feels. Thus, the One Piece manga creator will continue to do so until the final war, which will connect all the pieces and lead to the conclusion of one of the greatest adventures in the world.
