Why One Piece’s Luffy Is The Best Anime Protagonist Ever

Summary

Luffy gradually gets stronger as the story progresses, facing challenges and obstacles.
Luffy has a clear goal of becoming the King of Pirates, providing motivation and direction.
Luffy is a good judge of character, a flexible thinker, and a great leader in his crew’s victories.

Over the years, numerous outstanding anime series have emerged. A select number of these series broke boundaries and gained global popularity, like Dragon Ball, Naruto, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, to mention a few, and without a doubt, one that is often considered the best among them, One Piece.

One of the factors that make “One Piece” stand out is its central character, Monkey D. Luffy, who is often considered among the top-tier, or even the best, anime protagonists in existence. While this assertion might seem audacious, we’ve compiled a list of seven reasons to back up our claim, so let’s delve into why we believe Luffy is the greatest anime hero ever. Remember that this list is subjective and open to interpretation, so if you don’t share our view, that’s perfectly fine!

Luffy Gradually Gets Stronger As The Story Progresses

He Is Not An Overpowered Character

Story Arc: Whole Cake Island Arc

In more contemporary narratives, it’s common to find protagonists who are already powerful at the outset of the story. This is particularly noticeable in the isekai genre, where characters like Rimuru from “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” and Ainz from “Overlord” demonstrate extreme power levels. While these types of characters hold certain appeal, they possess a significant drawback: they often lack the obstacles or challenges necessary for character development and growth. Essentially, it’s difficult for a character to evolve if they can effortlessly defeat their adversaries without facing any genuine hardships.

Luffy, right from the start of the series, possessed a power level slightly greater than an ordinary Marine Captain. Over time, this strength has grown significantly. In fact, Luffy seldom defeats the primary antagonist of an arc on their initial encounter. From Crocodile to Kaido, it’s usually multiple attempts that bring down his adversaries. Even after winning, Luffy often emerges from battles with injuries. However, each fight serves to strengthen him further, making his journey as the main character all the more captivating.

Luffy Has A Clear Goal

He Eants To Be The King Of Pirates

Story Arc: Whole Cake Island Arc

A key strategy for an engaging protagonist is to establish a tangible objective or aim at the outset of their journey. Ambitious aspirations such as striving to become a Hokage, seeking vengeance for family losses, transforming a demon sibling into a human, or even pursuing the title of Pirate King, all resonate instantly with audiences. These objectives not only fuel the character’s development but also provide a distinct conclusion for the narrative.

A character without a definite objective tends to merely go along with events and react to their surroundings, instead of propelling the story forward. Having a well-defined goal is crucial in creating a strong protagonist. Luffy stands out because he declares his ultimate aim from the beginning; this sets him apart as one of the strongest characters.

Luffy Is A Good Judge Of Character

He Picked His Crews Well

Story Arc: Enies Lobby Arc

Similar to many protagonists in shonen series during his era, Luffy often comes across as impulsive and muscular, acting before thinking things through. However, appearances can be deceiving; Luffy possesses a depth that isn’t immediately apparent. One of his less recognized traits is his skill at assessing characters, particularly when it comes to selecting his crew members.

One clear instance occurred when Luffy welcomed Nico Robin as a new Straw Hat crew member, despite others’ initial opposition due to her past actions in the Arabasta arc. However, Luffy remained firm in his choice. Today, Robin is indispensable to the team. Similarly, Luffy often discerns if someone is ill-intentioned during brief encounters, as evident when he confronted World Noble Saint Charlos at Sabaody Archipelago with a punch that echoed worldwide. The exact method remains unclear, but Luffy’s keen ability to judge character is a significant aspect of his greatness.

Luffy Is A Flexible Thinker

Luffy Doesn’t Mind Changing His Mind

Story Arc: Wano Country Arc

This point continues from the last one, offering more detail. Having a keen sense of reading people benefits Luffy greatly in terms of adaptability. Despite his stubbornness, he’s open to altering his decisions if he believes it’s the most suitable action for him and his team. A prime example is when Luffy collaborated with Crocodile and his crew at Impel Down.

Luffy has strong feelings against Crocodile, yet understood that joining forces with him would boost his chances of breaking out from Impel Down prison. Despite his disdain for Hatchan, who was previously associated with the Arlong Pirates, Luffy changed his view towards him when he encountered him at Sabaody Archipelago and recognized his positive transformation. Moved by this change, Luffy forgave Hatchan and they formed a strong friendship. This flexibility in changing opinions based on new circumstances is one of the qualities that makes Luffy an exceptional character.

Luffy Is A Great Leader

He Led His Crew To Victory

Story Arc: Post-Enies Lobby Arc

A key trait of an excellent leader is the capacity to boldly take significant actions that can shape the destiny of their team, and it’s no secret to fans of “One Piece” that Luffy has made numerous such decisions throughout the storyline. For instance, his choice to include Robin in the crew allowed the Straw Hats to decipher the Poneglyphs, which are pivotal for locating the One Piece. Moreover, his alliance with Law and Kid led them to defeat both Kaidou and Big Mom concurrently. In addition, there are countless other critical decisions that significantly impact the Straw Hats as a collective unit.

In his role as captain, Luffy usually grants his team autonomy in their tasks, preferring not to closely monitor or control them. Nevertheless, it is he who chooses the destination and selects the adversaries, often leading them towards perilous locations and formidable foes. His crew members, particularly the timid ones such as Nami, Usopp, and Chopper, might express reservations about these directives, but they trust that Luffy, their captain, acts with their well-being in mind. Despite his shortcomings, Luffy has proven to be an exceptional leader and captain for his crew.

Luffy Seeks Challenges

The More Difficult, The Better

Story Arc: Enies Lobby Arc

Beyond the quest for the One Piece and claiming the title of Pirate King, the primary motivation behind Luffy’s decision to become a pirate was his desire for limitless freedom and exhilarating adventures. Consequently, he consistently chooses the most difficult path, even if a safer option is presented. This distinctive trait of Luffy is vividly depicted in several instances throughout the story.

Initially, when Luffy learned that the New World Log Pose could indicate three distinct locations and warn of their danger levels by its erratic spinning, he swiftly opted for the riskiest location among the trio. Additionally, there was a moment when Luffy flat-out refused Usopp’s idea to pilfer Poneglyphs from the Emperors without a fight. Instead, Luffy is eager to breach the Emperors’ domains and confront them directly, which is part of his character that makes his adventure so engaging and exceptional.

Luffy Knows Who He Is

He Is A Pirate, Not A Hero

Story Arc: Wano Country Arc

The following is one of Luffy’s most famous quotes:

Hero? Absolutely not! We’re pirates, not heroes! I appreciate heroes, but I don’t aspire to be one myself! For instance, if there’s a pile of food, pirates would feast on it, whereas heroes would share it with others. I, however, prefer to indulge in the feast myself!” ~ Monkey D. Luffy, Chapter 634 (paraphrased)

Luffy acknowledges his role as a pirate, understanding it makes him an outlaw. He’s not striving to be a hero, and there’s no heroic ambition within him. However, he’s found himself in numerous heroic situations and has done much to aid others, but these actions are primarily driven by his commitment to help his friends, rather than an altruistic urge to rescue others.

Luffy has freed Arabasta to save Vivi, fought against the World Government to rescue Robin, struck a World Noble to protect Hatchan and Camie, liberated Dressrosa to assist Rebecca, and toppled the ruler of Wano to help Momo, the samurai, and the Minks. To many, he is seen as a hero, but he himself refuses to accept that title.

In contrast to numerous other heroes, Luffy doesn’t bear the weight of justice as a burden. Instead, he proudly embraces his role as a pirate, reveling in the fact that this side is associated with freedom and thrilling adventures in the realm of “One Piece.” His unwavering confidence in his identity makes him stand out. That’s why Luffy, in many people’s opinions, is simply the greatest anime protagonist there is.

2025-08-03 01:37