One Piece Characters Who Never Grew Up

This rundown offers insights about key characters from the popular series “One Piece,” revealing immature behaviors displayed by them in various episodes.

Summary

Some characters in One Piece, like Buggy, struggle with maturity, often displaying childish behavior and cowardice.
Shirahoshi needed help from Luffy to grow into her role as a princess, overcoming timidity.
Big Mom’s childlike behavior, which includes tantrums, showcases her inability to mature despite her power.

In essence, One Piece’s world might initially appear cheerful, colorful, and carefree, but it also hides significant perils. To endure in this world, characters must mature enough to grasp the hazards and obligations that come with being part of the marines or pirates. However, even among adults, there are some who still exhibit signs of immaturity and have much personal growth ahead.

These personalities often display immature and reckless behavior, becoming so much like children that those around them may chide them for acting their age during challenging times. However, it can be delightful to witness a character clinging onto their youthful spirit with utmost determination, even when they are significantly older in the narrative’s context. This characteristic certainly resonates with the One Piece characters mentioned below who stubbornly refuse to embrace maturity and seem to relish in remaining eternally young at heart.

7. Buggy

Buggy is Still Just as Cowardly as He’s Always Been

First Appearance: Episode 4

One notable accomplishment of Buggy’s as a pirate was sailing alongside the legendary Gol D. Roger when he was still active. However, it’s worth noting that Buggy wasn’t always the most dependable crew member. He had a knack for boosting morale during tough times, but he also earned a reputation for being quite fearful and often preferred to avoid confrontations rather than stand by his allies in battle.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at how Buggy hasn’t really changed much over the years – he’s still got that instinctive reaction of squealing and scrambling when he faces formidable foes, as proven during the great Marineford War. Yet, here we are, witnessing him ascend to the rank of Yonko pirate captain! Frankly, I think this rise to power is more a matter of luck than anything else. Despite his years as a seasoned sea dog, Buggy still seems to harbor an oversized case of the baby blues, acting like a timid tot even in the face of danger on the high seas.

6. Shirahoshi

Luffy Encouraged Shirahoshi to Mature and Grow into Her Role as a Princess

First Appearance: Episode 531

Discussing princesses like Shirahoshi, who hails from Fishman Island, Luffy quickly notices she isn’t really cut out for the role. Right off the bat, it’s clear that she isn’t the strong, independent leader one would expect. For most of her life, Shirahoshi has been pampered and sheltered by her royal brothers. Instead of venturing out on her own and growing into her position, she remains incredibly timid and fearful of her surroundings. Despite being a figurehead for her people, she continues to be scared even when it’s expected that she would act courageously.

Even though Luffy, renowned for his childish and immature behavior, was taken aback by Shirahoshi’s sensitivity whenever they interacted, it was ultimately Luffy who managed to coax her out of her shell. In time, she even agreed to venture to the surface for the Reverie, albeit after a significant period of hesitation, as she grappled with the weighty responsibilities that came with her royal status.

5. Spandam

Spandam Never Became an Honorable and Honest Marine

First Appearance: Episode 249

It’s quite surprising that Spandam managed to climb so high in the marines, given he seems indifferent towards upholding justice or maintaining honor. Instead, Spandam appears self-centered, focusing solely on boosting his personal status and accumulating wealth. This selfish behavior mirrors his childhood traits.

Whenever faced with a situation where he doesn’t prevail, Spandam often reacts impulsively, throwing himself into a boisterous outburst, complaining about his circumstances without taking any actionable steps to improve them. This was evident during the Enies Lobby arc when he was trying to capture Robin, as his emotions frequently overpowered him and resulted in an unintentional Buster Call being initiated. It’s clear that this well-known marine has a lot of maturing to do.

4. Sugar

Sugar’s Fruit Prevents Her From Growing Older

First Appearance: Episode 608

Among all characters, Sugar stands out as unique because, despite being emotionally immature for her actual age of 22, she appears as a child due to her Devil Fruit – the Hobi Hobi no Mi – which halts her aging process. This fruit grants her the ability to transform anyone she desires into toys. However, this incredible power comes with a significant downside: people often overlook Sugar’s true age and patronize her, which can be quite challenging for her.

Despite Sugar being absent since the Dressrosa arc, she stands out significantly because of her extraordinary Devil Fruit power that allowed Doflamingo to control an entire island’s population. Although Sugar is capable of perceiving the world like an adult, her physical appearance ensures she will always be viewed as a child throughout the rest of her life.

3. Flampe

A Rude and Snobby Brat Who Willingly Turned on Her Own Brother

First Appearance: Episode 865

Spectators may recall Flampe as the one firing darts at Luffy during his battle with Katakuri. Given her frequent need to prove herself correct and criticize others, it’s not hard to think she’s merely a young child. However, Flampe is actually a teenager, indicating she still has much to learn and grow.

Instead of staying loyal and aiding her family during their tough moments, Flampe reacted immaturely and distanced herself from Katakuri right after he shared his major secret. It’s understandable why some of Big Mom’s children might behave like spoiled brats given their mother’s similar behavior, but Flampe takes the cake as the most extreme example of this immaturity.

2. Big Mom

Looks Can Be Deceiving, as Big Mom is Still a Child at Heart

First Appearance: Episode 868

In her youth, Big Mom – who was unusually large for a child – had an insatiable appetite and loved devouring any food she could find. Instead of curbing this hunger or growing out of her childhood ways, Big Mom continued to maintain the spirit of a child throughout her life, whether it was indulging in cakes and sweets, hosting grand tea parties with friends (except for those she may have accidentally consumed).

On Whole Cake Island, it was evident that if Big Mom doesn’t satisfy her sweet tooth for the day, instead of calmly negotiating with her children for more candy, she behaves like the most immature of them, causing havoc and destruction to make a point. Despite being one of the strongest pirates in the series, Big Mom’s childhood immaturity is hard to miss.

1. Luffy

Luffy Explores the Wide Open Seas With an Infectious and Childish Sense of Wonder

First Appearance: Episode 1

In many anime and manga narratives, the central character tends to develop a more somber or mature demeanor as the series progresses. However, Luffy stands out as an exception. Despite enduring countless trials and tribulations, including the loss of numerous comrades and friends on his voyage, such as his entire crew at one point, Luffy has consistently maintained a youthful sense of curiosity that makes him an engaging character to follow. Even in flashbacks and the main storyline, Luffy is portrayed as a joyful and optimistic child with an insatiable fascination for the world around him.

Although at times, his juvenile behavior has potentially threatened his role as captain, his childishness often proves more advantageous than detrimental. This is because it contributes to maintaining an entertaining and exhilarating atmosphere with his humorous stunts. Even when he chooses to utilize his full power, such as in the instance where he activated Gear 5 against Kaido, Luffy’s immaturity remains evident – most notably through his entire body transforming into a living cartoon character, making him stand out from the typical serious and melancholic heroic figure.

2025-08-24 08:35