My Hero Academia: How Luffy And One Piece Influenced Horikoshi’s Characters

Given that *One Piece* has been published since the late 1990s, many successful manga artists today likely read it while they were developing their own skills. Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of *My Hero Academia*, is one of them. While he has a distinct style that makes his series unique, he’s acknowledged taking inspiration from Eiichiro Oda’s *One Piece* when crafting the story of Deku.

The authors of these two series have very different art styles when it comes to character design, but their characters share surprising similarities. Author Kohei Horikoshi recently discussed this in an interview, explaining how characters like Luffy from *One Piece* inspired him, and specifically how that influence shaped the character of Deku in *My Hero Academia*.

Horikoshi Was Impressed By How “Natural” One Piece Characters Are

They Always Say What’s On Their Minds, Without Any Filter

Oda’s characters act and speak how they please
This especially applies to the loud-mouthed Luffy, who heavily inspired Horikoshi

One of the things that really stands out about the characters in *One Piece* is how realistic and relatable they are. Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of *My Hero Academia*, specifically mentioned this during a conversation with Eiichiro Oda, the author of *One Piece*. Horikoshi was heavily inspired by how freely the *One Piece* characters express themselves, and he pointed to Luffy, the main character, as a prime example of this honesty.

I was really inspired by how honestly and openly the characters express themselves. It makes everything feel very genuine and natural.

Most shonen heroes tend to be quiet, serious, and keep their feelings hidden, but Luffy is the opposite. He’s incredibly energetic and expressive, often saying whatever’s on his mind without thinking, even if it’s a bit blunt or inappropriate for the situation.

It’s common for manga writers to keep their main characters mysterious at first, holding back important details. But Luffy, the hero of One Piece, freely shares his goals, feelings, and even who he plans to defeat. While this approach deeply influenced Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, it wasn’t initially popular within the manga industry when Eiichiro Oda first began his career.

Luffy Was Seen As A Disgrace In The Early Years Of One Piece

Oda Wanted To Go Against Manga Tradition At The Time

Oda was obsessed with counter culture in the early years of One Piece
He wanted to prove One Piece was more than a series with a fun art style
His rebellious writing style paid off in the end

Although Luffy is now a hugely popular anime and manga hero, his creator, Oda, says that wasn’t always the case when *One Piece* first started. While another creator, Horikoshi, complimented Oda’s realistic and natural character development, Oda explained that this approach was actually criticized early on. He recalls people even finding Luffy embarrassing, which makes sense given his impulsive nature and difficulty controlling himself when excited – something that may have been seen as a negative influence on children at the time.

You know, when I first started publishing my work, it was a different world. Characters who just said *whatever* was on their mind, like Luffy, were actually considered really rude and unacceptable! It’s funny to think about now, but back then, it was a bit of a shock to people.

It’s notable that Horikoshi points out many manga artists of his generation now write characters like Oda does. This shows how much things have changed. Oda himself explains he designed Luffy to be different because he was inspired by counter-culture and wanted *One Piece* to be known for more than just its unique art style – he wanted it to truly stand out.

Oda’s bold character designs proved to be a smart move, contributing significantly to the incredible worldwide success of the series. It also inspired many new authors, like Horikoshi, who clearly drew inspiration from Oda’s work when creating their own popular stories.

Luffy And One Piece‘s Influence On My Hero Academia Characters

Deku And The Students Feel Very Modern And Unique As A Cast

Deku, like Luffy, often acts impulsively without fully thinking things through. This tendency was clear from the very beginning of *My Hero Academia*, when Deku rushed to save Bakugo, even though he didn’t have any powers at the time and couldn’t possibly win. Similar to Luffy’s willingness to jump into danger to protect others, the author, Horikoshi, has cleverly incorporated aspects of Luffy’s personality into Deku’s character in other subtle ways.

Deku has a habit of thinking things through extensively whenever he faces a new enemy. Though he doesn’t always verbalize his plans, he’s constantly analyzing the situation internally, processing a lot of information to help him fight. This internal thought process makes him more reserved than someone like Luffy, but it also contributes to his authenticity because he’s willing to openly share his thoughts when it really counts.

Although Deku seems a bit more restrained than Luffy, it’s obvious Eiichiro Oda’s work heavily inspired Kohei Horikoshi when he was first developing *My Hero Academia*. Despite the different art styles, the main characters share a lot of similarities. It’s fortunate Oda took risks with *One Piece* in the late 90s, because it paved the way for newer manga creators to be more creative and unconventional with their own stories.

2025-09-19 16:34