As a long-time viewer, I have to say *One Piece* consistently delivers a great story, unforgettable characters, exciting battles, and really interesting villains. Now that the manga is in its final arc, it got me thinking about the characters who sadly didn’t make it – their deaths were often shocking and genuinely moving.
The anime and manga series *One Piece* does feature characters who die, but creator Eiichiro Oda generally avoids killing off key characters unless it significantly impacts the plot. In fact, Oda once decided to keep a character alive who was originally planned to die, and that character went on to appear for another ten years thanks to positive fan response.
Eiichiro Oda Rarely Kills One Piece Characters
Oda Avoids Killing Characters as Much as Possible
One Piece stands out from many other action anime because its creator, Eiichiro Oda, doesn’t often kill off characters. When a character *does* die in One Piece, it’s never random. These deaths always have a significant impact, either by changing the direction of the story or by helping the main characters grow and develop.
Honestly, when characters die in One Piece, it’s never just for a cheap shock. Oda, the creator, uses those moments so thoughtfully! It’s always to really drive a character’s growth, motivate others around them, or signal that things are changing. Take Ace, for example – his death wasn’t just sad, it *fueled* Luffy to become stronger and made his fights with Akainu and Blackbeard so much more personal. And Whitebeard’s death? That was incredible! Even in his final moments, he managed to kickstart a whole new wave of adventure in the pirate world. It’s just masterful storytelling!
Eiichiro Oda generally prefers to keep his characters alive whenever he can. He’s mentioned in interviews that he’s avoided drawing character deaths simply because he wanted to create a fun and upbeat celebration after a battle. He believes that death would ruin the happy ending he’s planning for One Piece.
Eiichiro Oda Almost Killed Ace Way Before Marineford
Ace Was Supposed to Die One Year After His Debut
- Manga Appearance: Chapter 154
- Anime Appearance: Episode 91
Portgas D. Ace’s death is still considered one of the most emotionally devastating moments in anime history, with fans worldwide deeply saddened by his loss. Interestingly, even the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, found the scene difficult to watch when it was animated. However, Oda had actually conceived the idea for Ace’s death a year after the character was first introduced.
Ace was first introduced in the One Piece manga in chapter 154, “To Arabasta,” which came out on October 2, 2000. Originally, Eiichiro Oda planned for Ace to die much earlier, in chapter 201, “Nico Robin,” released on October 1, 2001. This was well before the major war arc where Ace ultimately faced execution and died fighting Akainu.
See This Tattoo? That’s Our Mark. And It’s My Pride.—Ace
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, shared in Volume 3 of One Piece Magazine that he was hesitant to kill off the character Ace too soon. Ace was incredibly popular with fans at the time, and Oda worried about the strong reaction it would cause. Ultimately, he waited ten years to introduce this major plot point. This shows Oda carefully considers his audience’s feelings and thoughtfully plans significant events in the story.
Eiichiro Oda Will Not Revive Ace
Ace Is Gone for Good
While many One Piece fans wish Fire Fist Ace was still alive, the series creator, Eiichiro Oda, has stated he doesn’t intend to bring the character back. Despite Ace’s popularity, Oda has confirmed he has no current plans for his revival, though he hasn’t ruled out the possibility entirely in the future.
Fans may still see Ace appear in *One Piece* through memories or in the dreams of Luffy and Sabo. If the author, Eiichiro Oda, decides to be kind to fans by the end of the series, Ace might even reappear in the afterlife alongside characters like Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger. For now, Ace’s fans can only hope to see what the future holds for *One Piece*.
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2025-09-21 13:34