One Piece Manga Characters Who Look Different In The Anime

Summary

Some characters in One Piece may appear differently in the anime than in the manga due to evolving design choices.
Minor details, like eye color or costume elements, can be altered in anime adaptations of One Piece characters.
Characters like Silvers Rayleigh and Marco had significantly different appearances when first introduced in the anime.

As a long-time enthusiast of the captivating world of One Piece, I find it fascinating to delve into the intricate details of each character’s evolution, particularly their visual transformations over time. In this instance, I’d like to focus on the changes experienced by some notable characters from the series, highlighting how their designs have adapted to accommodate the different mediums they appear in.

In contrast to many ongoing anime series, One Piece originates from a manga predominantly illustrated in shades of black and white. Consequently, a character’s colors as originally conceived by the author might not be immediately visible. Frequently, this leads fans and casual viewers to color the characters according to their own interpretations, prior to any definitive official design being established.

Manga illustrators often pass crucial details onto animators for character creation, but sometimes these characters are adapted before all details have been fully worked out. At times, animators might ignore certain visual aspects when designing characters. Given the frequent build-up of minor characters in “One Piece” before they become significant, this can occur with notable characters on multiple occasions throughout the series. Here are a few instances where the anime adaptation significantly differed from the manga original.

5. Silvers Rayleigh

The Dark-Haired King

Debut: Chapter 19 (Manga); Episode 8 (Anime)

Silvers Rayleigh served as the first mate of Gol D. Roger and was one of the most powerful members of the famed Roger Pirates. After retiring from piracy to work as a coating mechanic, Rayleigh continues to nurture new talent. Shanks observed Luffy’s likeness to their old captain, leading Rayleigh to guide Luffy. Even in his advanced age, Rayleigh remains a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

Although many fans might not know it, Rayleigh actually made an appearance in the anime before Episode 10. This is revealed during a flashback when Buggy recalls Rayleigh reprimanding both him and Shanks while they were part of the Roger Pirates. This behavior seems unusual for the laid-back ex-pirate we often see, but what truly makes it surprising is his different appearance. He no longer had his scar, wore different glasses, and sported a hairstyle that was unlike the younger Rayleigh design that would be developed later. The storyline also emphasizes Rayleigh’s disciplinary role within Roger’s crew, which may have been due to Roger being more free-spirited, causing Rayleigh to take on a more authoritative stance.

In the course of my observation, it seems that the current rendition of Rayleigh wasn’t yet deemed crucial or fully fleshed out in the initial design stages. As we follow the narrative unfold, Rayleigh didn’t gain significant relevance initially. Interestingly, his past self took a considerable amount of time to regain importance in the storyline. Despite Oda’s assertion that this character was always intended to be Roger’s first mate, it appears he paid relatively less attention to the future development of Rayleigh’s early design during the anime’s earlier phases.

4. Miss Valentine

The Green-Eyed Monster

Debut: Chapter 110 (Manga); Episode 65 (Anime)

In an unusual twist, a small character trait has persisted in adaptations of the anime, despite not being present in the original source material: Mikita, or Miss Valentine, often sports two different eye colors across various illustrations, with dark black irises in the manga and light green in the anime. This inconsistency is maintained even in colorized versions of the manga artwork by Oda himself.

In general, Miss Valentine’s design appears mostly unaltered except for a minor, insignificant difference. However, the insignificance of this change makes the alteration all the more puzzling. Typically, anime designs are preferred by related media, but Miss Valentine’s original design in the manga remains intact. It is plausible that each design suits the character better within their respective medium, considering that manga is usually drawn in black and white.

3. Marco

Barely Resembles Himself

Debut: Chapter 234 (Manga); Episode 151 (Anime)

In Oda’s work, there’s often a gap between the initial sketches of characters and their fully developed designs, leading to inconsistencies within the manga. This discrepancy is evident when comparing teaser outlines to fully realized characters, as well as with significant characters who make an appearance in the background before they become integral parts of the story.

In the manga, Marco, Whitebeard’s trusted lieutenant, made an appearance about 200 chapters prior to his official introduction. When he first appeared in the anime, Marco had a noticeably different appearance, including paler skin, a distinct outfit, lips of a different color than his flesh, and dark hair. His initial design underwent changes, subtly hinting at this transformation before it eventually morphed into the character that fans recognize today. A similar evolution in design was observed with Marco’s crewmate Jozu, whose formal introduction followed after his initial appearance as well.

To make the Whitebeard Pirates appealing to Western viewers, their overall design had to be adjusted due to the fact that their flag, resembling a swastika and also reflected in the pirates’ uniforms, is primarily linked with the German Nazi Party rather than its historical positive connotations in Eastern cultures.

2. Capone Pez

His Father’s Son

Debut: Chapter 498 (Manga); Episode 392 (Anime)

In the thrilling world of One Piece, I found myself captivated by none other than Capone Bege – a character hinted to play a pivotal role as part of the Worst Generation. Interestingly enough, the final touches on his mafioso appearance and color scheme were completed well before his adorable son, Pez, even made an entrance! You see, sweet Charlotte Chiffon was the lucky lady who became Capone’s wife, and their offspring, Pez, was born as a result of this union.

Instead of Pez sticking closely to his original color scheme, they decided to draw inspiration from Chiffon instead. This would involve giving him hair in a similar shade and a onesie of blue, much like his mother’s coat. Additionally, they would change his stubble into the grayed five-o-clock shadow that Bege has. This design adjustment is probably aimed at emphasizing that he remains a Charlotte by blood, despite visually resembling his father more.

1. Charlotte Perospero

Blue Period

Debut: Chapter 834 (Manga); Episode 795 (Anime)

Charlotte Perospero is a member of the Big Mom Pirates and is also known as Linlin’s oldest child. He boasts an eye-catching appearance with features such as an oversized tongue, a roomy coat, and a hat adorned with lollipops. While Perospero was initially introduced, his anime debut occurred prior to the unveiling of his official manga color scheme, leading to some inconsistencies in his animated design.

Instead of choosing an orange that matches the yellow, Perospero’s initial design opted for a snazzy dark blue as a secondary color in his white-striped ensemble. This decision made the lower part of his checkered coat, the candies within his coat’s buttoned area, and his striped hat all blue and white instead of orange and white. Noteworthy modifications also include a change in nail color, lollipops, and bracelets, all of which have been adjusted to coordinate with this new color scheme.

In the end, many of these alterations were discarded together with the manga’s official colorization. One aspect that continued to vary between the finalized anime and manga appearances was the shade of his lollipops. The manga portrays him with a spectrum of colors, whereas the anime consistently represents them as light green, not the magenta they once were. It is likely that these single-colored lollipops are simpler to manage during the animation process compared to their original rainbow color.

2024-12-25 07:34