After 31 Years, Oda Reveals The Biggest Secret About Red Haired Shanks

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Final Saga.

It’s no surprise to One Piece fans that Shanks is a hugely important character created by Oda. He’s so significant that, as the story reaches its climax, he’s likely to be as central to events as Luffy himself.

Luffy is still the central figure in One Piece, but Shanks has become incredibly important, particularly in recent events. Although One Piece has only been running for 28 years, the author, Oda, originally conceived plans for Shanks 31 years ago. In chapter 1168, Oda finally revealed a long-held vision for Shanks, showing him as a Knight within the Holy Land of Marijoa.

Oda Designed Shanks As A Knight 31 Years Ago

Image by Toei Animation
  • Oda Always Wanted Shanks To Be A Knight
  • Even After Leaving The Holy Knights, Shanks Continues To Be A Knight

One Piece first appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump about 28 years ago, but Eiichiro Oda actually started developing the story much earlier. Surprisingly, he even had the ending in mind during his college years! While many fans know about early versions like ‘Romance Dawn,’ fewer realize that 31 years ago, Oda had already begun sketching out initial concepts for numerous One Piece characters, including Shanks.

Let me introduce my son, Shanks. He’s Shamrock’s brother and is expected to be a valuable ally once he masters the Deep Sea Pact – he’ll be just as strong as Shamrock is now. — Garling Figarland speaking to Harald during the Elbaf Arc

When Eiichiro Oda first created the character Shanks, he envisioned him as a noble knight – someone honorable and kind. However, throughout the main One Piece story, Shanks has always been established as a formidable pirate. It wasn’t until chapter 1168 that we finally saw Shanks portrayed as the knight he was originally intended to be within the story itself.

Fifteen years ago, Shanks returned to Marijoa, where he became known as God’s Blade – a key figure and right-hand man to the Holy Knights. Interestingly, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, originally conceived of this role for Shanks 31 years ago, and we’re now seeing that long-planned backstory unfold.

Oda Finally Makes Shanks A Knight In The Manga

The latest One Piece chapter, 1168, confirms Shanks has become a Knight. However, this status won’t last. While it’s uncertain if he’ll be promoted to Holy Knight, it’s revealed that just two years later – thirteen years ago in the story’s timeline – Shanks was already back to being a pirate. During this time, he stole the Gomu Gomu no Mi from CP9 while they were transporting it to the World Government.

Honestly, it’s so cool how just a year after all that, Shanks runs into Luffy! And then, of course, Luffy eats the Devil Fruit – it’s such a pivotal moment! It does mean Shanks’s time as a Knight, which Oda had planned for a while, was pretty short-lived, but it makes the story even more exciting, you know?

Shanks Still Carries A Knight’s Personality

Although Shanks didn’t stay long with either the Gods Blade or the Holy Knights, he never lost the core qualities of a knight. Like Sanji, he’ll always possess that knightly spirit.

Look, I get it, you’re a Marine, and you have a job to do. But seriously, going after those fledgling sprouts – the ones that symbolize the end of the old pirate world? That feels… excessive, doesn’t it? It’s like you’re terrified of what’s coming, of a world where things are different. It just feels like overkill, you know?

Despite being a pirate, Shanks consistently defends those who can’t defend themselves and always fights for what’s right. He embodies the spirit of a true knight, and that’s the role he’ll continue to play throughout the final arc of the story, even while living outside the law as a pirate.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. A new chapter will appear in this week’s issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. Specifically, One Piece Chapter 1169 will be released on December 21, 2025. In Japan, it will be available at midnight on Monday, which translates to 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, and doing so helps support the creator.

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2025-12-16 16:35