One Piece Author Reveals Why He Created Hody Jones

One Piece Author Reveals Why He Created Hody Jones

Key Takeaways

  • Oda creates nuanced villains in One Piece to reflect real-world themes like racism and prejudice
  • Hody Jones serves as a powerful example of baseless racism in society and the consequences it brings
  • Fans need to appreciate Hody Jones more for his role in highlighting important social issues.

As a long-time fan of One Piece who has grown up with this incredible series, I can honestly say that Hody Jones is one of the most underrated characters in the entire franchise. While he may not have been as physically imposing as other villains, his role in highlighting the dangers of racism and prejudice cannot be overstated.


One Piece stands as one of the most exceptional anime series ever created. It gains much recognition for its gripping storylines, imaginative universe construction, and diverse array of captivating characters. Eiichiro Oda, the mastermind behind this work, meticulously develops both the heroes and the villains, a key factor contributing to their immense popularity. To put it simply, one could argue that the creators have an affinity for crafting compelling antagonists rather than traditional heroes.

In the world of One Piece, Oda doesn’t merely design formidable antagonists; instead, he constructs them with intricate depth. These villains are not only rivals for Luffy but also embody specific concepts. As a result, some aspects of Oda’s themes may elude even avid One Piece fans, leading to the underestimation of certain characters like Hody Jones.

How The Straw Hat Pirates Encountered Hody Jones

The Straw Hats Fought Him In The Fish-Man Island Arc

One Piece Author Reveals Why He Created Hody Jones

Hody Jones debuted during the Fish-Man Island saga, which unfolded as the initial storyline following the time jump. In this narrative, the Straw Hat Pirates initially visited Fish-Man Island before venturing into the New World. However, instead of a routine voyage, their journey transformed into a perilous descent into the ocean’s depths.

For centuries, the inhabitants of Fish-Man Island had faced discrimination from humans and other races. This led to frequent attacks and enslavement, causing many of them to lose hope for peaceful coexistence. Most Fish-People kept their distance from humans, but some developed a deep animosity towards mankind. One such individual was Hody Jones.

Hody Jones & His Hatred Towards Humans

Hody Jones Ran On Pure Hatred

One Piece Author Reveals Why He Created Hody Jones
  • Completely disregarded his life
  • Only wanted to fuel hostility

Hody Jones harbored intense racial hatred towards humans and sought to ensure that no Fish-Man established friendly relations with them. While Otohime was working diligently to foster harmony between the two races, Hody Jones attempted to harm her, thereby intensifying the already strained relations.

What stood out as a testament to Hody Jones’s extreme devotion was his readiness to harm his own physical self. He ingested numerous performance-boosting substances in order to engage with humans. These drugs’ potential harmful impacts on his body seemed insignificant to him, provided they served his purpose.

As stated by Eiichiro Oda, the character of Hody Jones was designed to underscore the senseless bigotry prevalent in both One Piece’s storyline and real-world societies. This character demonstrates that individuals who are clouded by racism often lack rational thinking abilities and can cause harm to those around them. Furthermore, Oda mentioned that children might not grasp these themes at present, but he anticipates this understanding will evolve in the future.

One Piece Fans Need To Appreciate Hody Jones More

Hody Jones may not be intricately layered, but he underscores some very authentic aspects. The Fish Man serves as an effective illustration of real-world dynamics. Examining his character can aid One Piece fans in grasping and acknowledging the potential hazards of harboring biases against a particular race or community.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel that Hody Jones didn’t live up to expectations due to his seemingly weak physical prowess. After all, he was the first significant adversary Luffy encountered post-timeskip, leading many fans (including myself) to anticipate an intense battle. Yet, it felt like a walk in the park when Luffy took down Hody Jones with minimal effort. However, it’s important to remember that Hody wasn’t all about brute strength. Instead, he served as a narrative device to shed light on racism and its devastating effects on a community.

Besides Hody Jones, numerous characters in One Piece share comparable values. The Celestial Dragons from Marijoa epitomize this the most. They believe themselves to be supremely superior, refusing to even share airspace with common folk. Their wealth and privileges stem merely from their lineage. The Celestial Dragons lack any ethical guidelines, thus they engage in various criminal activities such as slave trading, murdering innocents, among other heinous acts. Here’s hoping the reign of the Celestial Dragons comes to a close during the Final Saga of One Piece.

One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll.

Read More

2024-11-26 23:33