One Piece: Characters Modeled from Pop Culture

As a connoisseur of both manga and cinematic art, I find it absolutely fascinating to delve into the intricate web of influences that shape the characters we come to love and adore. The connections between One Piece‘s illustrious cast and their real-world counterparts, as revealed in this comprehensive list, is nothing short of captivating.

Beyond just crafting the popular “One Piece” series, Eiichiro Oda is also a passionate lover of pop culture. He’s openly expressed his admiration for various films, music, and other media forms. Many of these passions are evidently reflected in the character designs that grace his celebrated manga and anime stories.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve often noticed that these characters bear a striking resemblance to certain figures from well-known pop culture. Occasionally, their appearance alone is enough to draw comparisons. However, there are instances where it’s not just their looks but also their personalities that mirror each other, adding another layer to the similarity.

5 Kuzan

Influenced by Yūsaku Matsuda

Originally an Admiral in the Marines, later transformed into a pirate under the name Blackbeard, Kuzan is a man disillusioned with justice, often questioning its validity. He possesses a Devil Fruit that gives him command over ice, creation of it, and even the ability to transform into it himself. The character’s design is influenced by Yūsaku Matsuda, a Japanese actor of mixed Korean descent, who gained fame in numerous Japanese films and TV shows during the 1970s and 80s before his untimely death in 1989.

One of Matsuda’s most iconic characters is Shunsaku Kudo, portrayed in the series “Tantei Monogatari” (known as “Detective Story” in English, not to be confused with another 1983 Japanese film of the same name). This show centers around a private detective who had previously served as a police officer in San Francisco. Western viewers might recognize Matsuda from his role as Sato in Ridley Scott’s “Black Rain” (1989), a film he starred in despite fighting cancer at the time.

A notable hint to Kuzan’s inspiration is the name of his pet penguin, Camel, who shares his name with the brand of cigarettes that Matsuda’s character smoked in Detective Story. Kuzan is far from the only character inspired by Matsuda and his roles, with other examples being Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star and Spike Speigel from Cowboy Bebop.

4 Emporio Ivankov

Influenced by Dr. Frank-N-Furter

Emporio Ivankov serves in the Revolutionary Army. He’s been friends with Monkey D. Dragon for a long time, and is also an ally of his son, Luffy. As a newkama, he has the power to create various hormones from his Devil Fruit. This ability enables him to alter not just himself, but also others, changing aspects like physical appearance and even emotional states, such as love or attraction.

Ivankov resembles Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a character from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” portrayed by Tim Curry. Dr. Frank-N-Furter is a pansexual scientist with a knack for cross-dressing and stirs desire in the film’s primary couple, Brad and Janet, who were initially rather reserved.

Besides Frank-N-Furter, Ivankov is also influenced by Norio Imamura, a Japanese stage actor. Oda mentioned Imamura as an influence, as he voiced Ivankov in one of his initial roles. However, after Imamura was arrested, Mitsuo Iwata took over the role.

3 Issho

Influenced by Zatoichi

In essence, Issho, more commonly recognized as Fujitora, is a Marine Admiral who voluntarily lost his sight in order to avoid witnessing the world’s unfairness. He tends to disregard the activities of pirates and revolutionaries if he perceives their consequences as beneficial. His preferred weapon is a shikomuze, an instrument that functions both as a sword and a cane. Uniquely among admirals, Fujitora has not consumed a Logia fruit; instead, he harnesses the power of a Paramecia type ability that manipulates gravitational forces.

Issho’s primary inspiration is Zatoichi, an iconic fictional blind swordsman from the Edo Period, who has been featured in numerous novels and movies. Remarkably, the character portrayed by the late Japanese actor Shintaro Katsu bears a striking resemblance to Issho in terms of physical appearance. Yet, their shared physical traits are just one of several similarities between Fujitora and Zatoichi. In common with this character, Issho also uses shikomizue and has a penchant for gambling. Furthermore, both characters favor Iaijutsu, a swift sword-drawing technique for combat.

2 Sanji

Influenced by Mr. Pink

One Piece: Characters Modeled from Pop Culture

Sanji is either the fourth or fifth crew member of the Straw Hat Pirates, depending on when you consider Nami as part of the team. He’s a skilled chef and martial artist, but his one vulnerability lies with women. Born from a genetic experiment carried out by his father before he was even born, Sanji has just gotten stronger after activating this modification. Interestingly, he strives to keep his humanity despite these enhancements.

Sanji’s character design draws loosely from the persona of American actor Steve Buscemi, particularly his role as Mr. Pink in the film “Reservoir Dogs”. Mr. Pink is one of eight diamond thieves, embroiled in a heist that unravels due to clashing personalities and an undercover cop’s suspicions within their group. The creator, Oda, aimed not to replicate the character exactly but rather to convey the “feel” or “vibe” of Mr. Pink. This has led to many mistaken assumptions about Sanji’s inspiration, with Leonardo DiCaprio often being suggested incorrectly. Before it was officially confirmed by SBS, Oda mentioned that only an employee at Bandai accurately guessed the source of inspiration.

1 Sakazuki

Influenced by Bunta Sugawara

Sakazuki, more commonly referred to as Akainu, serves as the highest-ranking officer in the Marines, having been promoted from the rank of admiral following the time skip event. He is recognized for his unwavering commitment to Absolute Justice, a philosophy that emphasizes punishing wrongdoers without exception. During an incident known as the Buster Call, Akainu was instrumental in the near-total annihilation of the residents of Ohara, due to their research during the Void Century. Luffy maintains a deep grudge against him for taking the life of his sworn brother, Ace. Akainu possesses a unique Devil Fruit ability that enables him to create, manipulate, and transform into magma.

In designing Sakazuki, Oda drew inspiration from the renowned Japanese actor Bunta Sugawara, who starred in more than a hundred movies throughout his career. Particularly, Oda sought to embody the essence of the film “Jingi Naki Tatakai,” or “Battles Without Honor and Humanity,” which he aimed to capture through Akainu’s character. It is likely that he borrowed some of Shozo Hirono’s (Sugawara’s character in the film) expressions. Furthermore, Sakazuki’s name was derived from Sugawara’s filmography, as he played roles in three films with “Sakazuki” in their titles.

2024-11-15 17:04