When discussing popular manga, One Piece always comes to mind – it’s the most successful series ever! Created by Eiichiro Oda, it has become incredibly popular worldwide. The story has been running for nearly three decades, and fans still eagerly await each new chapter every week.
One Piece is a massive series, but many fans are unaware of its creator’s background. Eiichiro Oda recently shared some personal details in an interview, explaining what inspired him to become a manga artist. Surprisingly, it all began with a little-known series called *The Monster Kid* – a title most people haven’t even heard of.
Oda Reveals Why He Became a Mangaka
The Monster Kid Was The Starting Point For Oda
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the popular manga One Piece, recently shared details about his life in an interview with Weekly Shonen Jump. He’s generally a private person, so fans were excited to learn more. The interview covered a lot of interesting topics, like what inspires Oda and his favorite manga, but the biggest reveal was what led him to become a manga artist in the first place.
Eiichiro Oda often talks about his childhood, and he vividly remembers the moment he decided he wanted to be a manga artist. This happened when he was just four years old and reading a manga called *Kaibutsu-kun* (also known as *The Monster Kid*). While it’s an older, lesser-known series created by Fujiko Fujio A that ran from 1965 to 1969, many fans owe it a debt of gratitude – it was the spark that launched Oda’s career and ultimately led to the creation of one of the most popular manga series of all time.
I was reading manga even before I discovered Kinnikuman. Back then, the two main magazines for kids were CoroCoro Comic, published by Shogakukan, and Comic BonBon from Kodansha. Most kids were fans of one or the other. CoroCoro featured a lot of established artists, including the famous Fujiko Fujio, while BonBon felt newer and more exciting. I was a BonBon fan, though my sister had some of Fujiko’s manga, so I read that too. I knew I wanted to be a manga artist after reading *Kaibutsu-kun* (The Monster Kid) when I was four years old – I can still remember that moment vividly. I grew up in Kumamoto, but we lived in Miyazaki for about five years while my parents were transferred for work. It was in that house in Miyazaki that I first learned that being a ‘mangaka’ – a manga artist – was a profession.
Oda’s Inspiration That Made One Piece What It Is Today
- The Monster Kid Started Oda’s Journey, But It Didn’t Inspire One Piece
- Dragon Ball and Toriyama Are the Biggest Influences
Although *The Monster Kid* sparked Eiichiro Oda’s interest in making manga, the real inspiration for his popular series, *One Piece*, came from Akira Toriyama, the creator of *Dragon Ball*. Toriyama’s artwork and characters had a massive impact on Oda, influencing him not just through *Dragon Ball*, but also through other works like *Dr. Slump*. Oda’s dream was to have his work featured alongside Toriyama’s in the same magazine, and he ultimately accomplished that goal.
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2025-10-06 15:09