In the extremely challenging and daunting task of creating manga, artists like Kohei Horikoshi the mind behind the popular series My Hero Academia, frequently draw inspiration from the writers and artists who have come before them in the field. In Horikoshi’s instance, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, was his main inspiration.
As translated and republished to the Tumblr page AitaiKimochi by anime enthusiast and entrepreneur Amanda Lamsam, Horikoshi discusses a range of topics about My Hero Academia in an interview conducted in 2018 with Comic Natalie, a Japanese website that specializes in manga news. Horikoshi drew inspiration for the series’ longest story arc from Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, aiming to rival its legendary length.
Kohei Horikoshi Drew Roronoa Zoro, But One Aspect About The Character Shocked Him
An X user, @sandman_AP, posted the artwork of Kohei Horikoshi, featuring a full-length sketch of Roronoa Zoro from Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece.
Horikoshi said:
I had a preconceived notion from watching Dragon Ball and Final Fantasy that main characters had sharp haircuts. Hence I was shocked by Zoro’s hairstyle.
Zoro has a rather distinct appearance with his broad, muscular physique and the three swords stowed away in his haramaki. Zoro’s other remarkable feature is his cropped green hair, which Sanji often teases him about by calling him “marimo” (“moss ball” or “moss head”) due to its resemblance to one.
Most Dragon Ball characters are recognized by their sharp and long hairstyle, so no wonder Horikoshi was taken aback by Zoro’s hairstyle (or lack thereof).
One Piece Fans Are Pleased That Kohei Horikoshi Chose To Draw Roronoa Zoro
It seems like the rivalry between Zoro and Sanji has taken shape outside the manga as well. Fans of One Piece seem to be ecstatic that Horikoshi chose to draw Zoro over Sanji. Fans have been rather savage in their replies.
Moreover, some fans humorously stated that Horikoshi drew Zoro because he is Deku’s dad. The ridiculous connection has been made since both Deku and Zoro have green hair. Whatever the reasons may be, it’s a win-win situation for One Piece fans (especially Zoro enthusiasts).
Frequently asked questions
Why was My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi shocked by Zoro’s design?
Horikoshi said he had a “preconceived notion” from watching Dragon Ball and Final Fantasy that main characters had sharp haircuts, so Roronoa Zoro’s cropped, un-spiky green hairstyle in One Piece took him by surprise. The remark comes from a 2018 Comic Natalie interview, later translated and shared by Amanda Lamsam on the AitaiKimochi Tumblr page.
How did Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece influence My Hero Academia?
Horikoshi, the mangaka behind My Hero Academia, has cited One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda as a major inspiration. According to the interview, he drew on One Piece when shaping My Hero Academia’s longest story arc, aiming to rival its scale and length.
Why is Zoro nicknamed “marimo” in One Piece?
In One Piece, Sanji often teases Zoro by calling him “marimo” (Japanese for “moss ball” or “moss head”) because his short, cropped green hair resembles a marimo moss ball. The nickname plays into the long-running rivalry between the two Straw Hat Pirates crewmates.
