Given the creator of One Piece‘s disdain for canon romances, it’s difficult to genuinely and formally ship anyone in the series. Manga creator Eiichiro Oda of One Piece believes that romance has no place in shonen manga. Fans of One Piece shouldn’t anticipate any real coupling in the series, save from the married couples who actually created the characters. Still, some have slipped in despite Oda’s sour attitude toward love.
Paradoxically, this contempt for romance has increased the power and surprise of some situations and dynamics throughout the series. The smallest romantic allusions have drawn a lot of attention from fans as Oda often rejects love themes. Whether they are official or not, Oda made sure that many of the relationships in the story would surprise no One Piece fan.
Sanji Has Been Bested At Romance By Other Unlikely Characters
Despite being a notorious flirt with multiple ships, Sanji has been bested by other characters when it comes to romance.
It’s shocking to see that many details are left out of the narrative even with One Piece‘s apparent length and richness. The turbulent past involving Viola and Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Demon, is one such detail.
Although Eiichiro Oda hasn’t provided any concrete specifics when referring to “romance,” he has alluded to Doflamingo and Viola’s “adult” relationship in the SBS for Volume 83. Regretfully, Oda’s superiors probably won’t let him divulge the details of this unique relationship. Even so, given the prevalence of the enemies-to-lovers cliché, it’s worth noting for fans of shipping One Piece characters that the two hooked up at some point.
Two Other Ships Take The Lead
Few One Piece fans have ever truly shipped Tony Tony Chopper with someone, despite him being the franchise’s mascot and one of the few anthropomorphic animals in the narrative. Oda, however, seized a great chance to make amends during the Zou Arc when the Straw Hats arrived in a country populated by creatures that were anthropomorphic.
While Chopper’s group was engaged in saving Zou from Jack’s onslaught, Luffy’s side of the Straw Hats were on Dressrosa. A sultry reindeer helped him throughout that time, acting as his nurse, and it’s clear that Chopper is attracted to her.
It’s strange to imagine that nobody was shipping Luffy and the empress of Amazon Lily at one point. Luffy’s initial deployment by Bartholomew Kuma to the kingdom of strong women caused him to clash with the locals, particularly with Boa Hancock.
Not only did she harbor a never-ending hatred for males, but Luffy also discovered her biggest shame tattooed on her back when he broke into her bathroom. Hancock, full of resentment, tried to have him killed right away, lowering everyone’s expectations for a possible romance. In spite of this, Luffy’s ingenuity and kindness were all it took to win her over and win Boa’s heart.
Frequently asked questions
Which Straw Hat does the article say has a better romantic storyline than Sanji?
The article points to Monkey D. Luffy, whose bond with Boa Hancock it calls the standout romance. Hancock, captain of the Kuja Pirates whom Luffy meets on Amazon Lily, first tries to have him killed, but the piece says his sincerity and kindness win her over, giving him a more developed romantic arc than Sanji.
Why does the article say Sanji is not the most romantic Straw Hat?
The article notes that although Sanji is a notorious flirt with many would-be love interests, his feelings rarely lead anywhere lasting. By contrast, it argues that Luffy’s arc with Boa Hancock shows more genuine romantic development, so Sanji’s flirting alone does not make him the crew’s best romantic storyline.
Does the article say Eiichiro Oda usually puts romance in One Piece?
No. The article cites the popular view that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda keeps romance to a minimum in shonen manga, which is why outright love stories are rare in the series. It frames the few romantic threads, such as Luffy and Boa Hancock, as exceptions rather than a central focus.
