Talking about One Piece's Character Design

[@pretty_Fist]

He mighta gave usopp the mr popo lips, but ill be damned if oda dont CONSISTENTLY draw nappy hair great. Hands down some of the best cartoon black hair that has recognisable texture from a glance.

[@Datache]

EXACTLY ITS CRAZY! I'm a big fan of all of Yasopp's looks.

[@KeyleeTamirian]

Hey, i love those lips.

[@cuppa_moon]

"they're both deeply loyal to luffy, and to each other, and its reflected in their character design GRRHHHGHHH" perfectly said, datache 👏

[@foilenjoyer8667]

I think it’s crazy the impact that Einstein has had on character design. Imagine being so smart that the go-to way to show that a character is smart is to make them look like you. Wild

[@slurplie]

Rebecca's design is one of the main reasons I can't give Oda full points. The excuse that she needs to be lightweight is such a cop-out, like that's a whole ass kid. And the way she's animated made me feel like Toei was singlehandedly handing me a ticket to jail. I had to cleanse my eyes with Bartolomeo's godly, peak design

[@IcepickEvans]

You're an idiot.

[@Dingleman-bw9qf]

Pink nami

[@crocoboi7936]

Although I’m not a fan of Rebecca’s design I think it’s too much. Her being 16 makes her an adult in Japan

[@slurplie]

@@crocoboi7936 Well she’s still framed in the context of a being an innocent orphaned kid and Oda did say in an SBS that her design was “exciting” or something of that nature which is just not correct in my mind

[@crocoboi7936]

@@slurplie I can see that

[@Lefilia]

I love the fact that there is a lot of pink colour in male cast outfits. Characters like Doflamingo, Roger, non canon Tesoro, baron Tamago look very strong, fun and mainly for me

[@Heartsrepeat]

Can't forget Senior PINK

[@lucad9667]

It WAS the predominant male colour in our world as well for a while. Something about "pink is more of a vital and loud colour, representing hte fighting spirit of the man, while blue is a calm and gentle colour, evoking a calming, motherly feel, perfect for women." I don't know when or why the switch happened, but it's interesting to think about how or perception of something as basic as colour can so radically switch over time.

[@naomino7222]

Is there a woman in one piece with a genuine scar that isn't a background character? When people complain about how one piece portrays female character design, we don't hate the conventional look. The problem in my eyes is that this style would elevate Boa and Nami if nearly 80% of the focus cast didn't have the same philosophy. For example, Rebecca. During the scene with Robin and her father near the castle. It could've hit harder if she had small scars on her body to show how many near misses she had and more detailed gritty hands due to her sword. Even developing back muscles that are starting to form, they don't have to be massive af. Her father saying that she doesn't have to fight this battle anymore could draw parallels to his time at the colluseum and how he was given a way out. This can be applied to yamato as well.

[@crocoboi7936]

I agree with you but there are some women with scars in one piece Charlotte brûlée, boa Hancock and her sisters, koala (but we’ve not seen hers in the present) Cindry (she’s a zombie that might not count.)

[@kawansiesquad6659]

⁠@@crocoboi7936 brûlée’s face is not what I’d call conventionally attractive. I think what op meant was a conventionally attractive female character with casually noticeable scars that aren’t easily hidden or covered up. Like luffy’s facial scar. Just small facial scars here and there but conventionally attractive female characters in one piece never have any noticeable scars, and never on the face either

[@kawansiesquad6659]

Finally someone acknowledging how homoerotic zoro and sanji are and how their designs also play into how they’re meant to be presented as a pair😂😂

[@bethanybrookes8479]

I think, usopps lips do kinda fit. I understand how it can be taken but given that oda didn't really give any tone to anyone's skin early one it's easy enough to overlook. But also, it brings emphasis to his mouth. Usopps biggest weapon is his mouth. He lies, tells tales, talks, talks, talks and talks. My favourite one of his fights, he won by lying outta his ass (indicated by his nose) and talking bigger game than he had and talking and talking and talking. Like I do kinda have issue, but I also don't think oda is using those features purely on black coded characters and, well, here it does tell us something about his character other than his race. Luffys face is mostly simple, sanjis got his stupid stubble and swirly eyebrows, and usopps got his nose and lips.

[@Datache]

I agree, he recently drew Usopp's live action actor and the lips weren't nearly as exaggerated, I think its just to make his mouth more defined and make him look silly.

[@Lostouille]

​@@Datache let's not forget King being sexy as hell ☠️☠️

[@kawansiesquad6659]

@@Lostouilleso true

[@nmtltlz]

I love it when people love one piece it makes me so deeply happy

[@Emberson-q2t]

It's awesome, you can learn two valuable lessons through observing the One Piece art style You can give you're character a lot of variety by conveying traits multiple ways: shape language, colors, facial features, clothing, ect. And you need to branch out and try different things rather than sticking to the same body type/type of character all the time, along with making sure you have accurate representation! Awesome video, btw!

[@Datache]

I'm glad you agree! It's the sort of thing that keeps me talking about One Piece haha. Hope you enjoyed!

[@PirateQueen1720]

14:28 - The thing that kills me is that, in the manga at least, Amazon Lily is a great example of how Oda DOES know how to draw a variety of female body types*. The problem is that the ones that get SUBSTANTIAL SCREEN/PAGE TIME all look alike (at least if they are young). *There were big chunky sumo-wrestler looking ladies, taller and shorter ones, ones who had a similar hourglass figure to Robin & Nami but very different face shapes, etc. And even the slogan that here "beauty is strength".

[@Datache]

Exactly, he's fully capable of drawing all sorts of body types, he just chooses not to. It's so frustrating.

[@ItsDioxide]

My least favourite thing about the designs is just honestly Robin, zoro, and ussop. I wish they got their darker skin/tan back because it just feels right and the fact that all of the one piece crew turned really white after kinda bothered me. I know it’s not my place to talk about skin tones since I’m fucking white as a ghost but like: ussop and robin especially? And I kinda wish nami was flatter because it would kinda be nice to not have to stare all the time at her chest knowing it’s basically her key feature. + my bonus: I wish we got to see a more “serious doctor” look for chopper since I feel he kinda go turned more “silly and goofy and childish”

[@Lefilia]

I like their early dark skinned versions in anime. I think characters with darker skin or tan look a bit more powerful like a battle-hardened traveler who don't avoid a sun

[@meurqsus]

I really fear Usopp whitewashing in The One Piece (Wit Remake)

[@crocoboi7936]

Just to clear up some things. Robin zoro, robin and usopp always had lighter skin tones in the manga. If you search up early cover pages you can see that. The anime just made their skin darker for some reason. So when they had brighter skin after time-skip it was is technically more accurate. The anime has gotten many colours wrong. (For example Marco’s hair being black when we first see him.) You can say you prefer the darker skin tones the anime did but they were always lighter skinned.

[@meurqsus]

@@crocoboi7936 meh

[@crocoboi7936]

@@meurqsus ?

[@CalamityGamer6395]

Love it to see another one piece video here, it's always fire

[@Datache]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@_Kai-is-in-the-walls_]

W character analysis honestly couldn’t have said it better

[@poyohime]

As much as I adore Nami, I will admit that I am slightly mourning one of her early designs with the giant battle axe and prosthetic arm

[@playboihaim]

WAKE UP BABE NEW DATACHE DROPPED

[@XMARCO_012]

“They also make out while oiled up😈” BAHDHDIDBJDJSNDAHHAA😭🙏🙏

[@MousaThe14]

I haven’t watched the anime since the 4Kids dub other than the occasional clip or screenshot. I’m a manga only kinda guy. So Seeing the Seraphim in the manga with the same skin tone and now I see they blatantly lightened S Snake due to colorism is insane. That’s some wild BS right there. Anyhow, always appreciate a video covering all the strengths and weaknesses of Oda’s art. It is one of the many great compelling things about One Piece that allows it to stand out against other action, adventure, and gag manga. It does bother me how he is both great at diverse character design with women and also bad at it at the same time. Like you mentioned, the distinguishing features are more obvious when you read the manga but also the wide variety of body types are reserved for one-offs or extremely specific circumstances. For every Ms. Monday, Ms. Merry Christmas, Boa Marigold, and Vice Admiral Bluegrass, there will be half a dozen Boa Sandersonias or Atlases, and a hundred thousand Namis. It is frustrating how brilliant he is but also how lazy he can be. Truly the duality of man.

[@kawansiesquad6659]

It’s like Oda is genuinely not aware that more than three realistic female body type exists. His default seems to be, skinny curvy, fat, and child-like. Like wtf

[@isiscouto989]

8:39 killed me enough with the gay fanfic😭😭

[@Lee_Beef]

0:59 didn't expect Mickey to say that

[@tofuaddict5946]

Holy just realized the egg head thing omg im so dumb

[@paperverp]

Character design breakdown on YOU Red, blue, and green jacket: you like those colors big ass zipper: cool, you’re cool :3 face: a bit silly with it

[@nookynooky]

GIVE THIS GUY MORE LIKESSSS

[@salmaahmad1458]

Your art style is sooo pretty ❤❤❤❤

[@ThemissingJem_09]

Wow! Such an underrated creator!!!

[@Datache]

Thanks!

[@0meleartz]

5:43 Canon

[@nookynooky]

i love your luffy drawing btw omg, wanted to click so badddd

[@Lefilia]

I don't like characters in good future designs. I mean female designs. Male cast look older, they have beards and wrinkles and still look cool. But female cast look the same but in other hair style. 20 year old Nami looks the same like 60 year old Nami. And we know that Oda can draw good looking old womans for example dr Kureha and Tsuru from marines

[@gavin5724]

That’s kind of how Oda is. Can’t fault the man for doing what he personally wants, especially because he knows that people complain about the female designs and how they are mostly shaped the same. But he leans into the joke.

[@crocoboi7936]

Fair complaint

[@TheCursed1ne]

Amazing analysis 👏

[@Datache]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@gemmacruz6356]

Whole heartedly agree at 5:43 👍 But great analysis 👏 👍 👌 Oda has good designs, he understands what it means to design a good character. Hes just being held back by his lack of anatomy skills. If he had Ryoko Kui (Delicious In Dungeon mangaka) level of understanding One Piece would be way better. She makes her characters with different faces, shapes and sizes plus with different armor. There are even different races and species. Her female characters are beautiful and sexy wothout the fan service, without being overly showy. I aspire to have her level of understanding of anatomy and characters design. I understand Oda has his art style but that doesn't mean he still can't expand on it. Most of the princess in one piece look like a different hair colored Nami. Some are similar to Robin. One piece has amazing female characters but their designs fall flat. Rebecca always made me feel wronged... and disturbed. The whole excuse for being in light amor (meaning shes not wearing much) is such a bullsh*t excuse because leather armor exist and guess what... its light. And leather is more protection than nothing! I love One Piece but its not perfect ❤ sorry i ranted to long

[@crocoboi7936]

I’d say oda does have very good anotomy skills. Making characters look that wierd and big but still feel like they make sense in their world takes a lot of skills. Also oda can do good and unique character designs he just doesn’t want to because he likes the classic nami design (which is modelled after his wife). Take that as you will.

[@IsabellaMathew]

To be honest, one piece of style is one of my favorite out of anime. Mainly because they’re not afraid of getting weird with their designs. Most anime I see make their designs a bit too, Safe.

[@Ronin11111111]

Love how every One Piece video feels compelled to complain about Odas female designs, yet they only ever bring up Rebbeca. On one hand, she's the most obvious example, but on the other hand she's also really the only example. Listing out the exceptions would take far longer than listing the examples.

[@Datache]

My issue with the female designs is mainly just that they all have an identical body type with little variation, so Rebecca is just the perfect example for it since her appearance absolutely does not represent her situation. Also she's 16 why is she in a metal thong

[@Ronin11111111]

@@Datache Because Doflamingo put her in it to humiliate her. If you think that's an insufficient explanation, fair enough, but it's the reason.

[@carimeslockdownedtree2654]

There are a bunch of female characters who make it seem like the only options are "very conventionally attractive" or "meant to look hideous by making them fat or giving them a weird face, often both", while men are able to get many other cartoony body types (and that is not in question at all - just compare how cartoony in creative ways men can get on the regular, while women are far and few in between. Or not even "cartoony", just creative faces). The reason it's hard to pick examples for it is how prevalent it is. Honestly, it's much easier to pick examples of the contraire. Not all women have to be well-endowed and thin, and fat women can be gorgeous as well. It would do wonders for a bit of variety, in modern One Piece. If anything, just for stronger character designs. Charlotte Smoothie is still thin, but not that much in comparison and you can TELL how strong she is immediately, not shying away from how she could pop you in an instant, and I really wanna see more designs like that. Compare her to the average op woman and you'll see what I mean. I hope I'm making any sense.

[@crocoboi7936]

@@carimeslockdownedtree2654your take is basically my stance on the female character designs.

[@filippvarelis1999]

One piece 👍

[@sea-bass5423]

Is that the wilson death sound effect??

[@flamingnose2492]

Tyrion Cuthbert OST!!

[@pyrielt]

Exactly that

[@DaO2442]

when I heard you talk about black one pice characters, I thought you'd mention Aokiji

[@RWR785]

Could you do a video on Ben 10’s character designs? Including both humans and aliens

[@PowerSpirit50]

I think the background music is too loud.

[@Datache]

Thanks, I had a mix of issues with the audio for this one, I'll make sure to keep it quiter from now on

[@steampunk1902]

didnt oda say that one of the main reasons why he decide to take his tame with OP its because he love creating new characters?

[@raikaschieck1634]

good video. but the music in the backgroung is to loud. your voice cant be heard at times

[@Pajarocaro]

Cool video! I don't if it's just me but I feel like the audio balance is off, it's a little hard to understand you.

[@Datache]

Yeahhh, I'll be making music a bit quieter from now on, thanks for the feedback!

[@angelikaskoroszyn8495]

I think that Oda has proven that he can draw non-wacky looking black characters. I think Usopp looks crazy for the sake of it. He doesn't really fall into the typical caricature territory bc his nose is not "black". He's all very goofy on a ship full of goofy people

[@skittlz111]

talk about how they ruined chopper's character and character design

[@crocoboi7936]

How did they ruin his design?

[@skittlz111]

@crocoboi7936 he looks like a toy now not a real life thing

[@crocoboi7936]

@@skittlz111 he never looked like a real reindeer even pre timeskip

[@skittlz111]

@@crocoboi7936 It's less that he doesn't look like a "real reindeer" and more he doesn't even look like something organic anymore. Whenever I see his post time-skip design, to me he just looks like a funko-pop or a bobble-head instead of a real, organic thing

[@crocoboi7936]

@@skittlz111 to be fair there are lots of one piece animals like that.

[@nobrainz9222]

how dare you calling young big mom "monstrosity"

[@koatam]

Oda makes 1000+ named characters. 3 of them have a similar face to nami so. AlL oNe PiEcE gIrLs LoOk ThE sAmE.

[@toastedbread-t3r]

ive always thought that the men’s body types were just as limited as the women’s, for men they’re either skinny, fat, muscular, or goofy (umbrella term). the women just don’t have the macular body type like the men do, plus it’s more noticeable on them bc of their boobs

[@crocoboi7936]

That’s kind of true because there are lots of males that have the same face too like the zoro type face (yonji, smoker etc) and the luffy type face (sabo, Coby etc) Also every man literally has a 6 pack I’m not kidding every pretineskip usopp and pre timeskip Coby has one.

[@Frogofwiseness]

5:00 thats it, unsubbed

[@meurqsus]

i mean, he's not wrong...