One Piece recently released its 1000th chapter, which sets a milestone for this legendary series. Without a doubt, One Piece is one of the most popular manga ever created that has been successfully going on for so many years.
The man behind the creation of One Piece is Eiichiro Oda, and he deserves all the praise for creating such a masterpiece that kept a whole generation of fans hooked to anime and manga. It is not easy for any series to remain on top for such a long time. This is because there is a big possibility that the series will start losing its audience over time if it fails to keep the plot engaging. Nowadays, fans want the story to be compact and crisp. They don't want a story to be dragged on simply without direction. But the genius Eiichiro Oda excelled at this aspect, and with each new arc came a whole new level of excitement.
Beginning
The publishing of One Piece started way back in 1997, just like any other shonen manga. We read about a little boy named Monkey.D.Luffy whose dream was to become the King of Pirates. Luffy was very different from an average shonen protagonist. He had extraordinary power, but his hard work and intelligence made this power competitive. Within two years, the series was taken up for animation, and almost 23 years have passed after that. However, One Piece still hasn't lost its touch of magic. We are always looking forward to the next episode or the next chapter to get mesmerized all over again.
Why Is One Piece So Special?
Crossing the 1000th chapter mark is a significant achievement, but that is not what makes One Piece special. Even Detective Conan crossed the 1000th chapter mark, but we didn't see much hype. This is because there is a massive difference between the fanbase of One Piece and other manga. It is so great that multiple YouTube channels focused only on this particular series. Even Oda sensei himself admitted that he is aware of it and knows the kind of effect on people.
The Ultimate Treasure
One Piece is a series of mystery, adventure, fun, friendship, and almost everything you can name. But the most significant aspect that helps One Piece retain fans is its mind-blowing twists and lore. There are many fan theories online regarding One Piece's mysteries, and fans are crazy about them. After all, the title of this series is based on the biggest treasure left behind by Gol D. Roger, which is mostly known as the 'One Piece'. But even after all these episodes and chapters, we don't seem any closer to that treasure.
Instead, new mysteries keep piling up with each new turn in the story that makes us wonder when One Piece will end. Although Eiichiro Oda recently has said that this legendary series will finish within two to three years, we will not be surprised if it continues for five more years.
Diverse Cast
Another fundamental reason for its sustained popularity is the vast diversity of characters present in One Piece. Sometimes, it even becomes difficult to keep track of them, which makes One Piece so special. There are unique backstories for every other character that plays a big part in their development. And with such a long cast of characters, fans can relate to one or two of them, which helps build a connection to the story. They feel that they are also a part of the world in One Piece, which keeps them hooked to the story.
