Best PS3 Themes

Hellsing
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Alucard
Genre	Action[1] Dark fantasy[2][3] Vampire[4]
Manga
Written by	Kouta Hirano
Published by	Shōnen Gahōsha
English publisher	AUS: Madman Entertainment NA: Dark Horse Comics Digital Manga SG: Chuang Yi
Imprint	Young King Comics
Magazine	Young King OURs
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	April 30, 1997 – September 30, 2008
Volumes	10 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by	Umanosuke Iida (chief) Yasunori Urata
Written by	Chiaki J. Konaka
Music by	Yasushi Ishii
Studio	Gonzo
Licensed by	Crunchyroll AUS: Madman Entertainment UK: Manga Entertainment
Original network	Fuji TV
English network	US: Encore Action
Original run	October 11, 2001 – January 17, 2002
Episodes	13 (List of episodes)
Manga
Hellsing: The Dawn
Written by	Kouta Hirano
Published by	Shōnen Gahosha
Magazine	Young King OURs Zōkan
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	March 2002 – March 2006
Original video animation
Hellsing Ultimate
Directed by	Tomokazu Tokoro (1–4) Hiroyuki Tanaka (5–7) Yasuhiro Matsumura (8–10) Kenichi Suzuki (8–10)
Produced by	Yasuyuki Ueda Yoshiyuki Fudetani
Written by	Yōsuke Kuroda Hideyuki Kurata
Music by	Hayato Matsuo
Studio	Satelight (1–4) Madhouse (5–7) Graphinica (8–10)
Licensed by	Crunchyroll AUS: Madman Entertainment UK: Manga Entertainment
Released	February 10, 2006 – December 26, 2012
Runtime	42–68 minutes
Episodes	10 (List of episodes)
Original video animation
Hellsing: The Dawn
Produced by	Hiroki Yoshioka
Music by	Hayato Matsuo
Studio	Graphinica
Released	July 27, 2011 – December 26, 2012
Runtime	6–9 minutes
Episodes	3 (List of episodes)

Hellsing (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It was serialized in Shōnen Gahōsha's seinen manga magazine Young King OURs from April 1997 to September 2008, with its chapters collected in ten tankōbon volumes. The series chronicles the efforts of the mysterious and secret Hellsing Organization as it combats vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural foes who threaten England. The series was licensed for English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics. From 2002 to 2006, Hirano released a six-chapter prequel series, Hellsing: The Dawn, in Young King OURs Zōkan (later Young King OURs+ before ceasing publication).

A thirteen-episode anime television series adaptation by Gonzo, directed by Umanosuke Iida and Yasunori Urata, with screenplay by Chiaki J. Konaka, was broadcast on Fuji TV from October 2001 to January 2002. A ten-episode original video animation (OVA), titled Hellsing Ultimate, was produced by Geneon. It followed the manga storyline more closely than the anime series.^[5] It was released between February 2006 and December 2012. In North America, both the TV series and the OVA were first licensed by Geneon Entertainment and later by Funimation. Following the announcement that Funimation would be unified under the Crunchyroll brand, both Hellsing and Hellsing Ultimate were moved to the platform in 2022.

Plot[edit]

Hellsing is named after and centered around the Royal Order of Protestant Knights originally led by Abraham Van Helsing. The mission of Hellsing is to search for and destroy the undead and other supernatural forces of evil that threaten the queen and the country. This organization is currently led by Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who inherited the leadership of Hellsing as a child after the death of her father. She witnessed his death which turned her from a once innocent and shy little girl to a tough and deadly force. She is protected by the faithful Hellsing family butler Walter C. Dornez, a deadly foe in his own right, and Alucard, the original and most powerful vampire, who swore loyalty to the Hellsing family after being defeated by Van Helsing one hundred years before the story takes place. These formidable guardians are joined early on in the storyline by former police officer Seras Victoria, whom Alucard turned into a vampire.

As the scale and frequency of incidents involving the undead escalate in England and all around the world, Sir Integra discovers that the remnants of a Nazi group called Millennium still exist and are intent on reviving Nazi Germany by creating a battalion of vampires. Millennium, Hellsing, and the Vatican section XIII Iscariot clash in an apocalyptic three-sided war in London, and Millennium reveals its true objective: to destroy the vampire lord Alucard, ending a feud begun during World War II.

Production[edit]

In 1996, manga author Kouta Hirano published a one-shot, titled Hellsing: The Legends of Vampire Hunter, in Wanimagazine's hentai magazine Comic Kairakuten.^[6][7] Hirano commented that it was not his intention to create a story of this genre, and that he only wanted to create a "somewhat daring" action story.^[8] Hirano said that the original story did not take him long to create, and that the fact that he was drawing hentai at the time afforded him the opportunity to have it published.^[9] Afterwards, Hirano considered to create another story, using the same setting, removing the erotic side and focusing more on the action, explaining that this was the origin of Hellsing. Given its "atypical" universe, Hirano and the publisher Shōnen Gahōsha decided to test the reception with readers, explaining that that was the reason why the start of the series may seem "a little disjointed", and that after the reception turned out to be positive, it was decided to make it a serialized work.^[8]

Hirano stated that he wanted to make a story with gunplay, but that a story of vampires with guns would not work with Alucard being portrayed as a "formulaic vampire", so Hirano added him a hat and a long coat, stating: "[i]t's still dark and ominous, but just more suited to his behavior. I always come up with the characters before the story."^[9] Hirano said that he received various comments comparing Alucard's design to Vash the Stampede from Trigun (whose continuation, Trigun Maximum, was also published in Young King OURs), expressing that he "shouldn't have given him the sunglasses".^[10] Hirano said that, due to the "dark, desolate story", he wanted to create someone who made the series "a bit warmer" and a female character involved as well, so he created the character of Seras Victoria, who offered the opportunity "for both of those at the same time", adding that she is "the only one who stands out from the darkness."^[9] Hirano commented that for the references to historical characters, mythology, and pop culture featured in the series, he did not do specific research, stating that he is not "someone with a lot of culture", but "just an otaku", and that all the references came from what he had seen and read out of "otaku passion".^[8]

The anime producer, Yasuyuki Ueda, commented that for Hellsing Ultimate he wanted to make it as an original video animation (OVA) instead of a television series due to the time limit that implies the former, and since he was a fan of the series, he wanted to take more time to "get more out of my system from the manga", adding that the OVA allowed him to do much more than the TV series. He discussed it with writer Yōsuke Kuroda and he agreed to write the script. Ueda commented, at the time, that various series were using CG animation, which he said that was "very time-consuming", especially when incorporating it to traditional animation, but that since the project would be an OVA, they did have the "luxury" to work with it, and that he wanted to use it for the weaponry and bullets to make them look realistic.^[9]

Media[edit]

Manga[edit]

Written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano, Hellsing was serialized for eleven years in Shōnen Gahōsha's seinen manga magazine Young King OURs from April 30, 1997,^[a] to September 30, 2008.^[13] Its 89 individual chapters were collected by Shōnen Gahōsha in ten tankōbon volumes, released from September 24, 1998,^[14] to March 27, 2009.^[15]

In North America, the series was licensed for English release by Dark Horse Comics in 2003.^[16] The ten volumes were released from December 1, 2003,^[17] to May 19, 2010.^[18] In January 2020, Dark Horse Comics announced that they would re-release the series in a three-volume deluxe edition, with over 600 pages each.^[19] The volumes were released from July 15, 2020, to June 16, 2021.^[20][21][22]

Chuang Yi licensed the series in English in Singapore.^[23] Madman Entertainment released the series in Australia and New Zealand.^[24]

Crossfire[edit]

Crossfire is a three-chapter one-shot story, which was published in the defunct Hobby Japan's magazine Comic Master [ja].^[10] It follows Heinkel Wolfe and Yumie Takagi, a Catholic nun and an assassin who work for the Iscariot organization. They call themselves "earthly agents of divine punishment". Crossfire also has cameos by Alexander Anderson and Enrico Maxwell, the head of Iscariot. Across the three chapters, Heinkel and Yumie face a variety of opposition, including Islamic terrorists, communist revolutionaries, and finally, an obscure pagan cult. Crossfire as a side work was discontinued by Kouta Hirano, but it was republished in the first three volumes of Hellsing as an extra. Crossfire was adapted into a drama CD and included in Hellsing Ultimate OVA 6 and 7.

Hellsing: The Dawn[edit]

A prequel series, titled Hellsing: The Dawn, was published Young King OURs Zōkan (later Young King OURs+ before being discontinued),^[25] with six chapters released from the March 2002 to the March 2006 issues;^[26] the series remains incomplete.^[6] The Dawn features a fourteen-year-old Walter C. Dornez and Alucard, in the form of a young girl, attacking Millennium's base of operations in Nazi-controlled Poland in September 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising.

Anime[edit]

The manga was adapted into a thirteen-episode anime television series by Gonzo. The series was directed by Yasunori Urata, under the chief direction of Umanosuke Iida, and written by Chiaki J. Konaka.^[27] The series uses the same characters and settings, but narrates a different story from its source manga.^[28] It was broadcast on Fuji TV from October 11, 2001, to January 17, 2002.^[27] The series opening theme is "Logos Naki World" (ロゴスなきワールド, Rogosu Naki Wārudo, "A World Without Logos") by Yasushi Ishii and the ending theme is "Shine" by Mr. Big.^[27]

In North America, the series was first licensed by Pioneer Entertainment (later Geneon USA).^[29] Four DVD sets were released between July 23, 2002,^[30] and January 21, 2003.^[31] The series was broadcast in the United States on Starz!'s Encore Action channel, as part of its Animidnight late night programming block, starting in October 2003.^[32][33] The series was later acquired by Funimation in 2010;^[34] they released the series on a complete DVD set on November 13, 2012.^[35] Following the announcement that Funimation would be unified under the Crunchyroll brand, the series was moved to the platform in 2022.^[36]

In the United Kingdom, the series was first licensed by ADV Films, who released four DVDs from July 21, 2003,^[37] to January 19, 2004.^[38] The series was later licensed by Manga Entertainment and released on a four-disc box set on August 12, 2013.^[39] In Australia and New Zealand, the series was licensed by Madman Entertainment, who released four DVDs from November 13, 2002, and February 11, 2003.^[40]

Original video animation[edit]

In April 2005, it was announced that a new original video animation (OVA) adaptation, titled Hellsing Ultimate (still known simply as Hellsing in Japan), more faithful to the original manga than the TV series, would be released by Geneon Entertainment in Japan and North America.^[41] The first four episodes of the OVA were animated by Satelight, directed by Tomokazu Tokoro, and written by Yōsuke Kuroda;^[42] they were released from February 10, 2006,^[43] to February 22, 2008.^[44] The three following episodes (5–7) were animated by Madhouse, directed by Hiroyuki Tanaka and written by Kuroda; they were released from November 21, 2008,^[45] to December 23, 2009.^[46] The three last episodes (8–10) were animated by Graphinica,^[47] directed by Yasuhiro Matsumura (8, 10) and Kenichi Suzuki (9 and 10), and written by Kuroda;^[48][49][50] they were released from July 27, 2011,^[51] to December 26, 2012.^[52] Each limited edition of the last three episodes' home video release included an episode of Hellsing: The Dawn.^[53][54][55]

In North America, Geneon Entertainment released the first three episodes from December 5, 2006,^[56] to October 16, 2007.^[57] Geneon announced that they would stop self-distribution of its titles in 2007.^[58] The first two episodes were broadcast on Starz Edge's Animidnight programming block on February 12, 2008;^[59][60] episodes 3 and 4 were also announced to air,^[61] however, the fourth episode was not ready with an English-language track at the time and they were not broadcast.^[62] In 2008, Funimation announced that they would distribute "select" Geneon titles,^[63] and re-released the first three episodes of Hellsing Ultimate on September 16 of the same year,^[64] along with the fourth episode on September 23.^[65] In 2010, Funimation announced that they had licensed episodes 5–7;^[66] in 2011, they announced that they had licensed the 8th episode as well.^[67] Funimation re-released the first four episodes on DVD/Blu-ray Disc sets on October 30, 2012,^[68] while episodes 5–8 were released on the same formats on November 13 of the same year.^[35] Episodes 9–10 were released on October 28, 2014.^[69][70][71] The series was broadcast on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from September 13 to December 13, 2014.^[72][73] Funimation released all the episodes on a Blu-ray Disc set on June 4, 2019.^[74][75] Following the announcement that Funimation would be unified under the Crunchyroll brand, Hellsing Ultimate was moved to the platform in 2022.^[36]

Soundtracks[edit]

The music of the Hellsing anime television series was composed by Yasushi Ishii. Two soundtrack CDs were released: Raid was released on November 22, 2001;^[76] and Ruins was released on February 22, 2002.^[77] In North America, both CDs were released on July 1 and September 2, 2003, respectively.^[78][79]

The music of Hellsing Ultimate was composed by Hayato Matsuo. An extra CD, titled Warsaw Recording Selection, was released with the limited edition of the fourth episode on February 22, 2008.^[80] The original, Black Dog, was released on March 21, 2008;^[81] An extra CD, titled Nazi CD, was released with the limited edition of the first Blu-ray box set on October 22, 2010.^[82] An extra CD, titled Somehow, Iscariote, was released with the limited edition of the second Blu-ray box set on April 1, 2015.^[83]

Live-action film[edit]

In March 2021, it was announced that Amazon Studios is developing a live-action film adaptation of Hellsing with scripts by Derek Kolstad. It will be produced by Kolstad, Automatik's Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger, Ranger 7 Films's Mike Callaghan and Reuben Liber, and Soluble Fish Productions' Jason Lust.^[84]

Reception[edit]

The ten volumes of the Hellsing manga have sold 4 million copies worldwide.^[85] In 2005, the sixth and seventh volumes ranked among Diamond Comics Distributors' list of the top 48 manga volumes sold in the United States for the year.^[86] In November 2007, the ninth volume was among the top 10 volumes sold according to Japan's monthly sales rankings.^[87][88]

In a review of the first volume, Winnie Chow of Animerica commented that the English translation "works to enhance the locations and people of the story", and noted that the original manga contains more comedy elements than its anime adaptation. Chow said that the series' violence is "everywhere, which is only to be expected when one is in the occupation of undead extermination", and that the characters are "magnificent to behold in action when they get into a frenzy, from crushing heads beneath their boot heels to impaling an enemy with an untold number of blessed blades", ultimately stating that Hirano "does violence right".^[89] Reviewing the first volume, Publishers Weekly called the series "mostly a fun, violent romp", stating that the "rather awkward" religious sparring between the Catholic Church and Hellsing, are "goofy details" that give it "some charm and energy". They concluded: "Hirano's storytelling is easy to follow, as stylish close-ups of the "we're-groovy-and-we-know-it" characters explode into violent full-page illustrations of all-out mayhem."^[90] In a review of the first volume, Barb Lien-Cooper of Sequential Tart gave it a 7 out of 10, commending the series for its worldbuilding and pacing, but criticizing the "repetitive violence", stating: "[y]ou've seen one blown off head, you've seen 'em all."^[91] Reviewing the first volume, Justin Rich of AnimeOnDVD gave it a B− grade. Rich commented that the series is consistent with the action, and while he stated that the first volume does not have a "real sense of a continuing arc", "orders here are very enjoyable", and concluded: "[s]itting down and spending some time with the blasé Alucard makes me look forward to the next volume."^[92] Connie C. of Slightly Biased Manga, in her review of the first volume, said: "[i]t's got just the right amount of blood and violence, great art, and I like everything about this series", concluding: "[r]ead it if you're in to this sort of thing, I promise you'll love it if you're not offended."^[93]

Reviewing the fourth volume, Liann Cooper of Anime News Network (ANN) said that one its "greatest strengths" is the impeccable storytelling of Hirano, calling the story "dark and gory", but also "incredibly amusing". Cooper concluded: "[c]ombined with highly detailed artwork and near flawless character designs, every action-packed, blood-spewing battle to each eerie character expression completes one of the most well-rounded manga series I've had the pleasure of reading. This is one horrifically enticing vampire series that you can't afford to miss."^[94] Hilary Goldstein of IGN, in a review of the sixth volume, called it "the best vampire manga around", and that it "clamors forward with a seething wit and a frantic pace, and style that passes beyond gothic grace."^[95] Reviewing the first volume, Ryan Huston of Manga Life gave the first volume a C− grade. Huston wrote that the series "borrow heavily" from the stylistic elements of Blade, Castlevania, The Crow, and BloodRayne,^[b] also calling it "very contrived", stating that "there's nary of whiff of originality", and criticizing the "inconsistent" artwork.^[96] In a more positive review of the eighth volume, Lori Henderson of the same website gave it an A grade. Henderson wrote: "I generally don't read blood-spilling horror manga, but for Hellsing, I make an exception", stating that she was "instantly hooked" by the series, concluding: "Hellsing is a title that totally lives up to its hype. The art is fantastic, and the story strings you along just enough to keep you coming back for more."^[97] Also reviewing the eighth volume, Katherine Dacey of PopCultureShock gave it a B+ grade. Dacey said that the plot of the volume is "absurd", but that "Hirano's bold visuals, insane plot twists, and extended action sequences make for an entertaining read, even when the plot makes absolutely no sense at all."^[98]

Reviewing the tenth and final volume, Davey C. Jones of Active Anime commented that it "doesn't disappoint but it is always sad to see such a great series come to an end", also expressing that the series has a "unique style and an awesome, mind bending anti-hero in Alucard", concluding that it is "hard not to keep from wanting more."^[99] Reviewing the same volume, Connie C., writing for PopCultureShock, gave it a B grade. She commented that the series is "ridiculous, violent, over-the-top, and absolutely revels in its debauchery", and called the epilogue "a little underwhelming", but stated, however, concludedt: "[i]t was violent and action-packed in the most extreme way possible all the way through and quiet moments feel out of place. It revels in depravity and does it better and marginally more coherently than most other series that try it. It's a true legend to the end."^[100] Carl Kimlinger of ANN gave the final volume a B grade. Kimlinger criticized its ending, stating that the final arc "finishes it in an undignified rush", and that it "falls back on some insultingly overused anime cheese to expedite its finish." Kimlinger, however, wrote that "a tired, rushed Hellsing is still Hellsing", adding that "[t]here's still enough demented ultraviolence and bizarre indulgences on display to shame all but the most transgressive of other manga."^[101]

Courtney Kraft of Graphic Novel Reporter said that one of the series' appeal is that "every cast member is very one-dimensional, and yet each is unique, interesting, and memorable", not only commending the main cast

Look up akatsuki in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Akatsuki (暁) may refer to:

• Akatsuki (spacecraft), an uncrewed Venus orbiter
• Akatsuki-class destroyer, any of three classes of destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Japanese destroyer Akatsuki, any of three destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Akatsuki (train), operated between Kyoto and Nagasaki in Japan
• Japanese patrol vessel Akatsuki, launched in 2020
• Akatsuki Japan
  • Japan's national men's basketball team
  • Japan's national women's basketball team

Fiction[edit]

• Akatsuki (TV series), a Japanese television drama series
• Akatsuki (Naruto), a criminal organization in the manga series Naruto
• Akatsuki, a character in the video game Kantai Collection
• ORB-01 Akatsuki, a weapon in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
• Akatsuki, a weapon in the anime series Code Geass
• Akatsuki, a character in the novel series Log Horizon
• Akatsuki Kain, a character in the manga series Vampire Knight
• Akatsuki, a city in the manga series Tegami Bachi
• Akatsuki, a character in the video game Akatsuki Blitzkampf
• Akatsuki Ousawa, a character in the novel series Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero
• Akatsuki Augus-Mixta, a character in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
• Akatsuki, a three man team in the video game .hack//G.U. Volume I //Rebirth
• Kirika Akatsuki, a character in the anime series Symphogear

See also[edit]

• All pages with titles containing Akatsuki
• Ōmagatoki, a Japanese word for "dusk"

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Akatsuki.
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Look up akatsuki in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Akatsuki (暁) may refer to:

• Akatsuki (spacecraft), an uncrewed Venus orbiter
• Akatsuki-class destroyer, any of three classes of destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Japanese destroyer Akatsuki, any of three destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Akatsuki (train), operated between Kyoto and Nagasaki in Japan
• Japanese patrol vessel Akatsuki, launched in 2020
• Akatsuki Japan
  • Japan's national men's basketball team
  • Japan's national women's basketball team

Fiction[edit]

• Akatsuki (TV series), a Japanese television drama series
• Akatsuki (Naruto), a criminal organization in the manga series Naruto
• Akatsuki, a character in the video game Kantai Collection
• ORB-01 Akatsuki, a weapon in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
• Akatsuki, a weapon in the anime series Code Geass
• Akatsuki, a character in the novel series Log Horizon
• Akatsuki Kain, a character in the manga series Vampire Knight
• Akatsuki, a city in the manga series Tegami Bachi
• Akatsuki, a character in the video game Akatsuki Blitzkampf
• Akatsuki Ousawa, a character in the novel series Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero
• Akatsuki Augus-Mixta, a character in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
• Akatsuki, a three man team in the video game .hack//G.U. Volume I //Rebirth
• Kirika Akatsuki, a character in the anime series Symphogear

See also[edit]

• All pages with titles containing Akatsuki
• Ōmagatoki, a Japanese word for "dusk"

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Akatsuki.
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

One Piece
61st tankōbon volume cover, featuring Monkey D. Luffy (center) and the Straw Hat Pirates
Genre	Adventure[1] Fantasy[1] Science fiction[1]
Manga
Written by	Eiichiro Oda
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	AUS: Madman Entertainment NA/UK: Viz Media
Imprint	Jump Comics
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
English magazine	NA: Shonen Jump Weekly Shonen Jump
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	July 22, 1997 – present
Volumes	108 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
One Piece (1999–present)
Media franchise
List of One Piece media List of One Piece films One Piece live action series List of One Piece video games Music of One Piece
Anime and manga portal

One Piece (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump since July 1997, with its individual chapters compiled in 108 tankōbon volumes as of March 2024^[update]. The story follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, where he explores the Grand Line in search of the mythical treasure known as the "One Piece" in order to become the next King of the Pirates.

The manga spawned a media franchise, having been adapted into a festival film by Production I.G, and an anime series by Toei Animation, which began broadcasting in 1999. Additionally, Toei has developed fourteen animated feature films, one original video animation, and thirteen television specials. Several companies have developed various types of merchandising and media, such as a trading card game and numerous video games. The manga series was licensed for an English language release in North America and the United Kingdom by Viz Media and in Australia by Madman Entertainment. The anime series was licensed by 4Kids Entertainment for an English-language release in North America in 2004 before the license was dropped and subsequently acquired by Funimation in 2007.

One Piece has received praise for its storytelling, world-building, art, characterization, and humor. It has received many awards and is ranked by critics, reviewers, and readers as one of the best manga of all time. By August 2022, it had over 516.6 million copies in circulation in 61 countries and regions worldwide, making it the best-selling manga series in history, and the best-selling comic series printed in book volume. Several volumes of the manga have broken publishing records, including the highest initial print run of any book in Japan. In 2015 and 2022, One Piece set the Guinness World Record for "the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author". It was the best-selling manga for eleven consecutive years from 2008 to 2018, and is the only manga that had an initial print of volumes of above 3 million continuously for more than 10 years, as well as the only that had achieved more than 1 million copies sold in all of its over 100 published tankōbon volumes. One Piece is the only manga whose volumes have ranked first every year in Oricon's weekly comic chart existence since 2008.

Synopsis[edit]

Setting[edit]

The world of One Piece is populated by humans and other races such as dwarves (more akin to faeries in size), giants, merfolk, fish-men, long-limbed tribes, long-necked people known as the Snakeneck Tribe, and animal people (known as "Minks"). The world is governed by an intercontinental organization known as the World Government, consisting of dozens of member countries. The Navy is the sea military branch of the World Government that protects the known seas from pirates and other criminals. There is also Cipher Pol which is a group of agencies within the World Government that are their secret police. While pirates are major opponents against the Government, the ones who really challenge their rule are the Revolutionary Army who seeks to overthrow them. The central tension of the series pits the World Government and their forces against pirates. The series regularly emphasizes moral ambiguity over the label "pirate", which includes cruel villains, but also any individuals that do not submit to the World Government's authoritarian—and often morally ambiguous—rule. The One Piece world also has supernormal characteristics like Devil Fruits,^{[Jp 1]} which are mysterious fruits that grant whoever eats them transformative powers. Another supernatural power is Haki,^{[Jp 2]} which grants its users enhanced willpower, observation, and fighting abilities, and it is one of the only effective methods of inflicting bodily harm on certain Devil Fruit users.

The world itself consists of two vast oceans divided by a massive mountain range called the Red Line.^{[Jp 3]} Within the oceans is a second global phenomenon known as the Grand Line,^{[Jp 4]} which is a sea that runs perpendicular to the Red Line and is bounded by the Calm Belt,^{[Jp 5]} strips of calm ocean infested with huge ship-eating monsters known as Sea Kings.^{[Jp 6]} These geographical barriers divide the world into four seas: North Blue,^{[Jp 7]} East Blue,^{[Jp 8]} West Blue,^{[Jp 9]} and South Blue.^{[Jp 10]} Passage between the four seas, and the Grand Line, is therefore difficult. Unique and mystical features enable transport between the seas, such as the use of Sea Prism Stone^{[Jp 11]} employed by government ships to mask their presence as they traverse the Calm Belt, or the Reverse Mountain^{[Jp 12]} where water from the four seas flows uphill before merging into a rapidly flowing and dangerous canal that enters the Grand Line. The Grand Line itself is split into two separate halves with the Red Line between being Paradise^{[Jp 13]} and the New World.^{[Jp 14]}

Premise[edit]

The series focuses on Monkey D. Luffy—a young man made of rubber after unintentionally eating a Devil Fruit—who sets off on a journey from the East Blue Sea to find the deceased King of the Pirates Gol D. Roger's ultimate treasure known as the "One Piece", and take over his prior title. In an effort to organize his own crew, the Straw Hat Pirates,^{[Jp 15]} Luffy rescues and befriends a pirate hunter and swordsman named Roronoa Zoro, and they head off in search of the titular treasure. They are joined in their journey by Nami, a money-obsessed thief and navigator; Usopp, a sniper and compulsive liar; and Sanji, an amorous but chivalrous cook. They acquire a ship, the Going Merry^{[Jp 16]}—later replaced by the Thousand Sunny^{[Jp 17]}—and engage in confrontations with notorious pirates. As Luffy and his crew set out on their adventures, others join the crew later in the series, including Tony Tony Chopper, an anthropomorphized reindeer doctor; Nico Robin, an archaeologist and former Baroque Works assassin; Franky, a cyborg shipwright; Brook, a skeleton musician and swordsman; and Jimbei, a whale shark-type fish-man and former member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea who becomes their helmsman. Together, they encounter other pirates, bounty hunters, criminal organizations, revolutionaries, secret agents, different types of scientists, soldiers of the morally-ambiguous World Government, and various other friends and foes, as they sail the seas in pursuit of their dreams.

Production[edit]

Concept and creation[edit]

Eiichiro Oda's interest in pirates began in his childhood, watching the animated series Vicky the Viking, which inspired him to want to draw a manga series about pirates.^[2] The reading of pirate biographies influenced Oda to incorporate the characteristics of real-life pirates into many of the characters in One Piece; for example, the character Marshall D. Teach is based on and named after the historical pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach.^[3] Apart from the history of piracy, Oda's biggest influence is Akira Toriyama and his series Dragon Ball, which is one of his favorite manga.^[4] He was also inspired by The Wizard of Oz, claiming not to endure stories where the reward of adventure is the adventure itself, opting for a story where travel is important, but even more important is the goal.^[5]

While working as an assistant to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Oda began writing One Piece in 1996.^[6] It started as two one-shot stories entitled Romance Dawn^[6]—which would later be used as the title for One Piece's first chapter and volume. They both featured the character of Luffy, and included elements that would appear later in the main series. The first of these short stories was published in August 1996 in Akamaru Jump, and reprinted in 2002 in One Piece Red guidebook. The second was published in the 41st issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1996, and reprinted in 1998 in Oda's short story collection, Wanted!^[7] In an interview with TBS, Takanori Asada, the original editor of One Piece, revealed that the manga was rejected by Weekly Shōnen Jump three times before Shueisha agreed to publish the series.^[8]

Development[edit]

Oda's primary inspiration for the concept of Devil Fruits was Doraemon; the Fruits' abilities and uses reflect Oda's daily life and his personal fantasies, similar to that of Doraemon's gadgets, such as the Gum-Gum Fruit being inspired by Oda's laziness.^[9] When designing the outward appearance of Devil Fruits Oda thinks of something that would fulfill a human desire; he added that he does not see why he would draw a Devil Fruit unless the fruit's appearance would entice one to eat it.^[10] The names of many special attacks, as well as other concepts in the manga, consist of a form of punning in which phrases written in kanji are paired with an idiosyncratic reading. The names of some characters' techniques are often mixed with other languages, and the names of several of Zoro's sword techniques are designed as jokes; they look fearsome when read by sight but sound like kinds of food when read aloud. For example, Zoro's signature move is Onigiri, which is written as demon cut but is pronounced the same as rice ball in Japanese. Eisaku Inoue, the animation director, has said that the creators did not use these kanji readings in the anime since they "might have cut down the laughs by about half".^[11] Nevertheless, Konosuke Uda, the director, said that he believes that the creators "made the anime pretty close to the manga".^[11]

Oda was "sensitive" about how his work would be translated.^[12] In many instances, the English version of the One Piece manga uses one onomatopoeia for multiple onomatopoeia used in the Japanese version. For instance, "saaa" (the sound of light rain, close to a mist) and "zaaa" (the sound of pouring rain) are both translated as "fshhhhhhh".^[13] Unlike other manga artists, Oda draws everything that moves himself to create a consistent look while leaving his staff to draw the backgrounds based on sketches he has drawn.^[14] This workload forces him to keep tight production rates, starting from five in the morning until two in the morning the next day, with short breaks only for meals. Oda's work program includes the first three days of the week dedicated to the writing of the storyboard and the remaining time for the definitive inking of the boards and for the possible coloring.^[15] When a reader asked who Nami was in love with, Oda replied that there would hardly be any love affairs within Luffy's crew. The author also explained he deliberately avoids including them in One Piece since the series is a shōnen manga and the boys who read it are not interested in love stories.^[16]

Conclusion[edit]

Oda revealed that he originally planned One Piece to last five years, and that he had already planned the ending. However, he found it would take longer than he had expected as Oda realized that he liked the story too much to end it in that period of time.^[17] In 2016, nineteen years after the start of serialization, the author said that the manga has reached 65% of the story he intends to tell.^[18] In July 2018, on the occasion of the twenty-first anniversary of One Piece, Oda said that the manga has reached 80% of the plot,^[19] while in January 2019, he said that One Piece is on its way to the conclusion, but that it could exceed the 100th volume.^[20] In August 2019, Oda said that, according to his predictions, the manga will end between 2024 and 2025.^[21] However, Oda stated that the ending would be what he had decided in the beginning; he is committed to seeing it through.^[22] In a television special aired in Japan, Oda said he would be willing to change the ending if the fans were to be able to predict it.^[5] In August 2020, Shueisha announced in the year's 35th issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump that One Piece was "headed toward the upcoming final saga."^[23] On January 4, 2021, One Piece reached its thousandth chapter.^[24][25][26] In June 2022, Oda announced that the manga would enter a one-month break to prepare for its 25th anniversary and its final saga, set to begin with the release of chapter 1054.^[27]

Media[edit]

Manga[edit]

Written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece has been serialized by Shueisha in the shōnen manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump since July 22, 1997.^[28][29] Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on December 24, 1997.^[30] By March 4, 2024, a total of 108 volumes have been released.^[31]

The first English translation of One Piece was released by Viz Media in November 2002, who published its chapters in the manga anthology Shonen Jump, and later collected in volumes since June 30, 2003.^[32][33][34] In 2009, Viz announced the release of five volumes per month during the first half of 2010 to catch up with the serialization in Japan.^[35] Following the discontinuation of the print Shonen Jump, Viz began releasing One Piece chapterwise in its digital successor Weekly Shonen Jump on January 30, 2012.^[36] Following the digital Weekly Shonen Jump's cancelation in December 2018, Viz Media started simultaneously publishing One Piece through its Shonen Jump service, and by Shueisha through Manga Plus, in January 2019.^[37][38]

In the United Kingdom, the volumes were published by Gollancz Manga, starting in March 2006,^[39] until Viz Media took it over after the fourteenth volume.^[40][41] In Australia and New Zealand, the English volumes have been distributed by Madman Entertainment since November 10, 2008.^[42] In Poland, Japonica Polonica Fantastica is publishing the manga,^[43] Glénat in France,^[44] Panini Comics in Mexico,^[45] LARP Editores and later by Ivrea in Argentina,^[46][47] Planeta de Libros in Spain,^[48] Edizioni Star Comics in Italy,^[49] and Sangatsu Manga in Finland.^[50]

Spin-offs and crossovers[edit]

Oda teamed up with Akira Toriyama to create a single crossover of One Piece and Toriyama's Dragon Ball. Entitled Cross Epoch, the one-shot was published in the December 25, 2006, issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump and the April 2011 issue of the English Shonen Jump.^[51] Oda collaborated with Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro, author of Toriko, for a crossover one-shot of their series titled Taste of the Devil Fruit (実食! 悪魔の実!!, Jitsushoku! Akuma no Mi!!, lit. 'The True Food! Devil Fruit!!'),^[52] which ran in the April 4, 2011, issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump. The spin-off series One Piece Party (ワンピースパーティー, Wan Pīsu Pātī), written by Ei Andō in a super deformed art style, began serialization in the January 2015 issue of Saikyō Jump.^[53] Its final chapter was published on Shōnen Jump+ on February 2, 2021.^[54]

Anime[edit]

Festival films and original video animation[edit]

One Piece: Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack! was produced by Production I.G for the 1998 Jump Super Anime Tour and was directed by Gorō Taniguchi.^[55] Luffy, Nami, and Zoro are attacked by a sea monster that destroys their boat and separates them. Luffy is found on an island beach, where he saves a little girl, Medaka, from two pirates. All the villagers, including Medaka's father have been abducted by Ganzack and his crew and forced into labor. After hearing that Ganzack also stole all the food, Luffy and Zoro rush out to retrieve it. As they fight the pirates, one of them kidnaps Medaka. A fight starts between Luffy and Ganzack, ending with Luffy's capture. Meanwhile, Zoro is forced to give up after a threat is made to kill all the villagers. They rise up against Ganzack, and while the islanders and pirates fight, Nami unlocks the three captives. Ganzack defeats the rebellion and reveals his armored battleship. The Straw Hat Pirates are forced to fight Ganzack once more to prevent him from destroying the island.

A second film, One Piece: Romance Dawn Story, was produced by Toei Animation in July 2008 for the Jump Super Anime Tour. It is 34 minutes in length and based on the first version of Romance Dawn.^[56][7] It includes the Straw Hat Pirates up to Brook and their second ship, the Thousand Sunny. In search for food for his crew, Luffy arrives at a port after defeating a pirate named Crescent Moon Gally on the way. There he meets a girl named Silk, who was abandoned by attacking pirates as a baby and raised by the mayor. Her upbringing causes her to value the town as her "treasure". The villagers mistake Luffy for Gally and capture him just as the real Gally returns. Gally throws Luffy in the water and plans to destroy the town, but Silk saves him and Luffy pursues Gally. His crew arrives to help him, and with their help he recovers the treasure for the town, acquires food, and destroys Gally's ship. The film was later released as a triple feature DVD with Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! and Tegami Bachi: Light and Blue Night, that was available only though a mail-in offer exclusively to Japanese residents.^[57]

The One Piece Film Strong World: Episode 0 original video animation adapts the manga's special "Chapter 0", which shows how things were before and after the death of Roger. It received a limited release of three thousand DVDs as a collaboration with the House Foods brand.^[58]

1999 TV series[edit]

An anime television series adaptation produced by Toei Animation premiered on Fuji Television on October 20, 1999;^[59] the series reached its 1,000th episode in November 2021.^[60]

Upcoming TV series[edit]

In December 2023 at the Jump Festa '24 event, it was announced that Wit Studio would be producing an anime series remake for Netflix, restarting from the East Blue story arc, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original anime series. The remake will be titled The One Piece.^[61]

Theatrical films[edit]

Fourteen animated theatrical films based on the One Piece series have been released. The films are typically released in March to coincide with the spring vacation of Japanese schools.^[62] The films feature self-contained, completely original plots, or alternate retellings of story arcs with animation of a higher quality than what the weekly anime allows. The first three films were typically double features paired up with other anime films, and were thus usually an hour or less in length. The films themselves offer contradictions in both chronology and design that make them incompatible with a single continuity. Funimation has licensed the eighth, tenth, and twelfth films for release in North America, and these films have received in-house dubs by the company.^[63][64]

Live-action series[edit]

On July 21, 2017, Weekly Shōnen Jump editor-in-chief Hiroyuki Nakano announced that Tomorrow Studios (a partnership between Marty Adelstein and ITV Studios) and Shueisha would commence production of an American live-action television adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga series as part of the series' 20th anniversary celebrations.^[65][66] Eiichiro Oda served as executive producer for the series alongside Tomorrow Studios CEO Adelstein and Becky Clements.^[66] The series would reportedly begin with the East Blue arc.^[67]

In January 2020, Oda revealed that Netflix ordered a first season consisting of ten episodes.^[68] On May 19, 2020, producer Marty Adelstein revealed during an interview with SyFy Wire, that the series was originally set to begin filming in Cape Town sometime around August, but has since been delayed to around September due to COVID-19. He also revealed that, during the same interview, all ten scripts had been written for the series and they were set to begin casting sometime in June.^[69] However, executive producer Matt Owens stated in September 2020 that casting had not yet commenced.^[70] On September 15, 2023, Oda revealed that the show has been renewed for the second season.^[71]

In March 2021, production started up again with showrunner Steven Maeda revealing that the series codename is Project Roger.^[72] In November 2021, it was announced that the casting for the series includes Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero Gibson as Usopp and Taz Skylar as Sanji.^[73][74] In March 2022, Netflix added Morgan Davies as Koby, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Alvida, Aidan Scott as Helmeppo, Jeff Ward as Buggy, McKinley Belcher III as Arlong, Vincent Regan as