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My biggest wish is that when One Piece finally ends, fans all around the world gather in their own way to have a massive banquet. Complete with musicians and chopsticks in noses, of course.
I love how likeable Luffy is in-universe. He's not an unpopular underdog in the colosseum, he's the fan favorite. Many of his enemies end up rooting for him, even against themselves.
How many former enemies also turn ally? And honestly, how many genuinely good marines would actively be willing to oppose Luffy? Garp? Already hesitates. Coby? By this point he would likely ally with Luffy. Aokiji himself while still opposition, probably thinks very highly of Luffy. And Fujitora is as close to a friend in the Admiralty as it gets, to the point he probably will turn against the government at this point.
@@thomasallen9974go read the manga again 😭😭😭. Off the top of my head Koby, Garp, Bellamy, Gaimon, Both Giant Captains, Vivi, Buggy, and honestly probably a crap ton more if I spent more than a few seconds to type this.
Luffy being "God's natural enemy" is my favourite aspect of him. Tyrant after tyrant seeing themselves as a god and having this smiling idiot come through and destroy all they've built is so endlessly satisfying.
@@frauleinzuckerguss1906 He's not the god of liberty, he's the sun god He embodies liberty and kindness and joy, because he is the god of the sun, the god of the place no one lives in, the god of a land that provides endless energy and love and light and freedom to see to all of the people of earth. Sun God Nika, and the closest living representation of the concept, Monkey D. Luffy 👍👍👍
The Tenryubito see themselves as Gods. And their way of thinking is the anthitesis of Luffy's personal philosophies. Also, the Sun is the "original" God, it was the first thing we know people worshipped. The planets (Elders, Ancient Weapons) revolve around the Sun. Luffy is the "true sun", where as Imu is the "false sun", or false god. Everything is in disarray as long as the planets revolve around the false god. Luffy is the "natural" enemy of the (false) God Imu, in the sense that the planets submitting to Luffy is natural, and the current order is unnatural. Luffy represents how things should be, the exact opposite of how things are. Imu and Luffy are opposites in this sense. And on a sidenote, a long tangent regarding One Piece and classical physics (You've been warned): Curiously, while it's too early to say anything about Imu's personality, we do know that personality-wise, Blackbeard is Luffy's opposite. And he represents darkness, and has the ability to pull things to himself. In this sense, he kinda represents the emptiness of space and gravity, he's like Giratina to Luffy's and Imu's Dialga and Palkia, the third variable that is integral and inseparable. In classical mechanics, there's a concept known as the Three Body Problem, which refers to a theoretical solar system where there's three suns, or three "bodies" that form the center of mass in the system, and everything else orbits around their fluctuating, varying and seemingly random gravitational pull. Such a system is hostile and unpredictable to all potential life in said system. So, in One Piece, these three "celestial bodies", them being Luffy, Imu and Blackbeard, will revolve each other with an increasingly dangerous "gravitational effect" on the world around them. These are the (gravitational) "waves" often talked about in One Piece, ones that are caused by huge events. In other words, once the conflict between these three is in full swing, the world is completely fucked until it is resolved. But what's most curious, is how the planets align around these bodies. The elders and the ancient weapons, that is. Their orbits become irregular and unpredictable, they're in danger of smashing together or being flung outside the system, they experience incredible forces exerted by the three bodies and so on. And most importantly, some may latch on to different bodies than they previously did. I know this is relatively far-fetched and probably something Oda hasn't planned or possibly even noticed, but purely based on this, I'm kinda expecting one or more of the elders defecting and "latching on" to another celestial body. Likely Blackbeard. It'd be a nice coincidence. (Also, worth noting is the theory that Blackbeards body, that is stated to be "different" hosts three different souls. In a sense, it'd be a 'three body problem' in itself)
Mel, my wife and I have been superfans of your work for years now. Often have you released a video and the first thing we said to each other after work was "did you watch the new MelonTeee video yet?!" We even watched one of your videos the day it released while on honeymoon in Japan! You simply offer a quality of textual analysis that is rare to find and helps us appreciate our favorite series even more. And I've never not laughed at a single one of your videos. So keep up the good work, whether it's your incredibly thoughtful and relevant analyses or your tier lists with the corgi queen. We are defo here for whatever comes next! With love, M&A
Thank you so much for the support! This was so heartwarming to read, I really can't thank both of you enough! 😭 I will work hard to make sure I can keep providing quality content that both of you can keep enjoying!
For me your vids always make me laught and tear up. Even when it’s your full time job now, I hope you don’t stress yourself too hard, bc I think the love you put into the videos is what makes them what they are. To be honest I was a bit upset when you revealed yourself and are not looking like a skinny skinny doofy :p
FOR REAL FOR REAL FOR REAL!!!!!!!! IT'S WHY I RELATE!!!!!!!!!! i'm the dumbest most idiotic person in my class but i'm the only one with high emotional intelligence
@@ehsannadeem3970 good 4 u 😭😭 my lower intelligence and higher emotional intelligence makes it so that if i have certain expectations w my iq and i fail them?? buddy im sobbing all night
I love how Luffy is an insatiable glutton, but when he asks Otama for more food and she says that he ate it all, he doesn't complain like he normally would, he expresses gratitude and pretends to be full.
That reminded me of Luffy's reaction when Dadan told him he would have to be useful or he wouldn't get more than a bowl of rice. His whole demeanor was, 'meh, I'm not doing YOUR definition of useful, but I know how to forage. I'll be fine.'
I don't care what anyone says, Luffy will always be one of the greatest fictional characters to ever exist, and he will always be my favorite character, period
Same here. Oda not only made one of the greatest stories ever told but one of the greatest characters ever written with Luffy. I believe in Luffy not because he's the main character of One Piece but because of who he is.
The greatest thing about Gear 5 is that everyone tried their hardest to make their guess of what it could be but everyone was wrong and after it was revealed we all realized it couldnt have been anything else from how thematically accurate it was
Because we were all stuck in the mindset of shonen tropes. I vividly remember theories about a Gear 0 way back in the day or that he would develop a Gear 4 Tigerman. But Oda caught all of us off guard.
@@Subpar1O1 I kinda feel is unnecesary, the gears were invented by Luffy to extract potential from his fruit and now he can access full potential. Also he used cartoon logic to develop the gears, and now he is all cartoon logic embodied.
There is more to Gear 5 hidden there tho. The more I see it in Egghead, it's not natural laugh. It's clearly Nika's character taking over, and Luffy doesn't really realize it. I think Elbaf will be perfecting G5 on personality level.
I think Luffy is the most perfectly written character I've ever seen. He's the perfect balance between whimsical and grounded, kind and rude, selfish and selfless. He's so weirdly simple yet complex, on a level unlike any other character. He constantly does things that you don't predict at first, but in hindsight you realize it's perfectly consistent with who he is. The pure embodiment of honesty, willpower, freedom, and joy. He's someone who I think every One Piece fan wants to be like deep down.
True!👏🏼 As a fan, I also strive to be AT LEAST a portion of Luffy, other than loving food.❤ It’s his ability to discern people’s feelings and intentions, how he loves living in the present, and how persistent he is to defend anyone who he sees worth protecting for. 🥹Luffy is just amazing and deserves all the buffets of food.
also prime's quote in regards to dreams...it resonates with luffy's character so much "Hang onto your dreams, Chip. The future is built on dreams. Hang on." - optimus prime
this makes me think about jsut how much Luffy Would LOVE Optimus, dude si not only a giant transforming robot, hes also a mighty warrior and a hero (both by Luffy's definition and the traditional)
I think it went like, "Every sentient being deserves a chance at redemption, without it we may never acheive everlasting peace" or something like that. Eitherway, I can def hear prime saying something like that, cheers
This is such a dorky thing to think, but growing up I always asked myself: What would Luffy think of me? What would Luffy think of my actions? - it's helped me a lot to be confident, to be a bit selfish when I need to be, to keep pushing on when things get really hard. Sometimes it helps to have a little voice in your head tell you that you're being a coward and that you should fight for your dreams.
@@meandmeselfsince playing dnd for the first time a few weeks ago ive gained so much respect for GMs and writers as a whole, writing good fiction or even a single good backstory is hard so hats off to you :)
I love how ODA contrast the Villain of the Saga with Luffy and how the convictions of the character clash, but at the same time all share a core. With Buggy is TREASURE, with Doffy is SMILE, with Gecko Moria is DREAMS, with Katakuri is FAMILY, etc etc etc.
@@Disheartthorn I think is DUTY. For Luffy is the first time it's Duty as captain is that necessary, first with Merry, then with Ussop and then with Robin. But Lucci sees Duty as a given, any orders he receives is law. It doesn't matter if it hurts his mates or himself. Orders are right and orders make him Strong.
The fact that recently, this guy grabbed a tree, did some quick woodworking, put on a helmet, and used it as a blooming baseball bat against an enemy bomb is a perfect example of what Oda said about wanting to have fun with his fights. xD
I Loved that she showed How much of a Positive Moving Force Luffy is, and that being Positive doesn't mean to never be Sad or Angry, but to never let these Emotions remove your Smile.
When you connected luffy's vision of being a hero with giving others food and explained that's why he is protective and willing to go extremely far for those who give him food... you blew my mind and made me cry. In all the years I've watched this funny rubber man I never connected those dots and it truly shows how you understand the characters. You're videos are truly incredible and I'm always hyped to see one drop. Thank you for helping me understand the characters more and letting me enjoy this series even more then before.
There's a Japanese proverb 一宿一飯 which means "one lodge one meal" (or 一宿一飯の恩義 "gratitude for one lodge one meal") which essentially means if someone houses you and gives you food, they are people you should feel gratitude to and feel indebted to. I think about this everytime someone gives food to the straw hats. It should also be considered that this phrase was first used by outcast of society like gamblers and Yakuza, whom put emphasis on ties and relationships. And with Oda being a huge nerd for old school Yakuza films, Im pretty sure that proverb is where he got the idea.
dont you dare be insecure MelonTeee ur video essay was fucking fenominal you get one piece beyond the obvious surface level and ur heckin stylish and cute seeing u for the first time. u deserve all the confidence of a D clan member
One thing i really like about how Oda has structured the story is how even though Luffy kind of is a chosen one character, it doesnt really feel like it. Ive always gotten the read that someone like Luffy coming along and toppling the World Government was inevitable and it took 800+ goddamn years to happen so its not exactly a timely appearance of a savior for the world. Hell, Roger was primed to become that guy but his failing health and the fact that Poseidon wasnt reborn yet just meant it wasnt his time. The fact that Luffy is deeply connected to so many people opposed to the world government seems more like a consequence of who he is than something ordained by a higher force. Vivi, Momo, Law, Kuma, the D clan in general (even though he was born into it, he still chose the path that aligned him with guys like Dragon, Saul, and Roger).
Yeah, definitely feels like it's not "Someone is coming and destiny will bend to have him succeed" and more like "Someone is coming and there is nothing destiny can do to stop him if it wanted to!"
@unexardiximarion1920 Which really plays into the whole "An Inherited strength of will. One's Dreams. The Ebb and Flow of the Ages. As long as people hunger for freedom, these things will exist" quote that Gold Roger had in chapter 100. This was always gonna happen eventually. Try as they might, the World Government was never gonna keep that dam from breaking. Luffy is just the guy who kicked in the last brick before the whole thing started crashing down.
Oda-sensei spent his youth idolizing Akira Toriyama, then his teens and early-20's working as an assistant on series that followed the standard Shonen powering-up tropes (notably Rurouni Kenshin). Leave it to Oda to turn all those tropes on their head by making Luffy's most powerful form "Super Saiyan Bugs Bunny" just because he doesn't like things getting too super-serious --- His words when casting Iñaki Godoy as live-action Luffy: "You made me laugh."
Loneliness being Luffy's greatest fear makes Luffy probably the most relatable character in One Piece due to the fact there isn't a single person in this world that wants to be truly alone
Something you touched on that makes Luffy so special is that no matter how dumb he is, he's also extremely respectful and grateful. When he leaves Dadans place he tells her how much he hates mountain bandits, but he appreciates everything she did for him and thanks her. When Luffy finds Genzo in Cocoyashi at Bellemeres grave, Luffy rudely asks about food until he sees the grave then apologizes and pays his respects. Luffy eats Tamas rice and is still extremely hungry and wants more, but thanks her for it while trying to hide (poorly) how it wasn't filling. God I love Luffy so much. One Piece is so good.
"Everyone who shared food with him, Luffy saw as a hero" I dont know why but that line especially got me. I never realised that To imagine being one of these people and being saved and freed in such deep matters, all while he thinks YOU'RE the hero for something so comparable small. Because yeah he never thinks hes doing anything special, just that this is the minimum of what those people deserve anyway. Just wow...
What is interesting about Luffy for me is that he is walking paradox. Everything about him embodies two extreme oppositions. He's both mature and immature. Like you said, he's selfishly selfish. He's a simple man and yet he has so many layers that can be dissect. He's a crybaby and carefree happy dude. He's dumb and genius. He's independent and dependent. He's kind and an asshole. He likes to make as many friends as he has enemies. He's very rude and polite. He's hated and charismatic. And my favourite, he's predictable and unpredictable at the same time. You can always put Luffy in any situation and pretty much guess what he would do, and yet you'd still be surprise on what he would do or when he does it. Gear 5 is prime example of that. It's an unpredictable transformation, yet so predictable and so much sense if you think about it.
My favorite Luffy moments are when he's being a contrarian, like with Vivi in the desert, or with Shirahoshi. It's like, "Okay, you feel like you have to do that, in any other story this would be the right, noble course of action, but fuck that what do you /really/ want ?" It makes for super compelling scenes !
I think what Luffy understands by freedom is quite different from what he gives to people. His freedom comes from himself; he found it in his own soul, understood it, and started to desire it. So from his perspective, freedom is a matter of personal choice; thus, it cannot be affected by anyone or anything. Which is the thing that gives him his incredible willpower. However, for the people that he liberated, freedom is something that Luffy gave them. Something that he triggered (like in the strawhats) or something that someone took away from them. Which is why I believe that One Piece by the end will not be a story where the hero liberates everyone from their shackles, but the story of someone who made everyone realize that freedom is right there to take it, if that is what they truly desire. And that this desire grants power.
that is also one of the deepest things to realize for ones own life, imo. realizing that freedom is right there to take it if you give yourself permission.
that ASL childhood scene where Ace asks Luffy why he keeps clinging to him and Luffy replies "I don't want to be alone"(paraphrase) That scene lives rent free in my mind
The part of this that hit the hardest is when you pointed out that Luffy describes a hero as a person that shares food which in the moment is just a funny joke. But when you really apply that reasoning throught the series your whole perspective shifts.
Luffy is still a child at heart which makes him so lovable but he also knows when to take things seriously. He also is able to recognize his weakness. He knows when to run. We see it on Egghead right now. Luffy and his crew are not aiming to win this battle there plan is to escape. Luffy is not stupid he knows when he or his crew is out match. That's why he trained for two years and on Wano. He knew they were out match on Whole Cake Island so what does he do run.
Gear 5 is such so good of a power for Luffy and for One Piece. Luffy is going to change and free the world, and it won't be changed by anger or pain but with joy and laughter.
one thing I didn't see you touch on that's also worth mentioning - Luffy liberates by inspiring people to shatter their own chains. he only ever deals with the supernatural and mythological foes himself. but something I've noticed from the very beginning is that the second he walks into an island, a revolution of one kind or another immediately breaks out and the strawhats become one of the players in that struggle. this is one of my favorite parts of One Piece - the spontaneous solidarity. Luffy is a breaker of chains but he could not be so without the outcry of the masses to seize their own destiny. leftist theory has spilled much ink on this subject, of the moment the masses realize their own collective power, of the moment when they step forward to write their own history. before One Piece, if you told me a story could depict that moment over and over again, organically and almost effortlessly, in practically every major story beat, I'd have laughed at you. but the genius of Oda's writing is that the madman actually went and did it. Luffy cannot free people except by inspiring them to shatter their own chains. I hope he reaches through the page and inspires us all to embrace the same quality, the same way he inspires the people he meets on his journey. and this is what makes me laugh so hard when people say One Piece isn't political. meanwhile, the main character can't take a step without kicking off another revolution.
I like how contradictory Luffy’s is . He can be really selfish and immature, but is really good at reading people ,and can be generous in different ways. He has absolutely no filter like kid , but also do know how to say the right thing when people need it . Seem like an idiot, but is very emotional intelligent . Very balanced character, not too selfish or selfless . Perfect 👍
I used to not like Luffy very much because of his antics but as I grew older and understood more about myself and the world, I came to love this goofy little kid because armed with his sillyness, he's everything his world and ours need, he's the light that warms up our skin on a sunny day.
Another note on Luffy's self-destructive tendencies - using anything above Gear 2 shortens his life. He is literally trading his life for his dreams. There have even been moments where people have told Luffy that certain actions will take years off his life, and he'll just do it without a single thought. To achieve something - to receive something - we have to give up something in return, so I get it... But man, that's kinda sad.
@@DashXero It's only when he uses his Gears beyond his limits. Think of when he ran out of Gear 5 against Kaido, but immediately got back to it even though he was tired. And Kaido says "hey, you will die". That's the kind of moment where he shortens his life. Most of those times happened between Enies Lobby and Marineford by the way. Side note, I'm pretty sure this is more a universal thing than just Luffy. I mean most villains immediately know that he is doing something self-destructive despite barely knowing Luffy. And it would explain why pirate captains like Roger and Whitebeard lost to sickness when Garp, Sengoku and Rayleigh are older than them and still look like they could live another 20 years.
This series of Straw Hat Crew Character Analysis Essays has been an AMAZING Boon to my literary literacy and has opened my mind to thinking about and how to think about characters of media that I have loved for years. I was most hyped about Luffy’s essay because I have loved him since back in the 4Kids days and have never been able to, in my opinion, express what made him amazing to other people. I always just get swallowed up in my intense emotions and just ramble incoherently about random stuff he does. So now I have a good basis of how to translate those feelings into proper words, and for that I am UNFATHOMABLY GRATEFUL!!!
Damn, You really are IRL Female Mingo. All Pink Slay Queen! Also great video Luffy Is a great protagonist he might not be the best of them all, but one of the greatest in shonen history for sure.
That part about luffy seeing everyone who fed him as a hero honestly slipped me. This is great content, don't stop. Thanks for daring to show your face to the internet.
Mel, thank you once more. Talking about how Luffy sees everyone who has ever given him food as a hero - not in a manner of speech, but in a true, genuine way - has made me delightfully laugh-cry. What a dude
Something thats semi-related to the topic, i like how in both of Luffy's backstories it features Pirates and Bandits (Shanks, Bluejam, Mountain Fodder Bandits, and Dadan). In both backstories, either pirates or bandits are one of the main causes to the conflict; the Mountain fodders attempting to kill luffy and Bluejam buring up trash mountain. It shows why luffy only sees somebody's actions, not which caregory they are placed under.
I'm dead ass going to order some takeout just to sit down and enjoy this video while eating foe yong hai because I'm an independent adult in my late 30s and this, to me, is the best start to the weekend :D
As a kid (i was like 6 i think) i only had the first three volumes of One Piece and would read them over and over. I thought Shanks was the coolest character ever and the way he handled the mountain bandits was the biggest inspiration of my childhood. I thought "I want to be like him" and because of that became i far calmer kid and got in a lot fewer fights after that. Because Luffy and I had the same role model i kind of saw Luffy as a brother for a while. As I got older and acquired more volumes i eagerly followed his evolution and was eager to see how he evolved from the same strong inspiration that i had.
I find it so funny that Luffy seems to be the most misunderstood character in One Piece. Thank you for finally shedding light on him as a character and what he represents and what Nika means and just how important food is. As someone who's gone through starvation, I truly love Luffy.
@@Xero__.Unfortunately majority of One Piece's fandom are really dumb or you can say are only capable of seeing the story on surface level. They are really lazy when it comes to uncovering layers of a character, they won't even think about it unless you convey it straight to their face. And this is really bad because Luffy's character is written in a really nuisanced way so unless u pay attention to him closely you won't discover his growth or character. To most people character development is like a complete 180 in personality otherwise its not character development, it's really disappointing to know this about said people.
@@Altario10 Half the One Piece fandom seems to have literally zero investment in anything beyond which characters would win in a fight. And they're not even good at interpreting that part of the story.
@@Xero__.It's result of refugees infiltrating the one piece fandom, pretending to be one piece fan, and then controlling every large social account and thus consequently controlling how people should view certain Character.
@@zoro115-s6b EXACTLY 💯 another thing is, as one piece fandom is growing in number, the number of dumb people are increasing. Which also results in toxicity
Honestly each and every time she shows her face, I always expect someone wearing Doffy glasses. This has been a fantastic character essay. There aren't many character focused videos out there, in youtube normally one piece video essays are mainly about lore or plot based.
You should make a video on the subtlety of Kaido’s character. Like how he teamed up with Orochi, who embodies everything he hates, or how he was motivated and excited by Luffy and announced his plan to his subordinates and Momo
This is my first ever tip on YT but it is so well deserved! I grew up with One Piece and it has accompanied me almost my entire life... And yet this well written two-part essay (and all your other content) still gave me so many new insights I didn't think of before! Had me tear up constantly as well, with how beautifully you phrased things 🥲 I am very grateful for what you do and also very proud of you for overcoming your anxiety and showing yourself! 💥🌟 Btw, what is that beautiful song you used at the end? It has got a very chill vibe 🎶
Thank you so much! I'm honoured to be your first tip! My goal is to try and get people to think more about One Piece, so I'm glad I've helped you see new things! The song at the end is called Weirder Stuff by Geographer btw 🫶
Luffy’s story hasn’t yet ended but videos like this remind us that his journey makes him one of the best characters in fiction! Thanks for the video! For enriching my enjoyment and appreciation of my favourite series ❤
Every one of your videos says so many things I agree with then hits me with something I've never thought about but is absolutely true. The idea that Luffy thinks of people who give him food as Heroes unlike himself is so smart and I never would've thought of it.
I for a long time took for granted that Luffy just doesn't want to be alone. It started with "I can't fight with swords, navigate, cook or lie" where I honestly thought : So Main character that doesn't work without support cast. good. And of course, Ace and Sabo put it in perspective, but I never realized just how terrified of that loneliness he is. Great video. Keep them coming. We will be there.
I adore all of the colorful and interesting characters in one piece but there has always been a deep soft spot for Luffy in my heart. There's something about the way he does things for others not because he feels obligated, but because he cares so much about his friends and family that nothing will stop him from helping them. It's just,,,,, Luffy *isn't* cruel. His protection of the Boa sisters' even when he doesn't understand *why* they want their marks to be hidden will always be my favorite example. The "you may want to kill me, but I don't want to kill you" line is just,,,,, so good. Watching Luffy interact with his world and stay true to himself and others despite all it's depravity and cruelty is liberating in itself. He isn't just *free* in both his world and his own. In a way, he's also liberating in our world too. One piece might not have given me a full time job (which is so awesome btw!! I'm so happy for you!) but it's gotten me through so many hard times in my life. It's been with me through highs and lows and back to highs again. It came at just the right moment in my childhood to become something I can't imagine my life without. So happy you found this series and that it resonated with you so deeply.
I’ve said it before but there’s absolutely no one making insightful one piece content as good as yours. I love this series, and your essays got me back into One Piece after years away. Thanks for everything.
I'm in the train and ugly crying because of this video. You said everything why I love One Piece and Luffy. One Piece also changed my life and I'm so happy and grateful to experience this masterpiece. I enjoyed every single Strawhat (and more) Video from you❤ Its an honor to watch your videos, because they make One Piece even better and more fun! Keep going! I will forever support you. Love from Switzerland❤❤
I'm so proud of you for making it through this video 🎉 I loved them both Wanted to add: eating food reminds your body you're still alive, and you intend to keep living. After experiencing a traumatic event lots of people don't breakdown until they eat. They can't process the experience is finished until they're eating.
I think the most primal reason I rate Luffy as the greatest hero of all time (as opposed to Reddit hot takes) is because him being “relatable” is not relating to a facet of my character to him, but a facet (or multiple facets) that my character wants to be that’s portrayed in him. Both his strength and kindness are written with such nuance, that one feels this is the pathway and pinnacle of human growth; the truest freedom of them all. What’s more, is that it doesn’t feel fantastical as much as.. attainable in real life; maybe not the rubbery body and the superpowers, but the cleanliness/clarity in the nature of his.. I want to say simplicity but there must be a word to combine “minimalism” and “simpleton”, haha. In any case, thank you for this two-parter: it was very succinct and put together in a warm, homely way. Great job!
It's crazy that a character as iconic and history defining as Luffy can still can stand today as one of the most refreshing characters in manga and anime. I don't think any words i could come up with in the process of writing this comment could properly express just what Luffy means to me, and just how much I love his character. So thank you for doing it for me
your videos have made me cry laugh and brought so many more of my friends to this amazing series we all love together. i hope that you continue to create and would love to see where you go next. thank you so much mel
I love the part where Luffy says This is My Peak when he unleashes Gear 5 and he feels the power of the drums of liberation. As a person who felt like a failure and had to stick with a regular job instead of following my dreams. It gives me that childlike wonder that all kids strive for without having to face the reality that needing to survive needs a well paying job. It gives me that liberty that yes, you should follow your dreams
Gear 5 is so thematically and narratively fulfilling for a character like Luffy that it actually blows my mind that Oda pulled it off so well without anyone seeing it coming. I hated pretty much every fan-made gear 5 prediction I saw in the years leading up to that moment, and part of that was how they always were so serious and edgy and detached from Luffy's character. Like that one that people kept using in fake thumbnails where Luffy was all black with haki was one of the worst (and of course one of the most popular), they just felt so much like the most typical boring cliché shounen bargain basement power-ups possible. The real Gear 5 being essentially the opposite of all those because of how closely it was tied to who Luffy is on a fundamental level was like Oda reaching out of the page, patting me on the cheek and saying "fear not my child, I gotchu".
I've been reading one piece for over 20 years. This story means so much to me, more then anything I love the detail and passion in these videos. Thank you so much for the time and effort put into these and I hope your channel continues to grow.
The most interesting about Gear 4 in Dressrosa against Doffy is that it's just the tipical serious Shounen transformation wich was cool and all (Snakeman also) but Gear 5 is truly what I love about One Piece. It's finally Fun again and still exciting wich brings me back to the East Blue Saga where Luffy always had funny attacks (Luffy vs Arlong) but it was still serious.
Luffy Gear 5, from what we've seen in the Anime is also a liberation to the animators to have fun and being playfull in their own style, whyle still being genuine to the source material.
Thank you for touching on Luffy's fear of loneliness, it's something I haven't seen discussed much. A cute touch in some of the series intro/outro songs lately has been Luffy getting happier with each new crew member appearing!
I don't like being sappy, but luffy I feel like has impacted my life. I remember being a grumpy teenager as we all were, but mostly being bitter too, and I genuinely think that this goofy rubber man helped me let go of that, and got me to smile, even when the going is harder. He's my captain, and I'm gonna follow his lead.
I think this is genuinely the best luffy analysis I’ve ever watched, you nailed every single reason why I love this character so much, couldn’t have put it into better words
This is basically the perfect video describing how I’ve always felt about Luffy. I have a hard time trying to tell people what’s so great about Luffy and why I consider him one of the best protagonists ever written, and these two videos pretty much perfectly articulate how I feel
This video was absolutely beautiful, not only has one piece saved me, but Luffy has too, there is something about Luffy that just, makes me smile when nothing else can, thank you Melon for making this video, and thank you Oda for this masterpiece.
Like most people, i used to think Luffy wasn't that deep. It's crazy how this story is presented as simple but so deep at the same time. This channel give the best one piece analysis on TH-cam. It also made me realize that most analyses are coming from males lol. We always talk about power level and who can be who.. This channel deserves so much more subscribers
One Piece has genuinely changed my entire perspective and outlook on life and how things work, and Luffy has given me pure hope. He is the best MC I have ever witnessed.
Thank you so much! It's changed my perspective on a lot of things in life too, and it's why it's such an honour to talk about it, and to talk about how I view things in the story! 🩷
I've been on this journey for 14 years and it always blew my mind the drought on analysis content given how vast this world is. Your channel certainly signaled a change in paradigm within the fandom. Thank you!!
Man, this video was really good don’t get me wrong but that part about luffy being a self - made god who frees nations for everyone to be free so that he can be free was amazing
Use Code "MELONTEEE" to get $5 off for your first #Sakuraco box through this link: sakura.co/?rfsn=7087395.e6d646 or #TokyoTreat box through this link: tokyotreat.com/?rfsn=7087395.e6d646. Treat yourself this sakura season to delicious sakura flavours!
Just realized I've always read your name as MelonTree lol
Finally part 2
So am I. Wtf 😂.@@mmem4264
You look very pretty when you're on Camera.😘😘😘😍😍😍
I don't think I can hold out man, I need my next fix rn..
My biggest wish is that when One Piece finally ends, fans all around the world gather in their own way to have a massive banquet. Complete with musicians and chopsticks in noses, of course.
When One Piece ends, we will all be united together, laughing at the end, and crying in a banquet!
Thank you so much for the support! And wouldn't that just be the perfect way to honour Luffy by the end! 😭🙏
That would be Awesome 😎💯💪🏾✨
@@MelonTeee😮 Can we PLEASE have a live stream BYOFAD (Bring Your Own Food And Drink) banquet when One Piece ends? That would be AMAZING!!! 😊❤
@@MelonTeeeWith you live streaming, of course! 😅
I love how likeable Luffy is in-universe. He's not an unpopular underdog in the colosseum, he's the fan favorite. Many of his enemies end up rooting for him, even against themselves.
How many former enemies also turn ally? And honestly, how many genuinely good marines would actively be willing to oppose Luffy? Garp? Already hesitates. Coby? By this point he would likely ally with Luffy. Aokiji himself while still opposition, probably thinks very highly of Luffy. And Fujitora is as close to a friend in the Admiralty as it gets, to the point he probably will turn against the government at this point.
@@thomasallen9974I feel like there's a minimum of around 3 minor villains turned friends by the end of each arc. Luffy's just that likeable
Is a nice parallel to all the people who didn't like One Piece and barely stand Luffy that turned into fans eventually
@@thomasallen9974go read the manga again 😭😭😭. Off the top of my head Koby, Garp, Bellamy, Gaimon, Both Giant Captains, Vivi, Buggy, and honestly probably a crap ton more if I spent more than a few seconds to type this.
@@thomasallen9974sengoku would still fight him.. Also for sure tsuru df can work on luffy
Luffy being "God's natural enemy" is my favourite aspect of him. Tyrant after tyrant seeing themselves as a god and having this smiling idiot come through and destroy all they've built is so endlessly satisfying.
Ironic that he embodies the god of liberty lmao
@@frauleinzuckerguss1906 false gods vs the true god
@@frauleinzuckerguss1906
He's not the god of liberty, he's the sun god
He embodies liberty and kindness and joy, because he is the god of the sun, the god of the place no one lives in, the god of a land that provides endless energy and love and light and freedom to see to all of the people of earth.
Sun God Nika, and the closest living representation of the concept, Monkey D. Luffy 👍👍👍
The Tenryubito see themselves as Gods. And their way of thinking is the anthitesis of Luffy's personal philosophies.
Also, the Sun is the "original" God, it was the first thing we know people worshipped.
The planets (Elders, Ancient Weapons) revolve around the Sun. Luffy is the "true sun", where as Imu is the "false sun", or false god.
Everything is in disarray as long as the planets revolve around the false god. Luffy is the "natural" enemy of the (false) God Imu, in the sense that the planets submitting to Luffy is natural, and the current order is unnatural. Luffy represents how things should be, the exact opposite of how things are.
Imu and Luffy are opposites in this sense.
And on a sidenote, a long tangent regarding One Piece and classical physics (You've been warned):
Curiously, while it's too early to say anything about Imu's personality, we do know that personality-wise, Blackbeard is Luffy's opposite. And he represents darkness, and has the ability to pull things to himself. In this sense, he kinda represents the emptiness of space and gravity, he's like Giratina to Luffy's and Imu's Dialga and Palkia, the third variable that is integral and inseparable. In classical mechanics, there's a concept known as the Three Body Problem, which refers to a theoretical solar system where there's three suns, or three "bodies" that form the center of mass in the system, and everything else orbits around their fluctuating, varying and seemingly random gravitational pull. Such a system is hostile and unpredictable to all potential life in said system. So, in One Piece, these three "celestial bodies", them being Luffy, Imu and Blackbeard, will revolve each other with an increasingly dangerous "gravitational effect" on the world around them. These are the (gravitational) "waves" often talked about in One Piece, ones that are caused by huge events. In other words, once the conflict between these three is in full swing, the world is completely fucked until it is resolved. But what's most curious, is how the planets align around these bodies. The elders and the ancient weapons, that is. Their orbits become irregular and unpredictable, they're in danger of smashing together or being flung outside the system, they experience incredible forces exerted by the three bodies and so on. And most importantly, some may latch on to different bodies than they previously did. I know this is relatively far-fetched and probably something Oda hasn't planned or possibly even noticed, but purely based on this, I'm kinda expecting one or more of the elders defecting and "latching on" to another celestial body. Likely Blackbeard. It'd be a nice coincidence. (Also, worth noting is the theory that Blackbeards body, that is stated to be "different" hosts three different souls. In a sense, it'd be a 'three body problem' in itself)
I like how a simple remark turned into a full scientific thesis about real life philosophy and physics theories :)
Only one piece could cause this
Pink Girl cooked so hard, it had me almost crying in the middle of the street.
yeah she's so prettyy
@@Pinkywinkykinkyfrr
Going from a One Piece Tiktok compilation to this is like going from Burger King to a lovingly homecooked burger from my dad
:)
So lore accurate😭
Fr
This comment is the One Piece
My sides hurt dude, holy shit.
Mel, my wife and I have been superfans of your work for years now. Often have you released a video and the first thing we said to each other after work was "did you watch the new MelonTeee video yet?!" We even watched one of your videos the day it released while on honeymoon in Japan! You simply offer a quality of textual analysis that is rare to find and helps us appreciate our favorite series even more. And I've never not laughed at a single one of your videos. So keep up the good work, whether it's your incredibly thoughtful and relevant analyses or your tier lists with the corgi queen. We are defo here for whatever comes next!
With love, M&A
Thank you so much for the support! This was so heartwarming to read, I really can't thank both of you enough! 😭 I will work hard to make sure I can keep providing quality content that both of you can keep enjoying!
For me your vids always make me laught and tear up.
Even when it’s your full time job now, I hope you don’t stress yourself too hard, bc I think the love you put into the videos is what makes them what they are.
To be honest I was a bit upset when you revealed yourself and are not looking like a skinny skinny doofy :p
omg this is so sweet
My favorite part of luffy is how immature he is through action but how emotionally intelligent he is at the same time
Yes
He's not really immature through action. He does things knowing all the consequences and sticks to his moral compass no matter the risk.
FOR REAL FOR REAL FOR REAL!!!!!!!! IT'S WHY I RELATE!!!!!!!!!! i'm the dumbest most idiotic person in my class but i'm the only one with high emotional intelligence
@@setraluluvsI’m kinda the opposite lol. Higher intelligence, lower emotional intelligence.
@@ehsannadeem3970 good 4 u 😭😭 my lower intelligence and higher emotional intelligence makes it so that if i have certain expectations w my iq and i fail them?? buddy im sobbing all night
I love how Luffy is an insatiable glutton, but when he asks Otama for more food and she says that he ate it all, he doesn't complain like he normally would, he expresses gratitude and pretends to be full.
Re-reading that part brought tears to my eyes
That reminded me of Luffy's reaction when Dadan told him he would have to be useful or he wouldn't get more than a bowl of rice. His whole demeanor was, 'meh, I'm not doing YOUR definition of useful, but I know how to forage. I'll be fine.'
I don't care what anyone says, Luffy will always be one of the greatest fictional characters to ever exist, and he will always be my favorite character, period
Same here. Oda not only made one of the greatest stories ever told but one of the greatest characters ever written with Luffy. I believe in Luffy not because he's the main character of One Piece but because of who he is.
luffys the greatest fictional character ever tbh i dont think there ever gonna be another one piece once it ends
The greatest thing about Gear 5 is that everyone tried their hardest to make their guess of what it could be but everyone was wrong and after it was revealed we all realized it couldnt have been anything else from how thematically accurate it was
Because we were all stuck in the mindset of shonen tropes. I vividly remember theories about a Gear 0 way back in the day or that he would develop a Gear 4 Tigerman. But Oda caught all of us off guard.
@@CouchRadishI do see Luffy getting a Gear 6 by the end of the story though I could not for the life of me figure out what it could be.
@@Subpar1O1 I kinda feel is unnecesary, the gears were invented by Luffy to extract potential from his fruit and now he can access full potential. Also he used cartoon logic to develop the gears, and now he is all cartoon logic embodied.
There is more to Gear 5 hidden there tho. The more I see it in Egghead, it's not natural laugh. It's clearly Nika's character taking over, and Luffy doesn't really realize it. I think Elbaf will be perfecting G5 on personality level.
@@mimikyulostatail4705or he eats the motherflame
Luffy's best moment in the anime will always be him pushing down the "injured old man" back into his grave at thriller bark
It was actually a zombie. Not the injured man. But yeah, luffy top 10 moment.
@@diegoperezsommariva2509 no it was clearly an injured old man
@@diegoperezsommariva2509 Nah it was an injured old man
@@diegoperezsommariva2509nope, it was an old man
Im starting to believe it was actually the injured old man
I think Luffy is the most perfectly written character I've ever seen. He's the perfect balance between whimsical and grounded, kind and rude, selfish and selfless. He's so weirdly simple yet complex, on a level unlike any other character. He constantly does things that you don't predict at first, but in hindsight you realize it's perfectly consistent with who he is. The pure embodiment of honesty, willpower, freedom, and joy. He's someone who I think every One Piece fan wants to be like deep down.
True!👏🏼 As a fan, I also strive to be AT LEAST a portion of Luffy, other than loving food.❤ It’s his ability to discern people’s feelings and intentions, how he loves living in the present, and how persistent he is to defend anyone who he sees worth protecting for. 🥹Luffy is just amazing and deserves all the buffets of food.
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" I know that's an Optimus Prime quote, but this defines Luffy as a complete character.
also prime's quote in regards to dreams...it resonates with luffy's character so much
"Hang onto your dreams, Chip. The future is built on dreams. Hang on." - optimus prime
Love it, Vegan AF 💚🌱
Franky bots, roll out
this makes me think about jsut how much Luffy Would LOVE Optimus, dude si not only a giant transforming robot, hes also a mighty warrior and a hero (both by Luffy's definition and the traditional)
I think it went like, "Every sentient being deserves a chance at redemption, without it we may never acheive everlasting peace" or something like that. Eitherway, I can def hear prime saying something like that, cheers
This is such a dorky thing to think, but growing up I always asked myself: What would Luffy think of me? What would Luffy think of my actions? - it's helped me a lot to be confident, to be a bit selfish when I need to be, to keep pushing on when things get really hard. Sometimes it helps to have a little voice in your head tell you that you're being a coward and that you should fight for your dreams.
I heckin love half an hour video essays about fictional super pirates
I write stuff for Dnd while watching these and thinking about the importance of these charactors definitely gives a lot of inspiration
W,
I've been binging her videos on one piece and it's hilarious because I don't usually have the attention span for even twenty minute videos 😂😂😂
@@meandmeselfsince playing dnd for the first time a few weeks ago ive gained so much respect for GMs and writers as a whole, writing good fiction or even a single good backstory is hard so hats off to you :)
pretty much hour and a half if you count part 1 too
I love how ODA contrast the Villain of the Saga with Luffy and how the convictions of the character clash, but at the same time all share a core. With Buggy is TREASURE, with Doffy is SMILE, with Gecko Moria is DREAMS, with Katakuri is FAMILY, etc etc etc.
oh wow, ur rite! cant believe i didnt notice till now
What does that make Rob Lucci?
@@Disheartthorn I think is DUTY. For Luffy is the first time it's Duty as captain is that necessary, first with Merry, then with Ussop and then with Robin. But Lucci sees Duty as a given, any orders he receives is law. It doesn't matter if it hurts his mates or himself. Orders are right and orders make him Strong.
The fact that recently, this guy grabbed a tree, did some quick woodworking, put on a helmet, and used it as a blooming baseball bat against an enemy bomb is a perfect example of what Oda said about wanting to have fun with his fights. xD
You left out one important detail: he “did some quick woodworking” WITH HIS TEETH 💀 I was losing my mind over that whole scene.
And he painted the whole thing, even making a pun with the numbers.
I Loved that she showed How much of a Positive Moving Force Luffy is, and that being Positive doesn't mean to never be Sad or Angry, but to never let these Emotions remove your Smile.
When you connected luffy's vision of being a hero with giving others food and explained that's why he is protective and willing to go extremely far for those who give him food... you blew my mind and made me cry. In all the years I've watched this funny rubber man I never connected those dots and it truly shows how you understand the characters. You're videos are truly incredible and I'm always hyped to see one drop. Thank you for helping me understand the characters more and letting me enjoy this series even more then before.
There's a Japanese proverb 一宿一飯 which means "one lodge one meal" (or 一宿一飯の恩義 "gratitude for one lodge one meal") which essentially means if someone houses you and gives you food, they are people you should feel gratitude to and feel indebted to.
I think about this everytime someone gives food to the straw hats. It should also be considered that this phrase was first used by outcast of society like gamblers and Yakuza, whom put emphasis on ties and relationships. And with Oda being a huge nerd for old school Yakuza films, Im pretty sure that proverb is where he got the idea.
dont you dare be insecure MelonTeee ur video essay was fucking fenominal you get one piece beyond the obvious surface level and ur heckin stylish and cute seeing u for the first time. u deserve all the confidence of a D clan member
"you should go back to part 1 if you haven't"
*goes back to part 1 to see that incredible intro again*
That was hype
Good idea!
true it was sick
Even you couldn't escape Luffy's liberation, freed from your anxiety and rain your smile online, Luffy's effect is truly real :)
One thing i really like about how Oda has structured the story is how even though Luffy kind of is a chosen one character, it doesnt really feel like it. Ive always gotten the read that someone like Luffy coming along and toppling the World Government was inevitable and it took 800+ goddamn years to happen so its not exactly a timely appearance of a savior for the world. Hell, Roger was primed to become that guy but his failing health and the fact that Poseidon wasnt reborn yet just meant it wasnt his time. The fact that Luffy is deeply connected to so many people opposed to the world government seems more like a consequence of who he is than something ordained by a higher force. Vivi, Momo, Law, Kuma, the D clan in general (even though he was born into it, he still chose the path that aligned him with guys like Dragon, Saul, and Roger).
Yeah, definitely feels like it's not "Someone is coming and destiny will bend to have him succeed" and more like "Someone is coming and there is nothing destiny can do to stop him if it wanted to!"
@unexardiximarion1920 Which really plays into the whole "An Inherited strength of will. One's Dreams. The Ebb and Flow of the Ages. As long as people hunger for freedom, these things will exist" quote that Gold Roger had in chapter 100. This was always gonna happen eventually. Try as they might, the World Government was never gonna keep that dam from breaking. Luffy is just the guy who kicked in the last brick before the whole thing started crashing down.
I finally understand what Roger meant by saying we were before our time
I love the bit where you describe Luffy and Gear 5 as representing freedom, but not just for the story but for Oda himself. Its wonderful.
Oda-sensei spent his youth idolizing Akira Toriyama, then his teens and early-20's working as an assistant on series that followed the standard Shonen powering-up tropes (notably Rurouni Kenshin). Leave it to Oda to turn all those tropes on their head by making Luffy's most powerful form "Super Saiyan Bugs Bunny" just because he doesn't like things getting too super-serious --- His words when casting Iñaki Godoy as live-action Luffy: "You made me laugh."
Loneliness being Luffy's greatest fear makes Luffy probably the most relatable character in One Piece due to the fact there isn't a single person in this world that wants to be truly alone
Something you touched on that makes Luffy so special is that no matter how dumb he is, he's also extremely respectful and grateful.
When he leaves Dadans place he tells her how much he hates mountain bandits, but he appreciates everything she did for him and thanks her.
When Luffy finds Genzo in Cocoyashi at Bellemeres grave, Luffy rudely asks about food until he sees the grave then apologizes and pays his respects.
Luffy eats Tamas rice and is still extremely hungry and wants more, but thanks her for it while trying to hide (poorly) how it wasn't filling.
God I love Luffy so much. One Piece is so good.
"Everyone who shared food with him, Luffy saw as a hero"
I dont know why but that line especially got me. I never realised that
To imagine being one of these people and being saved and freed in such deep matters, all while he thinks YOU'RE the hero for something so comparable small.
Because yeah he never thinks hes doing anything special, just that this is the minimum of what those people deserve anyway. Just wow...
What is interesting about Luffy for me is that he is walking paradox. Everything about him embodies two extreme oppositions. He's both mature and immature. Like you said, he's selfishly selfish. He's a simple man and yet he has so many layers that can be dissect. He's a crybaby and carefree happy dude. He's dumb and genius. He's independent and dependent. He's kind and an asshole. He likes to make as many friends as he has enemies. He's very rude and polite. He's hated and charismatic. And my favourite, he's predictable and unpredictable at the same time. You can always put Luffy in any situation and pretty much guess what he would do, and yet you'd still be surprise on what he would do or when he does it. Gear 5 is prime example of that. It's an unpredictable transformation, yet so predictable and so much sense if you think about it.
6:56 “the funniest one in the room is usually the most depressed”
"For everyone to eat as much as they want so he doesn't have to share any of his own." Selfish Selflessness Monkey D. Luffy to a T.
My favorite Luffy moments are when he's being a contrarian, like with Vivi in the desert, or with Shirahoshi. It's like, "Okay, you feel like you have to do that, in any other story this would be the right, noble course of action, but fuck that what do you /really/ want ?" It makes for super compelling scenes !
Says he doesn't want to conquer anything but has an iron grip on my heart.
I think what Luffy understands by freedom is quite different from what he gives to people. His freedom comes from himself; he found it in his own soul, understood it, and started to desire it. So from his perspective, freedom is a matter of personal choice; thus, it cannot be affected by anyone or anything. Which is the thing that gives him his incredible willpower. However, for the people that he liberated, freedom is something that Luffy gave them. Something that he triggered (like in the strawhats) or something that someone took away from them. Which is why I believe that One Piece by the end will not be a story where the hero liberates everyone from their shackles, but the story of someone who made everyone realize that freedom is right there to take it, if that is what they truly desire. And that this desire grants power.
Well said.
Wow, 😲
Very True, 💯
that is also one of the deepest things to realize for ones own life, imo. realizing that freedom is right there to take it if you give yourself permission.
that ASL childhood scene where Ace asks Luffy why he keeps clinging to him and Luffy replies "I don't want to be alone"(paraphrase)
That scene lives rent free in my mind
King of the pirates? More like king of my heart
The part of this that hit the hardest is when you pointed out that Luffy describes a hero as a person that shares food which in the moment is just a funny joke. But when you really apply that reasoning throught the series your whole perspective shifts.
Especially for the people that share food with him. Tama is a hero to him.
Luffy is still a child at heart which makes him so lovable but he also knows when to take things seriously. He also is able to recognize his weakness. He knows when to run. We see it on Egghead right now. Luffy and his crew are not aiming to win this battle there plan is to escape. Luffy is not stupid he knows when he or his crew is out match. That's why he trained for two years and on Wano. He knew they were out match on Whole Cake Island so what does he do run.
Luffy genuinely couldn’t be written any better than he has been, no other MC dominates popularity rankings like him and I think this is why
I literally just finished part one. I even cried during it, my tears haven't even dried up yet but part 2 just dropped. This is my day folks
I got stunlocked by the live action MelonTeee at the end. Great actor adaptation Netflix, well done!
Gear 5 is such so good of a power for Luffy and for One Piece. Luffy is going to change and free the world, and it won't be changed by anger or pain but with joy and laughter.
one thing I didn't see you touch on that's also worth mentioning - Luffy liberates by inspiring people to shatter their own chains. he only ever deals with the supernatural and mythological foes himself. but something I've noticed from the very beginning is that the second he walks into an island, a revolution of one kind or another immediately breaks out and the strawhats become one of the players in that struggle.
this is one of my favorite parts of One Piece - the spontaneous solidarity. Luffy is a breaker of chains but he could not be so without the outcry of the masses to seize their own destiny. leftist theory has spilled much ink on this subject, of the moment the masses realize their own collective power, of the moment when they step forward to write their own history. before One Piece, if you told me a story could depict that moment over and over again, organically and almost effortlessly, in practically every major story beat, I'd have laughed at you. but the genius of Oda's writing is that the madman actually went and did it.
Luffy cannot free people except by inspiring them to shatter their own chains. I hope he reaches through the page and inspires us all to embrace the same quality, the same way he inspires the people he meets on his journey.
and this is what makes me laugh so hard when people say One Piece isn't political. meanwhile, the main character can't take a step without kicking off another revolution.
FAVORIATE TH-camR DROPS SEQUAL OF THE CENTRY
I like how contradictory Luffy’s is . He can be really selfish and immature, but is really good at reading people ,and can be generous in different ways. He has absolutely no filter like kid , but also do know how to say the right thing when people need it . Seem like an idiot, but is very emotional intelligent . Very balanced character, not too selfish or selfless . Perfect 👍
Luffy has always been such an amazing protagonist, even if he isn’t relatable (debatable), he’s such a compelling character
I love the Luffy to Sanji 'I refuse your refusal' meme. This video is perfection one again!
I love how much Luffy has grown up, and how much the crew has also grown up with him.
I used to not like Luffy very much because of his antics but as I grew older and understood more about myself and the world, I came to love this goofy little kid because armed with his sillyness, he's everything his world and ours need, he's the light that warms up our skin on a sunny day.
Another note on Luffy's self-destructive tendencies - using anything above Gear 2 shortens his life. He is literally trading his life for his dreams. There have even been moments where people have told Luffy that certain actions will take years off his life, and he'll just do it without a single thought. To achieve something - to receive something - we have to give up something in return, so I get it... But man, that's kinda sad.
im pretty sure what the old man taught him gsve him a way around it
@@xx_d0ra3m0n_xx which old man?
@@DashXero rayliegh
@@xx_d0ra3m0n_xx Ah. I must have missed that. So instead of "Everything above Gear 2" it should just be "Gear 5" that shortens his life.
@@DashXero It's only when he uses his Gears beyond his limits. Think of when he ran out of Gear 5 against Kaido, but immediately got back to it even though he was tired. And Kaido says "hey, you will die". That's the kind of moment where he shortens his life. Most of those times happened between Enies Lobby and Marineford by the way.
Side note, I'm pretty sure this is more a universal thing than just Luffy. I mean most villains immediately know that he is doing something self-destructive despite barely knowing Luffy. And it would explain why pirate captains like Roger and Whitebeard lost to sickness when Garp, Sengoku and Rayleigh are older than them and still look like they could live another 20 years.
This series of Straw Hat Crew Character Analysis Essays has been an AMAZING Boon to my literary literacy and has opened my mind to thinking about and how to think about characters of media that I have loved for years. I was most hyped about Luffy’s essay because I have loved him since back in the 4Kids days and have never been able to, in my opinion, express what made him amazing to other people. I always just get swallowed up in my intense emotions and just ramble incoherently about random stuff he does. So now I have a good basis of how to translate those feelings into proper words, and for that I am UNFATHOMABLY GRATEFUL!!!
Damn, You really are IRL Female Mingo. All Pink Slay Queen!
Also great video Luffy Is a great protagonist he might not be the best of them all, but one of the greatest in shonen history for sure.
That part about luffy seeing everyone who fed him as a hero honestly slipped me. This is great content, don't stop. Thanks for daring to show your face to the internet.
Mel, thank you once more. Talking about how Luffy sees everyone who has ever given him food as a hero - not in a manner of speech, but in a true, genuine way - has made me delightfully laugh-cry. What a dude
Something thats semi-related to the topic, i like how in both of Luffy's backstories it features Pirates and Bandits (Shanks, Bluejam, Mountain Fodder Bandits, and Dadan). In both backstories, either pirates or bandits are one of the main causes to the conflict; the Mountain fodders attempting to kill luffy and Bluejam buring up trash mountain. It shows why luffy only sees somebody's actions, not which caregory they are placed under.
I'm dead ass going to order some takeout just to sit down and enjoy this video while eating foe yong hai because I'm an independent adult in my late 30s and this, to me, is the best start to the weekend :D
As a kid (i was like 6 i think) i only had the first three volumes of One Piece and would read them over and over. I thought Shanks was the coolest character ever and the way he handled the mountain bandits was the biggest inspiration of my childhood. I thought "I want to be like him" and because of that became i far calmer kid and got in a lot fewer fights after that. Because Luffy and I had the same role model i kind of saw Luffy as a brother for a while. As I got older and acquired more volumes i eagerly followed his evolution and was eager to see how he evolved from the same strong inspiration that i had.
I find it so funny that Luffy seems to be the most misunderstood character in One Piece. Thank you for finally shedding light on him as a character and what he represents and what Nika means and just how important food is. As someone who's gone through starvation, I truly love Luffy.
In my opinion your are of, if not the best character analisys of one piece characters. Super in depth, and clearly with passion.
why is luffy so underrated in character analysis like he is the mc like the villians and everyone is cool but we are seeing his story
i think a lot of people just think that luffy is a very simple character and theres not much to talk about even though there is a lot
@@Xero__.Unfortunately majority of One Piece's fandom are really dumb or you can say are only capable of seeing the story on surface level. They are really lazy when it comes to uncovering layers of a character, they won't even think about it unless you convey it straight to their face. And this is really bad because Luffy's character is written in a really nuisanced way so unless u pay attention to him closely you won't discover his growth or character. To most people character development is like a complete 180 in personality otherwise its not character development, it's really disappointing to know this about said people.
@@Altario10 Half the One Piece fandom seems to have literally zero investment in anything beyond which characters would win in a fight. And they're not even good at interpreting that part of the story.
@@Xero__.It's result of refugees infiltrating the one piece fandom, pretending to be one piece fan, and then controlling every large social account and thus consequently controlling how people should view certain Character.
@@zoro115-s6b EXACTLY 💯
another thing is, as one piece fandom is growing in number, the number of dumb people are increasing. Which also results in toxicity
Even though it’ll be sad as all get out, I can’t wait for the inevitable kuma video.
Honestly each and every time she shows her face, I always expect someone wearing Doffy glasses. This has been a fantastic character essay. There aren't many character focused videos out there, in youtube normally one piece video essays are mainly about lore or plot based.
Thank you for the video Miss Teeee! You have greatly increased my appreciation for one piece with these videos.
Thank you so much! The support means a lot, and I couldn't be happier that I've helped you love One Piece more 😭🫶
EVERYONE SHUT UP THE QUEEN IS BACK
You should make a video on the subtlety of Kaido’s character. Like how he teamed up with Orochi, who embodies everything he hates, or how he was motivated and excited by Luffy and announced his plan to his subordinates and Momo
This is my first ever tip on YT but it is so well deserved! I grew up with One Piece and it has accompanied me almost my entire life... And yet this well written two-part essay (and all your other content) still gave me so many new insights I didn't think of before! Had me tear up constantly as well, with how beautifully you phrased things 🥲
I am very grateful for what you do and also very proud of you for overcoming your anxiety and showing yourself! 💥🌟
Btw, what is that beautiful song you used at the end? It has got a very chill vibe 🎶
Thank you so much! I'm honoured to be your first tip! My goal is to try and get people to think more about One Piece, so I'm glad I've helped you see new things!
The song at the end is called Weirder Stuff by Geographer btw 🫶
Luffy’s story hasn’t yet ended but videos like this remind us that his journey makes him one of the best characters in fiction! Thanks for the video! For enriching my enjoyment and appreciation of my favourite series ❤
Every one of your videos says so many things I agree with then hits me with something I've never thought about but is absolutely true.
The idea that Luffy thinks of people who give him food as Heroes unlike himself is so smart and I never would've thought of it.
I love Luffy and I don't really like to think about it, no thoughts, just monke
I for a long time took for granted that Luffy just doesn't want to be alone. It started with "I can't fight with swords, navigate, cook or lie" where I honestly thought : So Main character that doesn't work without support cast. good. And of course, Ace and Sabo put it in perspective, but I never realized just how terrified of that loneliness he is.
Great video. Keep them coming. We will be there.
I adore all of the colorful and interesting characters in one piece but there has always been a deep soft spot for Luffy in my heart. There's something about the way he does things for others not because he feels obligated, but because he cares so much about his friends and family that nothing will stop him from helping them. It's just,,,,, Luffy *isn't* cruel. His protection of the Boa sisters' even when he doesn't understand *why* they want their marks to be hidden will always be my favorite example. The "you may want to kill me, but I don't want to kill you" line is just,,,,, so good.
Watching Luffy interact with his world and stay true to himself and others despite all it's depravity and cruelty is liberating in itself. He isn't just *free* in both his world and his own. In a way, he's also liberating in our world too. One piece might not have given me a full time job (which is so awesome btw!! I'm so happy for you!) but it's gotten me through so many hard times in my life. It's been with me through highs and lows and back to highs again. It came at just the right moment in my childhood to become something I can't imagine my life without. So happy you found this series and that it resonated with you so deeply.
I’ve said it before but there’s absolutely no one making insightful one piece content as good as yours. I love this series, and your essays got me back into One Piece after years away. Thanks for everything.
I'm in the train and ugly crying because of this video. You said everything why I love One Piece and Luffy.
One Piece also changed my life and I'm so happy and grateful to experience this masterpiece. I enjoyed every single Strawhat (and more) Video from you❤ Its an honor to watch your videos, because they make One Piece even better and more fun! Keep going! I will forever support you.
Love from Switzerland❤❤
Thank you so much! It's an honour to be able to make these videos! I couldn't be happier than I'm helping you enjoy One Piece even more! 😭❤
iv rewrote and reimagined many characters in different ways in my head, yet, luffy is an exception to that. he is perfect the way he is.
I'm so proud of you for making it through this video 🎉 I loved them both
Wanted to add: eating food reminds your body you're still alive, and you intend to keep living. After experiencing a traumatic event lots of people don't breakdown until they eat. They can't process the experience is finished until they're eating.
The level of your character and thematic analyses is stunning.
Why did this make me cry
I think the most primal reason I rate Luffy as the greatest hero of all time (as opposed to Reddit hot takes) is because him being “relatable” is not relating to a facet of my character to him, but a facet (or multiple facets) that my character wants to be that’s portrayed in him. Both his strength and kindness are written with such nuance, that one feels this is the pathway and pinnacle of human growth; the truest freedom of them all. What’s more, is that it doesn’t feel fantastical as much as.. attainable in real life; maybe not the rubbery body and the superpowers, but the cleanliness/clarity in the nature of his.. I want to say simplicity but there must be a word to combine “minimalism” and “simpleton”, haha. In any case, thank you for this two-parter: it was very succinct and put together in a warm, homely way. Great job!
It's crazy that a character as iconic and history defining as Luffy can still can stand today as one of the most refreshing characters in manga and anime.
I don't think any words i could come up with in the process of writing this comment could properly express just what Luffy means to me, and just how much I love his character. So thank you for doing it for me
I don’t care if you see this or not, but just know you have brought me and the rest of the fans so much happiness thank you so much
your videos have made me cry laugh and brought so many more of my friends to this amazing series we all love together. i hope that you continue to create and would love to see where you go next. thank you so much mel
Thank you so much! The support means a lot and I'll do my best!! 😭
I love the part where Luffy says This is My Peak when he unleashes Gear 5 and he feels the power of the drums of liberation. As a person who felt like a failure and had to stick with a regular job instead of following my dreams. It gives me that childlike wonder that all kids strive for without having to face the reality that needing to survive needs a well paying job. It gives me that liberty that yes, you should follow your dreams
Gear 5 is so thematically and narratively fulfilling for a character like Luffy that it actually blows my mind that Oda pulled it off so well without anyone seeing it coming.
I hated pretty much every fan-made gear 5 prediction I saw in the years leading up to that moment, and part of that was how they always were so serious and edgy and detached from Luffy's character. Like that one that people kept using in fake thumbnails where Luffy was all black with haki was one of the worst (and of course one of the most popular), they just felt so much like the most typical boring cliché shounen bargain basement power-ups possible. The real Gear 5 being essentially the opposite of all those because of how closely it was tied to who Luffy is on a fundamental level was like Oda reaching out of the page, patting me on the cheek and saying "fear not my child, I gotchu".
I've been reading one piece for over 20 years. This story means so much to me, more then anything I love the detail and passion in these videos. Thank you so much for the time and effort put into these and I hope your channel continues to grow.
The most interesting about Gear 4 in Dressrosa against Doffy is that it's just the tipical serious Shounen transformation wich was cool and all (Snakeman also) but Gear 5 is truly what I love about One Piece. It's finally Fun again and still exciting wich brings me back to the East Blue Saga where Luffy always had funny attacks (Luffy vs Arlong) but it was still serious.
Luffy Gear 5, from what we've seen in the Anime is also a liberation to the animators to have fun and being playfull in their own style, whyle still being genuine to the source material.
The power of Luffy, combined with this masterpiece of a character dissection, had me weeping and smiling for two full videos. No one does it better.
I love how Sakura is so engaged in the vast world of one piece 😁 ... waiting for the next one
Thank you for touching on Luffy's fear of loneliness, it's something I haven't seen discussed much. A cute touch in some of the series intro/outro songs lately has been Luffy getting happier with each new crew member appearing!
I don't like being sappy, but luffy I feel like has impacted my life. I remember being a grumpy teenager as we all were, but mostly being bitter too, and I genuinely think that this goofy rubber man helped me let go of that, and got me to smile, even when the going is harder. He's my captain, and I'm gonna follow his lead.
I think this is genuinely the best luffy analysis I’ve ever watched, you nailed every single reason why I love this character so much, couldn’t have put it into better words
This is basically the perfect video describing how I’ve always felt about Luffy. I have a hard time trying to tell people what’s so great about Luffy and why I consider him one of the best protagonists ever written, and these two videos pretty much perfectly articulate how I feel
22:46 you have officially becomemy favorite one piece youtuber by pointing out the glory of this dialogue
This video was absolutely beautiful, not only has one piece saved me, but Luffy has too, there is something about Luffy that just, makes me smile when nothing else can, thank you Melon for making this video, and thank you Oda for this masterpiece.
Like most people, i used to think Luffy wasn't that deep. It's crazy how this story is presented as simple but so deep at the same time. This channel give the best one piece analysis on TH-cam. It also made me realize that most analyses are coming from males lol. We always talk about power level and who can be who.. This channel deserves so much more subscribers
Best gear five breakdown ever. 💯🔥
One Piece has genuinely changed my entire perspective and outlook on life and how things work, and Luffy has given me pure hope. He is the best MC I have ever witnessed.
Thank you so much! It's changed my perspective on a lot of things in life too, and it's why it's such an honour to talk about it, and to talk about how I view things in the story! 🩷
I've been on this journey for 14 years and it always blew my mind the drought on analysis content given how vast this world is. Your channel certainly signaled a change in paradigm within the fandom. Thank you!!
"Everyone that's shared food with him is a hero" hit me way harder than I expected.
Man, this video was really good don’t get me wrong but that part about luffy being a self - made god who frees nations for everyone to be free so that he can be free was amazing