One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young individual whose body gains elastic qualities after eating a Devil Fruit by accident. Along with his varied group of pirates, known as the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy navigates the Grand Line in pursuit of One Piece, the greatest treasure in the world, and battles various pirates and antagonists along the way. One of the factors contributing to its enduring success is the range of emotions it elicits in its audience.
From heartwarming instances of friendship and solidarity to heart-wrenching moments of loss and sorrow, this anime series has it all. Here are the most emotional arcs in the series.
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10 Marineford War Arc
Toei Animation
The Marineford War arc is undoubtedly the most emotional in the One Piece series. It follows the Battle of Marineford, a conflict between the Marines and the Whitebeard pirates, and features several heart-wrenching moments. One of the most emotional moments of the arc comes when Captain Whitebeard is killed in battle when he and his crew are on a mission to prevent the execution of Ace.
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This moment is particularly emotional as Whitebeard had become a father figure to Luffy and his death serves as a cruel reminder of the harsh realities of the world of One Piece. His last question was, “Just answer one question for me Ace… Was I a good father?”
Additionally, the arc features the tragic death of Ace, Luffy’s adoptive brother. Overall, the Marineford War arc is a poignant and powerful tale that will leave a lasting impression on any One Piece fan. It is a testament to the strength of friendship and the unbreakable bonds that can form between people, even in the face of great adversity.
9 Thriller Bark Arc
One of the most moving moments in the Thriller Bark arc is when the Straw Hat crew meets Brook and learns about his past. Brook was a member of the Rumbar Pirates in the past, but they all eventually contracted a terminal illness. He was the only one who survived, thanks to his Yomi Yomi no Mi, which granted him a second life. However, he was forced to spend decades alone on the ship. To make matters worse, the Rumbar Pirates had promised a giant whale named Laboon that they would see him again after circumnavigating the world, which Brook didn’t see happening any time soon.
8 Arlong Park Arc
The Arlong Park arc follows the Straw Hat pirates as they travel to the East Blue, the first sea they ever sailed, to help their friend, Nami, defeat the tyrannical fishman pirate Arlong and his crew.
One of the most emotional moments in this arc is when Nami confronts Arlong and reveals her traumatic experiences at his hands. Nami was forced to work as a mapmaker for Arlong’s crew to save her village after Arlong killed her adoptive mother, Bellemere.
Her shoulder bears a shark tattoo, which was given to her as branding by the Arlong Crew. This tattoo is a visible reminder of the pain and suffering she has experienced, which is why she stabs her arm.
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7 Water 7 Arc
Many fans consider the Water 7 arc in One Piece sad because it involves the breakdown of the Straw Hat crew. In this arc, the crew’s ship, the Going Merry, is severely damaged, and they are forced to seek help in the city of Water 7 to repair it.
During their stay in Water 7, the crew becomes divided, and some members, including Usopp and Nico Robin, leave. The conflict within the crew and the departure of some of its members is a significant and emotional event for the characters and fans of the series. Luffy fighting Usopp was perhaps the most heart-wrenching moment for fans.
Another emotionally charged moment in the Water 7 arc is when the crew decides to say goodbye to the Going Merry, as it has served them well but is no longer able to keep up with their adventures. The crew holds a Viking funeral for the ship and sets it adrift, symbolizing the end of an era for them. This is a poignant and emotional moment for the crew, as the Going Merry has been with them for many of their adventures and has come to represent their bond.
6 The Enies Lobby Arc
The Enies Lobby arc is a thrilling and emotional story that follows the Straw Hat pirates as they storm the judicial island of Enies Lobby in an attempt to rescue their crewmate, Nico Robin, who the World Government had captured.
The emotional moment is when viewers learn Robin’s backstory. Robin, also known as the “Devil Child,” was a former member of the criminal organization known as the Baroque Works. She was originally born on the island of Ohara, known for its scholars who studied the Poneglyphs, ancient stone tablets containing information about the world’s history, particularly during the Void Century.
When the World Government learned of the Ohara scholars’ activities, they ordered the Marines, their military force, to destroy the island and kill all of its inhabitants. Robin was the only survivor of the attack, and she was forced to go on the run, becoming a target of the World Government for her knowledge of the Poneglyphs. As a result of her past, Robin has a troubled relationship with the World Government and is often portrayed as a tragic figure.
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5 Dressrosa Arc
The Dressrosa arc is characterized by its heart-wrenching and emotional story. Kyros is introduced as a former gladiator who had won over 3,000 matches in the Colosseum. He married a woman named Scarlett, and they had a daughter named Rebecca. However, their happiness was short-lived as the Donquixote Pirates, led by Doflamingo, took over the kingdom and Scarlett was killed.
The evil pirate, Donquixote Doflamingo, forced the king of Dressrosa to kill his own people and used the powers of one of his crew members, Sugar, to turn people into toys, causing them to be forgotten by their loved ones. Kyros was also turned into a toy, and as a result, everyone’s memories of Kyros, including his own daughter’s, were erased. The reunion between Rebecca and her father at the end of the arc was incredibly emotional and moved everyone to tears.
4 Whole Cake Island Arc
After learning about his backstory, fans finally gained insight into the origins of Sanji’s unique personality and characteristics. Sanji was born as a prince of the Germa Kingdom. He was subjected to ridicule from his siblings, with his cries for help landing on deaf ears. His father even locked him up. He was finally able to escape from his family with the help of his sister Reiju and was told by his father, Judge, never to reveal his connection to the family.
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2 Alabasta Arc
The Alabasta arc follows the adventures of the Straw Hat crew as they travel to the kingdom of Alabasta and become involved in a civil war. Along the way, they meet Princess Vivi, and she becomes a close friend of the crew. Despite their strong bond, Vivi ultimately decides she cannot leave her kingdom and its people to join the Straw Hat crew on their journey.
As the crew sets sail, Vivi tells them goodbye over a loudspeaker and asks if they will still consider her a friend no matter how much time passes. Nami warns that responding could get Vivi in trouble with the Marines, who are watching their actions. Rather than risking Vivi’s safety, the crew silently raises their arms with an “X” marked on their wrists to show their solidarity and friendship with Vivi. While it is difficult for the crew to say goodbye to Vivi, their simple gesture is a powerful and touching way to convey their feelings.
1 Drum Island Arc
The Drum Island arc is considered sad because it is where we learn about Chopper’s sad past. Chopper was born on the cold, snowy Drum Island, where other reindeer ostracized him due to his blue nose. He eventually ate the Hito Hito no Mi, a cursed Devil Fruit that allowed him to transform into a humanoid reindeer with human-like intelligence.
This ability caused him to be even more isolated and rejected by the other animals on the island. Eventually, Chopper was taken in by Dr. Hiriluk, who accepted Chopper as his own and taught him about medicine. However, Hiluluk was eventually revealed to be gravely ill, and Chopper found him the Amiudake mushroom, which he believed had medicinal properties.
Unfortunately, the mushroom was poisonous and ultimately led to Hiluluk’s death. Chopper was devastated by this loss, and many fans found it heart-wrenching to see such a cute and innocent character go through so much hardship.
