One Piece (1999 TV Series)

About One Piece

One Piece is an anime series adapted from the manga of the same title written by Eiichiro Oda. Produced by Toei Animation, and directed by Konosuke Uda, Munehisa Sakai and Hiroaki Miyamoto, the series first premiered in Japan on Fuji Television on October 20, 1999. The story follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a boy whose body gained the properties of rubber after unintentionally eating a Devil Fruit. With his crew of pirates, named the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy explores the Grand Line in search of the world's ultimate treasure known as "One Piece" in order to become the next Pirate King.

Making / Production

The anime adaptation is produced by Toei Animation, and is directed by Konosuke Uda, Munehisa Sakai, and Hiroaki Miyamoto. Initially, the content of the series was very much in line with the manga, but as the series continued, the anime began incorporating more original storylines. The animation team has also been recognized for its consistent art and design throughout the series' long run.

Actors

• Mayumi Tanaka is the voice actor for Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy is the main character, her playful and ambitious performance as him has been a key factor in the show's enduring popularity.
• Kappei Yamaguchi voices Usopp, bringing to life the character's often comic, but reliable personality with great fervor and emotion.
• Hiroaki Hirata voices the character of Sanji, gracefully portraying the character's suave, yet powerful presence.
• Akemi Okamura provides the voice for Nami, capturing the strong and smart personality of the character with precision.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• One Piece holds the Guinness World Record for having the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author.
• The series debuted in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on July 22, 1997.
• The character of Chopper was actually inspired by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Quotes

• "There comes a time when a man has to stand and fight. That time is when his friends' dreams are being laughed at. And I won't let you laugh at that!" - Monkey D. Luffy
• "When do you think people die? When they are shot through the heart by the bullet of a pistol? No. When they are ravaged by an incurable disease? No. When they drink a soup made from a poisonous mushroom!? No! It’s when... they are forgotten." - Dr. Hiluluk
• "I do things my own way! So don't give me any lip about it!" - Sanji

Music and Soundtrack

• "We Are!" - The original opening theme, performed by Hiroshi Kitadani.
• "Believe" - The second opening theme, performed by Folder5.
• One Piece Original Soundtrack - Composed by Kouhei Tanaka and Shiro Hamaguchi, this music complements the show's high sea adventures perfectly.