Eiichiro Oda's iconic shonen manga One Piece is steadily approaching the start of its next major arc, which will involve the Straw Hats journeying to an island populated by Viking-like warriors. Recently, a One Piece fan uncovered a statement from Oda that sheds light on why he developed an interest in Nordic warriors and has incorporated them into One Piece.
Pew (@pewpiece), whose X (formerly Twitter) page centers primarily around One Piece content, recently shared a series of author comments published in 1998 (One Piece Volume 2, pages 52 and 134). Here, Oda explained that his interest in pirates and Vikings began with a certain anime from his childhood. "When I was a kid, I used to enjoy watching an animated TV series called "Little Viking Vicke" [Vicky the Viking]. It aired over 15 years ago. That's probably why I started liking pirates." Additionally, Oda mentioned that Vikings are actually his favorite type of pirate, and that he would like to "talk" about them someday. Over 25 years later, it appears that Oda is now preparing to do just that within the upcoming pages of One Piece.
One Piece's Eiichiro Oda Was Inspired by His Favorite Type of Pirate: Vikings
Vicky the Viking was produced by Nippon Animation (Hunter x Hunter) and Mushi Production (Astro Boy, Cleopatra). Based on a series of books by Runer Jonsson, the series chronicles the daily misadventures of a boisterous Viking tribe. Unlike the other Vikings, the titular Vicky possesses a sharp intellect and a vivid imagination. He often puts these qualities to use by making unique gadgets and inventions in order to solve problems. While the series is intended for young children, it nevertheless introduced Oda to the concept of Vikings and clearly inspired him while creating the inhabitants of Elbaf. One of Pew's followers even shared a post highlighting the similarities between Vicky and one of Elbaf's child characters. Additionally, Vicky the Viking's comedic tone may have helped inspire Oda's unique brand of humor.
The One Piece Island of Elbaf Draws Heavily on Viking-Age Culture and Norse Mythology
There is no question that Elbaf itself draws influence from Nordic mythology. Located in a region called "Warland," the country is reputed to be one of the New World's all-time strongest nations. Additionally, its gigantic inhabitants sport much of the attire typically associated with Viking warriors, such as spiked helmets and armor. Elbaf society is likewise centered around strength and a strict code of honor that governs how warriors fight. Despite this, they are greatly feared by the other pirate factions. The nation's prince, who thus far has only appeared as a silhouetted figure, is named after Loki, the Norse God of Mischief.
One Piece's Egghead Arc May Soon Draw to a Close, Making Way for Elbaf
At this point, it is not clear how long One Piece fans will have to wait to see the next stage of Luffy's journey. In the manga's current "Egghead" arc, Luffy and his crew are working to protect the genius scientist Dr. Vegapunk as he continues his research. In the arc's latest chapter, Dr. Vegapunk makes a startling environmental revelation that poses an existential threat to the entire world, and it has not been confirmed how long it will be before the Straw Hats are able to move on. However, the franchise's recent announcement about its upcoming line of Elbaf character figures has caused many fans to conclude that Egghead's finale is close at hand.
The One Piece manga is available in English from VIZ Media. Toei Animation's popular series adaptation is available to stream on Netflix, Hulu and Crunchyroll.
Source: One Piece Volume 2 (April 3, 1998), X (formerly Twitter)
