When it comes to current airing anime, very few can claim a history as long, successful, and impressive as One Piece. Since its very first episode all the way back in October of 1999, One Piece has captivated fans with a charming cast, epic adventures, and intriguing world structure.
But any series that lasts for as many years as One Piece has is bound to hit a few bumps in the road along the way. Despite being able to maintain its popularity in sales even among the newer generation, the classic shonen anime has never been a stranger to controversial moments.
10 Pell Defied Death After A Massive Explosion
In the climactic finale of the Alabasta Saga, Pell made a grand sacrifice to fly a bomb high into the air and save his Kingdom in the process. It was the first major death of One Piece, causing fans to reconsider the gruesome nature of the world they knew and loved.
Pell's sacrifice was a moment of triumph and honor, which upset fans all the more when it was suddenly revealed there was never a death to begin with. Many fans began to doubt there would ever be a truly significant character death from that point forward.
9 A Miscommunication Led To Luffy Fighting Zoro
If there's one thing fans love about One Piece, it's the unbreakable bond forged between members of the Straw Hat crew. The Straw Hats are one of the most iconic ensembles in all of anime, so fans know when a fight breaks out, it should be a dramatic, important moment. This was not the case for Luffy vs Zoro in the Whiskey Peak arc. Stemming from a simple misunderstanding and complete failure to communicate, Luffy vs Zoro is an example of a cliche fans just aren't interested in.
8 Luffy Nearly Loses His Crew In A Davy Back Fight
Shonen fans are more than accustomed to the occasional filler episode. But it's always rare to find a canon arc that fans agree should be treated like filler despite being true to the original manga. The Davy Back Fight is a prime example of one such arc.
Though many fans can appreciate a couple of memes spawned from this fight, like Afro Luffy, most would rather just pretend it never existed. What could've been an interesting plotline becomes one of the most boring and unimportant moments in all of One Piece due to a lackluster villain and tediously infuriating final battle.
7 Pagaya Survives A Lethal Lightning Strike
Luffy faced one of his most intimidating opponents during the Skypiea Arc when he confronted the lighting god Enel. Enel's use of mantra to monitor and control all of Skypiea was a feat to behold. Without ever being seen, Enel could strike a rebellion down with a bolt of lightning out of nowhere. The most major of Enel's victims was Pagaya, the kind and gracious father who helped the Straw Hats when they first arrived on Sky Island. But like Pell, Pagaya managed to survive out of nowhere, undercutting any dramatic tension and stakes the arc had previously built up.
6 Sanji's Nosebleed Took Him Out Of An Entire Arc
Fans have come to love Sanji's trademark nosebleed which occurs whenever the Straw Hat chef stumbles into the presence of a beautiful woman. But even the most charmed of fans know there is a limit to this type of gag.
That limit, for many, was pushed too far during the events of Fish-Man Island, where Sanji was rendered unconscious for most of the arc after encountering the mermaids. Not only was Sanji missing during a number of key moments, but his faux injury also kept Chopper away from the spotlight alongside him.
5 Usopp Betrays Luffy And Abandons The Crew
The Water 7 Saga saw a massive shift in the dynamics of the Straw Hat crew. With the Going Merry at the brink of collapse, Luffy made the difficult choice to retire their iconic ship and purchase a new one. This decision didn't sit well with Usopp, leading to one of the most dramatic moments in all of One Piece.
Despite being a favorite among many, some fans find Usopp's reasons for betraying Luffy to be more frustrating than honorable. Even fans that understand Usopp can agree he should never have challenged his Captain.
4 The Straw Hat's Reunite With All New Designs
Following the Marineford arc, One Piece underwent a two-year time skip which saw the redesign of many fan-favorite Straw Hat members. While fans were no doubt ecstatic about the crew getting back together after so long apart, many couldn't help but be disappointed by the sudden change in most of their appearances. While the likes of Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy were all beloved, some fans were less than enthused by the color shift of Robin, the cutifying of Chopper, and the absurdity of Nami's bikini.
3 Vivi Leaves The Crew To Stay In Alabasta
At this point, fans are used to temporary members of the Straw Hat crew. But back during the Alabasta Saga, that concept was still new. Vivi was a fan-favorite character who had been traveling with Luffy for almost 100 episodes. She was at the core of many moments fans remember to this day and still manages to top popularity polls despite not appearing in the anime for years.
While many can empathize with Vivi's difficult choice, it's no surprise some had hoped she would give up her royal duties and travel with the Straw Hats permanently.
2 Skypiea Dragged On For Way Too Long
One Piece has taken its fans across an enchanting world filled with all sorts of unique cultures and people. Many consider the worldbuilding to be this anime's finest quality. But even diehard fans often find themselves groaning at the astounding length of the Skypiea arc.
What fans hoped would be a world-expanding adventure to a long-awaited destination instead became an endless slog with easily forgettable side characters. Though a few fans appreciate the introduction of new powers and an interesting setting, others can't help but skip the arc on any rewatch.
1 Luffy Vs Doflamingo Disappointed Years Of Anticipation
The Dressrosa Saga was the culmination of many significant plot threads established over years of One Piece's anime. Fans looked forward to the backstory of Trafalgar Law, the devil fruit reveal of Doflamingo, and further insight into the ever-looming threat of the Four Emperors.
But after over 100 episodes, many fans were left disappointed by the climactic battle between Luffy and the final villain, citing a poorly-paced fight as well as a somewhat generic devil fruit ability from Doflamingo. While the Ito Ito no Mi fit thematically with Doflamingo's puppet master archetype, some fans felt his fighting style failed to meet their expectations.