Today, one of the most popular Japanese animated TV shows in the US is One Piece by Oda Eiichiro. It belongs to the Shounen genre but has multiple subgenres, including fantasy, action, and adventure. The story follows a boy named Luffy, who wants to live a life of freedom and ventures out to sea as a pirate to find the legendary treasure, “the One Piece,” which would grant him the title, King of the Pirates. During his journey, he gains many friends while also uncovering the dark secrets of the World Government, the ultimate authority within the One Piece universe. Because of its popularity, the TV series is available across several platforms, most notably Crunchyroll, which currently holds the licenses for streaming and home video in North America. I believe it resonates with American audiences because the show contains a lot of universal themes of systemic oppression, racism, and the pursuit of dreams and freedom. I also think it’s due to its diverse and memorable characters, along with a very unique art style. One Piece is most popular in Japan and has been since the manga was released in 1997, which is insane but also a testament to how influential and inspiring it is decades later.
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