13 Major Mistakes in the One Piece Anime: A Deep Dive

1. The Trafalgar Law Subtitles (Paramount War Arc)

One of the more recent and glaring mistakes comes courtesy of Netflix. During the climactic Paramount War, Trafalgar D. Water Law makes his appearance to save Luffy. However, Netflix’s subtitles revealed his full name 200 episodes too early, spoiling a significant reveal that should have occurred much later in the story.

2. Zoro Cuts Steel Too Soon (Episode 59)

In episode 59, Zoro cuts through steel chains, an act that becomes problematic during his fight with Mr. 1 in the Alabasta arc. The significance of Zoro finally cutting steel is a major character development in the manga, but anime-only viewers might have felt underwhelmed, as they had already seen him do the impossible long before this crucial moment.

3. The Dragon Continuity Error (Punk Hazard Arc)

In the early filler episodes, the Straw Hat crew encounters a dragon. Fast forward to the Punk Hazard Arc, and Zoro and Luffy express disbelief when they see a dragon again, despite having already encountered one. This glaring continuity error made fans question the anime’s internal consistency.

4. The Extra Poneglyph (Episode 102)

During a filler arc in Alabasta, the Straw Hats stumble upon a Poneglyph, despite the fact that the manga later establishes there are only 30 in existence. This filler episode has led to many anime-only fans believing there’s an additional, unexplored Poneglyph in Alabasta, when in fact, it was simply an invention by the anime team.

5. Hawkins’ Prediction Misstep (Wano Arc)

In the Wano Arc, Basil Hawkins predicts a 1% survival rate for a certain character. The anime reveals that character to be X Drake, contradicting the manga where Hawkins’ prediction was actually about himself. This alteration created unnecessary confusion about the plot.

6. Reverse Mountain Marines (Episode 69)

In one of the few animated cover stories, Koby and Helmeppo are depicted entering the Grand Line via Reverse Mountain. However, it’s established later that Marines use Calm Belts to travel between seas due to their specially designed ships. This was an understandable error, as the anime team didn’t have this information when the episode aired.

7. Garp the Fist Wields a Sword? (Chapter 957)

During a flashback in the God Valley Incident, Garp, known for his fist combat, is depicted wielding a sword. This mistake stands out even more when you realize the manga clearly shows Garp in a punching stance, aligning with his combat style and nickname.

8. Nami’s Hypocrisy (Episode 61 vs Dressrosa Arc)

In Dressrosa, Nami expresses her moral reluctance to drown a Devil Fruit user, but in a filler episode, she does exactly that by pushing Eric the Whirlwind into the sea. This contradiction paints Nami in a somewhat confusing light, making fans question her character consistency.

9. Prometheus’ Swim (Episode 1027)

In an anime-exclusive moment, Prometheus, a fire-based homie, dives into the ocean to rescue Big Mom. Fire and water don’t mix, as was previously established in the manga. This event left fans scratching their heads, wondering why the anime disregarded basic fictional physics.

10. Sanji’s Salt Mystery (Water 7 Arc)

Sanji discovers a rare salt in Water 7, implied to be from the All Blue. However, the mystery of the All Blue remains unsolved in the manga, leading to skepticism about whether this filler episode will cause continuity issues once the All Blue is finally revealed.

11. The Chessboard Error (Episode 196)

In a scene featuring Vice Admiral Jonathan, he’s shown playing chess with himself. However, the scene features an illegal chess move, with the black queen mysteriously transforming into a white queen in the next shot. This simple animation error doesn’t affect the plot but is a jarring oversight for detail-oriented viewers.

12. Three-Legged Characters and Other Animation Blunders

The One Piece anime is not without its small animation gaffes, from three-legged characters to six-toed Nami. These mistakes, while humorous, momentarily break the immersion and remind fans that even in a top-tier anime, errors can slip through.

13. Hody Jones’ Flashback (Fishman Island Arc)

Perhaps the most egregious mistake in the anime occurs during Hody Jones’ flashback. In the anime, he’s shown being attacked by humans as a child, which contradicts his entire character arc. In the manga, Hody’s hatred for humans is entirely unfounded, making him a representation of blind hatred. By giving him a tragic backstory, the anime undermines the message of the entire Fishman Island Arc.

To Read: Why Is One Piece So Long? An In-Depth Analysis of Oda’s Creative Journey

Though One Piece has provided countless memorable moments for fans, its anime adaptation is not without flaws. Some of these mistakes can be chalked up to the difficulties of adapting an ongoing manga, while others seem like simple oversights. Regardless, these errors often add unintended humor or confusion to the experience, reminding us that even in the world of pirates and Devil Fruits, nothing is perfect.