A question
I need to ask you one question: In One Piece, how can you be assured that a character will be able to handle the challenges of their journey?
The answer: by their character development of course, but I say: Their first and most notable action!
Let's take Luffy from chapter 1. How are we so sure he will be able to face (not vainquish, just face) all the challenges.. Well.. Chapter 1 - Page 3 This shadowing is one of the most important development pieces of Luffy's character.
For two reasons:
1 - It's the first action of Luffy, so it echoes to our Anchoring bias (the first element of a series is often the element we rely on the most)
2 - This piece of development is the foundation of ALL the actions of Luffy in the futur. Without it, Luffy attacking the mountain bandits wouldn've feel forced, same for all his reckless development later.
With this, you can see how important the development of an action is and why the first action is always one of the most important one.
The thing is.. in Manga in general, A very specific type of action is needed in addition to that previous action.. to give the character credibility and meaning, something incredible, something that regular characters can't really achieve.
This action can take different forms. For example, L's "manga" action - in "Death Note" - appears just after his anonymous introduction. By having Light surprised here, L put's himself as one of the main and best adversary of the series, but it puts him also as a "superhuman" mind character type.
In shonen, this action usually gives the character a superhuman treatment.. but you can find this specific treatment in other manga stories. In Seinen like Uchuu Kyoudaii, this action can simply gives characters an amazing stand out mindset.
So.. let's sum up:
In most good manga stories, the first impression is one of the most important to understand the character BUT the "Manga moment' is the action that makes the character stands out.
Now, let's look at One Piece and let's concentrate on that "manga moment"and we will see that like other manga stories, most of the major characters of an arc have that "Manga moment".
Usually it is done by a simple and fast action:
- Shanks saving Luffy
- Coby's courage speech
- Mihawk's slash
- Oden's slashing the boar
- Etc.
But Oda added a NEW layer to this "manga action"- specific to the strawhats!!
This action is not only related to the story, but is related first and foremost to the place of the specific nakama into their specific role.. .. in the crew!!
I call that specific action:
THE SHINING NAKAMA ACTION
Let's deconstruct this parameter for a Navigator for example:
The role implies some specifications: (Knowledge of the climat)
The Character is introduced with a certain capacity for the role in the crew: (A special power or feeling sensing the weather pattern for example)
The character must face a challenging situation (There is a storm coming)
The character must overcome a challenging situation with an amazing action by using their specific crewman skills: (the character must predict a storm while being sick)
This action must get the character out of trouble or make them understand something (The storm was avoided and it was a tornado!)
An important character present during the action must make an exclamation remark regarding the action (this is a manga trope); ("wow, they predicted such an unpredictible storm while being sick, amazing")
Get all that and you get a Shining Nakama action, a shonen heroic proof of concept but related specifically to the strawhat crew and their place on the Sunny. Sometime those action are impressive, sometimes just logical, but they always get the crew out of trouble and they are always related to the posts.
Let's see them in details:
Zoro - The Right-hand man
Specification: Must be able to be the most truthfull warrior
Introduction to the capacity: By letting himself be captured, Zoro has shown an amazing sence of trust and honor - Chapter 3
Challenge: Luffy is about to get hit by Morgan - Chapter 6
Action: Luffy trust Zoro and Zoro replies by attacking Morgan
Result: Luffy is safe and Morgan is out
Reaction: Luffy: "Nice!"
Nami - The Navigator
Specification: Must be able to predict the weather
Introduction to the capacity: Nami stills one of Baggy's ship and predict the weather - Chapter 8
Challenge: A storm approaches and Nami is sick - Chapter 130
Action: Despite her illness, Nami predicts a huge cylcone and change the ship's course
Result: Everyone is safe
Reaction: Vivi: "incredible.. A cyclone on the grandline is said to be impossible to predict !!"
Usopp - The sniper
Specification: Must be able to aim like a god
Introduction to the capacity: Usopp shoots with precision at the guard in Kaya's house - Chapter 27
Challenge: Luffy is about to get touched by Sugar, Usopp needs to act - Chapter 758
Action: Usopp uses all his snipers skill to take down Sugar
Result: Luffy is safe
Reaction: Viola: "You are amazing Usopp Kun"
(This can also be applied to the first time Usopp uses the cannon of the Merry)
Sanji - The Cook
Specification: Must have the strenght to nourrish others regardless of their status
Introduction to the capacity: Sanji's vivion of rationning is introduced - Chapter 43
Challenge: Gin, an enemy, is hungry - Chapter 44
Action: Sanji feeds his ennemy
Result: Gin is amazingly happy
Reaction: Luffy: "I've found my cook"
(This can also be applied to the end of whole cake and Sanji feeding Big Mom)
Chopper - The Doctor
Specification: Must show amazing medical skills
Introduction to the capacity: Chopper's skills are introduced - Chapter 130
Challenge: Chessmarimo threaten the castle - Chapter 149
Action: Chopper knocks-out Chessmarimo, with the help of the scope of his Rumble Ball and his knowledge
Result: Chopper wins
Reaction: Luffy: "Seven transformation?? Amazing!!!"
Robin - The archeologist, the cap giver
Specification: Must be able to read history like an open book
Introduction to the capacity: Robin's abilities to decode the secrets of the world are introduced - Chapter 202
Challenge: The crew must understand the secret of the old shipwreck - Chapter 219
Action: Robin succeeds in analyzing rapidly
Result: We know more
Reaction: Nami: "You are able to understand so much??"
Franky - The Shipwright
Specification: Must have amazing shipwright's skills
Introduction to the capacity: Franky's ability as a Shipwright is revealed - Chapter 353
Challenge: The mugiwara needs a amazing ship
Action: Iceberg presents the Sunny built by Franky for the Mugiwara - Chapter 437
Result: Sunny is born
Reaction: Luffy: "I've never seen such a beautiful ship! Thank you!" Chapter 438
Brook - The Musician
Specification: Must be an amazing musician
Introduction to the capacity: Brook’s song is the first thing we hear from him. - Chapter 442
Challenge: We need to party
Action: Brook plays "Sake of Binks". This song starts the party.- Chapter 488
Result: Everyones is happy!
Reaction: Everyone sing during the song, this leads to Brook joining the crew with acclamations.
Jinbe - The Helmsman
Specification: Must be have amazing helmsman's skills.
Introduction to the capacity: Jinbe takes the helm - Chapter 548
Challenge: A Tsunami puts the crew in danger - Chapter 880
Action: Jinbe uses his skills to steers the Sunny into the Green Room - Chapter 881
Result: The strawhats escapes the Tsunami
Reaction: Nami : "Amazing, He is controlling this sloop like it's just an extension of himself"
A specific moment
As you can see the "Shining Nakama Action" is THE moment where a Nakama becomes something more than just an important character and becomes an amazing crewmate who can be usefull to the crew and the best at what they do.
Something must be noted howewever! This action only takes place in a specific sietuation where no other character can act. Indeed, all the characters can take the helm, but only Jinbe under a specific situation can act and save the crew into the green room!
Anyway, Oda took the "manga action" and elevated it to make the character leave up to the role needed in the crew. This is the moment when all the attention is centered around the action of the character (Note: Franky is the only one shown after the fact, but the attention of the moment is all on him)