Key Takeaways:
– My Hero Academia's author, Kohei Horikoshi, drew inspiration from One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy to create his lead character, Deku.
– One Piece has had a profound impact on Horikoshi's approach to character creation.
– In a recent interview, Eiichiro Oda, One Piece author, called Horikoshi the “next big superhero artist.”
– Oda encourages friendly competition between My Hero Academia and One Piece.
The Universe Behind Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku
If you're an anime and manga fanatic, you've probably heard of, or are a fan of, My Hero Academia. The thrilling story is brought to life by Kohei Horikoshi – a mangaka (comic book artist) who admits he's a big fan of American comics. Classics like Spiderman and Deadpool aren't strangers to him, and he's even drawn elements from these comics into his own creation. But did you know one of the biggest influences on My Hero Academia comes from another anime treasure: One Piece?
You might be surprised to learn that Horikoshi found inspiration for his main character, Izuku Midoriya (known as Deku), from One Piece's beloved character, Monkey D. Luffy.
The Inspiration that Birthed Deku
Horikoshi shared his influences in his character design during an interview with Eiichiro Oda, author of One Piece, that took place in August 2018. The candid conversation revealed that Horikoshi found specific parts of One Piece particularly influential in his work. His admiration for Oda's storytelling and character development techniques sparked the birth of Deku.
In that interview, Horikoshi confessed that his characters' open expression of their thoughts stemmed from reading One Piece. This approach, which Oda once thought was a style of a past era, shocked him. He saw it as refreshing and indicative of a newer wave of mangakas.
Horikoshi's Favored One Piece Arc
An iconic scene in the Arlong arc of One Piece had a tremendous impact on Horikoshi. This scene involves Nami crying out for Luffy's help to salvage her from Arlong. Luffy's response, a thundering “OF COURSE I WILL,” touched Horikoshi deeply. He was so moved that he wanted to create a lead character with similar traits – kind, helpful, and utterly devoted to his friends. Thus, Deku came to life.
Luffy's and Deku's Striking Similarities
Looking closely, you'll see that Deku and Luffy possess several commonalities. They both demonstrate an unyielding resolve, challenging death to achieve their dreams. They place the welfare of their comrades above their own, showcasing the depths of their compassion.
Horikoshi and Oda: The Creators' Mirror
Interestingly, both evocative characters derive attributes from their authors' personalities. Oda acknowledges infusing pieces of himself into Luffy to articulate a character devoid of worry. Similarly, Horikoshi incorporated his social anxiety and tendency to over-analyze into Deku, making him more relatable to readers.
One Piece's Opinion on My Hero Academia
In the same conversation with Horikoshi, Oda shared his views about My Hero Academia. He described Horikoshi as “the next big superhero artist,” expressing high praise for his fellow colleague. This validation left Horikoshi deeply moved.
Oda even disclosed a moment where his daughter pondered over the relevance of One Piece after hearing a track from My Hero Academia playing on her school bus. At this point, Oda invited Horikoshi to a friendly competition: who would take the number one spot in Weekly Shonen Jump?
As things stand, My Hero Academia has already drawn its curtains, while One Piece seems indefinite. Regardless, both remarkable manga are widely appreciated and enjoyed by anime enthusiasts worldwide.
In conclusion, while separate entities, One Piece and My Hero Academia share links beneath the surface—ones that are deep-seated in shared admiration and inspiration. They are both available to stream on platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix, guaranteeing a delightful experience for anime fans across the globe.
