“In some parts LotR is way better than One Piece”: One Piece Fans Claiming Eiichiro Oda’s Saga Can Rival JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings in 1 Area is a Level of Delusion We Didn’t Think Was Possible

A comparison of worldbuilding between Eiichiro Oda's One Piece and The Lord of the Rings proved why One Piece can never be in the big leagues.

one piece, lord of the rings

SUMMARY

  • Eiichiro Oda's One Piece has one of the most magnificent worldbuildings in the entire anime and manga industry.
  • One Piece fans recently compared Oda's worldbuilding skills with J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
  • The Lord of the Rings fans proved why One Piece can never reach the level of the fantastical franchise.
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Portraying a different world with every new arc is something that only legendary manga creator Eiichiro Oda is capable of, and he has proved this in One Piece. Fans of the Pirate World love almost every aspect of One Piece, but the one thing that they appreciate the most is the worldbuilding that is portrayed in the series.

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Strawhats in One Piece
Strawhat Pirates in One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

The uniquely developed islands, strange creatures living on them, varied political aspects, and differently adapted characters are some of the main reasons why One Piece has become a global phenomenon. And this expansive worldbuilding is only going to grow more and more with the upcoming narratives.

Fans are so confident in Oda’s worldbuilding skills that they have started comparing One Piece with other fantasy action projects. And while One Piece might excel against other films and series, the one franchise that is miles ahead of it in terms of worldbuilding is J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

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The Wondrous Worldbuilding of One Piece

When One Piece started, it introduced a world of pirates that are hellbent on finding the treasure of the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. However, as the story progressed, fans realized that there was more to the story. With every island where the Straw Hat crew reached, Oda showed a unique world that was different from the previous one.

From Giants to Fish-Man, from the islands in the clouds to the civilization under the water, Oda explored every mythical and fantastical aspect and made sure that they were imbued in the One Piece world. He even went to the length of using real-life concepts and elements as references to make sure that the story remained interesting every step of the way.

The One Piece World
The One Piece World | Credit: Toei Animation

These different islands and their different norms combined together to form the One Piece world. This world is ever-growing, and because of his brilliance, Oda has the creative freedom to draw the world as differently as he likes and not be bound by any kind of narrative block.

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Fans Compare One Piece with The Lord of the Rings

Fans have been so mesmerized by the worldbuilding of One Piece that they now compare its level against other fantastical stories. One such comparison took place on Reddit when a One Piece fan decided to start a discussion about One Piece worldbuilding in contrast to Middle-Earth from The Lord of the Rings.

The Lord of the Rings | Credit: New Line Cinema
The Lord of the Rings | Credit: New Line Cinema

The Lord of the Rings is one of the biggest fantasy universes in the world, with the franchise grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide. It is considered by many as the epitome of imaginary world creation comprising elves, dwarves, ents, hobbits, dragons, etc.

Thus, One Piece fans were given a reality check when they tried to prove that Eiichiro Oda’s franchise might be bigger than Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

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As One Piece fans were humbled by Lord of the Rings fans, it is important to realize that the two worlds are completely different. And while Oda might be considered a legend in the anime and manga world, he most likely took some inspiration from Tolkien in the form of giants, dwarves, and otherworldly creatures.

One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll and The Lord of the Rings trilogy is available on Max.

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Written by Tarun Kohli

Articles Published: 1565

Konichiwa! With a Master's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a 2-year experience in Digital media writing, I am on my way to becoming one of the biggest anime content writers in my country. My passion for writing and Anime has helped me connect with Fandomwire, and share my love and experience with the world.