One Piece fans have forever wondered how Eiichiro Oda has always been able to deliver banger narratives after every arc. Even the filler arcs have some interesting plot points that keep the fans glued to the series. He has been consistent with it for 27 years and still has the most important aspect of the story left to draw.
However, his secret to coming up with such brilliant narratives might be taking a heavy toll on his health. The mangaka once revealed what he does to keep One Piece exciting. He pointed out that he exhausts himself until he gets the best possible plot for One Piece. He does this by avoiding sleep and food, and he has been doing it for 27 years.
While it sounds neurotic, it certainly has caught up with Oda. The mangaka has been taking frequent breaks from drawing the chapters and has even expressed concerns for his health. If he keeps punishing himself like this, it might soon become a much more intense issue than it already is.
Eiichiro Oda Changes the Style of Every One Piece Arc
In 2012, Oda was interviewed by Viz Media to talk about how he is able to combine action, emotion, comedy, and sadness in every single arc of One Piece. The mangaka confessed that he has a habit of changing the style of every arc so that he does not get bored, keeping his motivation high every time.
The story has captured multiple different aspects that provide a new experience every time. With over 32 arcs, One Piece fans get to explore new fantastical worlds that offer thrill and excitement. This way Oda keeps himself and his fans from getting bored by repetitive plots. But he has to pay a price for it.
Oda stated:
The thing is, I get bored easily. So if my manga was just about the action, or comedy, or tearjerking moments, more than anybody, I would get bored. So I change up the style of the series to keep up my motivation to draw the series. The real secret? I think of the plots and scenes when I’m tired.
Oda had an advantage over other mangakas that helped him change the style of One Piece in every arc. Thus, he could come up with anything and imbue it within the narrative. But even that takes a mental and physical toll. However, instead of stopping him, this extensive effort on his body helps him get creative with these ideas.
Eiichiro Oda’s Toxic Methods to Keep One Piece Exciting
Further talking about his system while creating One Piece plots, Oda explained that the best time for any human to come up with new and exciting ideas is when they have completely exhausted themselves without sleeping or eating. It somehow makes the brain sharper, and that’s the only way Oda can come up with new ideas for his magnum opus.
Oda explained:
The only way that I can think of a new idea is to think about it a lot without sleeping or eating. That’s the only way that I know, because humans can only come up with truly new ideas when they reach their limit. So every time I am done with my manuscript, I am completely exhausted.
These methods of punishing himself are the main contributors to Oda’s health issues that have been keeping him from being consistent with the One Piece manga chapters.
The mangaka has been taking frequent hiatus over the past few months. He has also been submitting incomplete chapters that only comprise 13 pages. Ideally, a One Piece chapter consists of 17-19 pages. This not only affects the sales of the One Piece manga but also delays the story even more than it already has.
Health issues are a major concern among manga creators as many of them get so focused on their work that they forget to take care of themselves. Eiichiro Oda has also been following the same pattern for so long and he needs a lifestyle change.
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