One Piece's legendary status wouldn't be possible without the Seven Warlords

Modified Nov 10, 2024 19:47 GMT

One of the most beloved aspects of mangaka Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga series is how expansive and in-depth the series’ lore and overall setting have become. Following 27 years of serialization and well over 1100 chapters released, the manga’s world has grown to become one of the widest and most wonderful in the medium.

However, it wasn’t always meant to be this way, with Oda revealing in previous interviews that the series was originally meant to be a very quick one that focused on Luffy and the Yonko. Likewise, there’s one group fans have to thank for the series becoming what it is today, and even excluding this fact, they’re one of the most influential in the entire story.

The Seven Warlords' presence influenced not just One Piece’s story, but the length and scope of the series

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In a 2017 interview with Oda published in the One Piece: The 23rd Log collection from Shueisha, Oda discussed the series’ then-20-year-serialization. Specifically, he revealed that he originally intended to finish the series in five years, intending it as a story about Luffy fighting the Yonko from the start. Oda likewise attributes the incredible length of the series despite his original plans to the introduction of the Shichibukai, also known as the Seven Warlords.

The interview sees Oda claim that once he came up with the idea of the Shichibukai, he couldn’t help himself from including them and having them appear. He then attributes the longer serialization than he originally intended to their presence, which makes sense given the role they play in the series. While some arguably had more of an impact in that regard than others, each plays a major role in extending the series’ length.

For example, removing Donquixote Doflamingo from One Piece’s story makes it incredibly shorter and of a much smaller scope. The entire Dressrosa Arc would be removed, which itself contains significant information and reveals. This includes Sabo’s return, the Mera Mera no Mi’s return, a major part of the plan to move against the Yonko Kaido, and so much more. To remove Doflamingo and these events his presence caused is flat out inconceivable.

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Even the absence of Gecko Moriah, whose impact on the series’ length overall is likely the lowest, would still be felt significantly. For example, it’s Moria’s capture on Hachinosu that leads Perona to free Koby. This directly influences Monkey D. Garp’s subsequent sacrifice of himself to ensure Koby’s freedom. A lack of presence from Moria also eliminates Lola’s introduction, in turn starting a domino effect for the Whole Cake Island Arc and Elbaph Arc.

This logic can even be applied to second-generation Shichibukai like Trafalgar D. Water Law and Buggy the Clown. Law’s status as a Shichibukai is what allowed his plan to take Doflamingo down to progress in the way it did since that leverage was needed to execute his plan. Buggy the Clown’s removal from the story as a Shichibukai would also put the Cross Guild’s formation in danger, as is the case with Crocodile and Hawkeye.

Final thoughts

Luffy's story wouldn't be the same without Buggy and the other Shichibukai (Image via Toei Animation)

While the above only touches on some of the ways in which the Shichibukai have changed the shape of Oda’s story, there are many more which further prove how influential they are. Likewise, the fact that this influence is applicable to both original and second-generation Shichibukai members proves how integral the group is as a concept in shaping the series.