My First Dive into One Piece and the World of Anime

For the longest time, I never explored anime. I assumed it just wouldn’t be my thing. But today, that changed. I finally gave anime a shot—and now I truly understand why anime fans are so devoted. The plots, the stories, the characters... everything is just amazing. My appreciation has grown for the writers and creators who bring these worlds to life.

To mark the beginning of my anime journey, I chose One Piece—one of the most famous and longest-running anime series, as many fans have told me.

From Doubt to Dedication:

At first, I doubted myself. Could I really commit to watching such a long series, one with over a thousand episodes and counting? But after watching just the first episode, my doubts vanished. I am now certain that not only will I continue watching One Piece, but I will also stick with it until I reach the very latest episode—no matter how long it takes.

The Story That Hooked Me:

The first episode introduces Monkey D. Luffy, a confident young boy with dreams of becoming the King of the Pirates. When the legendary pirate Shanks said, "He reminds me of myself back when I was a kid," I felt an unexpected connection. Luffy’s confidence brought me back to my own childhood—the days when I, too, was fearless and boldly challenged the world around me.

Watching Luffy stand up to the mountain bandits, especially for someone he deeply admired, was inspiring. It reminded me of the confident child I used to be and how I now need to push myself to reconnect with that inner spark.

A Funny and Fascinating Twist:

One of the funniest moments for me was discovering the Gum-Gum Fruit—a devil fruit that, once consumed, gives the eater a rubber-like, stretchy body. Luffy, of course, couldn’t resist eating it (despite being warned not to), which again reminded me of my own childhood: doing exactly what I was told not to do. Honestly, if the Gum-Gum Fruit existed, I’d want to eat it too ;)

Friendship and Sacrifice:

What struck me the most, though, was the depth of the friendship shown. Shanks sacrificed his own arm to save Luffy from a sea monster—a level of loyalty and love that feels almost mythical in today’s world.

The most touching moment was when Shanks gave Luffy his treasured straw hat before leaving for his voyage. It wasn’t just a hat; it symbolized trust, hope, and the passing of a dream from an inspiring figure to a devoted believer. That gesture spoke volumes about detachment and the belief in someone else’s potential.

Lessons from the Sea:

That day, young Luffy learned lessons that would shape his destiny - The harshness of the sea, His own powerlessness (he couldn’t swim and couldn’t fight the monster), The greatness of a true leader and friend—Shanks, the great pirate.

From that moment, Luffy resolved with all his heart to become like Shanks.

At the end I would just like to say,  What started as simple curiosity has now become an exciting new adventure for me. One Piece isn’t just an anime. It’s a journey filled with lessons about dreams, friendship, courage, and self-growth.

If you’ve ever doubted whether anime is for you—trust me, just give it a chance. You might discover, as I did, a whole new world worth exploring.

To be continued....

~ Kalrav