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When it comes to powerful characters in the world of anime, Shanks fromOne Pieceand Gildarts Clive fromFairy Tailare two characters often pitted against each other. Despite being hailed from different worlds, both are known for their charisma and immense power. However, this comparison didn’t arise purely because of their fighting abilities, but also due to their uncanny resemblance in appearances, particularly in the anime adaptation ofFairy Tail.
Thus, BothOne PieceandFairy Tailfandom have recently been embroiled in a heated debate on who is stronger. While it’s difficult to determine it due to them being in completely different anime worlds with distinguished power structures, it’s interesting to analyze both fandoms’ perspectives in defense of their beloved characters.
Addressing the Issue Regarding Shanks and Gildarts’ Similar Physical Appearances
Since Gildarts’ first appearance inFairy Tail, fans have pointed out how similar he looks to Shanks fromOne Piece. They both have wavy ginger hair, wear capes, have beards, and most importantly, both have a similar disability from previous battles. While Gildarts lost both his left arm and leg in his fight with The Dragon King Acnologia, Shanks lost his left arm while defendingLuffy from a Sea King.
As Fairy Tail debuted much later compared toOne Piece, there have been multiple claims from fans that Gildarts’ design is merely a rip-off of Shanks’ byHiro Mashima. While there’s no concrete clarification on why these characters look so similar and share comparable status and powers, Fairy Tail fans argue that Gildarts’ design doesn’t exactly look similar to Shanks’ in the original manga, but his design was changed during the anime adaptation.
whats strange is that the manga gildarts actually has lighter hair and looks less like shanks, espically his timeskip designnot sure why they made him look like shanks in the animepic.twitter.com/uQstqLh1Iv
gildarts only got the shanks copy allegations from the anime man hes supposed to be dirty blonde not have red hair they did my goat dirty
Tbf in the defense of Gildarts, the anime made him look more like Shanks. The manga is much different. But if you only watch anime and have never peeped manga or never heard of manga I can see why you made ts, anyways I’m out of here
There had been several speculations about Mashima beingEiichiro Oda‘s former assistant, however, those rumors had been debunked. The only thing both mangakas have in common is their deep admiration for Late Akira Toriyama.
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It’s not unusual for different Shonen anime to have similar characters in terms of appearances and personalities. Even the protagonists of these two series, Luffy and Natsu share similar personality traits. So, Gildarts’ similarity to Shanks might not be a rip-off, but rather, it might be an inspiration taken fromOne Piecewhich later drastically changed design-wise by the animation studio.
Shanks vs Gildarts: Who is Stronger?
Since both Shanks and Gildarts have been a debatable topic due to their similar appearance, there are bound to be some arguments determining who is a better character physically and story-wise. Thus,One PieceandFairy Tailfans have recently engaged in a heated debate trying to defend their favorites.
As one of the Four Emperors, Shanks is among the four most powerful pirates ofOne Pieceworld with the highest bounty among the current emperors. On the other hand, Gildarts Clive is one of theS-Class mages of Fairy Tailguild with his powerful caster magic, Crush, that can be used to both crack Magic into pieces, thereby nullifying its effects, as well as to reduce the Magic’s power and to deflect it.
Thus, it leads to an interesting discussion on who may dominate a face-to-face battle between these two characters.One Piecefans are hell-bent on the idea of Shanks being stronger, whileFairy Tailfans claim that Gildarts may look similar to Shanks but his skill is more evolved and explored in the anime.
Gildarts wouldn’t even beat Marco
First give shanks screen time then we’d talk👌🏼
At least gildarts have character shanks is just ginger hype tool
Gildarts just BETTER 😭pic.twitter.com/b28jGPWxuT
the strongest in the versepic.twitter.com/qTkNIGJt7U
Do NOT compare that “007” shanks to gildartspic.twitter.com/BtrXuo0WcT
When comparing the two, it’s important to remember thatOne PieceandFairy Tailhave different power systems. Shanks’ mastery over Haki, particularly his Conqueror’s Haki, gives him an edge that would likely overwhelm Gildarts’ raw magical power. However, Gildarts’ Crush magic poses a unique challenge. If Gildarts could manage to land a hit on Shanks, he could theoretically dismantle Shanks’ weapons and perhaps even damage his body.
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In a fair fight, the battle could go either way depending on circumstances. It’s clear that beyond their looks, these two characters are vastly different. Shanks, with his calm authority and Haki proficiency, stands as a pillar of strength in the world ofOne Piece, while Gildarts Clive remains Fairy Tail’s beloved wrecking ball of destruction. In a death battle, Shanks’ abilities would likely give him the upper hand, but Gildarts would undoubtedly give him a fight to remember.
One PieceandFairy Tailare currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Moumita Chakraborty
Articles Published :931
Moumita Chakraborty is a seasoned Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 900 published articles. Passionate about the vibrant world of Japanese anime, she brings sharp analytical skills and cultural insight to every piece. From dissecting intricate plotlines to spotlighting the latest trends and releases, Moumita’s work resonates with both casual fans and seasoned otakus. Her writing aims to connect with fellow anime enthusiasts while contributing meaningfully to the ever-growing anime community.
