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Manga authors aren’t strangers to politics and aren’t afraid of depicting war and genocide.Fullmetal Alchemistdid this with the Ishvalan War of Extermination where the Fuhrer of Amestris ordered the mass murder of Ishvalan race.
The real-life allegories aren’t lost on anime fans. It mirrors many events of the past and unfortunately, the present. It also depicted the part Roy Mustang, Riza Hawkeye, and other fan favorites played. It soured the fans’ opinions on them, despite the guilt and trying to atone for it.
This isn’t the first or last depiction of genocide and war in anime. The events ofOne Pieceare a constant reminder of the real-life political climate and the effects of war. It has included not one but two confirmed genocides by the World Government.
What makes these atrocities inOne Piecemore complex is that the people in power have possibly covered up more. But we also get to know some of the Marines who were either complacent or responsible for both genocides, namely Aokiji, but are depicted to be good people.
Good Marines exist but their crimes will never be forgiven
Eiichiro Odahas masterfully written a nuanced perspective of the Marines.Akainu, the Fleet Admiral, might be a deplorable personwith a warped sense of justice, but we know not all Marines are like that. Most of them start as wide-eyed kids who just want to do good, like Koby.
Soon, however, they start to become complacent pawns in the World Government’s schemes. Aokiji is a prime example of it. He’s the former Admiral-turned-pirate who left because he didn’t want to be under Akainu’s command and be free. However, nobody is forgetting the part he played in the Ohara Genocide.
One Piece Theory Reveals the Real Reason Garp Was Laughing at Aokiji
Garp has stayed a Vice Admiral for years because he refuses to work with Celestial Dragons, but hewouldn’t defy the Marines for his own grandson. He’s complicit through and through, despite his will to break the system from the inside.
Sengoku might be a good person with a compassionate heart but nobody upholds the World Government’s ideals like him. He truly believes in their words and doesn’t exactly think for himself.
Similarly, inFullmetal Alchemist,Roy Mustang was simply doing his duty but he becomes disillusioned after the Ishval War. The former Fleet Admiral is yet to show that side of him.
The World Government ofOne Piecedoesn’t hesitate to get its way and every Marine is complacent
Many other atrocities were allowed to happen during their time in the Marines. Beyond the Ohara Incident, there was Flevance, Trafalgar Law’s home. As a child, the mining city became riddled with Amber Lead Syndrome. Despite not being contagious, a genocide was ordered to contain it.
A devastated Trafalgar Law barely made it out. The World Government only wanted to hone the fear-mongering of the people. While the magnitude of both genocides was larger,they weren’t the last ones.
Lulusia was destroyed byImuwithout a single trace while the entire world was distracted by Wano’s events. After Gol D. Roger’s execution, a mass murder of children was ordered in case he had a child. Slavery is still prevalent inOne Piece.
“Everybody else is either dead or hid their names”: One Piece Fans Are Traumatized After Learning Why Law Possibly Hid His Name From the World Unlike Luffy and Blackbeard
The list goes on. And yet, Garp and Sengoku stay with the Marines, and Aokiji is part of a terrible pirate crew. It doesn’t exactly scream that they’re trying to atone for their crimes.
InFullmetal Alchemist,the Ishval Genocide was the catalyst for change in Roy Mustang and others. Mustang, in particular, experiences PTSD for his actions. He vowed to lead Amestris toward peace instead of war and corruption. He’s an example of how to change the military from the inside, like how Garp should have.
Eiichiro Oda has the chance in the Final War to make them defy the World Government. If he employs howHiromu Arakawaresolved the crimes of others, he could redeem Garp, Aokiji, and possibly Sengoku.
One Pieceis available on Crunchyroll.
Bidisha Mitra
Articles Published :802
Bidisha is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with over 700 published articles. With over 7 years of writing experience, she’s versatile and adept. When she’s not writing, she’s also a voice actor on the side.Bidisha is currently continuing to learn Japanese and gets more fluent everyday. Her expertise is One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu, but has been watching anime for over a decade. She was previously a Content Writer reviewing the latest Kpop music.
