The most optimistic characters in the series

Important takeaways

  • Bartolomeo is Luffy's biggest supporter and goes to great lengths to help the Straw Hats.
  • Akainu's optimism lies in exterminating pirates to create a safer world.
  • Characters like Carrot, Yamato, Vivi, Kinemon and Luffy exemplify hope and optimism in the dark world of One Piece.



Although it may not seem so on the surface, the world off One Piece can be quite dark – something fans have come to realize from its many story arcs. When the going gets tough, it always helps when there's someone who manages to hold on to hope that everything will work out in the end, expressing their optimism to the rest of the group to keep them going when all hope seems lost.

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One Piece is full of characters like this who are always rooting for Luffy and the Straw Hats, or sometimes villains who show an endless determination to succeed in their evil plans. Anyway, optimism is something that is really needed One Pieceand there's certainly no shortage of characters who can provide that, especially the individuals below.


7 Bartholomew

A straw hat fanboy who will support his goals to the end


  • First appearance: Episode 633

Bartolomeo is undoubtedly Luffy's number one fan. When he first appears in Dressrosa, Bartolomeo can often be seen admiring his hero from afar, but once he comes face to face with the Straw Hat captain, he dedicates himself to keeping him protected. In fact, Bartolomeo supports everything the Straw Hats do, even going as far as entering a tournament to earn the Mera Mera no Mi fruit, just to give it to Luffy.

Believe it or not, Bartolomeo used to be a prolific criminal in his past life, but nowadays he's a member of the Grand Fleet who always expresses full optimism that the Straw Hats will achieve their goal in reaching the one piece. As you can see from the cover stories, Bartolomeo can be a little rough in how he shows his support to others, but then the optimism can show itself in all sorts of forms, even if it's a little twisted.

6 Akainu

Akainu has always been hopeful that one day the world will be free of pirates


  • First appearance: Episode 278

Akainu can come across as quite an evil individual within One Piece story, and there's certainly no doubt that he's committed his fair share of heinous crimes, but beneath the hard-boiled surface there's still an underlying sense of optimism. Akainu is optimistic that he and his fellow marines will succeed in wiping out pirates from the planet. While the other admirals can be somewhat conflicted in their feelings towards pirates, Akainu has always been determined to see them perish, believing that the world would be a safer place without them.

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During Marineford for example, Akainu smiles with joy when he realizes that he has the chance to take out Ace, which in turn would lead to Whitebeard's death. Whether or not Akainu will be able to see his goal through to the end is unclear at this point, but one thing is for sure, his hope for a pirate-free world has been intact ever since his very first appearance in the series.


5 Carrot

Carrot's bubbly and positive personality lifts the spirits of the Straw Hats

  • First appearance: Episode 753

Carrot may be a little shy for a member of the mink tribe, but as soon as she realized what the Straw Hats' goal was, she immediately expressed hope for their plight and became an optimistic temporary ally of the team. However, there have been a few times where her positive outlook on things has been challenged, most notably with Pedro's death during the Whole Cake Island arc.

Even after such a devastating loss, Carrot was able to push on and continue to support the Straw Hats, believing in their mission to one day reach the One Piece treasure, while helping others along the way. It's hard for the Straw Hats to ever feel down in the dumps when a character as happy and optimistic as Carrot is aboard the Sunny.


4 Yamato

Oden's legacy fills Yamato with determination to open Wano's borders

  • First appearance: Episode 983

Being a child of Kaido was not easy for Yamato, although she had a hero who helped her through the hard times, and that was Oden. The late legendary samurai would become a great role model for Yamato and would inspire her to search for a way to bring peace to the land of Wano, which inevitably led to her teaming up with Luffy to take down her own father.

Yamato's immense strength and special Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit allow her to play a major role in cleansing Wano of Kaido and Ororchi's evil, with the inspiration of Odin always remaining in her mind to ensure she never feels like giving up. Like Luffy, Yamato's optimism that Wano can once again become a peaceful and respected country pushes her to new heights, both in terms of strength and as a person.


3 Princess Vivi

After reclaiming Alabasta, Vivi became convinced that the Straw Hats would bring peace to the world

  • First appearance: Episode 62

When Vivi first makes her appearance in the Alabasta arc, the princess is pretty down on her luck, feared for her country due to the tyrannical rule of Crocodile. Although she still shows glimpses of hope that Alabasta can be saved, her optimism only grows more and more as she witnesses the lengths Luffy and his friends are willing to go to save Cobra and the people of her country.

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After Crocodile is finally taken down, Vivi raises her hand to the sky as the Straw Hats sail away, highlighting her steadfast belief that they will be able to save other countries just like hers, and eventually find One Piece. Even years later during the Reverie, Vivi can still be seen talking a lot about Luffy, confirming her belief that he and the crew are playing their part in making the world a safer place to live.


2 Kinemon

Kinemon assumes the role of a leader and spreads his optimism for Wano's future to his peers

  • First appearance: Episode 580

Kinemon is another character who gradually becomes more optimistic about the future as the story progresses, but when Luffy stumbles upon him in Punk Hazard, he is upset. Kinemon, after parting ways with Momonosuke, worries about how he will return to his home of Wano, and better yet, how on earth he could ever hope to reclaim it from Kaido.

Lucky for him, Luffy is all in on the plan to take down the “unbeatable” Yonko, and when the raid on Onigashima begins, he almost seems like a completely different character. Filled with courage, pride, and plenty of optimism, Kinemon takes on the role of a leader who constantly tells his peers of his hopes for Wano's future and his faith in Luffy and the Straw Hats to help make this future a reality.


1 Monkey D. Luffy

No enemy or obstacle can ever stop Luffy from striving towards a better future

  • First Appearance: Episode 1

Luffy has to be arguably one of the most optimistic protagonists in all of anime. No matter what's thrown his way, whether it's an enemy twice his strength, a fleet of marine ships, or even the loss of a loved one, Luffy's never-ending ambition to make light of the situation always pulls him through. Admittedly, it can also make him a little hard-headed, as Luffy has been known to rush into dangerous situations without thinking at times, but he will simply stop at nothing to make things right and to deliver justice when necessary .

The fact that Luffy can be defeated by the likes of Crocodile, Enel and Kaido multiple times, and still believe he has a chance to beat them, is an inspiring level of optimism that simultaneously lifts the spirits of his crew. Luffy's optimism can get to him at times, but it's still a big reason why he's become so beloved by fans.


One Piece-9

Main genre
Anime

Seasons
20

Studio
Toei animation

Creator
Eiichiro Oda

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