The golden age of shonen anime and manga during the 1990s and 2000s saw many rising stars in the industry, but very few could compete with the hype of One Piece, Narutoand Bleach. All three series eventually earned the title of the “Shonen Big Three,” as a testament to their popularity and unparalleled storylines not just in Shonen Jump, but all shonen manga. The three series became globally famous when anime was just being introduced to the rest of the world. One Piecebeing the oldest one, is still continuing, while Bleach and Naruto have long concluded their manga.
Bleach’s anime is planning to wrap up the main story next year, while Naruto’s spin-off, Borutois serializing its second part. One Piece is the only one among the Shonen Big Three that’s still continuing its main story, and despite being in the Final Saga, it shows no signs of concluding any time soon. While each of these series offers something unique to the viewers, One Piece has many strong points that make it slightly more enjoyable.
3) One Piece Has the Best Foreshadowing Among the Shonen Big Three
One Piece has had 28 years of build-up, and with over 1100 chapters, the story has multiple plotlines to cover. You’d think in such a case, the story will be all over the place, but Oda has a habit of dropping several foreshadowings down the line that always come back full circle. Everything in the story connects to one point, and that’s what makes the series so captivating.
Take Skypiea, for example, who would’ve thought that a random prayer in Chapter 287 mentioning the four gods would be connected to the three worlds mentioned in the gigantic mural of Chapter 1138. Even the first chapter is packed with foreshadowing thanks to Shanks’ appearance. From his Haki to Roger’s hat being passed down, and the “Romance Dawn” title itself has much deeper meanings that we learn about along the line.
2) One Piece’s Layers of Mysteries Keep the Story Engaging
The Void Century, the Will of D., Joy Boy, Nika, Luffy’s dream, the legendary treasure, and countless mysteries sum up the story of One Pieceand they are all connected. These plotlines are unraveled slowly throughout the series while also adding more curiosity down the line with the unanswered questions. One Piece has a way of keeping fans hooked with the countless number of unanswered questions. The Will of D. has been mentioned several times in the past, and it always piques curiosity among fans. It feels like we get one step closer to the truth, but there’s a whole world of facts that’s unknown to us.
Not to mention that each arc expands the puzzle, and somehow, they are all connected to the truth of the world. Almost all the islands Luffy and his crew have visited are directly or indirectly tied to the Void Century, and we slowly unravel bits and pieces of information each time. While the fights are the biggest highlights in most arcs, these lore drops in between are what make One Piece truly special. Even the characters themselves are pieces of the puzzle, including Luffy, Blackbeard, Shanks, and Imu, the one who rules the world from the shadows. Even the fandom constantly engages in speculations and theories, and discusses them on social media.
1) One Piece’s World-building Is Unparalleled
It’s not just Bleach or Naruto; even in other media, One Piece’s worldbuilding stands out as one of the best. Many people mistake world-building for just the number of islands Luffy and his crew visit, but it’s much more than that. It involves creating a fictional setting with its own internal logic and unique traits, including its setting, rules, backstory, landscapes, societies, cultures, power systems, lore, history, natural systems, and much more.
The series has laid the groundwork since the first chapter, and we are witnessing this epic story coming together as an epic saga. We also can’t forget that the dozens or hundreds of side characters introduced in the show have certain roles to play in the Final Saga, regardless of how major or minor their contribution to the story is. This fact again emphasizes how One Piece’s beauty isn’t simply limited to islands, but it’s the multiple storylines and complexities that make the story feel alive.
It all boils down to personal preference, so One Piece having these traits better than Naruto and Bleach doesn’t automatically downplay the other two series, which each possess their own unique appeals. Bleach’s power system, Naruto’s fights, and plenty of other qualities about these two are what make them stand out among the rest of the shonen even after all these years.
Do you agree with this list? Which is your personal favorite among the Shonen Big Three? Let us know in the comments below!
