One Piece never needed training arcs like the other big shonen names

One Piece is one of the most iconic battle shonen anime out there and celebrates many classic tropes of the genre. However, one aspect it lacks is training arcs. Granted, there is a two-year time skip during which the Straw Hats train, but this occurs off-screen and reinforces the idea that this series may not require traditional battle shonen training arcs.

A big reason for this is that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda made adventure the main focus of the story. The main characters often come up with stuff on the fly, which is intentional. This manga celebrates the joy of discovery and spontaneity, which may diverge from the classic nature of power escalation in the genre. But not every story needs to adhere to every trope, after all.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the manga/anime and reflects the opinions of the writer.

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Explaining why One Piece doesn't need training arcs

The Straw Hats as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation).

Author Eiichiro Oda has crafted a story that shines due to its strong characterization and world-building. However, many people have noted that there are no significant training arcs. While Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats train during the two-year time skip, this occurs off-screen, and a similar scenario does not happen before or after.

The focus of the story has always centered on the concepts of discovery and spontaneity, perfectly exemplified through Luffy's character and his approach to operating. He often comes up with ideas on the fly, making things much more exciting to watch or read since the audience doesn't know how he will move forward.

Furthermore, the fact that the Straw Hats are somewhat underpowered forces them to resort to other strategies, a situation that is rare in battle shonen manga where the main characters typically manage to keep up with their opponents. This approach is certainly unique within the genre, but it has proven effective for Oda over the years.

The Straw Hats as seen in Wano in the anime (Image via Toei Animation).

Another aspect that Oda has established is that the story progresses at a fast pace, which is continually evident during the events of each arc. Luffy and the Straw Hats seldom have time to train and prepare because their adventures often involve countdowns and similar challenges, preventing them from focusing on training.

In this context, it makes sense that training arcs are not taken into account, especially considering the numerous plot points Oda has introduced over the years. This is also significant because he must concentrate on the main plot threads; otherwise, the story could lose direction, which is impressive given how long it has been running.

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Final thoughts

Overall, it makes sense that One Piece lacks the traditional training arcs found in other battle shonen series, especially given its unique structure and how the arcs function. Furthermore, considering the vast amount that Oda needs to cover in the series, it is more effective to keep these arcs out of the story.

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