Episode 238: How One Piece Became King of the Backstories

One Piece is one of the biggest franchises in the world. The manga and anime have broken records in sales and viewership. The live action adaptation on Netflix was a hit. And the series holds a special place among fans who feel like they’re part of the Straw Hat pirate crew. But it may be the tragic backstories of the characters which tie it all together. I talk with One Piece podcast co-host Shannon Strucci, YouTuber Jordan Silva, artist Steve Yurko and Crunchyroll writer Daniel Dockery about how One Piece’s creator Eiichiro Oda is able to combine zany humor with emotional gut punches, and why so many fans identify with aspects of the characters’ backstories, even when the storylines are completely fantastical. 
How One Piece Became King of the Backstories transcript
MUSIC LIST
  • Fair Winds and Following Seas by Golden Anchor
  • Under the Cherry Tree by Jon Bjork
  • On a Hunt by Philip Ayers
  • Untamed Tides by Jon Bjork
  • Last Point of Safe Return by Fabien Tell
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Episode 239: Doctor Who’s Power of Regeneration

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Episode 237: Seeing Ourselves in Norse Myths