One Piece Vs Naruto is one of the most significant rivalries in the anime world. Undoubtedly, Naruto and One Piece have indeed left a profound impression on entertainment fans worldwide, offering a substantial dose of entertainment through their manga and anime adaptations.
These two series are primarily shaped by the creative visions of their respective creators, Eiichiro Oda for One Piece and Masashi Kishimoto for Naruto. However, much like the great rivalries depicted within the pages of both shonen manga.
While the fandoms of both series have competed for Shonen Jump’s top spot, the creators still share a friendly rivalry and have respect for each other’s work. Even, Kishimoto addressed the One Piece creator as Oda-sensei.
Friendly Rivalry Between Masashi Kishimoto and Eiichiro Oda
In an interview with Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto, the creators were asked about their first meeting, Kishimoto explained that when he was a newbie manga artist:
When… I think it was when I was still a newbie mangaka. In the Jump new year event. Maybe, (laugh) At the time, my impression on him [Eiichiro Oda] was like he’s a great and famous sensei.
During the interview, he also addressed Oda as Oda-sensei. He explained:
Because… Oda-san started the serial run of his manga two years earlier than me. I really thought a super sugoi man had appeared. Later, I addressed him as Oda-sensei, but he said (like begging) that I must not use such a honorific.
In response to that, Oda labeled Kishimoto as a nice and kind guy and he couldn’t compete with someone like him saying:
Because we’re both at the stance of manga, eventually there’ll be a winner and a loser. However, after I’ve met with him personally, I found he’s really a nice and kind man. It suddenly made me think the result didn’t matter. I couldn’t compete with a man like him. That’s what I thought.
During the conversation between the manga artists, they both agree that they both understand and respect each other’s hard work.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Favourite One Piece Character is Cutest Straw Hat
When the interviewer asked Kishimoto about his favorite character in Oda’s One Piece, he chose Chopper the medic-reindeer in Luffy’s crew. He says:
I’m saying this not because Oda-san is here, I like all of them. (laugh) As for character, I like Bellamy, both his personality and ability. But my favorite is Chopper. His meeting with Hiluluk and the sakura-snow when he went out to the sea were super touching. However, though I like Chopper, he’s rather timid, so he’s weaker than Luffy in many aspects. Which is why I think Chopper is the ‘real boss’.
He also explained what made him that:
Hmm… let me see. Luffy is the protagonist, a beloved character, but that’s because of Chopper’s existence. I mean the two of them have generated strong multiplication effect. (In Straw Hats) there’s sense of presence and atmosphere, actually Chopper plays a key role in the pirates. Though he’s a cute one, he’s also a monster.
Oda further added:
Chopper is doing something evil behind everyone’s back… Stop it, nonsense. Let me tell you a secret. Chopper grew up in a painful environment, I was going to make him a prominent funny character, reindeer walking with 2 legs. But Luffy and his first few nakamas were too popular, I couldn’t find a position for Chopper. So eventually I made him smaller and cuter.
Oda explained that he made the character a cute one and it’s ridiculous to address him as a monster.
Also Read: The Real-Life Character Naruto’s Masashi Kishimoto Based Everyone’s Favorite Waifu Hinata on
Source: Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto Preview Interview
