It's hard to imagine a story about pirates, magical fruits, giant robots, and dragons not having a few iconic moments. In One Piece, the fans enjoy the various exploits of the Straw Hat Pirates as they aspire to make Monkey D. Luffy the King of the Pirates. This involves epic battles with competing pirates, constant run-ins with the law, adventures on magical islands, and, oddly enough, rescuing a few princesses.
One Piece is nothing without its characters, as their personalities, histories, and goals fuel just how epic every one of these encounters can be; as the Straw Hats gear up for their next big threat, it's about time to reflect on some of their best moments.
Jinbei: Staring Down Big Mom
Jinbei's introduction was more than enough to give fans chills. He was an ex-Warlord whose refusal to fight in the Summit War landed him in the deepest recesses of Impel Down. On top of that, his constant contributions to Luffy's rescue team, including calling in whales and saving Luffy himself from Akainu, have all been major story highlights.
It wasn't until the Whole Cake Island Arc, however, that he'd have his legendary scene. Having decided to join the Straw Hats, Jinbei decides to give Big Mom his resignation personally. Not too happy about losing an important member of her crew, Big Mom tries to steal his soul. Jinbei, however, quickly proves that as long as people don't fear her, she won't be able to do so.
Franky: His Fight With Senor Pink
Franky the Cyborg as a visual spectacle is already iconic with every step he takes. Whether he's drinking cola or shouting "Super," Franky is easily the easiest person within the Straw Hats to pick out of a line-up. Some of his best moments involve his various, weird inventions, him trying to form a human robot with the crew, and his attempt to try to stop a train with his bare hands as a young kid.
His most iconic moment to top all of that, however, was the climactic finish to his bout with Senor Pink. All entertainment from this fight seemingly came out of nowhere, and Franky not only gave it a blood-pumping barrage to finish it off but also gave his opponent an oddly sincere and stoic sendoff.
Brook: His First Crew's Final Concert
If "Soul King" Brook is going to be remembered for anything, it's going to be his music. As good of a swordsman or gentleman as he may be, Brook's ultimate role in the Straw Hats is to be the musician that entertains and energizes the crew, and he does so with gusto.
He's responsible for a lot of the anime's best musical numbers and a grand concert to commemorate the return of the Straw Hats. His most iconic performance, though, was part of his last farewell to the Rumbar Pirates. After a devastating loss to a rival crew, Brook and his crewmates played one last concert together, one whose tune is both nostalgic and tragic to the fans to this day.
Nico Robin: Saying "I Want To Live"
Nicor Robin is one of the most popular female characters in the series. Based on aesthetics alone, Nico Robin is an easy fan favorite for her dark, mysterious design and attitude. Her backstory more than skyrocketed her to legendary status, as it brought tears to everyone's eyes and expanded the series' scope and sense of politics. It didn't take long after that for the series to truly immortalize her.
Once Luffy and the Straw Hats neared the peak of Enies Lobby, Luffy asks for Robin's resignation personally before ultimately encouraging her to say what she truly wants. When Nico Robin screamed "I want to live!," the sea level rose with fans' tears.
Tony Tony Chopper: Begging Dr. Kureha To Teach Him
Tony Tony Chopper on design alone is already plenty iconic. He's meant to be the mascot for the series and after seeing all of the One Piece merch with his face on it, he's done a pretty good job.
The scene to define him, however, comes in his backstory. After tragically losing Dr. Hiluluk to a political assassination, his own poison mushroom soup, and an undisclosed terminal illness, Chopper runs to Dr. Kureha's office waving Hiluluk's pirate flag. He begs the old woman to teach him, proclaiming that he wants to be a doctor that can cure any disease.
Usopp: Shooting Down The World Government Flag
As the Straw Hats' resident comic relief, Usopp has made the fans laugh for several years. Whether it's intentional or with his reluctant cowardice, Usopp has had some of the most unique interactions in the story. However, his most iconic scene to date is one that's played totally straight.
Adorned as the incredible Sniper King, he's asked by Luffy to declare war on the world itself. Raising his slingshot up high, Sniper King shoots down the World Government's flag in a fiery blaze that turns it to ashes and lights up the whole sky. With just a slingshot, Usopp managed to hit fans pretty deep.
Sanji: His Nosebleed Mermaid
As part of the series' "Monster Trio," it would make sense if Sanji's most iconic scene would be a tough, endearing one. This could've been him handing Gin food on the Baratie, the time he rescued everyone as "Mr. Prince" on Alabasta, his burning leg attack against Jabra, or his regretful overhearing of Charlotte Pudding's betrayal.
However, because creator Eiichiro Oda is much crueler to him than the Vinsmokes ever were, his most memorable scene was a gag, albeit one that became deeply important to the plot. After a group of mermaids tried to hide the crew away from Fishman Island's guards, Sanji quickly became overwhelmed by the newest characters and had a nosebleed so large, that it formed a giant mermaid. It also nearly killed him.
Nami: Asking Luffy To Help Her
Even before One Piece became a thing, Nami was always a part of the DNA of Eiichiro Oda's story. Despite that, her formally joining was a bit of a rocky road. Because of her past with Arlong, Nami had come to hate all pirates and only reluctantly worked with Luffy for personal gains. After being reminded of Arlong, however, Nami would steal Luffy's ship to return home.
Deadset on getting their vessel and navigator back, the Straw Hats headed to Cocoyashi Village, where they would find an entire town under the pirate rule. With few options after Arlong has Nami's treasure stolen, she turns to Luffy for help. For many fans, this was the turning point for the story.
Roronoa Zoro: Hiding (And Surviving) His Fight With Bartholomew Kuma
As Luffy's first mate, it makes sense that the Pirate Hunter would have plenty of iconic moments. His fights with Daz Bones, Kaku, and Pica are each incredible, and he has one of the best running gags in the series. His most iconic scene however came when Bartholomew Kuma came as back up for Gecko Moriah.
With no other option against second Warlord, Zoro humbly forfeits and offers his life in exchange for Luffy's. Kuma accepts and transfers all of Luffy's stress from the previous battle as a trial. Zoro takes the pain willfully and silently, leaving behind only a bloodied mass who simply says that nothing happened.
Monkey D. Luffy: Punching The Celestial Dragon
As the main character, Luffy is bound to have plenty of iconic moments in the story. Every single one of the Straw Hats has a fond memory of him that got them to join his crew, and he has plenty of epic, shonen battles under his belt. There's the time he fell from the sky to save his brother, rang the legendary Shandorian bell, and even smiled for his own execution.
Above all of this, there's easily one scene in the series to define Luffy's very essence, which has an incredible amount of replay value. That would be his epic punch on the Celestial Dragon that shot Hatchan that was so huge that it re-stylized the anime in black-and-white.