Eiichiro Oda's One Piece has been around for more than two decades, cementing itself as arguably the most beloved battle shonen property of all time. Throughout the years, one figure has existed as the core of the manga and anime: Monkey D. Luffy. Except for a handful of short arcs, Luffy is forever present in the One Piece story, and the Straw Hat captain has inspired his share of excitement, tears, and laughs.
Although he can be serious when the opportunity calls for it, Luffy approaches most scenarios with a carefree attitude and a smile. The anime protagonist's penchant for adventure and bluntness has not only resulted in some of One Piece's funniest moments but also encouraged fans to create some hilarious Luffy memes.
7 Luffy Always Pays His Debts
While things have changed somewhat in recent years, there was a time when it was seemingly impossible to find a battle shonen protagonist without an endless appetite. In Luffy's case, his bottomless stomach is somewhat explained by his rubber body since he can consume as much as he wants without it impacting his health all that much.
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As ridiculous as Luffy's reason for helping Rebecca might sound, this meme also speaks to the captain's mentality. Regardless of how small of a gesture it might be, Luffy never forgets an act of kindness, and he will go to the ends of the world to protect a friend. They don't need to do anything for him; in fact, Luffy has helped many people who have not fed him.
6 The Sailor Man Vs The (Aspiring) Pirate King
Popeye made his debut almost a century ago. Suddenly, One Piece does not seem that old. Known for eating spinach and punching Bluto, the Sailor Man is an iconic comic strip figure, one that has starred in live-action movies, cartoons, and games.
In his world, Popeye is the ultimate powerhouse, but he wouldn't fare too well in One Piece's universe. Heck, is spinach even available on the Grand Line? Popeye's volatile nature also suggests he might not be the greatest candidate to captain a ship. Still, his willingness to help others and fondness for adventure would make the Sailor Man a perfect fit for the Straw Hats.
5 Some Battles Luffy Simply Cannot Win
There is seemingly no challenge too great for Luffy to overcome. The Straw Hat pirate has gone up against countless powerful foes, and he has always found a way to push past his limits and succeed when things looked impossible. However, Luffy will never, ever win a fight against Nami. It is shonen law.
Whenever Luffy does or says something especially stupid, the crew's navigator is usually the one who sets the captain straight. Sometimes words do the trick, but other times cartoonish violence is the result.
4 No Escape
Luffy is such a big personality that most memes comment directly on the character rather than use him as a template to get a message across. That said, exceptions naturally exist, and this meme is one of the better examples.
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The funny thing is that, if school was a thing in One Piece, this would be Luffy's reaction. The thought of sitting for eight hours on a chair in a stuffy room would likely drive the pirate up the wall. Luffy's entire being is fueled by a want for adventure, and he is clearly the type of person who learns through experience rather than from a textbook.
3 The Cost Of Adventure
Luffy loves the idea of treasure, but he could not care less about the actual Belly. His interest is completely in the journey to discovering the prize at the end of the map, so he does not pay too much attention to whether the money is being used wisely or not.
Luffy is also somewhat oblivious of his own actions, conveniently so as this meme shows. He has no problem eating a kitchen's worth of food for every meal, and he will not dedicate any energy to considering the cost of these delicious meals. At times, it really does seem like Luffy is a child surrounded by (mostly) adults.
2 Luffy Asks The Tough Questions
Make no mistake, Luffy has an inquisitive mind. He wants to understand how the world works, and how other people experience it. He is also constantly seeking to find common ground with the strangers that he meets. More importantly, Luffy really wants to know if everyone poops, particularly mermaids.
On the one hand, this question highlights Luffy's habit of acting on instinct and not thinking things true. Conversely, it also shows the Straw Hat pirate's unpretentious and open nature; he would have no trouble answering this question because he has nothing to hide or be ashamed of. Also, it's just a running gag.
1 No More Tears
Lighthearted as One Piece often is, the anime is not afraid to occasionally give the audience a gut punch, so let's end this article with a more serious meme. Luffy and Usopp's falling out at the start of the Water 7 arc ranks as one of the anime's most heartbreaking moments, and neither character comes out of the ordeal looking good.
Unwilling to compromise or even discuss things, Luffy and Usopp both let their emotions get the better of them, and it almost costs them their friendship. While this meme has sound advice, it would have fallen on deaf ears.
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