Luffy is one of the most charismatic protagonists in anime. While you'll find plenty of shonen protagonists who have the same positive outlook and cheery demeanor fans love about the Straw Hat captain, there's something about Luffy, both in-world and to readers, that draws people to him.
For better or for worse, Luffy rarely takes no for an answer when it comes to recruiting people for his crew. That's led to some interesting characters joining One Piece's main cast. But as good a recruiter as Luffy is, some fans might've been disappointed to see that these characters never officially joined the crew.
One Piece: 6 Characters Who Will Shine In the Elbaf Arc
These characters will all have played big roles in the Elbaf Arc by the time it's over.
Bartolomeo
With how much he admires Luffy, you'd think that Bartolomeo would've been a shoo-in to join the Straw Hat crew. He has a deep admiration for Luffy, and has shown that he's willing to go to extremes to defend his reputation.
Bartolomeo is already a close ally of the Straw Hat crew, serving as a captain of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. But that doesn't count as him being part of the actual crew. He would've made a great addition to the gang, but as it stands, we don't know if he'll ever get that chance again.
Marco
A former 1st division commander of the legendary Whitebeard Pirates, Marco would make pretty much any pirate crew he joined better. He has years of experience, an incredible Devil Fruit, and he's a smart, level-headed guy who's good to have in a pinch.
It would've been poetic for one of Ace's old crewmates to join his brother on his journey. Marco would have been a great asset to the crew and could have shared stories of Ace with Luffy. Though he has helped them from afar, he doesn't seem destined to join their ranks any time soon.
Carrot
Plenty of One Piece fans assumed Carrot would join the crew, but that sadly never happened. A key Straw Hat ally during the Whole Cake Island Saga, Carrot's unique abilities and cheerful naivety made her an intriguing potential crewmember.
We know that Carrot would've definitely gotten along with the rest of the crew, and her Sulong form would've come in handy in plenty of future battles. For whatever reason, Oda thought it best that she didn't join, and fans will always wonder why.
Perona
From a design and personality perspective, Perona would've made a fun addition to the crew. She's a lot more immature and dramatic than the rest of the crew, which would've been fun to watch. Her interactions with Zoro are great, but seeing her interact more with characters like Franky or Brook would've been great.
Her Devil Fruit, the Horo Horo no Mi, is one of the most interesting in the series, and having it paired with Luffy's Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, and Robin's Hana Hana no Mi might've made the crew even scarier to deal with/ She has a connection to Zoro, so she'll always be associated with the Straw Hats, but like many characters in the series she'll help from afar.
Trafalgar Law
Given his personality, Law was never going to join Luffy's crew, even though Luffy would've definitely liked to have him join up. Even though it was never going to be long-term, the interactions we saw between Luffy and other Straw Hats were a fun glimpse at what could've been.
Outside of his amazing chemistry with the crew, Law would've brought incredible leadership skills and medical skills that would've rivaled Chopper's. That said, you can see why this was never meant to be. With the roles of Captain and medic already taken, Law was always meant to be a temporary ally.
Bon Clay
Bon Clay has always been a fan-favorite, and tons of fans would've liked to see him join up with Luffy and the rest of the gang for good. Similar to Robin, he worked for Crocodile, and like her, he would've made a great addition to the crew. He had great chemistry with Luffy, and we've already seen how well he fits in with most of the Straw Hats.
While we know that he's a loyal ally to Luffy, and having his Mane Mane no Mi available to the crew would've made for some interesting situations later on in the series, things just didn't line up that way. A reunion between him and the Straw Hats would be great, even if he doesn't end up joining them.
Yamato
This is one that still stings for some. A lot of One Piece fans expected that Yamato was destined to be a new addition to the Straw Hat crew, but that sadly never happened. Playing a key role during the Wano Country Saga, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Yamato would join the Straw Hats, given their strength and desire to see the world as their idol, Oden, did.
But Yamato's decision to stay back in Wano and watch over Momonoskue definitely makes sense for the character, even if it is a little disappointing. Yamato will always be a strong ally of the Straw Hats, and with any luck, will play a major role in the series' endgame. The addition of a new fan-favorite (like Loki) might ease the sting of this one, but Yamato will always feel like the best potential Straw Hat that never was.
One Piece
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 20, 1999
- Network
- Fuji TV
Cast
-
Mayumi TanakaMonkey D. Luffy (voice) -
Kazuya NakaiRoronoa Zoro (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga's popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 1122
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.72
