Summary
- Jolly Rogers in One Piece symbolizes a crew's identity & captain's personality.
- The design communicates the crew's beliefs, like freedom for Straw Hats.
- Losing a Jolly Roger is like losing a crew member - irreplaceable shame.
One Piece has done a good job of communicating that a Jolly Roger is not merely a pirate flag, but the lifeblood of crews. So, the fact is, these designs embody the ideals and strength of any crew in the series. On that note, it goes by different names, ranging from Skull Mark to Symbol.
The Jolly Roger in the One Piece series is what all crews in the series fly around to signify to the world that this is a certain crew, or this is a ship or location under the protection of a certain crew. For example, the flying of the Big Mom pirate flag over Fishman Island illustrates this point, as was seen in the Fishman Island arc.
More Than A Skull And Crossbones
As stated above, it is the symbol of a crew’s identity; as it is used to mark the pirate ships, it could also go into their dressing, tattoos, or territories. What is particularly notable in the series, however, is that each crew often models their Jolly Rogers to resemble the personalities of their captains, as it serves as the backbone of any crew. So, the symbolism communicates that yes, the crew’s identity is a certain design, but the basis of the action of any crew revolves around the orders from the captain; hence, the will of the captain is represented in the Jolly Rogers as it is in the crew itself.
Backing up this instance is an example from the Straw Hats. As fans know, the crew’s Jolly Roger is one that artistically needs a lot of work. However, the important thing to note is that this design embodies Luffy's freedom and what he is all about in his pursuit of becoming Pirate King. Similarly, the Whitebeard Pirates is all about the mustache of their captain, which is the trademark of the figure himself, Edward Newgate. His goal was to have a family, which resonated throughout various displays of that Jolly Roger.
Finally, another very important act of communicating the intention of a crew with their Jolly Roger is the case of the Krieg Pirates, who symbolically designed theirs to detail that time has run out for their enemies and there is no hope for them. The design is one to emulate the actual face of Don Kreig himself with his sideburns in boldly embodying the skull on the Jolly Roger.
Freedom And Power
Pirates sail to pursue their dreams in the One Piece world. It is on that note that the Jolly Roger acts to communicate to viewers that nothing is out of reach as long as belief is present. To the residents of the One Piece world, the understanding is pirates live outside the scope of the law, and it is with this lifestyle that they pursue their dreams without the rules of the World Government burdening them.
This flag rejects impossibilities! It’s the symbol of faith! — Dr. Hiriluk
Luffy showed that protecting one’s Jolly Roger is equivalent to protecting one's identity and purpose when he defended Hiriluk’s Jolly Roger, irrespective of it not being his. The point was to let viewers and fans alike know that the Jolly Roger stood for the ideals and the person that Hiriluk was, and protecting that was more important than anything at that point.
A Twist on The Roger Design
Design And Art Take Center Stage
Some crews in the series have gone further to elevate the feel of their personalities and melt it into their Jolly Rogers. This is compared to the conventional skull and crossbones design that existed. Examples include the Kid Pirates, the Heart Pirates, and the Donquixote Pirates, which all have different variations of smiles, further communicating the personalities of all three captains.
Further, in communicating the reputation a pirate has, each Jolly Roger aims to pass that message on to the world that comes in contact with it. On that note, the Jolly Roger of the Blackbeard Pirates with its triple skull design is one that strikes fear in the hearts of many who see it. It oozes darkness and violence, which typically convey the actions of the Blackbeard Pirates, but more specifically, Teach’s personality.
The Emotional Connection To The Flag
Often, a Jolly Roger is seen as an emotional symbol, and what is symbolized is the journey and bond of a crew. The Davy Back Fight in the series symbolized the importance of the Jolly Roger. What was importantly communicated in the series is that when a crew loses their Jolly Roger, it is akin to losing a member of the crew. Similarly, the Articles of Defeat explain that if a crew loses their Jolly Roger, they can never have the right to display it thereafter.
Hence, on the conversation on how important a Jolly Roger is and has been throughout the series, it is evident that it goes beyond being a mere symbol to the life of a crew. An attachment that is irreplaceable, and losing it is the ultimate shame a crew can have, as custom dictates.
One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
One Piece
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 20, 1999
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
- Creator
- Eiichiro Oda
- Number of Episodes
- 1122
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, Pluto TV
