With the news that a brand new character will be coming to One Piece season 2, new fans have been speculating who it could be and what this would mean for the Straw Hat crew. And no, we're not talking about the one that was hinted at in the credits of the season 1 finale. There's actually another crew member who will be joining in that Eiichiro Oda, the original creator of One Piece, revealed at the end of the big season 2 renewal announcement. So just who is this mysterious new character?
Here's everything you need to know about Chopper in One Piece.
Wait, Chopper is coming?!
This probably shouldn't come as too much of a surprise considering the fact that Chopper first appears in the Drum Island Arc in the Arabasta Saga in the anime and manga. And if that doesn't mean anything to you, the important thing you need to know for now is that it's literally the next part of the One Piece story that season 2 will follow.
During the big announcement for season 2, Eiichiro Oda said, "From here on, it seems to me the Straw Hats will need a great doctor… We will see!" and also drew a brand new photo of the reindeer pirate, confirming that Chopper is set to appear in the next season.
Who is Chopper?
He's a big part of the Straw Hats! If you don't want to know too much, I would suggest stop reading here since we're about to get into anime and manga spoilers.
Still here? Okay, here's what you need to know!
Tony Tony Chopper is a half-reindeer, half-human hybrid who gained this ability after eating the Hito Hito no Mi or the Human-Human Fruit, which allows him to be able to walk and talk like a human. He is also able to transform into different forms that are suitable for battle situations.
Because of his new human abilities and intelligence (and also his unusual blue nose), Chopper was ostracized from his herd and left out on his own. He was taken in by a quack doctor, Dr. Hiriluk, who became his mentor and a father figure in his life. When he becomes sick, Chopper sets out to find a cure for his terminal illness.
Chopper finds a mushroom that turns out to be poison after Hiriluk teaches him that the Jolly Roger skull and bones are a symbol of vitality. Even though he knew it was poison, Hiriluk still took the mushroom as he was so moved by all Chopper had gone through to try to help him. After Hiriluk was also set to be executed, he took some medicine to die by his own hand instead of execution or the poisonous mushroom.
Kureha, a real doctor, ends up taking Chopper in and also teaches him real medicine. The two hide out in Drum Castle after the Blackbeard Pirates attack Drum Island and become a place where pirates and adventures can go for medical needs.
When Nami gets sick, the Straw Hats try to find a doctor and that's where they meet Chopper and you're going to want to watch to see what happens next!
Wait, so how are the going to bring him to life?
That's actually the big question on everyone's mind! The show's producers have noted that it won't be easy.
"All I know about Chopper is he's my favorite character in the show, and so I love Chopper. It's a challenge for sure," co-showrunner Steven Maeda told IGN.
They haven't confirmed which direction they'll go in just yet to bring the iconic character to life, but at least there's one Netflix series that can help them out. Considering the fact that Sweet Tooth has a number of human/animal hybrids, maybe they can take a look at that for some inspo?
Either way, fans should be very excited to see him join the crew!
