If Carrot is really already considered a member then why didn’t they put her with the whole team in 989?
Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 8 - Onigashima)
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Maybe they didnt want to pick that one because Franky is in his Franky general there, and Chopper in his kung fu form, and they will be their regular forms in the merch
But only Chopper's back is visible in the poster.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
If Carrot is really already considered a member then why didn’t they put her with the whole team in 989?
It doesn't help, but it doesn't hurt her either. It just is what it is, and absence of proof is not proof of absence.
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Personally, I haven't looked into the connections between merchandise and future Straw Hat nakama, so I don't really know what this means. What is undeniable though is that Carrot is not just some character. Carrot at present time is one of the closest associates to the Straw Hat Pirates having sailed onboard, operated and protected the Thousand Sunny. Carrot has also been part of a substantial portion of the Straw Hat Pirates journey. Now that in and by itself doesn't mean Carrot is a Straw Hat Pirate but it does put Carrot in a very unique space. Whether the poster is an indication of Carrot being a future Straw Hat Pirate or a reflection of her time spent on the Thousand Sunny as a Straw Hat Pirate crew member, I don't really know.
If Oda does have bigger plans for Carrot, he certainly has been saving them for the latter parts of Wano Kuni.
Anyway, I would find it amusing if by Kaido lifting Onigashima up into the sky, Carrot and Wanda get a power boost due to them now being closer to the Moon as a result. Unlikely but it would be something to see Perospero's reaction if it were the case.
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It's more like they wouldn't risk doing things that could cause any brand confusion or misinterpret what Oda has in mind on their own cognizance. They should know fans will read into things smaller than this. There was an awesome spread of the crew back in Fishman Island that they made lots of prints and posters of; I have one myself. But it included Shirahoshi and Pappagu, and it's not like they ever officially labeled that one as being a Straw Hat crew picture. I honestly can't think of anything in any media that was labeled Straw Hats, Mugiwara no Ichimi or whatever, and included a non-SH or someone not planned to be one. Not even Vivi got that treatment; she was in all those color spreads and had an anime eyecatch and everything, but as far as I've been able to find, no media ever went as far as labeling her a Straw Hat. Unless you know of any I'm missing, Carrot just slipping in like this is unprecedented. Whether they have confirmation we don't have, whether they just overlooked it or didn't care, the fact is that it hasn't happened before, and at the very least, is a major blunder if she isn't meant to join in the end.
I agree and this is what it looks like to me: a blunder of someone who didn't care enough to choose a different panel. So far no one had an explanation why if they did intend to market Carrot as a Straw Hat and very deliberately picked that panel, why leave her out of the side panels? Why did the graphic designer stop after Jinbei and say "okay, I added everyone, this'll do" and their boss approved it? I don't buy the explanation that she isn't a full-fledged member yet and that's why she didn't get one herself because that didn't stop them from deliberately choosing a panel that includes her to market the full Straw Hats crew.
I didn't say Oda personally approves everything because there's absolutely no way that he could. He does have a team that he works with and they do get consulted for marketing campaigns, especially when Jump is involved. Imagine Jump putting something together, labeling it incorrectly, and then selling it to people. Whether Oda was consulted on this one or not, I'm not 100% certain, but this is a promotional campaign. It's official stuff. It begs the question why would Jump select a panel with all of the SHs and a non-SH together and then call it the Straw Hat crew when there were other panels that could've been used.
Yes they do have consultation for additional material and they still screwed up in the past, most notably the Data Books, iirc. Official stuff.
And I won't get into the whole "looking for signs" thing as there are plenty of clues out there for people that pay attention.
Pardon me for beating that horse again but this is literally what a conspiracy theorist would say. I don't have a source for that, just google it yourself. The proof/signs are out there, you just have to look for them.
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Since there's no active discussion on going, I wanted to show another interesting point to the Sukiyaki = Hitetsu, which seals the deal for me.
I've always thought the line next sukiyakis mask was his a thread to hold it there, but then I was reading the colored edition its skin colored, and I compared to Sukiyakis faces, they both have the same line (vein, wrinkle etc) on the exact same position.their arms and hands also match, but the line is more distinct
I'm still struggling to believe that Hitetsu could be Sukiyaki. No matter how I try to rationalise it, it just doesn't make sense. Whether Sukiyaki escaped, whether Sukiyaki faked his death, whether Sukiyaki and Toki agreed for Sukiyaki to change his identity so that Momonosuke would have a close ally when he arrives in 20 years time, whether Sukiyaki was transported into the future, whether Sukiyaki got amnesia, no matter what extreme scenario I entertain, I just can't get passed how unnatural it would feel for Sukiyaki to be Hitetsu. The narrative just appears contrary to that possibility.
Orochi is a man that won't ease up until he has certainty that the enemies standing against him are completely and utterly annihilated. Orochi is the reason Kaido wasn't defeated 20 years ago because he anticipated that it was possible for Oden to be stronger than Kaido. Orochi has spent the past 20 years dreading the day Toki's prophecy would come about. He believed Toki's words and believed Momonosuke and the Akazaya Nine would show up again. Yet, he shows no worry over Sukiyaki, the primary person responsible for the state of the Kurozumi clan. If there was one person that needed to die by his hands, it was Sukiyaki. Orochi's lack of concern over Sukiyaki is very telling. While Sukiyaki may not have been killed, if Orochi was still unconcerned about him, it would mean that he had Sukiyaki under his control [imprisoned] somewhere. If there was an ounce of Sukiyaki being alive, Orochi would show concern and worry. Until further evidence is provided, I can't see Sukiyaki escaping Orochi and fooling him completely (i.e. Sukiyaki faking his death). Orochi wouldn't believe such a suspicious scenario.
Higurashi herself would have championed killing Sukiyaki due to him being the reason for the Kurozumi downfall and her "exile" from Wano Kuni. It was Sukiyaki's existence that forced Higurashi to leave Wano Kuni for years. During that time, Higurashi plotted her revenge and even managed to acquire a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit - the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi. If Higurashi didn't possess a Devil Fruit before, it would also mean that she also acquired the Mane Mane no Mi while outside Wano Kuni. Eventually Higurashi returned to Wano Kuni and began the Kurozumi's revenge against the Kozuki clan. If Sukiyaki had escaped Orochi before Oden returned, Orochi and Higurashi would definitely be concerned about that. Yet no mention or expression of such a reality was shown.
I agree that it is suspicious that Sukiyaki's death wasn't confirmed (neither was Toki's) but what is also suspicious is Orochi and Higurashi not being concerned of Sukiyaki after they gained control over Wano Kuni. The two scenario's I can see existing are either Sukiyaki was killed in the past or he was held captive (and still captive) by Orochi. Having Sukiyaki witness the slow destruction, corruption and complete annihilation of Wano Kuni certainly feels like a revenge Higurashi and Orochi would impose on Sukiyaki - the person whose existence was responsible in their eyes for the deaths of so many Kurozumi clan members.
As for the face wrinkle/mark Hitetsu and Sukiyaki share, I would be more inclined to believe they were both the same person if not for Oda utilising that face wrinkle on other characters within Wano Kuni. It is not a distinct feature limited to Hitetsu and Sukiyaki. For all we know, Hitetsu could be the unnamed Kozuki family aide:
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Or Hitetsu could be someone else completely. Oda has also used that face wrinkle on several other male Wano characters including Orochi, Oden and Kin'emon. I'm sure if you look deeper, you will find out characters with a similar face wrinkle/mark. The face wrinkle seems a "common" trait among male Wano citizens.
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As for the face wrinkle/mark Hitetsu and Sukiyaki share, I would be more inclined to believe they were both the same person if not for Oda utilising that face wrinkle on other characters within Wano Kuni. It is not a distinct feature limited to Hitetsu and Sukiyaki. For all we know, Hitetsu could be the unnamed Kozuki family aide:
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Or Hitetsu could be someone else completely. Oda has also used that face wrinkle on several other male Wano characters including Orochi, Oden and Kin'emon. I'm sure if you look deeper, you will find out characters with a similar face wrinkle/mark. The face wrinkle seems a "common" trait among male Wano citizens.
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oh wow ur right, should have checked if other characters got it too lol, that definitely makes it less distinctive.
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At this point i hope Carrot actually joins, so that we can close this chapter in Wa No.
Otherwise the discussion will contaminate Elbaf as well. -
Pardon me for beating that horse again but this is literally what a conspiracy theorist would say. I don't have a source for that, just google it yourself. The proof/signs are out there, you just have to look for them.
Forgive me for not wanting to go back and rehash everything that I've said over the past 5 years. It's in my post history. Have at it. Go re-read Shift's while you're at it.
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Forgive me for not wanting to go back and rehash everything that I've said over the past 5 years. It's in my post history. Have at it. Go re-read Shift's while you're at it.
Why would I want to reread the discussion that was stuck on repeat for the last five years with barely any new input because Carrot has been on the back burner for the last 90 chapters?
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The bunny's not joining, it's Yamato or bust.
(inb4 the same thing happens as the time I was thinking Paulie would join lmao)
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Why would I want to reread the discussion that was stuck on repeat for the last five years with barely any new input because Carrot has been on the back burner for the last 90 chapters?
Because you're the one insinuating that there isn't anything tangible out there to her candidacy as a SH. Who cares about the last 90 chapters? It only takes one. If you're not willing to take the time to read other people's thoughts, then you can't expect people to take you seriously, especially when you don't even attempt to provide constructive feedback yourself.
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Because you're the one insinuating that there isn't anything tangible out there to her candidacy as a SH. Who cares about the last 90 chapters? It only takes one. If you're not willing to take the time to read other people's thoughts, then you can't expect people to take you seriously, especially when you don't even attempt to provide constructive feedback yourself.
I have followed the Next New Crewmate threads for years. I have read the discussions (that's also why i said "why would I re-read them") and even weighed in here and there. So I definitely took my time to read people's thoughts and I think it's insulting of you to say I didn't.
I'm not the only one who thinks that there isn't anything that elevates Carrot beyond arc side character. For some characters, it only takes one chapter, yes. Carrot is not one of them and, in my opinion, not even close. Yamato has easily overshadowed her in only a couple of chapters.
"Who cares about the last 90 chapters"? Has any Straw Hat ever been reduced to absolutely no spotlight for 90 chapters straight even though they were around? Every single one of them is supposed to be able to be their own protagonist, yet Oda left her in the corner and only pulled her out again when all Minks started to act. Even for the one loose end she has left from when she was in focus, she was immediately and equally paired with Wanda, while her supposed inherited dream about the Dawn was also brought up by the far more convincing Yamato, something that has to my knowledge never happpened before with any of the other Straw Hats' dreams except Luffy's.But again, there is nothing new to add to this discussion that hasn't been gone over time and time again. At least I don't have anything to add. So I will leave that part at that.
Regarding constructive feedback, I have tried to look at it from your perspective. This new marketing image that shows Carrot among the Straw Hats with the according label was an interesting choice of the panel. I did concede that. However so far no one has bothered to explain to me why, if we assume that this is a very deliberate choice to say "Carrot is also a Straw Hat", why she isn't included on the side. Why, according to you, did they go out their way to pick a panel with Carrot in it, but also stop short, not go the full way and also add her own panel?
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Not that I am adding much here either but again, Carrot adds nothing to the crew and is not enough of character to waste the final spot on.
Oda would put way more effort into her character, her design, her fighting style and her relationships to the main cast and great world if he wanted to make clear she would be an option.
She is a side character that shares her character time with Wanda. She got a bit of a boost because she is popular with kids but after this arc we won't see her again outside of cover pages and then the final war.
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I see what your getting at but if that's the case then I'm not sure there is a character we've been introduced to that fits meets that standard. I love Yamato and want him to join the crew but I would say by your standard his design, fighting style and relationship with the cast also isn't up to snuff to be considered a crew member. His character is interesting but that's all just the weird Oden-fixation he has. People don't seem to like that but without that Yamato doesn't have a unique character, and is that really Straw Hat material, at least by the standard you're setting.
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Yamato seems a pretty clear cut case of "haven't appeared long enough ago to be flashed out". And yet, since they appeared, they have gotten generous amounts of panel time and characterization. And they may be getting a flashback next chapter.
Carrot doesn't have the excuse of low number of chapters since her appearance. She was introduced 2 arcs ago. Her prolonged presence in the story only made her disappear, not get fleshed out more.
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Yamato's got a fair bit of unique design elements going on, especially for an Oda female type. Yeah there's some Namiface going on and that's a legit concern and what holds me back from going all in… (it was especially bad in his... third chapter with the angry faces) , its certainly no Robin for visual differences.
But the eyebrows, eyelashes, eye color, (bright as opposed to dark... and all the time, not just for angry faces) and eye shape are pretty distinct, the horns and earings are unique. He's seems to be trying to make the face structure a bit different. The height puts him on scale with Franky and Brook, and most importantly that hair.
I can't think of any other time Oda has done a hair fade like that. And he's raised where the black line is since first appearance so that it makes its way into closeups, and holy crap it's something else in color.
I usually wouldn't hold color as a factor for a black and white manga, but that it manages to be white AND purple (the missing hair colors) while also having red horns? (The other missing color) That's just crazy and unlike anything Oda has done before that I can think of.
He's done some stark color shifts like With Jinbe or Inazuma, or even Pay Pay this arc, but never a fade.
So yeah, the Namiface is a negative, and "Oni with a giant club" is kind of a typical thing, and those factors keep me from going in 100% like I would have if we'd gotten a truly crazy design, but the rest is something.
The story elements are there. Multiple dramatic entrances, past with Ace, bonding with Luffy, the transgender thing (whatever comes of that in the end), already knows the crew by reputation (and was impressed by Franky and already had a fun moment with him) already asked to travel with, ties to the arc villain that kept them stuck, strength level to hang in the new world, old dreams and responsibilities taken care of when this arc is done, and is getting a focus in basically every single chapter, and is about to get some flashback material, however brief. (Probably less than a chapter given 1000 is around the corner, but still a full setup flashback with panel fades leading in a chapter in advance.)
Aside from Robin, Oda is NOT subtle with these things, though obviously he could be throwing out herrings left and right. He HAS been a tease with characters like Kinemon, Barto, and yes Carrot.
Would be nice if there was some history in that design though. The handcuffs were something then those got tossed immediately.
As for fighting style, we haven't seen a whole lot to judge from, and his having Oden two-sword style wouldn't be a shock... but there IS still some kind of transformation form yet to come. Be it a dragon or a tiger or something wholly unexpected, there is a bit more to see. (Though a second zoan is actually probably another negative in my book.)
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That's exactly it. A well of potential is there vs a dried up well. Like how Jinbe has been showing more and more of what I am talking about for years to even now and I feel we have lots more left to explore.
Carrot is about done here, it would be such a waste. Yamato at least could go further where we are at and keeps showing those signs people think Carrot will show any year now.
Been over their design well enough already but yes between the two, it's clear where the effort was put in.
And the last thing has to be said again, the Ace connection on top of everything else is a biiiiiiiiiig point gainer.
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Oda has a 0% track record in showing the strawhat's backstory right when they first appear. Even when he does it in the same arc, he gives them some time to breathe and show their quirks before finally revealing what makes them tick.
I agree with the Namiface thing, but I'm willing to accept Oda just has limitations when drawing female character faces.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
Inb4 Chapter 1000 is the Yamato flashback that cements them as the last member of the strawhat crew. Similarly to how the Laboon flashback sold Brook.
Bonus points if Luffy accepts a request to join the last page of the chapter.
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Why is Carrott still being discussed, honestly baffling. Are people's judgement clouded that much because of, I don't even know why., silly reasons.
She's a background character, no different that Bartolemo or Cavendish. She'll go on her merry way with her crew (Minks) and come back to help Luffy as part of his fleet.
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I hope and don't think that Yamato will pull out a two swords fighting style. While he might have idolized Oden enough to at least attempt to learn it, it seems he still sticks to club-based attacks and is very proficient at those. Assuming that Yamato joins I also can't see how Oda will make two sword attacks noticeably different from when Zoro only uses two. Brook's one sword style is very distinctive from Zoro's one sword attacks due to them being more like fencing.
Clubs and transformation are already a good enough basis for varied attacks -
Why is Carrott still being discussed, honestly baffling. Are people's judgement clouded that much because of, I don't even know why., silly reasons.
She's a background character, no different that Bartolemo or Cavendish. She'll go on her merry way with her crew (Minks) and come back to help Luffy as part of his fleet.
A background character that has been mostly away from the monks and is in the central plot with the Crew…. nah she's definitely endgame
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My OCD makes me want a Logia user on the crew, I can't take not having that box checked off
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My OCD makes me want a Logia user on the crew, I can't take not having that box checked off
Be careful, you may end up with Wethair Caribou! Kehihihi!
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Yamato's actually got a pretty well defined character so far beyond just admiring Kozuki Oden and wanting to be like him.
Now more on Yamato's story will be revealed but what we know of their story and personality already makes Yamato interesting. We already know Yamato has been fighting fear saturating inside due to circumstances of the past. We also know that prior to witnessing Oden's legendary hour long execution, Yamato already had an adventurous heart that made gravitating towards such a person like Oden a natural inevitability (similar to how Luffy gravitated toward Shanks and the Pirate King's story). Yamato regretted being weak when unable to save Momonosuke which is why Yamato committed and dedicated themselves to training and getting stronger over the past two decades. And we also know Yamato is desperately fighting for the dream of saving Wano Kuni and now protecting Momonosuke due to his importance to not only Wano but to the whole world and its future.
Yamato not only values freedom but has an intention to have that freedom shared with the rest of the world which is why Yamato is protecting Momonosuke to the point of tanking explosions in order to avoid any from reaching Momonosuke/Shinobu. Such an intention is one sourced from Yamato's own self and not one parroted from her imitation of Oden. Over the course of the Wano Kuni arc, it has been noticeable that Yamato has been embracing themselves more and moving away from the mask they equipped when initially introduced (i.e. less Oden and more Yamato).
Yamato could have fallen into despair during the past twenty years from terror, loneliness, hopelessness, suffering and many other overwhelming dark thoughts and moments but Yamato didn't. Rather, Yamato has been preparing for this moment when Kaido can be stopped. It expresses a resolute and tenacious soul. One which is very harmonious with the image of the Straw Hat Pirates.
I'm finding Yamato's character to be immensely interesting and exciting. And I like Yamato's design.
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Just give Yamato two club style and be done with it, lol :ninja:
As for Carrot, I still don't the narrative appeal for her to be a main character especially when her presence has just been next to nil for awhile. All I really see is a marketable character.
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The main supporting narrative surrounding Carrot is her proximity to the Straw Hat Pirates. While Oda has not set her up as a character central to the story of the current arc, the fact that Carrot was alongside the Straw Hat Pirates is the main reason I see being made for her holding a deeper importance to the story.
Now I agree that Carrot isn't just some character, certainly not just a secondary character. But based on the focus Oda has given to Carrot, I see Carrot being developed into a close associate of the Straw Hat Pirates rather than a Straw Hat Pirate. Carrot may become an honorary member like Vivi but I just don't see at this point many elements in favour of her being developed into a Straw Hat Pirate.
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Be careful, you may end up with Wethair Caribou! Kehihihi!
Lol true, I would take his Devil Fruit in another person though, since we know DF’s can be stolen
But I doubt that will happen
And Sir Crocodile would be my preferred choice but there’s no way Luffy would ever let him join
what other Logia's are left? Can anyone think of an example that hasn't been used?
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Lol true, I would take his Devil Fruit in another person though, since we know DF’s can be stolen
But I doubt that will happen
And Sir Crocodile would be my preferred choice but there’s no way Luffy would ever let him join
what other Logia's are left? Can anyone think of an example that hasn't been used?
Going with the missing 2.9 pattern.. the jiku jiku no mi or the stem stem fruit could work
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Going with the missing 2.9 pattern.. the jiku jiku no mi or the stem stem fruit could work
I forgot about the 2.9 DF theory
but even outside of that I can't think of many Devil Fruits that could be Logia that haven't already been used
Plants maybe? Like the first Hokage? I'd say Rocks but Pica pretty much already had something close to that, granted it wasn't technically a logia, but it was still super similar
any way I doubt we will get a Logia Straw Hat but I can always hope
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There was one Logia Devil Fruit user that I wanted to join the crew.
='(.
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I don't even think that Carrot will become an honorary member after Wano, at least not on the same level as Vivi. To half the crew she is just another Mink. Zoro briefly attacked her, but have Usopp, Robin or Franky ever interacted with her in a way that stood out more than with other Minks?
In contrast, Yamato only met two Straw Hats so far amidst the chaos of the battle. Luffy was immediately asked to let him board the ship, Franky and him immediately trusted each other to take care of Sasaki/Momonosuke. Franky barely second-guessed if Yamato is truly on their side and left the most important character in his care. -
I was giving some thought to the prophecy and who the nine shadows will end up being. I wrote a bit about who I thought might fit in the Wano thread: http://apforums.net/showthread.php?t=49952&p=4097132&viewfull=1#post4097132
For how it relates here, I think both Yamato and Carrot have a decent chance of making it to the roof to fight with Luffy, Zoro and the rest. For Carrot specifically, I think she has every reason to be present for the dawn the nine shadows are supposed to herald. Pedro didn't want her to fight any one person, especially not for revenge. He wanted her to help Luffy and his friends bring the dawn. I think Wanda is with her now so that she can remind her of that, and to take over the fight against Peros while Carrot does what she's meant to do.
There's not much time before the island reaches the Flower Capital, and if nine people are going to face Kaido, they have to be able to reach the roof relatively quickly. Yamato has Momo, who can make flame clouds and help him get up there, not to mention the unknown Zoan power he has. (T-Rex?) The other characters I talked about earlier are also either on their way or have ways they can get there. Minks can jump super high, as well as float while in Sulong form, and getting to the top of the skull shouldn't be impossible for someone like Carrot.
The only other thing I'll add is that no, there isn't a lot tangibly different in Carrot's case from the end of WCI. The benefit she has is the time spent getting her into the story and keeping her in arm's reach when needed for her big moment. The place is here, the time is now.
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Man these posts sure do feel familiar.
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Just fyi I never said Yamato didn't have a memorable or good design but I find it disingenuous to act like Yamato has all these points around unique design and unique characterization and unique moveset, etc but then say that Carrot doesn't have that. Yeah, Yamato had Nami face at the start and Oda has gone through the steps to not make him have that anymore but Carrot never had that problem. Carrot's combat is also not like anyone else's on the crew either and neither is her personality.
It just feels like a lot of people in this thread who are pro-Yamato will praise Yamato for all these aspects and then act like Carrot doesn't have them when that is objectively not true. As someone who wants both Carrot and Yamato to join, I think they both have plenty of points going for them to become Straw Hats and both can fit into the crew dynamic while both also have a good reason to join. But equally, both have reasons why they could easily just end up as Straw Hat allies or Grand Fleet members instead. I don't think it has to be one or the other personally but if it has to be, it can go either way.
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Team no one else is still taking on new applicants.
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Team no one else is still taking on new applicants.
I am honestly preferring this route. Feels like the current crew size is plenty.
The one thing throwing it all off is the whole "get a crew of 10" thing. If we really need Luffy + 10, I feel like it should be Vivi. Maybe something bad happened at the Levely to her dad/country and she turns to her old friends to help, setting up another reasons to battle the WG in the endgame.
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There was always going to be 10 outside Luffy. That's what the chapters numbering the nakama show. It wasn't going to end at Jinbe. Whether the 10th is Carrot, Yamato, or Vivi, the plan was that there was going to be 11 Straw Hats in total. That shouldn't have been contested.
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Yet it was, and is, and will remain as long as i can draw breath on this earth.
Team no one else til the bitter end. Salty hater 4 life yo!
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The discussion has been going in circles for some time.
And I still think no one is going to join in Wano besides Jinbe.
If anyone, then Yamato, not because I feel anything special about him/her, but but because he/she is the character that has the potential for growth and exposure. I think Carrot is heading for the conclusion of her arc, and Tama never had a chance to begin with.
Some time ago, I said the chances were "30% and decreasing" for Carrot, "5% and increasing" for Yamato and "1% and stable" for Tama. The only one I think may be changing for the better is Yamato's, but it's still too little to tell.
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Just fyi I never said Yamato didn't have a memorable or good design but I find it disingenuous to act like Yamato has all these points around unique design
Rainbow hair gradient isn't something Oda has readily given out before. That manages to encompass all three colors the strawhats are missing once you add the horns. It's pretty unique. If Oda was picturing that all along other details get more of a pass because that is really stand out..
Yeah, Yamato had Nami face at the start and Oda has gone through the steps to not make him have that anymore but Carrot never had that problem.
She has Chopper face instead. It's the same problem.
If Carrot was a boy, not a single person would have been rooting for her when we already have CHopper.
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I find that a bit questionable. The mouth is the same, but the rest is not. She doesn't have the same nose or eyes and Chopper has no eyelashes.
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I'd also argue that her problem is not a Chopper face but her being generally plain. She's an anthropomorphic rabbit with a bob cut, short dress, cape and boots. That's it. No intricate details to hint at her past, nothing that, to me, speaks "Oda spent a lot of time on her design". Her appearance is especially lackluster when compared to her immediate predecessors Franky, Brook and Jinbei. I really can't understand why people would say that she and Yamato have equally thoughtful designs.
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Agreed. Just because they're both cute animal people doesn't mean they have exactly the same face in the way Nami-face syndrome has.
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Carrot from the get-go has too much overlap with Chopper. From being a cute animal design to being young and naive in terms of character. She is the cute animal sidekick. Again.
That's good enough to be a marketing side character for kids, sure. Not good enough to be a crewmember nor have the emotional weight as Vivi did as the sole character to be a crewmember but not in the crew proper.
And to me it's not even a matter of vs Yamato. It's a matter of vs all the other Straw Hats. Brook uses a sword and is a perv but is nothing at all like Zoro or Sanji. Carrot would just be another Chopper. And Chopper is the one who needs more character moments, not Carrot. lol
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Yeah no I don't think Carrot's design is terribly inspired. Maybe unique, but that's because Oda didn't bother make more than one mink for each species of animal. All in all she lacks any distinct features besides "is a bunny".
Yamato has the hair color, the combination with the horn, the huge height, the choice of weapon. She is a hybrid of Oden and Kaido and while that is based on other things, the combination itself is unique. There is no one in the One Piece world like Yamato. There is an entire tribe like Carrot.
Yamato seems way quirkier and funnier, too. Carrot was quirky for exactly one chapter when she first joined the WCI crew, then she became a sidekick for Chopper. Yamato keeps showing new gags, strengths, weaknesses, etc. She is overflowing with character design. She is cuurently looking like the most important character in Wano besides Kaido, give or take.
Ability wise the difference is even clearer. Yamato has the Kaido fighting style, an unique DF, and may have Oden things too. Carrot has a fighting style that all the other minks have too, a transformation that all the other minks have too and… I guess she can hop. Because she is a rabbit. Which is her only distinct character feature.
At least Chopper attempted to add novelty with the rumble ball, the doctor thing, the monster thing, the personality trait of not wanting to be praised, the freaking blue nose. There is more originality in the "reindeer with a blue nose" concept than in tne entirety of Carrot's character. It is more sentences than "bunny person", at least.
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My problem with Carrot is the same it's always been; I don't find her interesting in the slightest. Yes, she can be shoved into the general framework of a nakama, but beyond that, she's just so painfully shallow as far as actual depth of character goes. Pretty much every aspect of her character; from her backstory, to her motivations, to her fighting style, to her personal relationships is just so painfully shallow. She was shallow in WCI, and she's remained shallow all throughout Wano.
I look at how Oda has written her so far, and I find hard to believe he's building her up as a crewmate when he shows no interest in investing in any of this stuff. It's especially damning considering we're in the climax of arc where she is supposedly joining according to her supporters, and she's still as shallow as she was in WCI.
With Jinbei I was engaged with him because Oda put immediate effort into developing his motivations, his backstory, his personal relationships and showing us why we should care about him. With Carrot I don't get any of that, she's just there. You can ride that one scene with Pedro all you want, but unless I see some real investment in her from Oda, I don't see her story continuing with the crew. Anything left for her can easily be wrapped up without joining.
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The top 3 candidates have their pros and cons.
- Yamato clearly has the lead.
- Connection to Ace
- Unknown Zoan Devil Fruit
- Connection to Main Bad Guy
- Unique Weapon among Strawhats
- Hair Color
- Nami Face
- No apparent ship role
- "Mentor" Oden have no personal connection
- Carrot needs to really shine against Perospero
- Female Brawler
- Fits Lookout role
- Familiar with multiple Strawhats
- Unique Weapon among Strawhats
- Design lacks details that tell a story
- "Mentor" "died" in present not in flashback
- Currently a background character
- Tama needs to step up her ninja skills ASAP
- Connection to Ace
- Beast Tamer
- Connection to Main Bad Guy
- Too young
- Low combat ability
Even though I will always be Team Pedro, at least Yamato is making a good case. I'm just ready for the 11th!
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Still think we’ve yet to meet the last crewmate
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And when will the last crewmate show if not Wano? I don't see someone joining in Elbaf as this is where the Giants will take center stage. So only place that still gives a new crewmate time to showcase their past and skills is Emerald City where Vegapunk resides, I think.
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Lookout is not going to be a job as long as all the Straw Hats have eyes.