I've always been semi-following OP but recently I got hooked again! I was trying to hook some of my friends too but without much luck. :sad:
Which brought me to wonder…
What kind of people are OP fans in America? Age range? Gender?
I know in Japan the age range is ridiculously huge, targeting young children to men & women in the 50s, but OP doesn't do nearly as well in America ><
most people in the U.S. that know of one piece hate it and think it's kiddy garbage, which the 4kids version was, so i don't blame them. but as far as i can tell it's mostly teenagers or college kids that like op. i'm sure there are a few adults out there but i've never met one irl. 
and most little kids think it's stupid too. that's how bad that dub was. man. it really sucks that they fucked up such an awesome series for everybody.
most people in the U.S. that know of one piece hate it and think it's kiddy garbage, which the 4kids version was, so i don't blame them. but as far as i can tell it's mostly teenagers or college kids that like op. i'm sure there are a few adults out there but i've never met one irl.
Omg I vaguely remember seeing that dub on TV by 4kids. 4kids totally ruined One piece's debut / first impression in America, Funimation took over and did better, but unfortunately isn't airing it on TV so I can't imagine kids even knowing the existence of One Piece. ><
Omg I vaguely remember seeing that dub on TV by 4kids. 4kids totally ruined One piece's debut / first impression in America, Funimation took over and did better, but unfortunately isn't airing it on TV so I can't imagine kids even knowing the existence of One Piece. ><
i have three little siblings who are all under 8 years old, and they're not exactly the brightest crayons in the box. but even they understood how stupid the 4kids dub was. i've educated them henceforth and got them to watch the funi dub but it still completely appalls me that they created a dub that even children dislike. ![😕](https://forums.arlongpark.net/assets/plugins/nodebb-plugin-emoji/emoji/android/1f615.png?v=i9pjs0vqrag ":\")
Don't underestimate the power of the internet, my dear.
As soon as Viz released those new volumes and they became available 'on record' at my local libraries, my name gets put on hold before the book even gets there. I've been waiting four months for volume 42 because the system screwed up the first time and my queue number was reset…but that's unrelated to what we're talking about.
Every anime fan I've met at my school freakin' love One Piece. They've either never heard of it, or worship it. Sadly, the former is more common. This probably has something to do with the fact that I live in Canada and here in the land of hockey and beer, the 4kids dub never really was aired that often. Less people knew about it, but those that did fell in love. Sort of a win-lose situation, huh?
- Credit to: LilithSchlangenauge on DA -
Sorry about the double post but this is the kind of thing I'm talking about (screenshot taken today).
Hopefully this isn't just limited to my library. The estimated wait times are based upon the average times people usually keep books(a week or so), but most holders keep them for 3 weeks.
Don't ask me how a book about Steak got there.
Non Narutards or Bleach-heads.
People who like One Piece in America are people that are fully aware of the Japanese version of it, in that they are up to date with weekly episodes and chapters. I've yet to meet a real One Piece FAN in America that isn't. If they don't know about it, then they simply "like" one piece, and probably do not consider themselves "fans", certainly not die-hards at least hahaha.
Non Narutards or Bleach-heads.
and thats not true either. I enjoy Bleach, but strictly in manga form only. The anime sucks, sub and dub, for so many reasons, mostly the fillers within episodes, but i wont get into that. The manga is pretty amazing in my opinion though. Though originally from just watching the anime, i thought the characters were incredibly flat, I soon realized that a lot was cut out from the anime after reading the manga. I am glad i gave it a second chance
Naruto on the other hand…:getlost:
it's just meh after zabuza, better at sound five, then blah until Shikamaru's arc (which was awesome cause naruto wasn't really there!), and then since then i've lost interest. But that series has it's own problems that are separate from whether people like one piece or not.
Non Narutards or Bleach-heads.
@Elektrik:
and thats not true either. I enjoy Bleach, but strictly in manga form only. The anime sucks, sub and dub, for so many reasons, mostly the fillers within episodes, but i wont get into that. The manga is pretty amazing in my opinion though. Though originally from just watching the anime, i thought the characters were incredibly flat, I soon realized that a lot was cut out from the anime after reading the manga. I am glad i gave it a second chance
Naruto on the other hand…:getlost:
it's just meh after zabuza, better at sound five, then blah until Shikamaru's arc (which was awesome cause naruto wasn't really there!), and then since then i've lost interest.
I read/watch Naruto and Bleach too, by Narutard and Bleach-heads I meant hardcore fans that no matter how bad a chapter or arc they will continue to say its better than OP.
One Piece has definately been gaining more popularity since the mass releases & the jump forward to current arc by Shonen Jump. It's given people the chance to see the better side of One Piece.
I know for the first couple months with the mass releases my local Hastings (which is a Naruto whoreground) had hardly a One Piece copy to be found, but now I can go in and find all of the new releases spread out nicely on the manga shelves.
I've also noticed that there seems to be a lag in the Naruto sales seeing as the exact same books will sit on the shelves for months. (if you put a piece of paper in one of the book, chances are you'll find it there a month later)
With One Piece, now I have to get there the day of the new releases, or else it gets snagged before I can get to it ;3;
One Piece has definately been gaining more popularity since the mass releases & the jump forward to current arc by Shonen Jump. It's given people the chance to see the better side of One Piece.
Oh definitely! But like what was mentioned earlier, I wonder if these fans are OP exclusive fans, or people who are also fans of naruto / bleach / dbz / other series.
I follow both OP and naruto (wouldn't call myself a narutard though) and enjoy both, but somehow I get the feeling that between the two Naruto is getting more attention. More games, goods, etc. are coming out in the US for naruto… Not surprising, but I don't see many OP games/goods around. :wassat:
Smart People. but seriously the ones I've met are those who are into the original Dragon Ball more than Z. I just know two people from my school who are into One Piece. Rest are "Bleach or GTFO" Fans or Narutards.
@Elektrik:
and thats not true either. I enjoy Bleach, but strictly in manga form only. The anime sucks, sub and dub, for so many reasons, mostly the fillers within episodes, but i wont get into that. The manga is pretty amazing in my opinion though. Though originally from just watching the anime, i thought the characters were incredibly flat, I soon realized that a lot was cut out from the anime
The manga is every bit a piece of trash as the anime, except the anime has filler episodes that can actually be called stories every once in awhile.
1\. Ace (√), 2\. WB (√), 3\. BB (X), 4\. Perona (√) 5\. Boa (√) 6\. Jimbei (???), 7\. Sabo lives (√), 8\. Timeskip (√)
Mostly of OP fans in US were naruto fan who realised that naruto sucks then stick with One Piece. There are also tons of americans anime sucker who think that anime>manga and have to be erased.
@People:
Mostly of OP fans in US were naruto fan who realised that naruto sucks then stick with One Piece. There are also tons of americans anime sucker who think that anime>manga and have to be erased.
What would you know about the US fandom. I mean there's no way you speak english except outside your school classes.
I'm a college student, and my sister works as a marketing manager at an elderly community.
So, all kinds of people I suppose. (I gave such a variety, I know).
@JERK:
The manga is every bit a piece of trash as the anime, except the anime has filler episodes that can actually be called stories every once in awhile.
Does that mean the anime is actually better or worse?
@JERK:
What would you know about the US fandom. I mean there's no way you speak english except outside your school classes.
Indeed I'm french. But my cusriosity about One Piece made that I checked tons of US forums to see how they liked One Piece. Its always the same thing. At start they think that Naruto own everything (2005 ~ 2007) , then Naruto drop and OP is awesome at the end of thrillet bark and epic at the start Impel down. ALWAYS THE SAME SHIT.
I'm a college student, and my sister works as a marketing manager at an elderly community.
So, all kinds of people I suppose. (I gave such a variety, I know).
Does that mean the anime is actually better or worse?
Better. Easily. Which is really pathetic but true.
1\. Ace (√), 2\. WB (√), 3\. BB (X), 4\. Perona (√) 5\. Boa (√) 6\. Jimbei (???), 7\. Sabo lives (√), 8\. Timeskip (√)
@JERK:
Better. Easily. Which is really pathetic but true.
Yikes.
Well at least anime turns out good for some things…
@People:
Mostly of OP fans in US were naruto fan who realised that naruto sucks then stick with One Piece. There are also tons of americans anime sucker who think that anime>manga and have to be erased.
I personally had started watching One Piece before Naruto, but had really gotten into Naruto first due to the fact that 4kids was breathing through a tube of gravy at the time.
The OP fandom in North America is relatively unrequited in comparison to Bleach and Naruto, but every bit as willing to support the franchaise.
- Credit to: LilithSchlangenauge on DA -
Creepy guys with large beer-guts and beards Lots of folks.
By America, are you talking about the whole Continent or North America?
Well, i'm from southamerica, and i'm one of the very few that like One Piece, at least here in Chile, because i gave it a second chance (after watching the crappy 4kids dub. I'm still amazed that Inmediately after beating Arlong, we saw the crew traveling to loguetown O_O)
But well, i have a few friends that like OP too, and we are all up to date with the manga and anime releases 
North and South America are not one continent.
By America, are you talking about the whole Continent or North America?
Well, i'm from southamerica, and i'm one of the very few that like One Piece, at least here in Chile, because i gave it a second chance (after watching the crappy 4kids dub. I'm still amazed that Inmediately after beating Arlong, we saw the crew traveling to loguetown O_O)
But well, i have a few friends that like OP too, and we are all up to date with the manga and anime releases
He wasn't really talking about a continent. He said "US" which is the United States. It's a country.
The OP fandom in North America is relatively unrequited in comparison to Bleach and Naruto, but every bit as willing to support the franchaise.
where support = pirate?
^ Pretty hard to come by, but they are there.
Most of them are the type of fans who buy all the volumes when your back is turned and then you go back to the store a couple days later for nothing. Oh, and they don't do it while in a pirate costume either.
- Credit to: LilithSchlangenauge on DA -
There are 2 guys at my school who are big One Piece fans, the first guy is the one who introduced me to it and the 2nd guy I introduced it to.
I think the best target audience for One Piece in the US is Dragon Ball fans who like the original as much or more than Z and are on sites like Daizex.
I think the best target audience for One Piece in the US is Dragon Ball fans who like the original as much or more than Z and are on sites like Daizex.
So what, OP is the new DBZ? o_O Somehow I'd have to disagree…
btw, I noticed you said "guys" at your school. The OP fans i know are all men too... (didn't even notice this till now, lol.) Are there any female fans, or are fans mostly comprised of the male population?
He said Dragon Ball not Dragon Ball Z.
There are plenty of female fans just like for any fandom.
(( Can check here for example: http://apforums.net/showthread.php?t=27367 ))
I know of five females just off the top of my head around these parts (In the US)–me, my daughter, and 3 of her friends. Its written for boys, but appeals to a wider audience, obviously.
@Joel:
He said Dragon Ball not Dragon Ball Z.
Bingo.
And I don't know any female fans for One Piece but I plan on "creating" a few. 
Most of the people I've met who're One Piece fans are asian males, but there are a couple females as well. I'm a female myself if that counts as anything.
- Credit to: LilithSchlangenauge on DA -
Most of the people I've met who're One Piece fans are asian males, but there are a couple females as well. I'm a female myself if that counts as anything.
It does in my book, Cupid.
(And I like Bananas too )
I've gotten a little fewer than 10 of my friends (at least 2 of them being female) into One Piece, and all of them really like it. Some of them were even Naruto fans and use to think Naruto was the greatest thing ever.
I got two people into one piece one a narutard (which i admit i was myself) and one who was fresh to anime and had only seen devil may cry anime form. Now they love one piece and i'm trying to get them to read the manga which they still refuse to do so.
It's simply a matter of guiding them towards awsomeness that is one piece
They are both white and i am black and i am still yet to see an asian one piece fan
I'm asian, and you've seen me. Does that count?
I have a friend who, when I first met, wasn't yet into One Piece but was obsessed with Dragonball. She went around the school asking people to recommend Animes to her and One Piece was the first and most occasionally suggested anime on her written list. I talked to her again a month ago and she told me "I miss talking about Dragonball with you, but I'm sort of into One Piece now". Can't get any better than that.
Well,other than myself,i only know a few personally (6 as far as i know),and EVERY one of them i introduced them to OP.Wait,except one,but they only knew the 4kids dub.They saw me reading vol 38 on the bus and laughing (specifically when Sanji kicked one of the agents in the head through the roof of the train…!:devil:) and i asked if they knew about one piece,and they said they watched the dub when they were younger.So i set my mission,swearing the manga was better,and successfully recruited them.
But sadly,it seems if they don't have the opportunity to read it or only saw 4kid's version,it hasn't got the publicity it deserved.:sad:
Judging from online though,it still does have an american fanbase.And yes,it does have female fans(including myself). I have seen some (specifically fangirls) who only like the series for one charater though,but they were mostly few and far between.(i do admit to also being a fangirl,but i still love and appriciate the whole series for the awesomeness it really is)
now my view on how many fans there are here may be affected to how small a school i go to (seriously has like less than 150 students),so it's a little hard to judge.But i think that a lot of people are afraid to give it a try.(much more so if they saw the 4kids dub) Hopefully though SJ mag and the speed up will give it more publicity.
-btw why can't the funimation dub be aired? is it just because they don't have a contract?
-btw why can't the funimation dub be aired? is it just because they don't have a contract?
I think so. I think some channel has to buy the rights to show it–like Cartoon network, etc, but they were the channel which carried the 4kids dub, so maybe once bitten, and all that? (Although I understand it's on, or at least was on, the Australian Cartoon Network...) I think there's more info on Wikipedia, but I'm too lazy to check, lol.
I… am still yet to see an asian one piece fan
My husband is Japanese, so I guess technically my daughter is Asian, too, so that makes two now, between her and Cupid, lol.
@JERK:
North and South America are not one continent.
Actually, a lot of places do teach that they are one continent.
And, on topic: I'm kind of in the same boat. I'd really like to meet some people that are into One Piece but no luck yet 
I actually had a coworker tell me today that he despises One Piece.. but he's a jerk so yea :getlost: haha
the ones I've met are those who are into the original Dragon Ball more than Z.
I think the best target audience for One Piece in the US is Dragon Ball fans who like the original as much or more than Z and are on sites like Daizex.
Haha Bingo. exactly.
every time i ask someone in america if they watch anime they usually say u mean naruto i hate that show then i got to tell them about one piece
every time i ask someone in america if they watch anime they usually say u mean naruto i hate that show then i got to tell them about one piece
That's because when people think anime, they automatically go to Naruto. It's sort of like how most people only talk about Spongebob when someone mentions cartoons.
And yes, both scenarios annoy me.
im 15 from england and i discovered the show a few years ago when it was on a kids channel (4kids dubb but i did'nt care at the time) but it got cancelled and i forgot about it. then last year we went on a trip to tokyo were at one of the train stations we were buying souveirs and i saw a copy of shogan jump with luffy on the cover and when i got home i googled it and found out their were a shit load of episodes and it got me back into it.
Hiya! I'm American! and loyaly devoted to the manga after I saw a sub/dub comparison. Cupidkirby: Never seen Naruto. probably due to the fact that I'm a GIRL. and not a six-year-old girl pretending to be ninja. Pirates beat Ninjas.
Age range: Im 14. my brother (on book 9) is 11. I have 2 friends who like one piece, they're also 14.
gender: I dunno. Me and my friends are girls…but to be honest I don't know any other One Piece fans personally.
In high school I used to know people who liked it, or just made fun of the dub XD. Also about most fans being guys, the majority of fans I knew were girls.
Tried so hard to get two of my friends (both narutards) into One Piece, but to no avail. I told 'em about the whole Funimation getting the rights thing (which actually converted me to one piece from Naruto after hearing "towards the light" for the first time) But they still wouldn't budge…One of them says that they LIKE the rap (It's all they know, go figure) and they even use all the 4kids terminology, like "Zolo" and "The Merry Go" ect. cringes
Heck, I remember before the school year was over, I'd already given up on those two, and would try to get others into it instead. And I got a good opportunity. One day my art teacher decided to get some chalk and let us draw on the sidewalks outside, well, guess what I drew?
I drew it big too, hoping that people would see it and be like either "where have I seen that before" or "I remember that! =D"
Though to this day I dunno if I accomplished my mission.
Anyway, these days, I'm actually making youtube vids featuring the new cast hoping that they'll watch and hear the difference.
I'm 16 at the moment but ive been watching and reading since i was 9
When I die I want to get shot out of a cannon. Scare the hell out of someone.
