Best Mink Characters In One Piece

Minks are the anthropomorphic animals that Luffy and the gang officially meet upon landing in Zou. However, they actually encountered this tribe long before they even reached this section of the story. While Minks come in all shapes and sizes, their actual relevance to the wider plot varies greatly, with some being pretty important characters who prove vital in helping the Straw Hats along their journey, while others become little more than an afterthought.

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In classic One Piece fashion, several of these quirky characters possess hidden powers and techniques that have made them invaluable allies to Luffy and the crew, but of course, their personality and designs also contribute to how fondly fans will look back on them. With that being said, it’s time to take a look at this furry group to see who stands as the most beloved and memorable among the One Piece community.

7

Wanda

Wanda Introduces The Straw Hats To The Customs Of Zou And The Minks

• First Appearance: Episode 753

Though Wanda isn’t quite as important as many of her fellow Minks, she does still provide some much-needed context to Luffy and the others about Zou and the Minks. For example, when she first shows up in the story wearing Nami’s clothes, Wanda explains how she did so as a sign of friendship. It was also Wanda who told Luffy about Jack’s rampage through Zou, along with how the nation functions since it’s based on the back of a giant elephant.

Wanda also has a very vibrant and distinctive design thanks to the white top hat she can usually be seen wearing, alongside the bright blue collared jacket. Sadly, Wanda didn’t get all that much to do during the invasion of Wano, but throughout the Zou arc, she was given plenty of screentime so that viewers could learn more about her, and her people.

6

Pedro

An Honorable Leader Who Makes The Ultimate Sacrifice

• First Appearance: Episode 754

As one of the Minks’ most fearsome warriors, Pedro plays a pretty important role in the mission to save Sanji from Big Mom. While he has a very distinctive design thanks to his leopard prints and long scraggly hair, Pedro also stands out because of his intriguing backstory, which saw him come face to face with Big Mom, and live to tell the tale, albeit while losing an eye in the process.

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What makes Pedro so fondly remembered by fans, though, is the sacrifice he makes near the end of the Whole Cake Island arc where he sets off a few sticks of dynamite to let Luffy, Carrot and the others escape from Perospero. While Pedro, unfortunately, never got to partake in the invasion of Wano, his heroism and willingness to lay down his life for others earns him a spot on this list.

5

Nekomamushi

This Former Whitebeard Pirate has Many Stories To Tell

• First Appearance: Episode 756

It’s evident from Nekomamushi’s grizzled appearance alone that this is a Mink who has been in his fair share of battles over the years, and it’s fair to say that it’s fascinating to get an insight into what this cat was up to before becoming one of Zou’s rulers. As a retainer of the legendary Kozuki Oden, Nekomamushi would eventually be brought onto Whitebeard’s ship, and though he was still young, he learned all about the wonders of the One Piece world along his travels. This granted him information about the Road Ponyglyphs, which he would then pass on to Robin and the others upon their visit to Wano, which is an extremely important detail to consider.

However, there’s a lot more to this Mink than meets the eye, as during his confrontation with Jack in a flashback, it’s also revealed he’s an aggressive fighter who cares little for collateral damage, making him a fearsome combatant by the time he reaches Wano. Nekomamushi’s prestigious status, paired with his fascinating past, results in him being one of the most exciting Minks to follow in the story.

4

Bepo

This Cute And Cuddly Pirate Can Quickly Turn Vicious If His Crew Are In Trouble

• First Appearance: Episode 392

Though Bepo first made his debut in the series back during the pre-timeskip Sabaody Arc, fans wouldn’t have known he was a member of the Minks, since the group hadn’t even been mentioned in the story by that point. However, while Bepo has proven that he loves his fellow Minks, and his homeland of Zou, it’s interesting because, at the same time, he also recognizes his pirate crew as his own family, who he will always protect with his karate fighting style.

Bepo’s timid nature, paired with his endearing appearance, makes it hard not to love the cuddly polar bear, especially since he’s also used for comic relief throughout much of the series, and even the movies. Bepo’s overall importance to the story may vary between arcs, but it’s still a real treat to see this second-in-command show up, especially when unleashing his powerful Sulong form.

3

Inuarashi

Inuarashi Deserves A Spot For His Captivating Design, Love For The Straw Hats, And Underlying Power

• First Appearance: Episode 756

Inuarashi’s story is much the same as Nekomamushi, in the sense they were both a part of Whitebeard’s crew and were retainers of Oden, but there are a few subtle differences that make the watchful dog of Zou just a little more interesting than his former friend. For one, there’s his design, which is a prime example of the series’ signature creativity by having a humanoid dog dressed in musketeer attire while a pair of glasses rests on his head.

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Additionally, despite it being made very clear that Inuarashi possesses an immense amount of power, since he’s far less reckless and more passive than Nekomamushi, it adds an aura of mystery to the Mink as fans wonder how strong he could truly be beneath the gentlemanly exterior. Inuarashi would also go above and beyond to do his part in saving Wano Country from the clutches of Kaido, which earns him a few bonus points.

2

Carrot

Carrot Became An Honorary Straw Hat Member Whose Fun And Bubbly Personality Makes Her So Much Fun To Be Around

• First Appearance: Episode 753

Carrot is a young and spunky Mink who quickly becomes an honorary member of the Straw Hat crew after she decided to hitch a ride after they embark for Whole Cake Island. Many fans remember Carrot for her carefree personality, which made for some hilarious moments on the Sunny, but she has a pretty compelling character arc too. Witnessing the death of her longtime mentor Pedro pushes Carrot to be more confident in her abilities, which eventually leads to her unleashing her epic Sulong Form.

Speaking of Sulong, if it wasn’t for Carrot powering up into her final form and obliterating Daifuku’s barrage of ships, it’s unlikely the Straw Hats ever would have been able to get away from Whole Cake with their lives intact. Though Carrot plays a smaller role in the Wano arc, she has still proven to be a reliable ally who the Straw Hats can always call on for backup, and who many fans admire for her quirky persona and appearance.

1

Pekoms

Pekoms Is A Mischievous Mink Who Betrays Big Mom To Save The Straw Hats

• First Appearance: Episode 570

Luffy would first run into Pekoms near the very end of the Straw Hats’ journey through Fishman Island, where he berates the captain for stealing Big Mom’s precious sweets. Due to his alliance with the Yonko, Pekoms acts as a minor antagonist to the Straw Hats for a little while, that is, until he catches word that his homeland of Zou has been decimated by Kaido’s lackey, Jack the Drought.

From then on, Pekoms becomes a loyal ally of the Straw Hats where he guides them around Big Mom’s island, and even saves Luffy from the Mirror World later in the arc, before revealing his Sulong Form to hold back Big Mom’s army. He’s a fairly complex character despite receiving only small bits of screentime, but his stylish appearance and importance to the story still make him one of the best Mink characters in the series.

One Piece

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Network

Fuji TV

Directors

Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou

• 

  Mayumi Tanaka

  Monkey D. Luffy (voice)

• 

  Kazuya Nakai

  Roronoa Zoro (voice)