Summary
- Luffy’s family, the Monkey D.’s, may have originated from the mysterious island of Shandora.
- Oda’s clues hint at a connection between the Shandians and the Monkey D. family.
- Dragon’s tattoo, possible relationship with Shandoran warriors, add to the evidence of a connection.
One Piece is a franchise that has quite a lot of focus placed on family and the connections shared between various characters. Even the main heroes of the story, the Straw Hats, have a very familial bond to them, and Oda has gone on to state the roles that each member would have if they were actually related, showing how important the role of family is as a central tenet of the overall series.
As such, Luffy’s actual family are the Monkey D.’s. Belonging to the mysterious D. clan, the only known members of this family are Luffy, Dragon, and Garp, each of whom is among the most important members of their respective factions in One Piece. However, there are a few clues throughout the story that state this family has special connections to a mysterious island in the story, so let’s take a look at their much-speculated secret origins.
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The Monkey D.’s Are Originally From Shandora
The Legendary Sky Island
|
First Appearance |
One Piece, Chapter 268, “Suite” |
|---|---|
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Debut Date |
March 10, 2003 |
|
Story Arc |
Skypiea |
Shandora is a land steeped in mystery and historical allure. Originally being a part of the island of Jaya, Shandora was later blasted up to Skypiea due to the Knock-Up Stream happening right below it 400 years before the start of the main story. After the city and its people found their way into the sky, their existence was constantly in danger due to the leaders of Skypiea wanting the land for themselves, reducing the Shandians from a proud people to a small tribe.
However, throughout the centuries, they kept their identity and culture intact, which was seen all throughout the Skypiea arc. Due to this, fans can surmise a notable connection between the Shandians and the Monkey D. family. The first of these connections can be seen in ways outside the story, since in an SBS, Oda revealed the nationalities of every member of the Straw Hats if they were real.
He stated that Luffy would be Brazilian if he were real, which clearly makes a connection to the Meso-American-inspired Shandians. Even their scared city, Shandora, is a vast and prosperous city made of gold, which is inspired by the mythical tale of El Dorado, which is also located in South America. While some may think of this as a stretch, there are other clues that hint at the connection between the family and Shandora.
One of the most damning pieces of evidence here is Luffy’s father, Monkey D. Dragon. Many fans believe that Dragon looks very similar to the legendary Shandian warrior Kalgara, who was a central character in the Mont Blanc Noland flashback during the Skypiea arc and one of the most important figures in Shandian culture. From the hair and the peculiar red tattoos to the general face and appearance of the character, there are many striking similarities between the two, so much so that some fans believe Dragon to be Kalgara’s descendant.
We’ll ring the bell, waiting for you! Let’s meet again, my friend!
Moreover, the Chief of the Shandians and the highest authority on the island also looked suspiciously like Monkey D. Garp. Not only did the two of them look identical, but the Chief also wore a head covering shaped like a dog, which is the same as Garp’s own helmet/head covering that he would wear in the early parts of the series. Many believe this to be subtle foreshadowing of the true nature of the island as well as the connection it has to the Monkey D. family.
The most damning evidence for many comes in the form of Dragon’s infamous tattoo that covers the left side of his face. While many had always believed this to be the mark of the Revolutionary Army, one scene from the Skypiea arc showed the room of a Shandoran citizen, which had a huge banner that had the same design as Dragon’s tattoo. Having a tattoo that covers the left side of the face seems to be a custom of Shandoran warriors since Wyper had this too, so many believe that Dragon has this tattoo for the same reason.
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How Likely Is This Connection?
Can This Really Be The Case?
If there is one thing that is known about the One Piece story in general after all of these years, it is that Oda is always deliberate in the choices he makes, especially when it comes to subtle hints. The similarities that exist between the Shandians and the Monkey D. family are far too many to simply consider as being a coincidence, so it’s highly likely that there is a connection between them.
Conversely, it could also be that there is a connection between them, but not from a familial sense. It’s possible that the Monkey D.’s have some sort of deep-rooted relationship with the citizens of this island because of all the similarities they share, but to have them be related to them may seem too far-fetched for many fans to believe.
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