SBS Volume 19

Important Questions Answered

 * Ages for: Vivi, Chopper, Dorry and Brogy.
 * Den Den Mushi description.

SBS
R (reader)

O (Oda)

'''R: Oda-sensei! Draw the six main characters with your left hand! '''

O: I don't want to waste any more space. Can I stop at three?

'''R: I've been wondering, how old are Vivi and Chopper? Vivi looks to be about the same age as the rest, but Chopper just seems like a kid! Please, give us the answer! '''

O: First, Vivi is 16. Chopper is a human reindeer, so as a human he would be 15. Yeah. That's right.

'''R: I have a question, sensei. How old are Dorry and Brogy?'''

O: Ahaa. First of all, giants live to be around 300 years old, but their growth rates are twice that of humans. So they are considered "adults" when they turn 40. When they came to Little Garden and started fighting, they were 58 years old (29 in human years). And they've been fighting for 100 years, so they are 158. But they'll live to be 300, so they're probably at the prime of their battle right now. They're a little older than Dr. Kureha.

'''R: I've been wondering about something. On Blue-Nose Chopper's hat, there is an X on the front. What is that? '''

O: About the X on Chopper's hat. You know what it is. It's the cross you see on hospitals. It's just tilted diagonally. Oh, and I don't think many people noticed this, but Hiluluk's head was the same shape. A hospital cross.

'''R: Yo, Ei-chan. Got a question. Does that mark Miss Goldenweek draws mean anything? Couldn't she just slap the colors on him? Tell me, man!'''

O: Yes. It does. Have a meaning. (Colors Trap) See?! ... "So what?" is what you're saying, I know. Hey, it's better than nothing.

'''R: Did you go to college, sensei? Also, in middle and high school, did the clubs you entered have anything to do with manga or drawing? I would like to be a manga artist in the future, too. (I'm in 8th grade and worried about my future. Please respond!!)'''

O: Well, I dropped out after one year of college. Also, I've never had any sort art or drawing lessons in my life. Most of the other pro manga artists around me are the same way. I'm going to give you a serious answer because it was a serious question: relying on anyone else, no matter what special school you went to, is the most dangerous thing you can do.

'''R: Oda-sensei!! I found something rather surprising about the delivery man on pages 117-118 of Volume 18!! It says "Half-Boiled" on his T-shirt. But!! On page 69!! Those are the same people, right? And on his T-shirt, it says, "Full-Boiled"!! What's up with him?! Tell me!!'''

O: HE HAS MATURED.

R: Are the Den Den Mushi series animals, or machines?

O: They're animals. Insects.
 * Baby Den Den Mushi: Its small size makes it portable. However, its signals are weak, and cannot reach over the sea to another island.
 * Den Den Mushi: Too big to carry around, but its strength makes it useful for talking to far-off islands. Can also act as a fax machine if the accessory is attached.
 * Black Den Den Mushi (different species): They do not grow as they age. They enjoy eavesdropping, and dislike communicating with others. Used as listening devices, or "wiretaps".

O: Since being raised by humans gets them plenty of food, they don't mind being used and tamed.

'''R: Oda-san, among the Erimaki Runners on page 110 of Volume 18, one of them doesn't have anything hanging from his neck. Why not?'''

O: That's right. He's the only one without any orders to carry. So he's thinking, "Huh? Why am I running?" which comes out as "Eh?" You can tell the Baroque Works is obviously going to fire him.