User:Joekido/Flashback

This article deals with the use of flashbacks in One Piece.

Introduction
Flashbacks are one of the most important Literary Techniques used in One Piece since they usually take place at a highly emotional time in the manga. Also they have a great place in the manga given their occurence and the length of some of them.

Design
The flashbacks in One Piece are marked with a particular design of the page frame. The color of the page boxes are surrounded in black instead of the usual white.

Occasionally there are flashbacks within the flashbacks. The color of these page boxes turn white again or sometimes gray.

In the Anime, flashbacks are often stretched into episodes.

Straw Hat Flashbacks
Every Straw Hat member has had at least one flashback. These flashback are particulary important in term of story telling (it helps to understand more about the member's story and their reason to join the crew) as well as in the length they occupy in the manga (in particular for the last members)

By order of appearance in the manga (coincidently, the girls' flashbacks are always displayed later with regard to their join to the crew):

Zoro's Flashback
Zoro's flashback happens in Chapter 5 (p 11 to 16) in Morgan Arc.

He remembers his past at the Dojo with Kuina when he thinks he's about to die when attached to a post and targeted by marines.

In the anime this flashback was shown in Episode 19.

Cutting steel Flashback
While fighting Mr. 1 (Chapter 194), Zoro remembers a discussion with his sword-master about the ability to cut steel with a sword.

This was shown in the anime in Episode 119.

Usopp's Flashback
Usopp's flashback is the shortest of the Straw Hat ones.

It happens in Chapter 41 (p 15 to 16).

Usopp's childhood story is told by Merry to Kaya when Usopp departs from his village to join Luffy.

Sanji's Flashback
Sanji's flashback is the first to last more than a chapter. From now on, every crew member's past will be a major moment of the story.

It starts in Chapter 56 ( p16) and finishes at the end of Chapter 58. It shows the 87 days of Sanji struggling to survive starvation on an isolated rocky island in the middle of the sea.

Sanji remembers his starving days with Zeff when Gin threatens to kill the Baratie owner.

Sanji's flashback allows them to understand better the strong and conflictual relationship that he shares with Zeff. By saving him during the storm and sacrificing his leg so that Sanji he could live, Sanji feels he is indebted to his master. This explains why he would rather die than allow Don Krieg to take the Baratie restaurant and why it was so difficult for him to leave it despite his dream to find the All Blue. It also explains why Sanji and Zeff gave food to Gin and Krieg while they were potential enemies.

Nami's Flashback
Nami's flashback starts in Chapter 77 (p 5) and finishes in Chapter 79.

Nami's childhood is told by Nojiko to Usopp, Sanji and a sleeping Zoro to explain her weird behaviour. At the same time Nami became nostalgic by looking at her first map in Bell-mère's house.

Nami's flashback allows to understand better the ambiguous relationship she had with the crew so far. Until she met Luffy she was constantly forced to play a role in order to survive and her tricky way of thinking is still one of her personality traits. Also, in her hunt for the 100,000,000, she has become a remarkable pickpocket and developed a particular relation with money (also explained by her unwealthy childhood).

Chopper's Flashback
Chopper's flashback starts in Chapter 141 (p 9) and finishes in Chapter 145.

Chopper and Hiluluk's story is told when Chopper and Doctorine claim to Wapol that the Drum Castle is now Hiluluk's grave.

The story of the entire flashback can be found here: Doctor Hunt.

Vivi's Flashback
Vivi's flashback starts in Chapter 163 (p 10) and finishes in Chapter 164.

Vivi and Leaders friendship story is recalled when the Straw Hat Pirates found Toto all alone in a devastated Yuba.

Franky's Flashback
Franky's flashback starts in Chapter 353 (p 8) and finishes in Chapter 358 (p 11).

Tom's Workers story is recalled when CP9 discovers Tom's old warehouse and arrest Franky.

Robin's Flashback
Robin's flashback starts in Chapter 391 (p 13) and finishes in Chapter 398 (p 7).

Robin's lonely past is recalled when Spandam threatens Robin with the Buster Call at the top of the judiciary tower. Robin also has minor flashbacks within this flashback of her sad and lonely childhood without her mother.

Brook's Flashback
Brook's flashback starts in Chapter 486 (p 18) and finishes in Chapter 488.

Brook's first life is recalled when Luffy tells Brook that they met Laboon during the party at the end of Thriller Bark Arc.

Luffy's Flashback
Luffy's past first introduction is not really a flashback since it corresponds to Chapter 1 Romance Dawn. His "real" flashback however, starts in Chapter 582 and ends in Chapter 589.

Luffy while crying and mourning over his brother Ace's death, remembers how he first met him.

The flashback showed the deep and strong bond that the two children share. It also introduces their foster mother Dadan and their third brother Sabo.

It explains many things about Luffy's childhood, the reason why he is so determined not to lose any of his friends, who the friend that Garp mentioned was and just what was the Sabo incident Ace spoke of before dying.

Buggy's Flashback
Buggy's flashback happens in Chapter 19 (p8 to 18) during Luffy and Buggy's first fight in Orange Town Arc. Buggy thinks back to his past when Luffy tells him that his straw hat was given to him by Shanks.

This flashback is more important than it appears at the beginning since it is revealed later that the crew of Buggy and Shanks is none other then the crew of the late pirate king, Gol D. Roger. Also, the man who punches them both is introduced 480 chapters later as Silvers Rayleigh.

Kuro's Flashback
Kuro's Flashback happens in Chapter 37.

It reveals how he escaped the marines by delivering them the impostor Nugire Yainu who was executed in his stead. It also shows how Sergeant Morgan broke his jaw and why he was promoted.

Skypiea Flashback
Skypiea flashback starts in Chapter 286 (p10) and finishes in Chapter 292.

Calgara and Noland friendship is told to Wiper by Shandians chief when he was little. He is reminded of Calgara's promise when Enel is about to destroy Skypiea.

Ace's Flashback
Ace's past is in several parts:
 * His birth story is told in Chapter 551 when Garp reminds of his encounter with Roger after Sengoku reveals Ace's true father identity.
 * His entrance into Whitebeard's crew is told in Chapter 552 after Whitebeard summons a tsunami with his Gura Gura no Mi powers.
 * His past with Luffy and Sabo is told after Chapter 582.

Fishman Island Flashback
It starts at Chapter 621 and ends at Chapter 627. It reveals the story of how the Sun Pirates were formed. It also shows how Queen Otohime died, why Jinbe let Arlong out of Impel Down, Vander Decken IX touching Shirahoshi, and the true story of the captain of the Sun Pirates, Fisher Tiger, and how he died.

Rebecca's Flashback
It took place during Chapter 721. On her way to the Corrida Coliseum, Rebecca remembers how her mother died and Thunder Soldier took care of her because he failed to protect her mother. (Also because he was her father, but Rebecca didn't know that.)

Dressrosa Flashback
It starts at Chapter 727 and ends at Chapter 728. Thunder Soldier told it to Franky, Robin, and Usopp. It reveals the story of how Donquixote Doflamingo came to power and how King Riku Dold III was ousted from power.

Mini Flashbacks
These are more souvenirs than flashbacks (indeed they do not have the same flashback design and are very short)


 * Rob Lucci's sense of justice is revealed in Chapter 422 by Vice Admiral Doberman during Enies Lobby's Buster Call. This flashback is more developed in the anime since it is stretched to a complete episode.
 * Boa Hancock's past of slavery in Chapter 521, when Nyon reveals her of the incident between Luffy and Charloss.
 * Little Oars Jr.'s story of how he got his hat is revealed in Chapter 555 when he tries to save Ace.
 * Edward Newgate's past that before he becomes known as Whitebeard is revealed in Chapter 572, but it's incomplete until Chapter 576.
 * Whitebeard's last meeting with Gol D. Roger 22 years ago is revealed in Chapter 576 when he was attacked by Blackbeard Pirates.
 * Shiliew's story of how he was entered Level 6 of Impel Down is revealed in Chapter 538 when Emporio Ivankov explaned the past of Impel Down to Bentham.
 * Silvers Rayleigh's first meeting with Gol D. Roger.
 * Caesar Clown detonating the weapon that destroyed Punk Hazard.
 * Monkey D. Garp denting Chinjao's pointy head.

Trivia

 * Among fans, flashbacks have even become a criteria to identify the eventual future crew member.