Pandaman

Pandaman is a joke character created by the author, Eiichiro Oda. He is so far, the most notable of Oda's joke characters having appeared hidden in nearly every One Piece chapter, episode, movie, and such. He is also a playable character in One Piece Grand Battle 2 for the Playstation. In a recent Japanese Fan Poll, Pandaman is currently ranked the 31st most popular character in One Piece.

Appearance
Pandaman's appearance is that of muscle bounded figure with a panda face for a head. On it is the word Panda written across his forehead. Whether this is a mask or his real face remains to be seen. His arms are black with bamboo tattoos. On his chest are two heart tattoos. In the series, his appearance would often differs from scene to scene. In one scene, he could be seen as a skinny individual with no black arms or tattoos at all. This is apparently because in order to be properly hidden in some scenes and such, Pandaman's body features require to be less detailed. The only thing that remains constant however is his panda head.

Throughout the series he appears along the crowds and backgrounds everywhere and anytime as an easter egg character. He can be found posing as a citizen, a pirate, a Government agent, and many others. He can even be found in flashbacks, even a 400 year old flashback. He is sometimes seen in the same panel with Tomato Gang, a debt collector who has been on the lookout for Pandaman in order to collect the money Pandaman owes. This is also why Pandman is often seen running away on appearances.

Pandaman also appears in One Piece Grand Battle! popping or hiding in the background. In some stages he might appear in more than one place.

History
Pandaman was originally created for a comic selection a few years back. The comic of which was the anime/manga series Kinnikuman. Acording to Oda, he originated from Tibet and age is unknown. He is 6'6" and weighs 270 lbs. His mortal blow techniques: S.P.D-- Bamboo Leaves Panda Drop, and Giant Panda Deathstock. His Explanation: Abandoned in a bamboo thicket as an infant, Panda Man was raised by Giant Pandas. He is a demon superhero who resolved to become strong because when he told people he had seen Kaguyahime, they didn't believe him and picked on him. (Kaguyahime was a princess who was found inside a bamboo stump, according to Japanese legends.)

When Oda wrote One Piece he decided to include Pandaman as a hidden character along with a little information if not a different background. According to Oda, Pandaman used to be a rich guy living on a certain island until he got into some trouble. Apparently, Pandaman owed a large sum of money. Since then, the debt collector, Tomato Gang, has been chasing Pandaman in order to collect his debt.

Pandaman is first spotted in the Baratie before Gin showed up.

Special Episode


Pandaman has appeared most of the time as a hidden character that no one else seems to care or notice, whose actions apparently don't affect the main plot at all. However in one special episode of the anime, not only did the main characters actually took notice of him but he was also made the center of attention. In the special set in an apparent alternate universe based on feudal Japan, Pandaman owed a large sum of money to Buggy and his gang, the Clown Family. Being this the case, they searched high and low around town for him. This eventually led to them to Orika's house where Pandaman was being cared for by her and her mother at the time. Due to his nickname that everyone around town call him being Totsan which means father in Japanese, Buggy and his men assumed that Orika was his daughter. After Buggy's men were beaten off by Dective Luffy, Buggy plotted to sell Orika off to pay for Pandaman's debt as well as get rid of Luffy with the aid of a corupt Obugyo. It was only with the appearance of Vivi and Pandaman himself that Buggy and the Obugyo's plans were foiled. Later, Pandaman was seen interacting with the rest of the main characters in Onami's restaurant celebrating Christmas.