Funkfreed

Funkfreed is Spandam's sword, a unique weapon that "ate" the Zou Zou no Mi and became an Elephant Sword (象剣). As such, he also serves as a pet and unofficial bodyguard for Spandam, compensating his master's physical slightness.

Appearance
Untransformed, Funkfreed appears as a large and intimidating cutlass-esque sword, typically slung over-the-shoulder by Spandam. Only a few vestiges of his animal form—most notably a pair of tusks set into the hilt, and a tail-shaped pommel—are visible.

Fully transformed, he appears as a gentle, friendly-looking elephant, about one or two heads taller than Spandam. Much of his upper body is covered by an elaborate leather harness vaguely resembling a jhul cloth (with headgear somewhat similar to Spandam's mask). His hide is an ordinary stone-gray (white in the anime).

In his hybrid form, his head and upper torso (notably smaller than those of his full-beast form) extend from the hilt in a serpent-like manner, with the blade melding into his trunk.

Personality
Funkfreed is a peaceable, devoted animal, effectively Spandam's closest (if not only) friend. As such, he obediently follows most of Spandam's commands; however, his devotion does not outstrip his sense of self-preservation, as he almost immediately surrendered when held at gunpoint by Franky.

Abilities and Powers
Being a sword that has absorbed a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, the Zou Zou no Mi, Funkfreed can transform into an elephant-sword hybrid and a full elephant at Spandam's command. The Devil Fruit has also granted Funkfreed a life and mind of his own. However, given Spandam's limited skills in swordplay, heavy reliance to Funkfreed for protection, and Funkfreed's own limited skillset, not much can be said of the sword-elephant's capabilities.

Funkfreed can transform into his various forms to adapt to fighting the opponent. He can become as heavy as an elephant, all the while maintaining the malleability of a sword.

Water 7 Arc
Funkfreed blithely accompanied Spandam at Enies Lobby while awaiting the return of CP9's Water 7 infiltration team (Rob Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Blueno).

Enies Lobby Arc
After the Water 7 team returned, Funkfreed passively witnessed the detained Nico Robin and Franky, a Golden Den Den Mushi being flaunted by Spandam, and even the Straw Hat Pirates' initial storming of Enies Lobby. He was not called on to act until the Straw Hats breached the Tower of Justice; panicked by their success, Spandam immediately began forcing Robin to a Marine Headquarters convoy on the island's far coast, bringing Funkfreed (reverted to sword form) and Lucci as guards.

Once Lucci separated to head off Monkey D. Luffy's pursuit, Spandam was forced to use Funkfreed alone to stop Robin's escape attempts. While initially successful, Funkfreed faltered when Franky caught up to them on the Bridge of Hesitation; outmatched by the cyborg's strength and threatened with a point-blank bazooka shot, he quickly surrendered and retreated to his full-elephant form, whereupon Franky grabbed him by the trunk and tossed him atop Spandam.

One Piece Film: Gold
Spandam appears to have kept Funkfreed (or a superficially similar sword) after his transfer to CP0. During his attack on Gran Tesoro, he attempted to use the sword to execute a Seastone-chained Luffy, only to be intercepted by Rikka.

Anime and Manga Differences
In the anime, Funkfreed is colored white. However, on the cover of volume 42, it is shown that the elephant form is naturally gray colored. This difference in color between manga and anime is partly due to the common fact that the intended colors came out much later after the anime. This is also due to the fact that Funkfreed's elephant form resembles greatly a stereotypical white elephant, commonly revered in India, in the uncolored pages of the manga. Funkfreed's color scheme is fixed to match that of the manga cover in Episode of Merry.

Major Battles

 * Funkfreed and Spandam vs. Franky

Non-Playable Appearances

 * One Piece: Unlimited Adventure
 * One Piece: Unlimited Cruise

Trivia

 * According to an SBS column, Spandam has owned an elephant since childhood. Whether this was in fact Funkfreed remains unknown.

Site Navigation
Funkfreed Funkfleed Funkfreed Funkfreed Funkfreed