One Piece is an anime based on the world of pirates. It stands as one of the most popular anime in the shonen genre. Centered around Luffy, a man who vows to become the Pirate King, adventures of all kinds occur. Conversely, even though 24 years have passed since the death of Gol D. Roger, the former Pirate King, no other individual has claimed that title by reaching the last island on the Grand Line, Laugh Tale.
The protagonist, Luffy, sets out to become the Pirate King. On his journey, he recruits crewmates with different goals, but they are still focused on helping him fulfill his dream. The One Piece series sheds light on different social, economic, and moral issues a society may face. In the series, Luffy and crew have faced sudden emotional moments that have led to positive changes in their lives and those around them.
5 Nothing Happened
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During the early part of the One Piece series, the crew in the Thriller Bark arc experienced a wild adventure. In this arc, the Straw Hats come across a ship big enough to be an island owned by the former Warlord, Gecko Moria. Luffy and crew had to defeat him because he used his devil fruit, the Shadow-Shadow fruit, to steal the shadows of countless individuals in the hope of creating a strong army.
After defeating Moria, the Warlord known as Bartholomew Kuma arrives on the island to eliminate the exhausted Straw Hats. Following the instructions of the World Government, Kuma tries to capture a sleeping Luffy. At this moment, Zoro tries to stop him, but the difference in their strength is clear, and in exchange for his bravery, Kuma offers him a deal. Further, he told him to take all the pain Luffy had endured and suffered in his battle with Gecko Moria. Zoro receiving the pain and burdens of his captain solidified his stance even more as a loyal and trustworthy vice-captain of the Straw Hats.
4 Zoro Losing To Mihawk
Prior to Sanji becoming a crew member, Luffy tried to persuade him to join them. Sanji was before working as a cook at Baratie; coincidentally, Don Krieg, a notorious pirate from East Blue, had escaped from the Grand Line after Mihwak, the Strongest Swordsman chased him.
Zoro met Mihawk and challenged him to a duel to see how wide the gap was between him and the world's strongest. In this encounter, Zoro's loss was inevitable, but after losing the duel, Mihawk encouraged him to try to surpass him. Although feeling humiliated and sad by this defeat, Zoro vowed to Luffy that he would never lose again. The pain he felt at this moment motivated him to continue to chase his dream while ensuring that he had the resolve and strength never to lose again.
3 Usopp Leaving The Crew
Another cathartic moment was when Usopp, the crew's sniper, left the crew in the Water 7 arc. Usopp met the Straw Hats, made up of Luffy, Zoro, and Nami, on his home island, Syrup Village. The crew helped him save his friend, Kaya, from Captain Kuro, who tried to steal her fortune. After doing this, he joined the Straw Hats, and Kaya gifted the crew a ship known as the Going Merry.
The crew faced various adventures and near-death experiences with the ship, and Usopp helped patch her up each time. When they reached Water 7, the Going Merry was examined, and they received the news that it would not be able to sail again. Usopp, reluctant to leave the Merry behind, insulted his captain and dueled him for it. After this incident, Usopp left the crew; however, at the end of the Enies Lobby arc, he apologized to Luffy for his words and begged to be accepted back into the crew. Usopp's experience here taught him to respect the captain and his decisions.
2 The Sabaody Archipelago Incident
The final island before entering the New World posed a challenge initially for the Straw Hats. All pirates that want to go to the New World need to coat their ship, or else they will sink. This is because the entrance into the New World is underneath the Red Line, meaning ships had to be coated in resin from the Mangrove trees on the island, which covers the ships in a bubble-looking solution.
Unfortunately for the Straw Hats, the marine soldiers were ordered to go to the island because Silver Rayleigh, the vice-captain of the Roger Pirates, was about to be sold on the slave market. Luffy and the crew come up against an Admiral, Kizaru, who defeated the crew easily, displaying their weakness. So, Admiral Kizaru was about to kill everyone on the crew; but the intervention of Bartholomew Kuma prevented this. He sent everyone to different islands. This incident was a dark moment that helped everyone understand the need to become stronger if they were to continue their adventures.
1 Ace's Death
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After the incident at Sabaody, Luffy was sent to the island of the pirate empress, Boa Hancock. On this island, he learned about the proposed execution of his brother Ace. Similarly, when Admiral Kizaru was attacking the Straw Hats, Ace traced down Teach (later known as Blackbeard). He was a former crewmate who was on the run for killing a commanding captain of the Whitebeard pirates. Ace lost the battle with Blackbeard, who delivered him to the marines, who were set to execute him.
Luffy and the Whitebeard pirates stormed Marineford to prevent the execution in the Paramount War arc. The attempt to rescue Ace resulted in the Paramount War between the pirates and the Marines. When it seemed like Ace was rescued, Admiral Akainu killed him, making Luffy wail and pass out. Losing his brother encouraged him to get stronger, so he would not have to lose anyone again due to his weakness.