Tony Tony Chopper is an invaluable member of the Straw Hat Pirates and the first to be recruited from the Grand Line. As the crew felt the harsh realities of the Grand Line when Nami fell to an illness called Kestia, in stepped Chopper during the Drum Island arc to save the day and give fans a glimpse at what he had to offer the crew.
Chopper has, on countless occasions, been the hero of the story just as much as any other supporting member of the Straw Hat Pirates, and one would expect him to be one of the most popular members of the crew. Yet, Chopper stands as extremely underappreciated among One Piece fans, and much of this is down to his short stature and his cute design, which makes him look like more of a mascot character. However, if one is willing to look into his character beyond the surface, Chopper has everything needed to be a top-tier Straw Hat Pirate and does for the crew what no other character in One Piece can.
What Makes Chopper Special
Chopper is an incredibly unique character when it comes to his appearance, and it is this very design of his that establishes the premise for his character. Being a blue-nosed reindeer, Chopper was born different from all the others in his herd and was shunned as a baby. This was further compounded by the fact that he ate the Hito Hito no Mi, which, although gave him several powers, also made him look like a monster that humans detested. Essentially, Chopper was a misfit which is what makes his character relatable for a number of fans. As seen with the likes of Sanji and even Robin to an extent, Chopper had quite a difficult childhood until he finally met his salvation, Dr. Hiriluk.
With Hiriluk, Chopper had a relationship and dynamic that fans have grown accustomed to seeing from One Piece protagonists. Luffy had Shanks, Zoro had Kuina, Nami had Bellemere, Sanji had Zeff, and the list goes on. Chopper's relationship with Hiriluk saw him finally get accepted for what he truly was but this didn't last long as Hiriluk was bound to die from an incurable disease.
Chopper's kindness as a character is greatly fleshed out in this section of the story as he goes to extremes to ensure that he finds a cure for Hiriluk and after throwing his life in harm's way, he naively picks a poisonous mushroom. To the fans' shock, Hiriluk consumes it despite knowing it was poisoned and when Kureha, another key figure in Chopper's life, realizes this, yet another facet of his character is established. Nobody can save lives with just kindness alone and Chopper had to learn it the hard way.
Hiriluk gave his life for the Kingdom of Drum but his will lives on within Chopper, which is what makes the Straw Hat doctor an incredible character. The following years of his life were spent honing his skills under Kureha to become a doctor worthy of curing any disease. To say that he became good would be an understatement. The hole Hiriluk's death left behind was eventually filled by the Straw Hat Pirates and Chopper has been alongside the rest of the crew ever since. With a such powerful backstory, a dream to pursue, and a longing for acceptance, Chopper has all that is needed to become a fan favorite.
Chopper's Role In The Crew And Medical Expertise
Chopper's importance to the crew cannot be understated if the crew is to survive all the way to Laugh Tale. His years of studying under Kureha have made him a doctor worthy of curing most diseases with his skills on full display before he even joined the crew. On the ancient island of Little Garden, Nami fell prey to Kestia, also known as the Five-Day Disease due to its incredibly quick progression. Being an ancient disease that no longer exists in the current One Piece world, it wouldn't be a surprise to see doctors fail to cure it, yet Chopper managed to do so with Kureha's help.
Without Chopper, it is safe to say that the Straw Hat Pirates wouldn't even exist right now and would have fallen to their many injuries. From Zoro's life-threatening injuries following the encounter with Kuma to saving Luffy from the Mummy virus in Udon Prison, Chopper has saved the crew on countless occasions. On Onigashima, he found a cure for Queen's masterpiece, the Ice Oni, within a matter of hours, showing how incredibly skilled he truly is as a doctor. Having accomplished doctors such as Marco and even Law around, the fact that Oda chose to make Chopper stand out just goes to show that his skill is on an entirely different level.
Chopper's role in the crew isn't just reserved to saving lives. He's extremely smart in battle, as seen on Thriller Bark, where his medical expertise was key to figuring out the weaknesses of the Zombie Oars. By capitalizing on the weaknesses, the Straw Hat Pirates were able to take down a challenge far beyond their level and all credit goes to the crew's medic. Chopper also helps out greatly in combat, going as far as becoming a monster for Luffy's sake, despite having been hated for it in the past.
Although Chopper's bounty and his stature might now show it, he's an integral part of the story without whom Luffy and the crew wouldn't get far. He might not get as much shine as the Monster Trio of the crew but he has everything required to be among the very best characters that Oda has ever created. While the crew certainly do help Chopper with the things he can't do, Chopper returns the favor by being the best doctor that he can be and making he is there to heal them up anytime they need him, all the while aiming to explore the world and becoming a doctor that would do both Hiriluk and Kureha proud.