Who is Ruffy’s father? This is the question that One Piece fans who don’t yet know the anime are asking themselves. But the Netflix series is already hiding concrete clues.
The first eight episodes of the Netflix series One Piece are packed with plenty of Easter Eggs. Whether it’s loving references to Eiichiro Oda’s original or setting up future characters and events for the recently ordered 2nd season. One of the biggest reveals from both manga and anime is set up right in the very first episode: Monkey D. Ruffy’s father.
Warning, massive spoilers to the One Piece template follow:
Ruffy’s father shows up in the very first scene of One Piece
The first season of One Piece surprised early on with the revelation that Navy Vice Admiral Garp (Vincent Regan) is actually Ruffy’s (Iñaki Godoy) grandfather. We don’t get to see the young straw-hatted pirate’s father, however. Or maybe we do?
Has Dragon been hiding in the One Piece series?
In the very first scene of One Piece, set 22 years in the past, we are introduced to some important characters in a younger form. At the execution of pirate king Gol D. Roger (Michael Dorman), Shanks, Mihawk and future season 2 villain Smoker are among those visible in the crowd of viewers. For a brief moment, we also spy a person in a green hooded cape.
We don’t see the face. However, a look at the original reveals that this must be the dreaded revolutionary Dragon. His first proper anime appearance was unfortunately skipped in season 1 of the live-action adaptation.
Dragon’s true identity remains a secret for a long time, even in the original. It is not until chapter 432 of the manga or episode 314 of the anime that the shocking revelation of who Dragon really is follows: his name is Monkey D. Dragon. And he is Ruffy’s biological father.
Hidden clue in One Piece episode 8 reveals more about Dragon
In the first season finale, Ruffy receives his first bounty of 30 million berries. A montage shows us how several characters discover his new profile. Among them is Kaya, who (at minute 35) is leafing through a newspaper. Right next to the wanted poster, we can see a newspaper article that reveals more about Dragon’s background.
Dragon in the One Piece Anime
The article “The Country of Vira overtaken by Revolutionary Army” is more than just a simple Easter Eggs for fans of the original. It reveals where Ruffy’s father might be in the current storyline. Namely in Vira, a country on the Grandline.
You can also see the logo of the revolutionary army, which is led by Dragon. The goal of the revolutionaries is to overthrow the corrupt world government. That is why Dragon is the most wanted man in the world. In the canon of the original, this revolutionary army helped to overthrow the government of Vira through a coup d’état. Nothing more is known about the event.
It is not yet known if we will see Dragon as early as season 2 of the One Piece series. Should the Netflix adaptation strictly adhere to the original, however, the father revelation would not take place until season 4. An earlier appearance is nevertheless possible. After all, the character Garp – Dragon’s father – was also introduced much earlier.
