Well, that could’ve gone better for Luffy.
Hello, guys. RJ Writing Ink here with some funny news from the world of One Piece. Last month, I reported on the D&A Anime Blog how Luffy, the protagonist of One Piece, would be joining Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. Thus, when the time came, I was excited to see Luffy take in the parade. It might not seem like much, but it’s a testament to how widely popular One Piece has become in America. Goku, the main hero of the popular Dragon Ball franchise, has been a parade regular for several years now. It’s proof of how widespread anime is in the US.
Too bad fate had other plans.
Early in the parade’s route, a gust of wind caused the balloon’s handlers to lose control of Luffy. As a result, the Luffy balloon collided with a nearby tree, causing a massive hole to open up in the character’s iconic straw hat. Thankfully, Luffy managed to finish the parade without any further incident, and just as important.
While some fans were certainly disappointed by Luffy’s famous hat getting wrecked, others took it in stride. Many took to social media and jokingly called Luffy the captain of the “Bucket Hat Pirates,” referencing the fact that his hat now resembled a bucket hat. It was all in good fun, though.
While I was bummed by this unfortunate event, I ultimately chose to laugh it off. If Luffy had been there in person, he likely would’ve done the same. If anything, his balloon’s ability to keep going despite the damage is a testament to how badass Luffy is. Plus, at least the announcers got his name right on the first try!