Don (ドン, Don^?) is a sound effect used in manga. In anime format, this effect often sounds like a loud "boom" or drum beat. It is often used to emphasize something happening.

An example of the usage of "Don": a person appearing on the scene, the scene pauses for a moment while the character's name appears and as the text for the name comes on the screen the sound effect "Don!". By adding the "Don!" effect, this implies the person is very important to the storyline.

One Piece Edit

Oda has become renowned for over using this sound effect in One Piece and it has become a gimmick to the series. During the SBS for Chapter 429, one Japanese fan reported, having counted through to Volume 42 Chapter 409, that his unofficial count was 1,469. His count only included Don, Donnn, Dodon, Dodonnnm, excluding sounds which were suspected to be gunshots or attack sounds. On average the fan also reported one One Piece chapter has 3.5 Dons.^[1]

Franky's mentor, Tom, and Tom's brother Den, have a habit of saying "Do it with a Don!".^[2] The song Binks' Sake also includes the words "Lets all sing out with a Don!"

Scratchman Apoo has an attack called "Don" where he uses his sound-based powers to create an explosion.

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ One Piece manga - SBS questions: Chapter 429, Hey! Odacchi!! I conducted an investigation during my very busy summer vacation. You know how you use "Don!" or "Donnn!!" a lot, as a sound effect? So I counted the number of times "Don" was used in One Piece, through Volume 42, Chapter 409!
2. ↑ English phrase of similar meaning; "Do it with style!"