A sketch of Buggy's crew showing Zoro as a crew member.
Originally, Zoro was planned by Eiichiro Oda to be the bodyguard of Buggy. A picture of an incarnation of him in Buggy's crew was then later released in Volume 3 along with another picture of Buggy's crew. Oda described Buggy's crew as a family unit, in which Zoro was the elder brother.
Zoro has occasionally appeared wearing glasses in some of the color illustrations by Oda and in the 11th opening of the anime.
Adaptation Differences[]
Anime Differences[]
Zoro's Past[]
Zoro's past was expanded upon in the anime. Zoro was a traveler who went around defeating dojos for their signs. However, there was one person Zoro could not beat - the sensei's daughter, Shimotsuki Kuina. In the anime she is the reason he joins her father's dojo in the first place. Kuina's father made a deal that if he could defeat her Zoro would take the sign. If not, Zoro would have to train under him. When given the opportunity to use as many swords as he wanted, he grabbed as many as he could carry and faced off against Kuina. He lost and was told he had to start with one sword before he could use more. As per the consequences of his loss, he trained at the dojo as promised.
In the manga, Zoro enters to see her dead body, eyes covered and surrounded by the students and accuses her of running away, in the anime no such scene is shown, but a funeral takes place for her instead, though later on in the Ocean's Dream Arc in the anime, the original manga scene is shown in a flashback.
His story is also extended in the anime by showing the time he first met and befriended Johnny and Yosaku. They cash in when Zoro takes out a large bounty and, given they pay his tab at the bar he was at for his food, can keep the rest of the money for themselves as an apology for taking their 'head'. Later, Dick appears in the town with his horde of bandits, who proceed to loot the town. Johnny and Yosaku watch as a child tries to stop the thief to no avail. Johnny convinces Yosaku that they must stop him, to which Yosaku reluctantly agrees. The two are no match for Dick, but luckily Zoro comes to claim the bounty on Dick's head to pay for a katana that he broke. After a complete victory by Zoro, Johnny and Yosaku look up to Zoro and start to call him "Aniki" ('big bro' in the English dub).
Straw Hat Separation[]
Perona snuggling against Zoro after dressing him as Kumashi.
Not only did Perona refuse to give Zoro his swords back, but she also tried to turn Zoro into her servant by using her Devil Fruit powers. She got as far as managing to dress Zoro like her former subordinate, Kumashi (covered in bandages), while he had passed out before he woke up and left the room in search of his swords. In the anime, Zoro's training will begin by defeating the leader of the humandrills who copied the swordsmanship of Dracule Mihawk.
Running Gags[]
In most fillers, his lack of sense of direction is further ridiculed as he has gone in the wrong direction even though his guide was still pointing in the correct way, and even turning to the right on a straight path.
Starting with Episode 111, Zoro has been called marimo (moss-head in the English dub (kelp-head in Movie 8)) by Sanji and similar names in reference to his oddly colored green hair.
Wano Country Arc[]
At the beginning of the Wano Country Arc, the manga first showed Zoro at the magistrate's home where he cut down the magistrate. The anime expands on Zoro's encounter with the magistrate. One night after drinking alcohol, Zoro ran into the culprit of the street murders before he was falsely arrested by the law enforcement. After striking down the magistrate, the anime also shows him fighting the magistrate's men. When he retrieves his swords, Zoro destroys the magistrate's home.[20][21]
Live-Action Differences[]
In the live-action series, Zoro is definitively the First Mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, recognized as such by Luffy, Nami, and himself. In the manga, while some characters believe him to be the First Mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, he is officially the Swordsman.
Zoro received Wado Ichimonji during Kuina's funeral instead of after.
Zoro's fight with Mr. 7 is shown. He cuts the agent in half and brings his corpse to Shells Town.
Zoro challenges Dracule Mihawk at the Baratie much earlier than in the manga. The duel takes place the day after Zoro issued the challenge instead of immediately after.
Zoro makes a cameo appearance in the anime, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei: during Meru's introduction, Harumi is seen reading a yaoi manga featuring Sanji and Zoro. Also, in her room, we can see action figures of Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Sogeking.
In an episode of Kuroko no Basuke, an old man that is mopping the floor of the bathroom was dressed like Zoro.[citation needed]
In episode 5 of the webtoon anime adaptation Tower of God, one of the characters is dressed like Zoro before the timeskip.
References in Popular Culture[]
The Simpsons incarnating manga/anime characters, with Homer as Zoro.
In The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror XXV", several other incarnations from other franchises of the family are shown, each one with a respective theme. In the manga and anime theme, each of the family members was depicted as a specific manga/anime character, Homer is seen as Zoro, complete with green hair, three katana, and Zoro's post-timeskip outfit.
In an episode of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, in Harumi's room, we can see action figures of Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Sogeking.
Most of Zoro's attacks are puns and some also have religious connections. One of Zoro's more common attacks, Oni Giri (Demon Slash), is a pun on the Japanese word onigiri (rice ball) (this being the food he was offered upon being first introduced into the series). Another common attack, the 36/72/108 Pondo Hou, is a reference to the 36 passions of Buddhism. Another one of Zoro's powers, Ashura, also borrows from a religion by taking its name from a group of Hindu demons. This is a bit ironic considering that Zoro is a stated apatheist, and Nami and Chopper have both claimed that Zoro is more arrogant than the self-proclaimed "god" Enel.[23]
In the 4Kids English dub of One Piece, Zoro is referred to as "Zolo", however when Funimation picked up the series, they reverted his name back to "Zoro", only keeping "Zolo" for the broadcast Skypiea episodes for consistency. Originally, the English version of the manga by VIZ spelled his name as "Roronoa Zoro", but it was changed to "Zolo" in chapter 50. It is possible that this name change was either a result of trademark issues with Zorro - who shares a similar name - or to maintain similarities to the 4Kids dub. In the book The Anime Encyclopedia - A guide to Japanese animation since 1917 (2001), Zoro's name was spelled "Zorro" in the One Piece entry.[24] Such cases as this have been common in many translations across the world, mostly because of the similarity between the two names. To date, however, this has yet to raise concerns over copyright between the two characters. However, in the second 2011 volume of the U.S. Shonen Jump magazine, Zoro's name was changed back to "Zoro".[citation needed] This is the first time VIZ has called the character this since its first printings of chapter 50. It was changed back to "Zolo" in the following issues, however.
In Japanese promotions and in some artwork, the character is often referred to as "Zoro" but is also spelled "Zolo" in a few cases, mostly in promotions.[citation needed] However, there are fans that claim that "Zoro" was the creator's intended spelling, since it is almost always spelled that way in art, and it is supposed to be based off the aforementioned character "Zorro". However, the appearance of "Zolo" in Japan can be explained without relating it to 4Kids or copyright laws due to interchangeable L and R sounds. Other characters who have displayed this problem include Franky (Flanky) and Robin (Lobin). In the end, in noted cases English speaking fans may choose to specifically refer to the dub version of Zoro as "Zolo", while referring to the original version as "Zoro".
In the English dub by 4Kids, Kuina's death was removed. Instead, she was rewritten to have been seriously injured by a group from a nearby town, leaving her unable to fight; a situation which, ironically, is more violent than the original. Zoro's commitment, therefore, is to continue fighting for her sake, instead of in honor of her death. During the Drum Island Arc in the 4Kids dub, when the ankle scars, he obtained during his fight with Mr. 3 were exposed, they were rewritten to have been gained from a bear trap since the Straw Hats never visited Little Garden in that version.
Errors and Corrections[]
The first bounty in episode 130.
The first bounty in episode 152.
Zoro's scar as seen in chapter 598 first published on JUMP.
Zoro with Luffy's scar in the Shonen Jump print of chapter 698
Zoro with the correct scar in the volume 70.
Zoro has quite a few art errors during the serialization in the chapters. They have been corrected in their respective volumes.
In Jump's edition of Chapter 598, he was shown to have a scar on his right eye, but in the next chapter, it is moved to his left eye. Oda wrote in 599 that the right eye scar was an error, and that the one with the scar on the left eye is the correct one. The error was corrected in volume 61.
In the last panel of page 16 of Chapter 698, Zoro is seen with the wrong scar on his chest. Instead of the thin diagonal line given by Dracule Mihawk, he had the thick cross Monkey D. Luffy got from Akainu. This was corrected in Volume 70.
On the cover art of Chapter 699, Zoro is seen missing the scar on his left eye. This was corrected in Volume 70.
In the anime, Zoro's wanted poster did not include Usopp's shadow the first time that the bounty was issued, but this was later corrected in Episode 152. When the second bounty was issued Usopp's shadow was inexplicably omitted again.
On the cover of Chapter 77, a chicken is seen holding a newspaper that says "Wanted, Roronoa Zoro, 1,000,000". This bounty is not canon however, because the covers do not relate to the main series (unless it is a cover story).
In Chapter 599, Zoro's Shusui was shown with a different saya strongly resembling that of Law's nodachi. Although Oda did not write anything about it, it could be taken as a mistake as Zoro is then seen holding Shusui with its traditional sheath with no comments about the change. This error is fixed in the anime chapter that adapts this scene from the manga.
The original Shonen Jump magazine printing of Chapter 1058 erroneously wrote Zoro's bounty as 1,100,001,100. Oda's staff informed the official translations of the error before the chapter was published, so the number was written correctly as 1,111,000,000 in the VIZ release. Additionally, Oda's staff posted about the error on Twitter.[25]
Trivia[]
Zoro's personal jolly roger.
Zoro's personal jolly roger (pre-timeskip) as detailed in the One Piece Magazine.
Zoro's post timeskip jolly roger.
Zoro's personal jolly roger (post-timeskip) as detailed in the One Piece Magazine.
Zoro has his own jolly roger, like all the Straw Hat crew. It features Zoro's bandana, two swords instead of crossbones, and a sword in its mouth (the white hilt suggests that it is Wado Ichimonji, which is always the one that Zoro holds in his mouth when using Three Sword Style).
After the timeskip, the skull gains Zoro's three earrings and the left eye is closed with a vertical scar over it to match Zoro's own eye. The swords that make up the crossbones are more detailed: the blade pointing towards the right is dark, suggesting that it is Shusui while the other is Sandai Kitetsu.
Another jolly roger is seen on his armor in the cover of Chapter 699. This jolly roger is a regular skull with three swords crossing behind it.
Zoro is the only member of the crew that Luffy personally sought out to invite before they actually met.
It was revealed in an interview with Oda and Rurouni Kenshin author Nobuhiro Watsuki, whom Oda worked for as an assistant before starting One Piece, that Oda intended to make Zoro a one-eyed character very shortly after starting One Piece, around a decade before Zoro would go on to lose his left eye.[26]
Zoro is the first known person since Shimotsuki Ryuma to kill a dragon, an act which made the latter a legend. Both of them also killed the dragon the same way, by decapitation in the air.
Zoro would later repeat this feat in the fight against King, this time decapitating a fiery construct of a dragon.
Despite not killing the latter, Zoro also fought against Kaidou, who is able to turn into a dragon thanks to the powers of the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu, and came close to striking him in midair, but missed and instead ended up cutting off one of the horns of the Skull Dome of Onigashima.
Zoro is the first known person in two decades since Kozuki Oden to permanently scar the Emperor Kaidou with his swords, a feat Kaidou himself was shocked by.
Additionally, both swordsmen achieved this feat with the same sword, Enma.
Zoro shares some things with the other members of the Worst Generation:
He and Killer are the only known members who are subordinates (with a lack of an apparent position in their crew) rather than a captain, they are both swordsmen, and they are the only ones who do not have a Devil Fruit power (although Killer has the weaknesses of a user after eating a defective SMILE).
As a result, Zoro is the only member of the Worst Generation not to have a Devil Fruit at all.
Zoro's reintroduction to the series after the timeskip is reminiscent of how Dracule Mihawk was introduced. Both sliced a galleon in two and both seemingly did so due to an interrupted nap.
Zoro is tied with Sanji for having the most English dub voice actors out of all the Straw Hats (3 as an adult, 4 as a child in Zoro's case).
In Japanese fan polls, Zoro was consistently the second most popular character, until his position was usurped by Trafalgar Law in the fifth poll, but he reclaimed it in the sixth poll. Furthermore, in the attack popularity polls his Santoryu Ogi: Sanzen Sekai came in 2nd.
Prior to Zoro's first official bounty of 60,000,000 at the end of the Arabasta Arc, a newspaper on the cover page of Chapter 77 listed him as "wanted" with a bounty of 1,000,001. However, this is not considered canon due to being part of the Animal Theater rather than a Cover Story.
Zoro has the highest known starting bounty for a native of the East Blue with a 60,000,000 bounty, surpassing Luffy's initial bounty of 30,000,000. This does not count Sanji (77,000,000), however, since he is technically from the North Blue.
Zoro's desire in earning the epithet, Jigoku no Ō (地獄の王?) mirrors Silvers Rayleigh's own epithet, Meiō (冥王?), both referencing an abode of the dead, Hell and the Underworld respectively.
Zoro has several connections to the number 11.
In dice gambling, "Zoro-me" is an expression that means "to roll double ones", that is, getting snake eyes.
Zoro was born on November 11th, or 11/11.
Zoro's current bounty is of 1,111,000,000.
SBS-Based Trivia[]
Zoro's surname, Roronoa, is the Japanese pronunciation of real-life 17th century French pirate François l'Olonnais.[27]
Because of this, Zoro is the only member of the Straw Hat Pirates to be named after a real-life pirate.
Oda has hinted that one of the reasons why Zoro uses sushi-based puns in his Nigiri attacks are because he has never tried sushi and has some sort of fascination with it. However, this can be considered one of Oda's SBS jokes.[28]
A reader asked Oda if Shimotsuki Ushimaru is Zoro's father, and Oda answered no. Although he has frequently noted the similarities in appearance between Zoro and Ushimaru.[29]
Zoro's family tree was later revealed by Oda and in there was confirmed that Ushimaru was Zoro's great-uncle rather than father and that the similarities came due to them looking alike, as Ushimaru was the brother of Zoro's grandmother.[3]
A nod to their relationship is alluded to in the English dub, with Sabat voicing the two characters.
Zoro's favorite foods are white rice, Sea Beast meat, and stuff that goes with sake.[31] Also, his favorite food from Wano Country is sushi.[32] His least favorite food is chocolate because it is too sweet.[33]
He shares his like of one kind of meat with Luffy.
If the Straw Hat Pirates were a family, then Zoro would be the eldest son.[42]
Zoro's animal resemblance is a shark,[43] and the cover of Chapter 3 (in which he was introduced) shows a picture of Luffy riding on the back of a shark.
However, in Chapter 651 when all the Straw Hat Pirates were represented as animals, Zoro was shown as a tiger and he was turned into a tiger in the video game, Chopper's Big Adventure. He had dragon-based attire in the video game, Unlimited Cruise.
If One Piece was set in the real world, then Zoro would be from Japan.[44]
Zoro's thoughts are "Sword, Sword, Strength, Train, Sleep", and like the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates, "Friendship".[45]
When another fan later asked Oda what flowers he thought best represented the members of the Worst Generation, Oda gave an alternate answer for Zoro: Wisteria.[47]
Zoro bathes once a week, the same as Luffy and Brook.[48]
Trafalgar D. Water Law calls Zoro according to his name, Zoro-ya.[49]
Other than taking naps, Zoro typically sleeps at 4:00 A.M. and gets up at 7:00 A.M.[50]
If the Straw Hat Pirates were not pirates, then Zoro would be a police officer.[51]
Zoro's hobbies are conduct training and drinking alcohol.[52]
If the Straw Hat Pirates had a 50-meter race, then Zoro would come in fifth place. Oda clarifies that Zoro would be ranked higher in a shorter distance race, but Zoro would get lost in a longer race.[53]
When Sanji is in his raid suit, Zoro calls him "Idiot".[54]
If Zoro were to be given a Devil Fruit, he would have the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu, albeit "consumed" by one of his swords.[55]
Zoro in two separate timelines.
In SBS 91, Oda showed Zoro's possible appearances at ages 40 and 60 in two separate timelines.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 3 (p. 1) and Episode 2, Both Zoro's epithet is seen in the title of the chapter and he is mentioned and recognized by Koby as the Pirate Hunter.
↑SBSOne Piece Manga — Vol. 4 (p. 28), Zoro's age is revealed.
1,100,001,100. Oda's staff informed the official translations of the error before the chapter was published, so the number was written correctly as 
