Monsters brings back One Piece’s Zoro in the most uncanny way

Monsters anime is currently streaming, and it brings back One Piece’s Zoro in a way you wouldn’t expect.

The new Monsters anime is a canon side story from One Piece that follows the events from 400 years ago when Ryuma made history by slaying a dragon. Titled “Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation,” it is an original net animation that aired this January.

Directed by Sunghoo Park, the anime adaptation is all set for its grand premiere on January 21. The studio behind the anime, E&H Production, was established by Director Park. The 25-minute-long episode is currently streaming on Netflix.

However, even though the Monsters anime follows the story from centuries ago, One Piece fans will find traces of their beloved character, Roronoa Zoro. Warning: this article contains spoilers from the canon story, One Piece!

How did Monsters anime include Zoro in the narrative?

Netflix

The narrators in both Japanese (Kazuya Nakai) and English versions (Christopher Sabat) are Zoro’s voice actors. Additionally, the episode also includes a post-credit scene featuring the iconic scene of Ryuma handing over his Shusui to Zoro in Thriller Bark. The Monsters one-shot came out before the official release of the manga. Hence, the Thriller Bark scene wasn’t in the chapter.

If you think that Shimotsuki Ryuma and Zoro having similar appearances is a coincidence, then you’re wrong. Zoro grew up in Shimotsuki village, a small village in the East Blue. It was named after Shimotsuki Kozaburo, a member of the Shimotsuki Family from Wano Country.

Zoro’s father, Roronoa Arashi, is the son of Shimotsuki Furiko and Roronoa Pinzoro. Furiko is Ryuma’s direct descendant, making the latter Zoro’s ancestor as well. The Shimotsuki family was one of the most renowned and powerful families in Wano before Kaido and Orochi took over the country.

Shimotsuki Yasui, was serving as the daimyo of Hakumai back then. To avoid persecution, he had to hide in Ebisu Town and ultimately died at the hands of Orochi to help the Straw Hats and Oden’s retainers.

Monsters is currently streaming on Netflix. The official synopsis reads: “A samurai’s path leads him to a waitress whose hometown was destroyed by a dragon. He doesn’t want any trouble – but it finds them anyway.”