Summary
Monkey D Luffy wants to become the Pirate King and to do so, he needs a crew. As Luffy travels through the seas inOne Piece, he bumps into honest people whom he believes have what it takes to be part of his journey.
As of writing, there are nine members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Each crew member has their own storyline in different arcs. Luffy usually recruits people into the Straw Hat Pirates who have a purpose, a dream that they are striving for as much as his dream to become the Pirate King.
- SPOILERS for each Arc a crew member joined in -
9Roronoa Zoro
Before joining the crew, Roronoa Zoro was famously known in the world of One Piece as a famous pirate hunter and bounty hunter. Zoro is introduced in the anime as early as Episode 2 and in the manga in Chapter 3. His dream is to become the best swordsman in the world to make it up to an old friend.
Romance Dawn Arc: Episode 2-3
In episode 2, Zoro was being held hostage by the marines because he killed a marines dog in order to save a little girl. Before even setting foot on the island where Luffy would meet Zoro, Luffy decided to recruit him because of his reputation as a trained killer.
Zoro officially joins Luffy in Episode 3, where Luffy only agrees to hand him his swords if he joins his crew. Zoro agrees to the conditions without argument.
8Nami
Nami is the second crew member to join the gang. She is first introduced in Episode 4 or Chapter 8, but doesn’t agree to join Luffy until Episode 8. Even during Episode 8 and onward, Nami does not intend to be pirates with Luffy but rather to work together temporarily. She leaves them in Episode 24 and then rejoins in Episode 44.
Orange Town Arc: Episode 25-44
Nami follows the crew to the Baratie Arc, where they find Sanji. During this arc, Nami decides to leave them. Without knowing why, the crew follows her. It’s gradually introduced that Nami works for an evil fish pirate crew against her will.
The Arlong Pirates made a false promise to give Nami her town back if she gathered enough money. Nami stops trying to tough it out alone and finally asks Luffy for help in Episode 38. After defeating Arlong in Episode 43, Luffy declares Nami part of his crew whether she likes it or not.
7Usopp
Usopp is the third Straw Hat crew member, in order of initiation. Usopp is first introduced in Episode 9 of the anime and Chapter 28 of the manga. Usopp is known as his town’s boy who cries wolf. Usopp dreams of becoming a pirate captain and plays games with kids in town about having to fight invaders. When, one day, it came true.
Syrup Village Arc: Episode 9-17
In Episode 9, Usopp tries to warn his town of feline pirates planning to attack the town and attack Kaya, a personal friend of his. The town never believes him. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami inevitably help Usopp take down the Black Cat Pirates in question.
The official recruitment happens after Usopp shows he will defend an innocent (Kaya) and stand his ground even when the odds are against him. As they part ways in Episode 17, Zoro and Luffy tell Usopp to hurry up and get on the ship.
6Sanji
Sanji is introduced when the gang follows a delicious scent to the restaurant island known as Baratie. Sanji has worked as a cook in a floating restaurant since his boss took him in as a kid. This all begins in Episode 20.
Baratie: Episode 20-30
Sanji is introduced as a womanizing cook and waiter on Baratie in Episode 20. Luffy was forced to work as kitchen help as payment for damaging Baratie’s roof, forcing the crew to get comfortable. Pirates attack Baratie, forcing the owner, Luffy’s crew, and Sanji to defend the restaurant.
Luffy saw Baratie as worth protecting because of Zeff and Sanji’s character. Zeff asks Luffy to recruit Sanji, but Luffy will only allow it if Sanji agrees himself. Sanji ends up agreeing to join the crew since they are all trying to chase their dream of something big.
5Tony Tony Chopper
Better known as Chopper, the most adorable Straw Hat crew member appears on an island covered in snow. The crew is looking for a doctor to help a sick Nami during this time. Chopper is first seen in Episode 81 of the anime and Chapter 134 of the manga. Chopper is known as the medic.
Drum Island Arc: Episode 79-90
Luffy and Sanji injured themselves trying to get Nami to the only available doctor. Chopper is that doctor’s assistant. In this arc, Luffy, Sanji, and Nami spend their time in the doctor’s castle. Luffy and Sanji spend the arc chasing after Chopper out of pure hunger for meat.
Nami initially asks Chopper to be their official doctor in Episode 84, but Chopper doesn’t believe Nami is serious and doesn’t find himself deserving. Chopper does not trust humans because they have bullied and outcasted him for being a strange humanoid animal hybrid.
Once the castle gets threatened by bad guys, the gang comes together to help the doctor and Chopper defends the place. Luffy takes things personally in Episode 87, when Wapol destroys something close to Chopper.
In Episode 90, Chopper refuses to believe humans (Straw Hat Pirates) actually want to accept him. Luffy tells Chopper to shut up and join already, causing Chopper to get emotional.
4Nico Robin
Nico Robin is the one crew member who appeared as a stowaway and kind of forced her way into the Straw Hat Pirates. She is first introduced as the villain Miss All-Sunday in Episode 67 in the anime and Chapter 114 in the manga.
Before working with Crocodile, she was known as a child who sunk six marine warships on her own. Robin was working with Crocodile against her wishes, all to fulfill her dream of finding an item that holds all the history of the world.
Arabasta Arc : Episode 93-130
In Episode 123, Crocodile and Robin turn on each other. Luffy realizes she isn’t evil when she slips him the antidote to Crocodile’s poison. When Robin’s dream seemed to shatter before her, she became suicidal and demanded to be left alone under collapsing bricks. Luffy recognized her anguish and saved Robin from the rubble.
As the Straw Hat Pirates officially left Arabasta in Episode 130, Robin appears onboard to everyone’s dismay. Robin claimed that, because she didn’t want to live, yet Luffy saved her by force, Luffy now must bring her along because she has nowhere else to go. Luffy accepted.
3Franky
The arcs where Franky is present are some of the most important arcs in One Piece’s story. Tons of huge events happen with the Straw Hat Pirates here. Franky is first introduced as a villain with a mask on in Episode 233 in the anime and Chapter 329 in the manga.
In Water 7, Franky had his own crew (Franky Family) and was hostile towards the Straw Hat Pirates. Franky Family normally attacked pirates. Franky is known for being a cyborg who knows his way around dismantling and modifying ships.
Water 7: Episode 233-255
Franky goes head-to-head with Luffy in Water 7 during Episode 238 as the crew fights other enemies. Franky begins to trust the crew when the kidnapped Usopp stops at nothing to try to fix his doomed ship (Going Merry). They find they have a common enemy, the marines.
Franky gets arrested by marines in Episode 250. Because of this, Franky’s crew requests to join Luffy (Episode 255) in assaulting the government prison and rescuing Franky and Robin.
Enies Lobby Arc: Episode 264-311
Franky does not officially join Luffy and friends until after the Enies Lobby Arc. Franky and friends help Luffy defeat the marines and protect Robin throughout this arc. The crew goes back to Water 7 in Episode 313, where Franky offers to build the Straw Hat’s a new ship.
After everything Luffy and Franky have been through, the crew parts from Water 7 in Episode 322. During this time, Luffy tells Franky to get on board his ship without a fight.
2Brook
There is a part of the ocean for everything. Including all things spooky, scary, and skeleton. Brook was first found in a well-known, haunted part of the sea. The Straw Hat Pirates sailed right past his haunted ship and feared for their life.
Brook is first introduced in Episode 337 of the anime and Chapter 442 of the manga. He is known as the musician of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Thriller Bark Arc: Episode 337-381
Luffy wanted to get on Brook’s ship out of sheer curiosity, but everyone else was terrified. Luffy recruited Brook in the same episode he was first introduced in, simply for being a funny, talking skeleton. The crew spends the next couple of episodes listening to Brook’s story. He does not yet accept the invitation.
Brook used to be part of his own pirate crew, the Rumbar Pirates. They were all killed by poisoning by an opposing crew. Brook had consumed the Yomi Yomi no Mi devil fruit which grants resurrection. It took his soul so long to find his body that his body was nothing but a skeleton.
The crew ends up trapped in Thriller Bark and has to survive, escape, and help Brook get his stolen shadow back and reunite him with Laboon. Laboon is a huge whale that the Straw Hat Pirates met and who is a dear friend of Brook’s.
After the Straw Hates help Brook get his shadow back and defeat the enemies at Thriller Bark, Brook pledges his allegiance to Luffy in Episode 381.
1Jinbe
Jinbe is the most recent addition to the Straw Hat Pirates, but he has been around for a long while. Jinbe is first introduced in Episode 430 of the anime and Chapter 528 of the manga. Jinbe was one of the Seven Warlords, hence his imprisonment for not obeying Marine orders.
He is a fishman who specializes in karate and had multiple appearances before officially joining.
Impel Down/Marineford Arc: Episode 422-489
Jinbe was imprisoned in the same cell Ace was in during the breakout at Impel Down. Naturally, because Luffy and friends were trying to rescue Ace, Jinbe joined forces with them for a time. This is where their relationship sprouted.
After the events at Marineford, Jinbe returns to Fish-Man Island for unfinished business, only to find his hometown in trouble due to more evil pirates.
Fish-Man Island: Episode 526-573
Jinbe uses the help of the Straw Hat Pirates to put an end to the Fish-Man Pirates, a group of pirates who praise Arlong’s work. After the defeat of the Fish-Man Pirates in Episode 568, Luffy is in critical condition and will die without a blood transfusion.
Jinbe offers his blood to Luffy. When Luffy wakes up, he asks Jinbe to join the Straw Hates. Jinbe refuses as he wants to stay and protect the Fish-Man kingdom.
Whole Cake Island Arc: Episode 783-877
During the Straw Hat’s time at Whole Cake Island, Jinbe and his team decided to cut ties with Big Mom and join the Straw Hats. At the very end of the events during this arc, Jinbe appears out of nowhere, aiding the crew in battle. He emerges with a team of fishmen and declares himself a member of the Straw Hat Pirates in Episode 876.
Despite verbally stating that Luffy is his captain, Jinbe tends to go off and do his own thing and Luffy respects his wishes. They always try to meet up eventually.
