One Piece is an unusual case despite being the most popular, quintessential Shonen Jump manga and anime franchise in the present. Its focus on a tightly-knit crew of pirates in search of their individual dreams including making their captain the king of the pirates, One Piece feels tailor-made for some swashbuckling romance, despite its creator’s supposed rejection of such tropes.

But even Eiichiro Oda isn’t powerful or influential enough to outdo the power of the vast fanshipping community, with One Piece’s romantic ships plentiful enough to outlast the fleet of the Marines. There are iconic ships among crewmates, of course, but some of the most oddly wholesome come from unexpected places, with these 10 romances among One Piece’s best.

10

Franky x Robin

A Fan Pairing With Plenty of Chemistry

While Oda is strictly against romance within the Straw Hats, this does not stop some of them from having ripe romantic chemistry and an excellent example of this is Franky and Robin. Of all the Robin ships in One Piece, Franky and Robin, often referred to as Frobin, is arguably the most popular among fans, and it isn’t hard to see why.

Franky and Robin have many great interactions, such as on Sabaody when Franky seemingly tries to impress Robin, calling her attractive and a super archaeologist. Franky also diligently protected Robin at Enies Lobby, even heroically shielding her from the Marines’ gunfire.

The two often pair up whenever the crew splits up to explore or fight and Oda often depicts the two together in color spreads and illustrations, leading fans to view them as an old married couple of sorts.

9

Zoro x Hiyori

A Bond Born During Hardships

Zoro and Princess Hiyori is one of the most popular ships that One Piece fans expect to become official. Even though Zoro hasn’t shown any interest in a romantic relationship, it is undeniable that Hiyori was attracted to him after he demonstrated his ability as a warrior and helped her in her time of need.

Hiyori sweetly took care of Zoro while he was gravely injured after saving her and willingly gave him the sword she had received from her father, showing her trust in him. Since she is not part of the Straw Hats, Hiyori may be the most likely match for Zoro at the end of the series.

8

Sanji x Pudding

A Classic Enemies-To-Lovers Affair

Despite Sanji and Charlotte Pudding being put in an actual arranged marriage, few, both in universe and out, actually thought there was anything in the coupling. The lack of feelings between the Pudding and Sanji was seemingly confirmed when Pudding revealed her true intentions.

In a grand plot to usurp the Vinsmoke Family, Sanji was just a pawn in the merciless hands of the Charlotte Family who was forced to go as far as to betray his crew.

Once Pudding started laughing at Sanji’s desperate confessions of love, coming during arguably the hardest time of his life (not in a prison cell), the fans were quick to turn on her. And, just as quick, they turned back when Sanji, with a sincere look of love that only he could pull, changed the fickle girl’s heart once again.

Despite seeing the two meet under unfavorable circumstances, fans now just can’t wait to see what could possibly become of a perspective romance between the two.

7

Smoker x Hina

A Bickering Yet Endearing Duo

Other than the fact that the two are Marines, there wasn’t a lot to go on early on to actually get the fans shipping Smoker and Hina. Besides crossing paths on Alabasta, Smoker and Hina just appeared as two independent badasses metting justice on their own terms.

If it weren’t for Zoro, some people might have actually shipped Smoker with Tashigi instead, and Hina would never be part of the equation. However, Oda really set fans’ minds ablaze when he released a cover page of Smoker and Hina shopping together.

What was once simply two hot-headed individuals has now become the bickering couple of the series. Though it might be a toxic type of relationship in real life, the bickering couple dynamic is quite popular with fans of shipping, meaning that Smoker and Hina went from nothing to a beloved potential romance with one cover.

6

Sai x Baby 5

A Romance That Bloomed on the Battlefield

This one really came out of nowhere in the story, especially given how little build there was initially for either Sai or Baby 5. The two met on the battlefields of Dressrosa during the Straw Hats’ altercation with Donquixote Doflamingo, and while both were initially enemies of the Straw Hats, Sai and the Happo Navy eventually turned to his side.

This would lead him to fight against Baby 5, but as per her gimmick, she quickly fell in love with him. Born into this world without love, Baby 5 has always been quick to seek romance, even in the middle of a battlefield.

While most people would accept romance anywhere else but a battlefield, Sai oddly kept an open mind and would go on to save Baby 5 from the Donquixote Family and marry her into his own.

5

Rayleigh x Shakky

An Unexpected Yet Confirmed Couple

For those who don’t keep up with supplementary materials or have seen competing translations, Rayleigh and Shakky’s relationship likely came as a shock. Though the two seem to be just close acquaintances when the Straw Hats meet them, Oda confirmed that the two are a couple, with some translations and interpretations out there claiming that the two are married.

However, there is a direct confirmation of the two’s relationship in Volume 2 of One Piece‘s Vivre Card Databooks. While not exactly an exciting reveal, it’s interesting to know just how close Rayleigh and Shakky truly are.

4

Sabo x Koala

Surprising Chemistry in the Revolutionary Army

Long before the Dressrosa Arc, Sabo and Koala were simply seen as two different individuals whose paths would never actually cross in the story. Sabo was in a state of narrative hibernation after Luffy’s backstory was revealed, and Koala’s arc was seemingly done after the Sun Pirates brought her home.

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Not only was it exciting to see her return as part of the Revolutionary Army, as well as Sabo not being dead, but fans were also ecstatic to see the two having a seemingly more-than-chummy relationship. While the pieces weren’t there initially, seeing Sabo and Koala interact on page and screen just clicks well with One Piece fans.

3

Doflamingo x Viola

A Hinted Affair That Didn’t Make the Cut

As long and detailed as One Piece might look, it’s surprising to learn that there are still plenty of details that don’t actually make the final cut of the story. One such detail is the tumultuous history between Viola and the Heavenly Demon himself, Donquixote Doflamingo. ‘

While Eiichiro Oda has given no solid details using the word “romance,” he has hinted at an “adult” relationship between Doflamingo and Viola in the SBS for Volume 83.

Unfortunately, Oda isn’t likely allowed by his supervisors to share the specifics of this particular relationship. Still, knowing that the two hooked up is an interesting detail for fans of shipping One Piece characters, especially given the popularity of the enemies-to-lovers trope.

2

Chopper x Milky

Chopper Finds the Perfect Partner on Zou

As the mascot for the franchise and one of the few anthropomorphic animals in the story, few fans of One Piece have ever actually shipped Tony Tony Chopper with anyone. However, Oda took a massive opportunity to amend this during the Zou Arc, when the Straw Hats landed on a kingdom filled with anthropomorphic animals.

While Luffy’s half of the Straw Hats were on Dressrosa, Chopper’s team was busy rescuing Zou in the aftermath of Jack’s attack. During that time, a sultry reindeer aided him as his nurse, and with little ambiguity, Chopper seems to be taken by her. Given that Chopper is a reindeer doctor and Milky is a reindeer nurse, their relationship just makes sense.

1

Luffy x Hancock

Luffy Unwittingly Charms the Stone-Hearted Empress

It’s weird to think that, at one point, no one was shipping Luffy with the empress of Amazon Lily. When Bartholomew Kuma first sent Luffy to the land of strong women, he was immediately at odds with the citizens, especially Boa Hancock.

Not only did she have an everlasting hate for all men, Luffy trespassed on her bath quarters and saw her greatest shame tattooed on her back. Spiteful, Hancock immediately tried to have him killed, setting people’s bars really low for a potential romance. Despite this, it just took Luffy’s ingenuity and kindness to not only sway her but even get Boa to fall in love with him.

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One Piece isn’t likely to turn into a romance manga anytime soon. While similar franchises like Naruto and even Dragon Ball haven’t shied away from showing relationships develop over time, that’s been much less true for One Piece.

Still, that doesn’t mean the world’s most famous pirate manga/anime franchise doesn’t have its share of romances. Love might not be the focus of One Piece, but that just makes the few hints at genuine romance there are stick with fans all the more.

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Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece: The Movie