Even in the event you haven’t been an ardent One Piece fan for over 25 years, you might need change into intrigued by one explicit character due to his lovable Chibi look: Tony Tony Chopper. The worldwide phenomenon manga and anime collection is usually a daunting process to get into, given the sheer quantity of pages and episodes, however Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s epic has opened up his pirate world to wider audiences. And after Chopper’s live-action hybrid animation reveal at Tudum final weekend, his reputation will little doubt skyrocket based mostly on the cuteness teased via Mikaela Hoover’s immediately endearing efficiency.
Don’t be fooled, although; this future member of the Straw Hat Crew is greater than an lovable pet mascot medic, he’s one among their best fighters and fiercest associates.
Right here’s a fast primer on simply who Chopper is forward of One Piece season two’s premiere in 2026 on Netflix.
Who’s Tony Tony Chopper?
Chopper was an outcast reindeer with a blue nostril who ate the Human-Human Fruit, which turned him right into a reindeer-human hybrid. This Satan Fruit bestowed him with consciousness, a excessive degree of intelligence, and the flexibility to choose up on human languages. After he consumed the fruit, Chopper was totally rejected by his herd, quite a bit like Rudolph the Crimson-Nosed Reindeer, besides if he had immediately mutated and will get actual jacked.
The place did Chopper come from?
Alone within the wilderness of Drum, Chopper ultimately crosses paths with the mad scientist Dr. Hiriluk, who’s intrigued by his transformation and asks Chopper to be his assistant. Actor Mark Harelik (Preacher), who was solid because the wild-haired physician for the Netflix collection, described Tony Tony Chopper’ first pal on Instagram as stuffed with “ardour and persistence” and teased that possibly the physician shouldn’t be “so desperate to strive untested experiments” on his sufferers.
This little bit of foreshadowing echoes his grim destiny, which propels Chopper to be taught extra about drugs beneath Dr. Kureha when she takes him in. Katey Sagal (Futurama) performs Kureha, the One Piece favourite who would go on to show Chopper every part she is aware of. The team-up between Kureha and Chopper is one thing we’re actually trying ahead to in season two.
How does Chopper meet the Straw Hat Crew?
Nami falls sick close to the Drum Kingdom, and Luffy and the crew hunt down assist in the frozen expanse. Fortunately, they meet Dr. Kureha and Chopper. In change for serving to treatment the Straw Hat’s navigator, the crew assists in liberating Drum Kingdom from its tyrannical ruler. Chopper is reluctant to hitch the Straw Hats however after being snatched by the Cunning Pirate Crew as a member in opposition to his will, Luffy liberates him from that by profitable a battle in opposition to them.
He then offers Chopper the selection to hitch the Straw Hats of his personal free will—and ultimately, after numerous his trademark reluctance at being perceived, he offers in. Very like the preview we noticed on Tudum, Chopper has his quirks, like hiding the unsuitable manner or breaking out right into a dance when complimented, one thing he will get visibly ornery over (however secretly loves). We are able to’t wait to see him visibly wrestle to cover his pleasure when he lastly finds a household with the Straw Hats.
What are Chopper’s powers?
Along with his intelligence, Chopper turns into bi-pedal and stays within the type of a cute pet for probably the most half. Nevertheless, he can evolve into three kinds (sort of like Pokémon evolutions) and may return to the one among his selecting, which occurs to trigger numerous cuteness aggression. The opposite kinds come in useful when the Straw Hats are in battle. Chopper makes use of “Stroll Level,” which heightens his reindeer agility and animalistic senses; “Mind Level,” which is the humanoid pet kind he stays in with an enormous head for the smarts it grants together with a small physique; and “Heavy Level,” which is when he seems like a jacked human with reindeer options that helps him beat the crap out of enemies. With using a drug referred to as the “Rumble Ball,” which seems like a yellow gum ball, Chopper can entry much more transformation factors and turns into an uncontrollable monster if he’s not too cautious.
What’s Chopper’s dream?
Luffy’s tendency to recruit Straw Hats at all times comes right down to their desires and Chopper’s is without doubt one of the sweetest ones. After dropping Dr. Hiriluk and seeing dying unfold in ways in which existentially modifications him, Chopper’s dream is to treatment the world of all ailments. It makes him excellent for the Straw Hat Crew as their physician on board and trusty secret weapon in battle.
One Piece season two will probably be launched someday in 2026 on Netflix.
Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every part you’ll want to find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.
