Water 7 Arc: Luffy and Usopp (Manga and Anime Comparison) [Part 1]
Spoiler alert: Don't keep reading if you haven't reached Water 7 Arc (Manga Chapter 333 or Anime Episode 236)
I've decided to start with this scene in particular because it shows a lot of changes that are absolutely core in the characters personalities in my opinion.
Please let me know your opinion about it or if you wish to add anything ^^ (and remember to have mercy on my English xD)
There is a lot to unpack, so I will be going page by page and directly comparing it with the Anime. 14 pages of manga compared to Anime.
(Manga reads from right to left, but the Anime screenshots are organized to read from left to right ^^U)
Before starting the comparison, a little reminder of what we are dealing with:
Luffy was informed by Galley-La shipwrights that the Going Merry could not sail anymore, and that he has to change ships. He strongly and emotionally refused to believe it and also refused to leave Merry behind, as it would be like leaving a companion... until Iceberg cuts the conversation short by doubting his capabilities as a Captain, and Luffy takes that comment to heart. (Manga Chapter 328)
On the other side, Usopp has been beaten twice by Franky's men, one while being robbed and another one while trying to recover the money he was robbed. He feels extremely guilty and like he can not face the others.
Luffy and the others found Usopp badly hurt, and broke Franky's Lair to the ground in the rage caused by seeing the poor Usopp hurt.
Luffy ends up deciding that leaving the Merry is the most responsible thing to do to protect the others. Then they all go back home.
Of course everyone is very emotional at this moment when Usopp finally wakes up, but they are trying to lift the spirits:
Now let's start the comparisons.
Luffy wants Usopp to not feel responsible for the decision he has to make (because he is not, obviously), and tries to treat the subject with positivity and cheer Usopp up. But it's still Luffy, and he is not the best with words, even if he never has ill intention, and he is also still emotional about it. But he is trying his best to maintain the smile.
Usopp is having probably one of the worst days of his life, and he is waking up to one big fear of him being a reality.
For the first 2 or 3 panels we get this (which already doesn't feel the same):
Then suddenly, we get the reactions of the others with absolute silence. The problem is... the Anime just chooses which reactions they have, because the Manga sure didn't show them!
Everyone looks tense or displeased.
Specially, Nami looks dissappointed with Luffy's way of treating the subject, and Chopper seems about to start crying.
In my opinion, these reactions of the rest of the crew are completely out of character for this moment.
Let's understand that they already talked about the subject and agreed with Luffy, not only because he is the Captain, but also because it's the logical thing to do.
But we are just getting started with this page.
For some reason, they decided to show Usopp making jokes about the subject, and the others just... let him talk and talk. (the reason is filler, I know)
In the Manga, Usopp tries to understand the situation as fast as possible, because it's no joke to him. He understands that something is happening or Luffy wouldn't even think about something like that. He immediately blames himself for the problem, shaking and panicking.
Also, Luffy's expression in the Anime? Why do they make him look angry at Usopp? Why would he look at his panicking dear friend with such a severe and angry look?
Finally we can go to the 2nd page:
Things start to heat up.
As you can see, all the conversation in the Manga is fast, without them stopping to look "judgingly" at one another. What the rest is doing is trying to calm them down.
Luffy hurries and tries to explain the money has nothing to do with their problem, but is getting frustrated that Usopp is pulling his tongue to say the whole truth or he won't stop blaming himself for it.
Luffy doesn't want to say out loud that Merry can't be repaired (because for him saying something out loud is making it a reality). But he also doesn't want Usopp to feel responsible when he is not, so he has to choose... and he chooses to free Usopp from guilt.
Let's remember Luffy is a very mature guy in many ways, but is also very emotional and empathetic. He feels the pain of the others and his own, and is probably overwhelmed, so he explodes.
Also, we can see how Sanji and Chopper are physically trying to stop them from escalating the situation.
Sanji holds Luffy's shoulder, not only stopping him, but also grounding him so he can calm down. Chopper tries to make Usopp sit back and rest.
You can see how they don't think any of them is wrong right now, they just want them to stop fighting and talk calmly.
Now let's look at what the Anime does with this page:
We get angry faces of Zoro and Sanji for some reason, when they are clearly not angry, just worried...
Luffy and Usopp's expressions are also way more angry and violent than what they should be.
The scene keeps escalating and none of the others is really getting in the middle...
For some reason, Usopp is disrespecting not only Luffy and his position as Captain verbally and physically, but also Choppers medical advice... completely out of character.
And then we start a really stressful and completely fabricated scene:
Usopp screaming over and over demandingly until he makes Luffy angry enough he explodes... from anger.
Luffy didn't explode from anger in the Manga. He just wanted to end the problem. He is not angry at Usopp at all, he is stressed.
And also, Usopp wouldn't do any of this to Luffy.
And we never saw Sanji and Chopper getting in the middle. Why?
3rd page:
The problem seems to have stopped. Usopp is shocked by the revelation, but seems to have calmed down.
Luffy had to recognize out loud what he didn't want to say, but he assumes the problem is going to be over. They all do.
We can still see how Sanji was trying to calm Luffy down by contact, but stops when he sees he calmed down. He is very involved in all the interaction, even if he has been silent until now.
Sanji, Nami and Chopper look shaken by how out of hand things had gone for a second (because in the Manga it is fast).
Then Usopp insists.
Zoro doesn't seem pleased that Usopp talks back again.
Going back to the Anime's adaptation:
Again, Luffy looks angry and not desperate to solve the problem they are having. He looks down on Usopp, still in a defensive position.
Actually, none of the expressions are correct. They have all gone from surprised or shaken to just frown.
Was it that difficult to respect their expressions? They fill everything else with random content, but now that they had specific panels with their expressions, they decided to not put them.
Any semblance of closeness between Sanji and Luffy is completely erased.
4th page:
Usopp starts to be clearly illogical, and he knows it. But it's not out of malice, it's just his insecurities making him talk like this.
Luffy can't understand why he won't let it go now that he has the whole information, and tries to explain the situation again, in case he didn't get it. Again: he is not mad with Usopp, he is stressed.
But Usopp is too affected by everything he experienced in that horrible day to try to be rational, and it's normal and human to do so.
In the Anime:
Again, the facial expressions are completely exaggerated in the worst way possible, or straight up wrong.
At this point I'm begging the Anime to stop making them look at each other with hate.
5th page:
They all know he is saying nonsense, and start to notice there's a lot more behind everything he is saying.
Let's remember Merry is a gift to Luffy from Kaya. Also he saw the Klabautermann of the ship and believes Merry has a soul... But not only that.
Usopp feels inadequate in the group. He feels like he's not enough for them, and is probably thinking that the ship, with which he shares so much, is receiving the treatment he "deserves" to receive.
The rest of the crew just don't seem to know how to aboard the problem.
In the Anime:
Again with the expressions and positions completely wrong.
Luffy and Zoro just look angry.
Sanji has lost his concerned look for a serious one and also gives his back to the whole situation. We can't see Nami's face. Chopper is not attending Usopp as urgently...
6th Page:
Luffy has sat down and is not discussing this as a friends quarrel anymore, he is starting to act like a Captain. He is not angry, he is firm.
He points out that what Usopp is saying is illogical, in a strong tone.
Nami (probably) is surprised by the change of tone of Luffy.
Usopp still doesn't want to listen, starting to really disrespect his Captain by giving him his back and ignoring what he says.
Sanji calls Usopp out, with his hands on his hips, clearly showing support for his Captain and disapproval of Usopp's attitude.
This is one of the first times Luffy has to put his foot down as a Captain. He usually doesn't need to. And Usopp is practically disobeying orders.
In the Anime:
Luffy's expression is completely wrong again. They keep showing him angry, not firm.
Also he is not sitting, which adds to them completely missing the change in Luffy's attitude.
The composition is also showing a weird tension, in which Usopp looks almost like a victim of a bully.
Sanji calls Usopp even softly for what we are used to hear from him, like he is trying to support him more than scold him.
And again... Luffy's expression is a complete miss.
Not only does he look like an angry child more than an adult that is discussing something serious, they also changed his nervous sweat for angry veins.
And this are all the images I can put in a post, so this will continue in Part 2 ^^
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IF YOU ARE STILL UPSET ODA DIDN’T GIVE ENOUGH TIME TO THE POST REUNION BETWEEN USOPP AND THE CREW AFTER WATER 7...
Here some fics that can supply this lack:
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY:
basically Rufy doesn’t hold grudge and it shows especially after Usopp rejoins the crew... Rufy is a ray of sunshine and Usopp can’t believe he has a friend like him
THE STORM ENDED ALREADY (SO YOU SHOULD STOP SHAKING)
The confrontation between my favorite duo in the crew: Nami is still hurt about Usopp’s choice and she isn’t afraid to say it out loud, but she still cares for him. Both of them are very IC and the last scene is perfect
LOOK AHEAD (STAND BY ME)
Usopp’s leaving made Chopper’s abandoment issues resurfaces and there are some really great quotes in it and a great introspection of both the characters
SALVAGE
Basically Franky comforts Usopp because he thinks his apology isn’t enought and they start to bond. Also, Sanji confirms to be a great observer because he realized Usopp’s feelings after his return and they have a really cute scene together (platonic or romantic, it’s up to you)
FEAR OF THE WATER:
Franky comforts Usopp, but this is more Franky-centric, focused on his feelings after he left Water 7 and his family: he also rethinks to his life choices and sees a lot of himself in the sniper
ON TOOLS AND FRIENDS:
Robin notices Usopp is acting strange after his return and decides to talk directly to him. Great underrated duo, I love the parallels between the characters in the arc
WHAT WE OWE TO EACH OTHER
The conversation we all wanted between Zoro and Usopp after he rejoins the crew. Probably one of the few fics that made me cry because there’s a lot of emotional stuff here and it’s developed in a very realistic way
NAKAMA MEANS:
probably my favorite, because it involves everyone in the crew, even if the focus is between Zoro and Usopp’s confrontation. Everyone is so IC and it could be easily the missing chapter/episode of the Water 7 arc
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