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Explore the intriguing world of One Piece characters with gray morality and their complex stories, like Senor Pink’s tragic tale.
One Piece is a complex series that is more than just a boy who dreams of being a Pirate King. This series has made us question time and again that marines are not always good and pirates are not always bad. We have many One Piece characters with gray morality who don’t fit well in either of those categories.
In this article, we rank the ten best morally gray characters in One Piece based on their complexity, impact, and depth.
10) Senor Pink
Senor Pink is a member of the Donquixote Pirates who plays the role of supporting antagonist during the Dressrosa Arc. Initially, he comes across as a bizarre-looking grown man who dresses up like a baby. He is unexpectedly an emotional character whom fans truly empathised with. His wife, Russian, is unaware of his occupation and lives a normal life and also has his baby, Gimlett. One unfortunate night, their kid fell ill and passed away as Pink was not available to take them to a hospital. This left his wife in a vegetative state. Despite being a villain, he did his best to make his wife smile again. His decision to wear a baby outfit stems from this same desperate desire.
This One Piece character with gray morality is a complex one because, on one aspect, he serves under Doflamingo, a cruel and ruthless warlord, and has actively taken part in countless crimes, including smuggling and violence. Despite his criminal lifestyle, he chooses to follow his set values. We got a glimpse of it when he acknowledged Franky, who refused to abandon his beliefs. Señor Pink struggles between fulfilling his duty as a member of the Donquixote Pirates and holding on to what remains of his humanity.
9) Charlotte Pudding
Pudding is the daughter of Big Mom and a member of the Charlotte Family. She is introduced as the antagonist and portrayed to be a sadistic villain who is deceiving Sanji by marrying him. She mocks Sanji’s kindness and has no issues playing with his emotions. Eventually, the story reveals that she is not inherently evil. As her feelings for Sanji developed, she found herself struggling to make a decision. It was either to continue fulfilling her family’s expectations or be free from their influence.
Her gray morality stems from her upbringing. As she has a third eye and her physical appearance is different from that of usual individuals, Pudding was bullied a lot for it. Additionally, her mother forced her to become a tool. Her character shows guilt, compassion, and internal conflict. While she has done terrible things, her struggle to break free makes her a complex character rather than a straightforward antagonist.
8) Buggy
Buggy is one of the One Piece characters with gray morality who is also a notorious and entertaining character. Originally introduced as a minor antagonist in East Blue, he has since climbed the ranks to become an Emperor of the Sea. He is shown to be egotistical and always seeks validation from others. Despite being a coward, he has been successful due to being extremely lucky. Buggy is at his best when he uses his reputation and manipulates others into following him.
Buggy is neither a hero nor a villain, as his actions are motivated by selfish reasons. While he has committed crimes, Buggy is not bloodthirsty like other villains. He even allies with Luffy during Impel Down and helps others when it benefits him. There are instances where he cares for his crew and has some moments of genuine decency.
7) Katakuri
Katakuri, one of the strongest members of the Big Mom Pirates, is a man known for his discipline and honor. As the strongest of Big Mom’s children, he carries the burden of protecting his family and ensuring the safety of his siblings. Unlike many of his siblings, he follows a strict code of honor. We see during his fight against Luffy that he showcases his complexity as he gradually comes to respect his opponent and acknowledges Luffy’s determination.
Despite being a high-ranking member of a dangerous pirate crew, Katakuri is not a traditional villain. He fights for his family but does not believe in unnecessary cruelty. His biggest moment of moral ambiguity comes when he intentionally loses his fight against Luffy after realizing his opponent is worthy of victory. This act of respect separates him from the rest of the Big Mom Pirates and shows that, while he has done terrible things for his mother he is not unjust.
6) Law
Law is a member of the Worst Generation and one of the most enigmatic figures in One Piece. Unlike Luffy, who is driven by adventure and dreams, Law’s primary motivation is revenge. Law’s ultimate goal was to take down Doflamingo, and he was willing to use any means necessary to achieve it. He aligns himself with Luffy, but their alliance is one of convenience rather than shared ideology.
Law’s morality is gray because he operates in a world where survival often demands ruthlessness. While he has done good things, such as helping the citizens of Dressrosa, he has also made morally questionable decisions, including manipulating others for his own ends. He is not afraid to kill when necessary, and his past actions suggest he is different than Luffy. While he ultimately fights against evil forces, his willingness to engage in deception, violence, and morally ambiguous tactics makes him a character who exists between hero and anti-hero.
5) Dracule Mihawk
Mihawk is the strongest swordsman in the series. Unlike other characters, he does not have any grand ambitions. Mihawk just values strength above all and has dedicated his life to refining his skills. Despite being a former Warlord of the Sea, he never liked to associate himself with the World Government, and most of his actions were his independent decisions. He has helped and fought with Straw Hat, which makes it difficult to pinpoint his exact intentions.
He is morally ambiguous; however, he does not intervene in injustices unless it piques his personal interest. During Marineford, he fought against Whitebeard Pirates but later simply chose not to take part when it no longer suited him. On the other hand, he agrees to train Zoro despite being an enemy because he appreciates his dedication. His actions suggest that he has his own sense of justice and does not follow traditional norms of good and evil.
4) Shanks
Shanks is the chief of the Red Hair Pirates. He is also one of the Four Emperors of the Sea. Also, Shanks is famously known for saving Luffy and being the inspiration for him to become a pirate. However, Shanks is connected with the World Nobles, a relationship that was hidden for the longest time. Born to the Figarland Family, he would have been a Celestial dragon had he not renounced his birthright and formed his crew.
Shanks’ gray morality comes from his willingness to bend his principles when necessary. When he got serious about obtaining the One Piece, he did not waste time and defeated Kid and his crew in an instant. This makes us question if he truly was a revolutionary hero or was biding his time waiting for the right opportunity. His willingness to engage in backdoor dealings while still maintaining a strong moral compass makes him one of the most enigmatic figures in the world of One Piece.
3) Garp
Garp is known and respected to be one of the greatest Marine officers in One Piece. He is immensely strong and is seen as a hero. He has refused to get a promotion as he wishes to maintain his freedom within the organization. However, despite being this popular, Garp finds himself in between doing his duty and his love for his family. The biggest moral conflict he faces is during the Marineford War. During this war, he stands beside Ace, his adopted grandson, and watches as he is sentenced to execution. His struggle to balance his personal values with his responsibilities makes him one of the most morally complex characters in the series.
Also, while Garp despises the Celestial Dragons, he is unable to fully oppose the corrupt system he serves. Yet he chooses to remain in the Marines and follow their order even when they contradict his personal beliefs. Garp ultimately values justice, but his loyalty to a flawed institution makes him equally responsible for its wrongdoings. He is a man who wants to do the right thing but struggles with the constraints placed upon him by his duty.
2) Sengoku
Sengoku, is the former Fleet Admiral of the Marines. He chose to retire after the Marineford War but continues to work as an Inspector General. Also, Sengoku is an extremely proud person who has a high sense of justice. It is shown that under no circumstances will he ever allow any criminal to be free. He also believed that a person’s bloodline is enough to determine that said person’s future if left unchecked. Therefore, he willingly led Ace’s execution, as it was more about him being the son of Gol. D Rogers.
Sengoku covered up the truth about the Void Century, and this allowed the Marines to continue their brutality. However, he does not like being violent. His morality was flawed because, despite his stepping down as Fleet Admiral, his continued service to the Marines suggests he still believes in the system.
1) Kizaru
Kizaru is a Marine Admiral who prefers to maintain complete indifference. When on duty completing an order given to him, he carries it out with a lazy, almost playful manner. His actions make it difficult to determine if he truly believes in justice or if he simply enjoys wielding power. This is notable when he massacred innocent civilians during the Ohara incident. But we need to note that he neither takes joy nor questions the authority; Kizaru just fulfills his duty and moves on.
When it comes to talking about his morality, he lacks any kind of conviction. He does not appear to have strong personal beliefs, making him unpredictable. When it comes to being loyal to the Marines, he will execute orders regardless of how cruel or inhumane they may be, yet he does this blank-faced. He simply follows orders because it is convenient, making him the ultimate embodiment of moral ambiguity.
Conclusion
The One Piece series is not just about heroes and villains clashing. You’ve got all these characters who do not fit into any fixed category. They’re not exactly good guys, and they’re not evil either. They’ve got their own reasons, whether it’s duty, some personal code, or just plain indifference, and it makes you think about what’s right and wrong. These unique traits honestly make them the most interesting One Piece characters with gray morality from the show.
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