BASIC Studios

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome back to Myths & Mischief, it is I — Leslii, your resident anime interpreter— and today I wish to speak with you about the infamous Loki of Norse mythology and his, ofcourse, anime counterpart: the Accursed Prince of One Piece.

With “season 2” of the One Piece anime soon to air, featuring the long-awaited home of the warrior giant race, Elbaf, it would be perfunctory not to speak on one of, if not the most, intriguing aspects of the island: the accursed prince, Loki. Throughout the ani-manga, we’ve heard stories about the crown prince—how he was betrothed to one of the many daughters of the former Emperor of the Sea, Big Mom, before ultimately being rejected. However, upon being introduced to him properly shortly after entering Elbaf, it was an interesting experience, to say the least. Bound to the massive tree, Adam, which sits in the center of the already massive mountainscape, the blindfolded, ancient giant-blooded prince possessed an overwhelming presence. One that both met and defied expectations, given Eiichiro Oda’s notoriously dopey silhouetted drawing of him. With a name like Loki—one that holds not only immense historical significance in mythology and is widely recognized in modern-day culture thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one can easily understand why he was such an anticipated character. 

His first impression doesn’t fall short in any sense of the word. Loki’s introductory panel is already considered one of the most iconic in a story spanning over one thousand chapters and likely a million panels; the gravitas it gives off is of great magnitude. In other words, bro has aura.

Aside from the preceding reputation attached to their shared name, what do Loki of Norse Mythology and the Loki of One Piece have in common? It doesn’t take much to notice how inspired One Piece is by Norse mythology, as one of Oda’s primary inspirations in creating the enigmatic world is the old 1970’s German-Japanese cartoon, Vicky the Viking. Given that Oda is such history buff, it would be preposterous to think he hadn’t conducted his own extensive research on the subject. And though it of course is more than likely not a one-to-one representation, it is still fun to draw comparisons and contemplate the differences. 

Loki of Norse mythology, the trickster god and shapeshifter who embraces and causes chaos throughout Asgard, is one of the more intriguing figues of the pantheon. To the other deities, like Odin or Thor, he is a source of calamity and embarrassment, though he sometimes lends them his wit when needed, as he is neither wholly good nor bad.

Alas, his trickery ultimately lands him in a world of trouble following the death of Baldur, a beloved god among the Æsir, by Loki’s design. Following his escape attempt, he is captured by the other gods and bound in a cave with the entrails of one of his lesser-known sons. This incident becomes the catalyst for Ragnarök, the Norse apocalypse and downfall of the gods, and it is foretold that his eventual escape from the intestines turned chains will only hastened that destruction, as he joins the giants, in bringing about the end of the world.

Now, the accursed prince Loki of One Piece is, in essence, both similar to and distinct from his mythological counterpart. The second son of Harald, the horned king of Elbaf, with ancient giant blood running through his veins, Loki is the true-born son of the king and the crown prince of the kingdom. Even larger than his older half-brother, he towers over many of his subjects. Yet despite his vaunted lineage and status, he doesn’t fit in as one might expect. Immediately following his birth, he was abandoned by his mother, Queen Estrid, and thrown from the castle and left to fend for himself in the Underworld (a winter wasteland at the base of the Treasure Tree Adam). He was forced to climb up the tree back to the presumed safety of the Upperworld as an infant, but from then on was neglected by his mother until her death. Because of this—the absence of his father and the abuse he endured from his uncle—he gave up all hope of being loved and as a consequence, villages throughout the kingdom suffered his vengeful wrath.

Fast-forwarding many years, and skipping inciting plot points, Loki is blamed and charged with the untimely murder of his father (the beloved and earnest but naive King Harald), who’d been deceived by the World Government and its shadowy ruler, before fleeing the country to live as a pirate seeking out revenge against said government. Years later, he is captured and chained to the Adam Tree, where Luffy finds him shortly after entering Elbaf and almost immediately begins campaigning for his release, much to the chagrin of the other giants and especially his older brother, who never forgave him for their fathers death. 

That is where the parallel between them becomes undeniable. Much like Loki of traditional Norse mythology, the accursed prince is bound, feared and blamed for the resulting upheaval and distress, but rather than a god of inevitable chaos, he feels like something far more human—a product of neglect and isolation. His story doesn’t necessarily read as destiny, but as a consequence of circumstance. This makes his role in Elbaf all the more compelling—because if he is a catalyst, then it is not for destruction alone, but for change. And if, within the remaining chapters of One Piece, something like Ragnarok awaits, it will not be an end, but a reckoning.

That is regrettably all I have for you today. I hope that with the airing of “Season 2” of the One Piece anime starting April 5th, you will take notice of the parallels between this fascinating character and his Norse counterpart.

Want To Know More About This Topic? Here You Go:

Loki, The One Piece Wiki

Loki Bound – Norse Mythology For Smart People

Loki, Britannica