In a story filled with ambitious characters, Monkey D. Luffy is the biggest dreamer. In fact, it’s his optimism that drives the plot of ONE PIECE. He joyfully inspires his friends and fellow Straw Hat Pirates to go after their own goals, all while sailing the East Blue and Grand Line together. 

“Luffy is definitely the driving force behind the Straw Hats,” says Iñaki Godoy on the ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line: Official Podcast. “He’s the type of guy who’s gonna make people do something even if it looks impossible. He is clumsy. He doesn’t know how to maybe get to the places he wants to get to by himself, but he knows what he wants, and he’s ready to go for it. So, I think Luffy, in the crew, he’s the compass.” 

Luffy is also a free thinker who always trusts his gut, which is constantly growling for a good meal. Because he’s experienced firsthand that not all pirates are bad, Luffy always looks for the good in people and would do anything for his friends. From a young age, he’s aspired to be a pirate himself, and ONE PIECE follows his quest to become the greatest one of all time. 

Read on to learn more about ONE PIECE’s Monkey D. Luffy.

Key info 

Name: Monkey D. Luffy
Played by: Iñaki Godoy and Colton Osorio (young Luffy)
Role: Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates 
Crew: Straw Hat Pirates
Place of origin: Windmill Village
Bounty: 30,000,000 Berry
Weapons: His rubbery body
First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “ROMANCE DAWN” (3:58)

Relationships

Grandfather: Vice Admiral Garp
Mentor: Shanks 
Friends: Mokino, Koby
Crewmates: Nami, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp

Special abilities

As a child, Luffy ate the Devil Fruit known as the Gum-Gum Fruit, which granted him the supernatural ability to stretch his body like rubber. But that extraordinary power came with a downside: The sea now zaps Luffy of all his strength. He’s also especially vulnerable to sharp weapons.

Motivation

Growing up in Windmill Village, Luffy greatly admired the pirate Shanks and repeatedly begged to join his crew, but he was always told he wasn’t ready. After Shanks saved the little boy’s life and passed down his prized possession, a straw hat, Luffy became determined to one day be a great pirate. Throughout his childhood, he continued chasing that dream, even when his grandfather, Vice Admiral Garp, tried to make him join the Marines. All these years later, Luffy is still driven by his ambition to find Gold Roger’s treasure — the One Piece — and become King of the Pirates. 

PHOTO BY CASEY CRAFFORD

Season 1

• Luffy sets out in pursuit of his dream to become King of the Pirates. After his boat sinks, he finds himself aboard Alvida’s ship and meets a boy named Koby. The two escape to Shells Town, where they encounter Zoro and Nami. With help from Nami, Luffy steals a map to the Grand Line, and then Zoro and Nami set sail with him.
• Buggy the Clown attacks Luffy’s boat — because he wants the map to the Grand Line — and imprisons Luffy in his circus. Zoro and Nami save Luffy, and the trio liberate the townspeople who Buggy is controlling.
• Arriving at Syrup Village, Luffy meets Usopp. He introduces Luffy to his well-off friend Kaya, who may be able to help get them a new ship. While at Kaya’s mansion, Luffy and the others face off against her evil butler, Klahadore — FKA Captain Kuro — who’s poisoning Kaya and attempting to steal her fortune. In his new ship, Luffy sets sail again with Zoro, Nami, and Usopp, but soon the crew battles it out with the Marines. The Marines are led by Vice Admiral Garp, who’s revealed to be Luffy’s grandfather.
• Luffy, alongside Zoro, Nami, and Usopp, stops at a floating restaurant called Baratie, where they meet Sanji. A fish-man pirate named Arlong and his crew also arrive at Baratie, looking for Luffy and the map. After losing a brawl, Luffy is in disbelief when Nami leaves with Arlong.
• In their search for Nami, Luffy and the remaining Straw Hats arrive at Coco Village. When she’s betrayed by Arlong, Nami asks Luffy for help. Together with his crew, Luffy defeats Arlong and frees Nami and her fellow Coco Village citizens from the fish-man’s rule.
• After a confrontation, Vice Admiral Garp admits he’s always known his grandson was meant to be a pirate. With a bounty of 30 million Berries, the highest in the East Blue, on his head, Luffy continues his mission to sail to the Grand Line in hopes of finding the One Piece. 

PHOTO BY CASEY CRAFFORD

Season 2

• On a stop in Loguetown for supplies, Luffy is captured by Buggy, who’s now working with Alvida. Just as he’s about to be executed in the same spot as the legendary pirate Gold Roger was years before, Luffy is luckily struck by lightning and breaks free. Laughing in the face of death just like Gold Roger before him, Luffy is now also a target for a fierce Marine named Captain Smoker. While the two fight it out on the streets of Loguetown, a mystery man with a face tattoo shows up to save Luffy.
• At the edge of the Grand Line, a whale swallows Luffy’s crew, so the captain of the Straw Hats works with a lighthouse keeper named Crocus to recover them and their ship. Luffy continues through the Grand Line, now with two captives, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday. Members of the criminal organization called Baroque Works, they had attacked Luffy’s crew inside the whale.
• Luffy doesn’t believe Miss Wednesday is a threat, so he allows her to escape as the Going Merry approaches Whisky Peak. On this first island of the Grand Line, Luffy meets Mayor Igaram, who insists all the inhabitants of Whisky Peak love pirates. Eventually, Luffy discovers that the island is occupied by Baroque Works, who go after the Straw Hats. He also finds out Igaram and Miss Wednesday are actually working undercover against Baroque Works. As he and his crew escape Whisky Peak, Luffy promises a wounded Igaram, who turns out to be captain of the Alabasta Royal Guard, that he’ll deliver Miss Wednesday home safely. Her true identity is Nefertari Vivi, princess of Alabasta.
• As Luffy and his crew explore Little Garden, Miss Valentine, Mr. 5, and two other members of Baroque Works — Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek — track them down. Miss Goldenweek puts Luffy in a trance, zapping him of all hope. After being rescued by Usopp, the captain of the Straw Hats battles Mr. 3. The crew gets back on the high seas, and Luffy tells Nami to set course for Alabasta.
• After Nami unexpectedly falls ill, the Straws stop at the nearby Drum Island. Luffy and Sanji take their ailing friend up a snowy mountain to seek medical attention from Dr. Kureha, who’s taken up residence in the abandoned Drum Castle. While there, Luffy meets Tony Tony Chopper, a blue-nosed reindeer-boy who’s training to become a doctor. 
• When the tyrant King Wapol returns to Drum Island to reclaim his throne, Vivi joins Luffy and the others in Drum Castle. Wapol follows, and Luffy defeats him with help from Vivi, Sanji, and Tony Tony Chopper. With Drum Island saved, Luffy invites the reindeer-boy to join the Straw Hat Pirates, and they set sail for Alabasta with a plan to help Vivi take down Baroque Works.

Watch the ONE PIECE Season 2 Trailer