A blue-nosed reindeer-boy hybrid, Tony Tony Chopper is as smart as he is cute. He’s also fiercely loyal, loves compliments (even if he doesn’t want you to know it), and — in addition to his large red top hat — wears his big heart on his sleeve. Don’t let his sweet face and desire to help others fool you. Chopper is a lot tougher than he looks. When his friends are in trouble, he can summon surprising strength. Named after the Japanese word for reindeer, tonakai, and because his antlers look like they could chop down trees, please call him Tony Tony Chopper. Or simply Chopper. Whatever you do, just don’t call him a raccoon! 

Read on to learn more about ONE PIECE’s beloved Tony Tony Chopper.

Key info

Name: Tony Tony Chopper
Played by: Mikaela Hoover (voice and facial capture)
On-set capture: N’kone Mametja (Hybrid Chopper, on-set proxy), Gavin Gomes (Heavy Point Chopper, suit performer)
Crew: Straw Hat Pirates
Role: Doctor
Place of origin: Drum Island
First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 6, “Nami Deerest” (39:26)

Relationships

Surrogate father: Dr. Hiriluk
Mentor: Dr. Kureha
Crewmates: Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, Usopp

Special abilities

Tony Tony Chopper was born a reindeer, but gained form-shifting abilities after eating a Devil Fruit: He can now transform into a human hybrid at will. The fruit also gave him the ability to speak. In human form, also known as Heavy Point form, Chopper is extremely large and muscular, so he gets mistaken for an abominable snowman by some fellow inhabitants of Drum Island. In addition to his physical abilities, Chopper possesses a lot of medical expertise, which serves him well as the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Motivation

Shunned by the other reindeer of Drum Island because of his blue nose, Chopper was alone his whole life until he met Dr. Hiriluk. While in hiding during the Great Doctor Hunt, in which the tyrant King Wapol held all the doctors of Drum Island hostage, Dr. Hiriluk came across Chopper, who had been shot by humans. Dr. Hiriluk nursed Chopper back to health and showed him great kindness.

Chopper lived with and learned from Dr. Hiriluk for a year, during which time the two worked to discover a cure that would save the broken people of Drum Island and restore hope in their country. The doctor also taught Chopper that a pirate is someone who has adventures, dreams, and never, ever gives up, which inspired him to one day pursue his destiny and travel the world on the shining sea. 

When Chopper’s treatment was finally complete, Dr. Hiriluk abruptly and unceremoniously sent him away, leaving the boy devastated and alone once again. It seemed like the doctor was just being cruel, but in truth he knew he was gravely sick, and he didn’t want Chopper to have to watch his only friend die. But Chopper  overheard Dr. Hiriluk talking to Dr. Kureha about his illness, and then went into the Valley of Death to retrieve the cure-all mushroom for his friend. When the reindeer boy returned with the mushroom, he shared his dream of becoming a doctor. Tragically, though, the mushroom Chopper gave Dr. Hiriluk was poisonous, so he still ended up dying. After the great loss, Chopper became even more determined to train as a doctor and fulfill his dream of being able to cure any disease. 

Season 2

• When the Straw Hats take Nami to get medical attention on Drum Island, Tony Tony Chopper appears outside Drum Castle and helps them. Alongside Dr. Kureha, he treats Nami for a Kestia bite, Sanji for broken ribs, and Luffy for hypothermia.
• After learning Chopper’s history with Dr. Hiriluk, Luffy encourages the reindeer boy to embrace his monstrous nature and fly his pirate flag.
• When the tyrant King Wapol returns to Drum Kingdom to reclaim his throne, Chopper works with Sanji to fight off Wapol’s henchmen. He also helps Luffy and Vivi defeat Wapol.
• Once Nami is healed and the Straw Hat Pirates save Drum Island, Tony Tony Chopper officially joins their crew, and they set sail for Alabasta with a plan to take down Baroque Works.

Meet the Global Voices Behind Chopper in ONE PIECE Season 2