ONE PIECE Episode 18 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

You're the Weird Creature! Gaimon and His Strange Friends!

The crew sails to the Island of Rare Animals, is confronted by hybrid animals and a self-proclaimed god, meets Gaimon, a man trapped in a treasure chest for twenty years, and learns that the island's treasure chests were empty. Gaimon declines to join the crew and the Straw Hats depart.

• Arrival and capture of Gaimon

  The crew docks at the island to plunder its treasures, is attacked by strange hybrid animals and an unseen man claiming to be a god, and captures him after his traps fail. He turns out to be Gaimon, who had been trapped in a treasure chest for twenty years.

• Gaimon's past

  Gaimon was once a boy aboard a pirate ship that searched the island for a month without finding treasure and left. He found treasure atop a mountain, fell into an empty chest, and became stuck, discovering his crew had already sailed away without him.

• Empty chests and refusal

  Luffy climbs the mountain and finds all five treasure chests empty, then invites Gaimon to join the crew. Gaimon refuses, saying he has befriended the island's animals and that knowing there was no treasure gave him closure and freedom; the crew then depart.

Recent Timeline

• Kuro's faked death by the Marines (Episode 15)

  Kuro slaughtered the Marines aboard the ship that attacked his vessel, sparing only one soldier. Jango hypnotized that soldier and a crewman resembling Kuro, and the Marines executed the hypnotized crewman, believing him to be Kuro. This freed Kuro from his life as a fugitive.

• Kuro's plan to kill his crew and Kaya's will (Episode 16)

  During the fight with Luffy, Kuro revealed that three years earlier he had planned to have his crew killed, using their corpses to take the blame for his scheme. He threatened to kill every crew member, Jango included, so that no one who knew he was alive could leave the village.

  Kaya threatened to deny Jango both the will and her death unless he spared the children. She wrote and signed a will transferring all her property to her butler, and Jango agreed to spare the children, though he had first rejected her condition.

• Kuro and Jango defeated (Episode 17)

  Kuro tried Shakushi on Luffy again, but Luffy restrained him with his rubber body and finished him with Gomu Gomu no Kane, knocking him out and destroying his glasses. Luffy then ordered the remaining Black Cat Pirates off the island, taking Kuro with them.

  Zoro and Usopp arrived to protect Kaya from Jango. Zoro cleared a path by cutting a tree branch, and Usopp's Kayaku Boshi pellet exploded in Jango's face, defeating him.

• Going Merry gifted and Usopp joins (Episode 17)

  To thank the crew for their heroic deeds, Kaya gave them the Going Merry, a full-sized caravel designed by Merry. The crew accepted the ship and prepared to depart, deciding to take Usopp along as a new permanent crew member.

  In childhood, Usopp's father Yasopp set sail with Shanks to become a pirate, leaving his son and wife behind. His mother soon died of illness, and Usopp became the town liar, hoping his lies would come true and his father would return.

• Treasure search ends in empty chests (Episode 18)

  Luffy climbed the mountain and found all five treasure chests empty, confirming the island's treasure legend was false. Gaimon, still stuck in his treasure chest after twenty years, declined Luffy's invitation to join the crew and chose to stay and protect the island's animals. The crew then departed for their next destination.

Character Graph

Alvida

Alvida Pirates

Pirate captain leading the Alvida Pirates. Attacks ships and keeps chore boys; armed with a large spiked club. Defeated by Luffy and sent flying into the sea.

• Defeat

  Knocked off her ship into the sea by Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Pistol

• Koby (Hierarchy, Hostility)

  Holds Koby as one of her chore boys

• Luffy (Other, Hostility)

  Confronted Luffy as a suspected bounty hunter and lost the fight

Koby

Former chore boy forced to serve the Alvida Pirates; escapes with Luffy to pursue his dream of joining the Marines.

• Forced service

  Kidnapped from a rowboat and made a chore boy by Alvida

• Alvida (Hierarchy, Hostility)

  Forced to serve Alvida as one of her chore boys

• Luffy (Other, Neutral)

  Meets Luffy in the kitchen and travels with him after the battle

Shanks

Red Hair Pirates

Pirate captain of the Red Hair Pirates who lived in Luffy's home village; lost his left arm rescuing Luffy from Higuma; entrusted his straw hat to Luffy before setting sail for the Grand Line.

• Luffy (Friend, Affinity)

  Befriended Luffy in childhood and is Luffy's idol; gave Luffy his straw hat to protect.

Roronoa Zoro (the pirate hunter)

Pirate-hunter swordsman whom Luffy first finds crucified at the Marine base in Shells Town and sets out to recruit.

Former pirate hunter who says he has given up the practice; fights Buggy's crew and is stabbed during the battle.

• Crucified at base

  Held on a cross at the Marine base and refuses to be fed by others; he eats the dirt-stained rice Rika brought.

• Confiscated katanas

  His katanas are confiscated and kept in the Marine base, where Luffy goes to find them.

• Buggy (Other, Hostility)

  Fought Buggy, who wanted to kill him to enhance his reputation; stabbed during the clash.

Buggy

Buggy Pirates

Captain of the Buggy Pirates; a fearsome pirate with his own Devil Fruit ability; his territory is where Luffy lands after being dropped by the bird.

Former fellow apprentice of Shanks in the same pirate crew; plotted to steal a Devil Fruit and treasure map before being caught.

• Power

  Can separate his body parts and is immune to being cut apart, due to the Bara Bara Fruit.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Fought Zoro and stabbed him; claimed Zoro's wound decided the fight.

• Nami (Hierarchy, Hostility)

  Accepted Nami into his crew as a supposed defector; ordered her to fire a Buggy Ball at Luffy as proof of loyalty.

• Shanks (Other, Colleague, Mixed)

  Holds a very strong grudge against Shanks and curses his name.

  Fellow apprentice in the same pirate crew; Shanks caught Buggy just as he was leaving with the fruit, causing him to accidentally eat it.

• Luffy (Other, Hostility)

  Fights Luffy and pierces his straw hat with knives, enraging him.

  Luffy struck Buggy down during the attempt to seize his treasure and later blasted him out of town.

Nami

A thief who targets pirates and steals sea charts; infiltrates Buggy's crew under a false pretext while secretly aiming to recover the chart and steal his treasure.

Took Buggy's treasure and restrained his body parts with a rope; agreed to sail temporarily with Luffy's crew.

• Ambition

  Aims to earn one hundred million berries for reasons she keeps secret.

• Luffy (Colleague, Neutral)

  Met Luffy after he defeated armed men; proposed a partnership, then declined his invitation to join his crew upon learning he was a pirate.

  Gave Luffy the Grand Line map and agreed to sail with the crew temporarily to acquire Bellies.

• Buggy (Hierarchy, Other, Hostility)

  Infiltrated Buggy's crew by claiming to have quarreled with her boss; privately plans to steal from him.

  Nami was attempting to leave with Buggy's treasure when he spotted her, and she restrained him with rope.

Ninjin

Child follower of Usopp who joined his group and confirmed Kaya has become much more cheerful.

• Role

  Joined Usopp's group and, while searching for their captain, led Luffy, Zoro and Nami to Kaya's mansion.

• Usopp (Hierarchy, Affinity)

  Follower of Usopp.

Piiman

Child follower of Usopp who joined his group and explained that Usopp's stories make Kaya laugh.

• Role

  Joined Usopp's group and, while searching for their captain, led Luffy, Zoro and Nami to Kaya's mansion.

• Usopp (Hierarchy, Affinity)

  Follower of Usopp.

Tamanegi

Child follower of Usopp who brought news of a skull-marked ship and warned that the gatekeeper would block entry.

• Role

  Called for a retreat when the visitors detected Usopp's followers.

• Usopp (Hierarchy, Affinity)

  Follower of Usopp who brought him news of a skull-marked ship.

Yasopp

Red Hair Pirates

Usopp's father, a sharpshooter in Shanks's crew who left the village because he could not resist the pirate life.

• Past

  Met Luffy as a child aboard Shanks's ship and repeatedly spoke of his son.

• Usopp (Family, Affinity)

  Father of Usopp who left the village to sail as a pirate.

• Shanks (Colleague, Neutral)

  Crewmate aboard Shanks's ship.

Kaya

Syrup Village

Sickly girl who lost both parents to illness a year earlier and withdrew into grief; her cheer has returned through Usopp's stories.

Village girl who begs Kuro to stop and threatens him with a gun to make the Black Cat Pirates leave the island.

• Health

  Sickly, and her caretaker restricts visitors to protect her weak health.

• Response to the warning

  She dismisses Usopp's accusation against her butler as a lie prompted by earlier insults.

• Confrontation with Kuro

  She offers Kuro her fortune to leave the village alone, and points a gun at him; he counters by reminding her of their three years together.

• Usopp (Friend, Affinity)

  Friend who visits her and makes her laugh with invented adventures.

  Saved by Usopp from Kuro's slash; she is distressed that he got hurt protecting her.

Usopp

Village youth who invents tall tales and leads a small group of followers; wants to become a pirate.

Village liar who joins the crew as a new permanent member after his backstory is revealed.

• Tall tales

  Invents an alarm, claims to command eighty million followers, and tells extravagant stories to entertain Kaya.

• Reputation as a liar

  His repeated lies make the villagers refuse to believe his pirate warning.

• Retraction and resolve

  He claims the pirate threat was invented, then decides to intercept the pirates at the coast himself.

• Childhood and father's departure

  His father Yasopp left to become a pirate with Shanks, leaving Usopp and his wife behind. His mother later died of illness, and Usopp became the village liar hoping his father would return.

• Kaya (Friend, Mixed)

  Visits Kaya despite her caretaker's refusal and entertains her with stories.

  Former friend who enjoyed his stories; she rejected his warning and his accusation against her butler.

• Yasopp (Family, Affinity)

  Son of Yasopp, who is proud of his father's willingness to risk his life at sea.

  Father who left to become a pirate with Shanks; Usopp longs for his return.

• Piiman (Hierarchy, Friend, Affinity)

  Follower who joins Usopp's group.

  Follower who was disappointed and left him when Usopp claimed his pirate warning had been a lie.

• Ninjin (Hierarchy, Friend, Affinity)

  Follower who joins Usopp's group.

  Follower who was disappointed and left him when Usopp claimed his pirate warning had been a lie.

• Tamanegi (Hierarchy, Friend, Affinity)

  Follower who brings Usopp news and joins his group.

  Follower who was disappointed and left him when Usopp claimed his pirate warning had been a lie.

• Luffy (Colleague, Affinity)

  Invited to join the crew as a new permanent member.

Gaimon

A man who was trapped in an empty treasure chest for twenty years on the island; refuses to join Luffy's crew and lives freely on the island.

• Past life

  Formerly a boy aboard a pirate ship that came to the island searching for treasure; after a month of failing to find any, his crew left him behind.

• Current stance

  Knowing there was no treasure gave him closure and the freedom to live as he pleased; he has befriended the animals native to the island.

• Luffy (Friend, Affinity)

  Quickly befriended by Luffy, who later invited him to join his crew; Gaimon declined.

Luffy

Would-be pirate who set sail to begin a pirating career; cast adrift at sea in a barrel after his dinghy was destroyed by a whirlpool. Aims for the Grand Line to search for the One Piece, and first sets out to recruit Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro into his crew.

Pirate who fights bare-handed; caught in Buggy's crew hostage situation and tells his companions to escape rather than give up.

• Origin at sea

  Dinghy destroyed by a whirlpool, left trapped in a barrel

• Koby (Other, Neutral)

  Travels with him after the battle, sharing a dinghy out of the Alvida ship

• Alvida (Other, Hostility)

  Defeated the pirate captain who suspected him of being a bounty hunter

• Roronoa Zoro (Colleague, Affinity)

  Rescued by Zoro in the fight against Buggy's men; Luffy told him to run.

• Gaimon (Friend, Affinity)

  Befriended Gaimon and then invited him to join the crew, which Gaimon declined.

World Memo

• Village has two entrances

  The village is reachable by a single sloped path at the island's south end and by a second entrance at the island's north end.

Battle Record

The crew lands on the Island of Rare Animals to plunder its treasures and is met by strange hybrid animals and an unseen man claiming to be a god. The man's makeshift traps fail, and he is caught while trying to retreat.

Luffy vs Kuro at the battlefield

Second attempt · Episodes 15–17

Location: Battlefield on the island

Trigger: Kuro attempts to use Shakushi on Luffy again

Sides

• Luffy — fighter: Luffy
• Black Cat Pirates — fighter: Kuro

Outcome: Kuro is knocked unconscious by Gomu Gomu no Kane and his glasses are destroyed

Aftermath

• The remaining Black Cat Pirates are ordered to leave the island, taking Kuro with them

Jango defeated at Kaya's village

Defense of Kaya · Episodes 12–17

Location: Kaya's village

Trigger: Jango threatens Kaya

Sides

• Jango — attacker: Jango
• Zoro and Usopp — defender: Zoro, Usopp

Outcome: Jango is defeated by Usopp's Hissatsu: Kayaku Boshi, which explodes in his face

Gaimon's traps on the Island of Rare Animals

Strange hybrid animals and a self-proclaimed god · Episode 18

Location: Island of Rare Animals

Trigger: The crew decides to dock and plunder the island's rumoured treasures

Sides

• Straw Hat crew — Attackers: Luffy, Nami, Usopp
• Gaimon's defenders — Defenders: Gaimon, strange hybrid animals

Outcome: Gaimon's traps fail and he is caught by the crew

Aftermath

• Gaimon is revealed to have been trapped in a treasure chest for twenty years

Ability Table

Music Releases

• We Are! (OP)
• Memories (ED)