“Most Corny Fanbase”: Not Everyone Is a Fan of One Piece’s Most Wholesome Trend

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The One Piece anime consistently delivers poignant, emotional scenes that stay true to the narrative’s core. Kuma’s past is undeniably one of the most heartrending aspects of the series, yet it also offers touching moments with his daughter, Bonney. Raised singlehandedly by Kuma, Bonney’s story unfolds further in the anime, revealing more about their unique bond. Kuma’s backstory starts to unfold in Episode 1129, where a brief scene showcases Bonney’s recollections of performing the Nika dance with her father. Growing up, she was nurtured on tales of a liberator who wore a smile, Nika, the Warrior of Liberation, whom the Buccaneer race revered and anticipated would return someday.

Even on his dying breath, Kuma’s father held onto the ancient Buccaneer legend – one that many considered more than just a tale about a warrior or deity; it was a beacon of hope. In the anime, Bonney, facing danger to her life, is reminded of the legendary warrior her father often spoke of. Luffy, embodying freedom as Nika, carries great meaning and fans adore the symbolism. The scene where Kuma and Bonney perform the Nika dance, depicted in a rough, sketch-like art style, left a strong impression on viewers. This touching moment sparked a trend on social media where fathers dance with their children to the OST – a trend that has made One Piece fans especially fond. However, as always, there will be those who find fault.

People from around the world are doing the Nika dance with their kids.
This is beautiful.

— One Piece Defender ◍ (@OnePieceDefend) May 27, 2025

One Piece’s Latest Trend Is Being Called Corny and Cringe

Multiple users posted these TikTok clips, with some garnering significant popularity. The majority of fans appreciated the videos, but others voiced disapproval, while a few attempted to divert the topic. @infamou21846226 commented, “You all have to be the most cringeworthy fanbase in Shonen.

People across the globe are performing the Nika dance,’ said @MohamedGam32959, implying that the event has gone worldwide.” or

“@MohamedGam32959 commented that ‘the Nika dance is being done by people from all over the world’, suggesting it has reached global proportions.

@td0985921 commented, but others quickly corrected him, “It’s known as the glide step, dude. It comes in different forms, some of which were popular on TikTok about two years ago, and some were posted on YouTube in 2016. After so many ‘One Piece’ and ‘Jojo’ references, it seems this topic is getting a bit stale.

It’s important to acknowledge that while One Piece is incredibly popular, not everyone needs to appreciate every aspect of it. Within the passionate fanbase itself, there are many who aren’t fond of Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation. When this transformation was introduced, a significant portion of fans expressed dislike for its playful nature, causing quite a stir. Therefore, Nika – the form that Luffy adopts in Gear 5 – might not be everyone’s preferred character, despite being an integral part of the narrative.

In the ongoing anime, we’re still discovering Kuma’s past which promises to tug at our heartstrings with more heartrending twists over the coming episodes. We’re nearing revelations about Kuma’s actions during pre-time skip period and the motivations that led him to transform into a mindless weapon.

On Crunchyroll, you can watch the most recent episodes simultaneously with their initial broadcast every Sunday, at 8:45 AM Pacific Time (PT) or 11:45 AM Eastern Time (ET).

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2025-05-31 02:09