Shanks is a tall, muscular man with a tan complexion. Among the original lineup of the Four Emperors, he stood out as the smallest, most normal-sized human by far, the others being inhumanly proportioned to varying degrees. Shanks, one of One Piece's most important characters, had limited screen time in the first season of the live-action adaptation.

Understanding the Context

Shanks was an apprentice of the original Pirate King and sailed with Gold Roger, and he has a strong connection to Luffy and the straw hat. For the last three decades of One Piece, Shanks has served more as a living legend than a fleshed-out character. Despite inspiring Luffy's dream and appearing at pivotal moments that radically shifted the story, Oda stubbornly refused to fully explain who Shanks really is. Shanks and Luffy have a relationship marked by mutual respect, admiration, and a shared promise.

Key Insights

Shanks gave Luffy his straw hat, symbolizing his belief in Luffy's future pirate greatness. Luffy idolizes Shanks as his hero and the epitome of a pirate. Their bond includes humor, with Shanks playfully teasing Luffy. Who is Shanks in One Piece? Shanks, better known as “Red-Haired Shanks”, is the chief of the Red Hair Pirates, and an Emperor of the Sea.

Final Thoughts

He was a pirate apprentice under Roger Pirates, whom... Shanks is the chief of the Red Hair Pirates and one of the Four Emperors. He was formerly a cabin boy on the Roger Pirates and is the son of Saint Figarland Garling, as well as the twin brother of Saint Shams. In One Piece Chapter 1168, the series reveals that Shanks left the Celestial Dragons during his final mission before becoming a Knight of God and receving the second mark, the Depths Covenant.