Everyone’s favorite reindeer and the doctor for the Straw Hats, Tony Tony Chopper is one of One Piece’s most lovable characters. So, who is the Straw Hat Pirates’ mascot, and how does Tony Tony Chopper come to be one of Luffy’s most trusted crew? Everything from Chopper’s childhood on Drum Island to his bounty after Wano is in this guide to the character!
Reader beware, this article contains spoilers for One Piece through the current Egghead Island arc. So, proceed with caution or turn back now!
Where is Chopper From?
Chopper was born and raised on Drum Island, where he lives until he meets the Straw Hats. While he’s been here his entire life, the villagers are mostly afraid of him thanks to his monstrous form originally. Chopper just feels alone, kicked out by his own family and rejected by those in the village. Still, he does find friendship eventually with Doctor Hiriluk, and later with Doctor Kureha.
Unfortunately for Chopper’s medical education, the idiot King Wapol of Drum Kingdom outlaws doctors. Chopper becomes an accomplice to the two doctors as they go on the run, evading Wapol’s soldiers and healing the sick.
What is Tony Tony Chopper?
He wasn’t always the giant monster the villagers feared though. Chopper is a reindeer who mistakenly ate the Human-Human Fruit, a Zoan type that gave him human abilities. It gave him a lot more than that though, and he eventually develops his other forms, plus the Rumble Ball. Chopper was already an outcast from his own kind before eating the Devil Fruit, thanks to his blue nose. His parents and herd all shun him, all because he didn’t look like them.
Kureha and Hiriluk
Thankfully Chopper ran by the quack doctor Hiriluk not long after he ate his Devil Fruit. He was still stuck in the monster form at the time, but Hiriluk befriended the young reindeer and taught him medicine. Chopper shared his quest to create cherry blossoms on the Winter Island, but Hiriluk, unfortunately, has a terminal illness. While Chopper tries to heal him, it doesn’t go correctly. Hiriluk knows he’s going to die and throws himself at Wapol’s guards, killing himself before the “cure” Chopper made could.
Kureha steps in as Chopper’s new mentor, and corrects what he didn’t quite learn from Hiriluk. She’s a medical genius, and takes in Chopper as her assistant. Now he pulls her cart into towns for medical visits, or just to buy/take whatever she wants. They’re still on the run from Wapol’s men though, and only find a permanent residence when Blackbeard throws Wapol out. Now, they operate from Drum Castle, overlooking the entire Drum Kingdom on every side.
What are Chopper’s Powers?
Chopper’s powers utilize the various forms he can shift into, thanks to his Human-Human Fruit powers. His normal form is the small, adorable Chopper that fans know and love. From there he has forms adapted specially for different fighting styles. Chopper is able to switch between his forms at will usually, with a Rumble Ball further increasing his control over it. Chopper eventually finds his ultimate attack in Monster Point this way as well.
While he’s able to change between the other forms at will, including Kung-Fu Point once he reaches the New World, Monster Point is special. When he originally unveils it in Enies Lobby, it takes three Rumble Balls to activate, but once he does it quickly makes a big problem. Chopper’s Monster Point is something out of a nightmare, a massive horned beast with no sound mind. He eventually learns to control it, and keep his senses while he’s in the form.
How Did Chopper Join the Straw Hats?
When the Straw Hats stop in Drum Kingdom after Wapol’s ousting, they need a doctor immediately. Nami is sick, with a terrible fever that looks deadly, and this is the closest island they can find. Of course, they don’t know that all doctors were taken from the kingdom along with Wapol, other than Dr. Kureha. While Chopper doesn’t have the greatest introduction to Luffy and Sanji, who want to cook him, he does immediately fold for Nami. Chopper is an absolute sucker for anyone that compliments him, and he begins fanning Nami away and telling her to shut up.
Meanwhile, when Wapol comes back it becomes time for Chopper to put up or shut up. He helps the Straw Hats defeat the gluttonous king, and Kureha finally convinces Chopper to join the Straw Hats. Chopper steps aboard the Merry Go as the Straw Hat Pirates’ doctor,
Straw Hat Mascot
Poor Chopper, no matter what he does he just can’t get out of the mascot position for the Straw Hats. Despite his skills and Monster Point form, the Navy only gives him bounties as their “pet”. It’s not what he wants, but no matter how hard he tries to get himself out of that stereotype, he just gets a slight bounty bump without any true danger level. Even now Chopper’s bounty after Wano is just a measly one thousand berries.
Chopper’s Character Development
Originally Chopper is more of a coward than Usopp, though it’s more understandable considering he’s basically a young child. That said, he starts to toughen up in Alabasta, with his team-up with Usopp making use of both their skills. Chopper is often seen as the weakest of the Straw Hats, but he does everything possible to get stronger, lessening his reliance on the others.
Chopper’s biggest moment of development comes in the Long Ring Long Land arc, strangely enough. When Chopper was taken when they lose the first round, he was inconsolable and can only cry. He’s begging for the Straw Hats to win him back, to save him. It’s heartbreaking, but Zoro ends up yelling at him to shut up and be a man about it. This is where Chopper really steps it up, and doesn’t cry nearly as much after. It also establishes one of his strongest relationships in the Straw Hat Pirates.
Straw Hat Relationships
Chopper is seen as the kid brother in the Straw Hat Pirates. Everyone typically looks out for him, and he’s often babied by Nami and Robin. Chopper knows the power his cuteness has over them though, and will often exploit it to get away from Luffy or Usopp. Speaking of, Chopper makes up the idiot trio along with Luffy and Usopp, the three Straw Hats most likely to fall for anything. Usopp is just too much of a liar to believe anything, Luffy is stupid beyond belief, and Chopper is just extremely naive. They make a great comedic trio to break up some of the serious moments.
Chopper’s best relationship in the Straw Hat Pirates is with Zoro though, who he views as his big brother and idol. Zoro takes his role as big brother seriously though, and will protect Chopper when he’s in any danger. He also knows when Chopper can handle himself though, and won’t be afraid to stand back while his little brother toughens up. It’s a great example of the sibling relationships between the crew, and they pull it off better than any.
What is Chopper Dream?
Chopper has a singular dream to cure every disease. He’s getting damn close, as after Wano he shows off immense medical knowledge that has Law impressed. Chopper’s ability to make an antidote in the heat of battle against Queen, for a virus turning everyone attacked into Ice Oni, is a perfect example. He’s one of the smartest Straw Hat Pirates when it comes to his medical knowledge, and no doubt many of them would have died many times over without Chopper.
They haven’t had much time to talk to each other yet, but Chopper has finally met his hero Dr. Vegapunk. So, considering the vast amount of medical knowledge and experience they can exchange, he’s closer than ever.
What’s Next For Chopper?
Chopper made a name for himself as a doctor in Wano, and he’s still not taken seriously by the World Government no matter what he does. Still, he’s guilty along with the other Straw Hats of studying the Void Century, so according to Imu he has to die. Currently, he’s trapped in Egghead Island with the other Straw Hats, Cipher Pol 0, and Doctor Vegapunk. Depending on what he and the doctor can speak about when they finally have a moment, Chopper will no doubt learn some new, valuable information to piece together.
There’s an interesting theory on Chopper’s Devil Fruit Awakening as well. There have been plenty of mentions about Zoan Awakenings changing the owner and occasionally overtaking their minds. Considering the reveal that Luffy’s Fruit is a Human-Human Fruit variant, could Chopper’s have some ridiculous Awakening he’s able to pull from? It’s not Monster Point, as Awakenings have very telltale smoke around them, but it will be interesting to see.
Until the final battle at Laughtale or beyond, Chopper will see the Straw Hat crew through the worst injuries. He brings Zoro back from the edge of death, cures Luffy after he eats poison fish, and saves Robin from freezing. The little reindeer has done it all. Now he’s going to cure all diseases, throughout the world, before the series is finished.
