If you’ve ever read the One Piece manga or watched the anime, you might’ve seen this character hanging out in the background. Who is Pandaman?

HIGHLIGHTS

 Pandaman, a joke character by Eiichiro Oda, has become a fan favorite with a unique design and backstory.
 Created for a character contest, Pandaman blends in crowds, uses wrestling moves, and spends his time evading debt collectors.
 Oda’s inclusion of joke characters like Pandaman adds depth and fun to the One Piece world, rewarding fans with hidden easter eggs.

Bounty
3,333,333 Berry

Manga Debut
Chapter 44 “Three Cooks”

Anime Debut
Episode 16 “Protect Kaya! Usopp Pirate Gang Takes Action!”, We Are! (Cameo)

One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has a knack for creating memorable character designs. The iconic series features some of the most well-known characters in anime and manga, with Oda’s unique style playing a big part in what makes them so recognizable.

Of all the characters Oda has created, Pandaman stands out as one of the legendary mangaka’s most amusing. A joke character who initially appeared early on in the One Piece manga, Pamdaman may not be as well known as characters like Luffy and Shanks, but has managed to become a fan favorite over the years regardless.

Who is Pandaman?

As a joke character, there’s a lot about Pandaman that is either unknown or that Oda hasn’t made very clear when discussing the character. Pandaman appears to have the head of a Panda and body of a human. It’s entirely possible that his head is just a mask, as Pandaman’s design is very similar to that of a pro wrestler which also happens to be his occupation.

Despite his appearance Pandaman is usually shown to be on the run, often blending into the crowd in an attempt to evade debt collectors. That doesn’t mean that he can’t fight, as Oda has confirmed that Pandaman does have at least a couple of moves in his fighting arsenal. True to his wrestling background, Pandaman mostly makes use of grappling techniques, namely the S.P.D (Sasa no Ha Panda Drop) and Giant Panda Deathlock.

Pandaman’s Unique Origin

Pandaman was created by Oda as an entry for the New Chojin Contest, a character creation contest for the popular comedy-sports series Kinnikuman. The iconic series initially ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1979-1987 and returned in 2011, though it was no longer part of the Weekly Shonen Jump lineup.

In One Piece’s lore, Pandaman was raised by pandas after having been abandoned in a bamboo forest as a baby. Pandaman was bullied as a child, which led him to become a “Devil Chojin”. He eventually became fairly wealthy and influential, though that wouldn’t last and he would go on the run after getting involved with a debt collector named Tomato Gang.

Pandaman eventually ended up in the Sambas Region, coming across the Straw Hat crew around the time that they arrived at the Baratie. Ever since that encounter, Pandaman has appeared in various locations alongside Luffy and the rest of the crew, often hidden away somewhere in the background.

Pandaman’s Appearances Throughout the One Piece Franchise

Pandaman has appeared throughout the manga and anime as well as various One Piece video games. Though he’s often hidden away somewhere in the crowd, there have been multiple references to Pandaman made in both the anime and manga. Such examples include “Pandaman” being written on the Poneglyph in Arabasta and Pandaman’s name appearing on a list of prisoners in Impel Down.

Pandaman’s design varies from appearance to appearance in the manga, anime, and other artwork. While he appears to be more muscular in the majority of the official artwork, Pandaman is often shown to be slender in his various cameos. This is likely done to better hide him from readers and viewers looking out for him in the manga and anime.

An Entire World of Joke Characters

Pandaman isn’t the only joke character Oda has included within the One Piece manga, as plenty of others have appeared here and there throughout the series’ run. Pandawoman was introduced during the Amazon Lily Arc with Pandaman unable to make an appearance on the isolated island. The aforementioned Tomato Gang is a gun-wielding debt collector who’s been chasing down Pandaman for years, aided by Pandaman’s bitter rival, Unforgivable Mask.

With so many small details hidden away throughout the main narrative, little easter egg characters like these – with their own backgrounds, personalities, and relationships to one another – are just another thing that makes One Piece’s world so rewarding to engage with.