The world of One Piece is propelled by dreams, but Eiichiro Oda has already crushed the dreams of one Straw Hat before the Final Saga of the franchise even began. Chopper’s ambition to find the cure for every disease is a heartfelt one, but he wasn’t able to find the cure to the high-risk SMILE Devil Fruit in Wano.

Chopper’s inability to cure the effects of this Devil Fruit shows the reality of the Grand Line and how hard it is to achieve one’s dreams. It also raises questions about whether the Straw Hats would actually be able to fulfill their individual dreams by the end of the anime/manga.

One Piece Snuffed Out the Dream of a Straw Hat Early On

Chopper could not find a cure to the SMILE fruits’ effects in Wano | Credits: Toei Animation

Chopper joined the Straw Hats with a clear vision of being a good doctor who would be able to cure any disease or ailment. This was a reflection of Dr. Hiriluk’s ideology, who believed that all diseases had cures. Chopper’s dream drove him through countless battles. However, during the Wano country arc, Eiichiro Oda introduced a test by the name of SMILE fruits, artificial Zoan fruits that plagued the country.

These faulty fruits were force-fed to Wano citizens, which rendered them unable to express any emotion beyond joy and laughter. Even when they lost beloved people, the fruits’ victims couldn’t help but laugh. When the Straw Hats landed at Wano, Chopper naturally wanted to reverse the effects of these fruits. However, he was unable to create an antidote for the fruits.

He poured his best efforts into the matter but could not crack the matter. It is probably due to the fact that these were devil fruits, even if they are artificial, and thus, the only way to get rid of their effects naturally is by dying. Chopper’s inability to do anything was a gut punch to One Piece readers and viewers. Of course, this dampens his grand dream since he couldn’t even cure the effects of a man-made fruit.

Hope Flickers on the Horizon for Chopper’s Dream

Eiichiro Oda often answers fan questions about One Piece, and in SBS 105, the author revealed that Chopper did not yet have the medical capability to make a medicine that can reverse the SMILE laughing effects. This means that while Chopper has not been able to find a cure yet, his abilities are still developing, and he might be able to confront the issue again in the future.

The plot of the series has progressed a lot since the Wano arc, and complex and advanced technology has been introduced since then, thanks to Vegapunk. Chopper could stumble upon a breakthrough at some point due to his adventures, and thus, he would be able to create a cure later on.

Chopper’s failure at Wano might not have killed his dream completely. Instead, it is a reminder that the crew members will face several failures before they are able to achieve their respective dreams. Chopper’s journey is far from complete, and so are his skills. He has never stopped his research, which means he is consistently working towards his goal.

What do you think about Chopper eventually curing the SMILE’s effects? Do you think he will have a breakthrough soon? Let us know in the comments below.

One Piece anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll, and the manga is available to read on Viz Media.
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