nico robin
by harry mack (2021-02-17)
Nico Robin is one of One Piece's most interesting and unique characters. While fans know a lot about her, there's a lot left to learn
nico Robin is the archaeologist of the Straw Hats and one of the main characters in One Piece. She had one of the more interesting stories out of the members Luffy recruited into the crew, and was directly opposed to the crew for some time.
She's also one of the only members who actually invited herself into the group. She started off as mysterious and secretive, but she's opened up to her new family and shown different sides of herself over time. While she's undergone many changes since she appeared in Alabasta, there's still plenty of things about nico robin that have wonderfully stayed the same.
1. CHANGED: From Villain To Ally
When Nico Robin was first introduced, she was the right hand of Crocodile and a member of Baroque Works. She and her group were the main antagonists of the Alabasta arc and actively opposed the Straw Hats. However, she saved Luffy a couple of times throughout the arc, showing that she wasn't all bad. Eventually, after Luffy in turn gave her the will to keep living, she snuck aboard their ship and joined the crew. She's now a treasured member of the Straw Hats.
2. SAME: Intelligent
From her very first scene where she was toying with the Straw Hats, it was clear that Robin was incredibly intelligent. This was further proven as her backstory was revealed, showing that she grew up among scholars and did plenty of learning on her own. She is still one of the smartest Straw Hats, and is the only known person in One Piece who can read the ancient writing of the Poneglyphs. Even in battle, she is shown making smart and tactical decisions rather than just diving in headfirst.
3. CHANGED: Physical Appearance
Like many of the Straw Hats, Nico Robin's appearance changed significantly after the timeskip. She transitioned from being thin to having more of an hourglass figure, as well as her dark skin becoming much more fair.
4. SAME: Dark Humor
Even from the beginning, Nico Robin was prone to saying some pretty dark stuff. If they aren't sure where a few of the other Straw Hats have gone, she's quick to assume they've died in some gruesome way. She once assumed that they had been strangled after being unable to hear their voices for a while. While she doesn't smile or laugh when she says these things, it's unlikely that she truly believes that these events have occurred. She also only says them near other Straw Hats, who tend to react pretty strongly to the suggestions.
5. CHANGED: Much Stronger
Nico Robin was no slouch before the timeskip, but like the other Straw Hats, she did grow stronger over those two years. She specializes in submission moves, and she was excellent at them throughout the entire show. However, she didn't have a way to handle stronger or larger enemies until afterward. She can now sprout a million arms or legs at once to create giant limbs that she can use to attack stronger foes. She's now easily one of the stronger Straw Hats.
6. SAME: Reserved And Calm
Unlike most of the other Straw Hats, Nico Robin doesn't openly display what she's feeling. Whereas the others will have comical or exaggerated reactions to events, Robin will take them in stride. There have been very few occasions where she displayed her emotions openly, and these have been in extreme situations like at Enies Lobby or when confronted by the Marine Admirals. Otherwise, she will just portray her calm and neutral expression, with the occasional smile or giggle.
7. CHANGED: Trusting Her Crew
Nico Robin has been hunted by the World Government since she was eight, so she knows that she's in constant danger. She joined with the Straw Hats for a while before leaving them at Enies Lobby. She did this to protect them, as the people that captured her threatened to destroy them.
8. SAME: Love For History
While she was studying on Ohara, Nico Robin gained a love and respect for history that has continued throughout the whole series. She takes every chance she can to study ancient ruins and old texts, especially when the Straw Hats were on Skypiea. In one of the few moments that viewers see her truly angry, she had to handle Yama while he was destroying these ruins. She drew him away before viciously defeating him, making sure he knew just how much of a sin he had committed before killing him.
9. CHANGED: Relationship With Aokiji
Nico Robin and the Admiral Aokiji have had an interesting history together. He was there when her home was completely destroyed by the World Government, but went against orders and ensured that she escaped. She then lived for 20 years in constant fear of him, dreading the day he comes for her. Once he did, she was petrified and had to be saved by her crew who almost died. After Enies Lobby, Aokiji proves that he wants her to be free and live on, even going so far as to cover up their presence. They are now at the bare minimum amicable towards each other.
10. SAME: Mischievous
While Nico Robin tends to be serious and aloof, she does have a mischievous side. It began when she was a child on Ohara, where the other kids bullied her for having Devil fruit abilities. She would then use these abilities to mess with and tease them but never cause any harm. Recently she did a similar thing to Chopper, using her power to hold his arms wide before tickling him. This is a more innocent and childish side to Robin that it seems she hasn't lost throughout her life.
5 nico robin
Costumes We Loved (And 5 She Should Never Wear Again)
Like the rest of One Piece's Straw Hats, Nico Robin's been through her share of fashion dos and don'ts. Here are our favorites for both!
HATE: THRILLER BARK OUTFIT:
In this arc we find Robin fitted in a very short purple dress edged with lacing, stockings, and black heeled boots. It's a very simple outfit that isn't horrible but isn't really appealing from a design standpoint. Yes, she looks really good in it at times but more often than not it just looks a bit odd. Maybe it's the bore factor of it compared to the other great outfits we get to see her and the rest of the cast in but this outfit is definitely not much to write home about.
LOVE: OPENING 16 OUTFIT:
This may seem like a deep cut and that's because it is, but honestly, the One Piece opening 16 outfit looks really good on Robin. The simple gardening look lends so many favors to our favorite archaeologist and we all know she definitely knows how to work a good sunhat.
Honestly, the only reason this outfit isn't higher is that we don't get to see more of it. Seriously a bit of screen time in an opening is not deserving of a divine outfit such as this. Hopefully, whoever's idea it was to put her in this got a raise.
HATE: PIRATE WARRIORS 3 DLC OUTFIT:
It's really surprising that people actually paid to put Robin in this outfit when they should have been the ones getting paid to put her in it. While it is a bit of a love letter to the father Musou series Samurai Warriors, Pirate Warriors 3 deserved a way better outfit for this.
LOVE: FIRST HEART OF GOLD OUTFIT:
In the One Piece TV Special "Heart of Gold," the first outfit we see Robin in is easily one of her best looks. This special takes place post timeskip so the iconic shades are there and she's rocking her new hair with the addition of a new winter coat and purple turtleneck sweater, both of which fit the character perfectly. This is one of those outfits that quietly conveys the personality of the character to us and it's something any viewer can appreciate. Much like Robin it is quiet and reserved and the purple just fits her really well.
HATE: FILM Z THIRD OUTFIT:
Between Robin and Nami's horrible Film Z outfits, the team really dropped the ball when it came to designing something strong and memorable for the girls. It's easy to see what they were going for with this outfit but something really must have been lost in translation. This really looks like what happens when you let a little girl play with a toy doll she has hundreds of outfits for. From the jacket to the bikini top, the hat, the fuzz on the back, and the mix match colors this outfit is just murder on the eyes.
LOVE: ENIES LOBBY OUTFIT:
Robin's iconic leather dress is the star of the show when it comes to the Enies Lobby arc and it makes her look as badass as ever. Under this dress is a polka-dotted dress and to top it all off, thigh-high boots.
HATE: ONE PIECE UNLIMITED CRUISE ALTERNATE OUTFIT:
You may know a lot about One Piece but you definitely didn't know about this outfit. Just looking at it can give anyone a headache. It's got the purple going for it but that's really it. Other than that it looks like a really bad costume you might see on your character dancing to "Butterfly" while playing Dance Dance Revolution.
There are sights for sore eyes and there are sights that cause sore eyes. This one is the second option. So far we're two for two when it comes to alternate costumes for Robin in One Piece videogames.
LOVE: ALABASTA OUTFIT:
Remember how much gushing there was over how badass the Enies Lobby arc leather dress there was. Well, throw that out the window because nico robin 's Alabasta outfit is the actual epitome of badass. Back in her Baroque Works days, Robin donned an outfit that resembles a cowgirl complete with hat, corset, and high-heel boots. All this is brought together by a badass fur-lined white trenchcoat.
It's a real shame we only see this outfit for so little and while Robin is still a bad guy but it's better than nothing. Hopefully, this outfit will return as a possible alternate outfit in a One Piece game someday.
HATE: UNLIMITED ADVENTURE ALTERNATE OUTFIT:
This list was not in any way made to make you wonder why so many alternate costumes for Robin are trash, it just ended up that way.
This One Piece: Unlimited Adventure has to be the worst offender of all time when it comes to bad Nico Robin outfits. Much like the last hated outfit from One Piece: Unlimited Cruise this outfit just doesn't fit the character, period. Honestly, this look might have someone think the design is from some kind of One Piece X Final Fantasy crossover.
LOVE: POST-TIMESKIP OUTFIT
This is the perfect outfit for nico robin, It absolutely screams out her personality and was the perfect outfit to reintroduce her in post-timeskip. The old is mixed in with the new and the sweetheart side of Robin is perfectly melded with the tough woman we saw way back in Alabasta through her blue leather jacket. It was a real treat to be greeted to this outfit once we saw all our favorite Straw Hat pirates again.
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