Many fans of both One Piece and Fairy Tail found themselves comparing two key characters from both series – Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, and Gildarts, one of the Fairy Tail Guild’s S-Class Mages. Their similar appearances, personalities, and even backstories drew intrigue from fans and made them wonder why they were so similar.
Whether Gildarts and Shanks being so similar was a coincidence or not, despite speculation and theories made about them, there are indeed several similarities between both characters. Though there are true differences that separate the two, there are striking similarities as well. These similarities include both physical characteristics and personality traits as well. In fact, if it wasn’t for both of them having key differences in which other characters they mentored and which respective series they came from, it would be easy to mistake Gildarts and Shanks for being the same character.
5 Shanks And Gildarts Have The Same Hair Color
This was one of the first similarities that fans noticed between both characters, but Shanks and Gildarts both have red hair. What also helped this similarity in hairstyle is that their hair is tucked behind their ears on both sides of their face, and it is also combed back to expose their broad foreheads.
The length of their hair is also about the same, with their hair being longer than chin-length but not quite reaching the shoulders yet. Both of them also have similar facial hair and thin eyebrows.
4 Both Characters Have Laidback Personalities
Many people expect people in their kinds of positions to be rather ambitious, confrontational, or just exceptionally serious and focused people. Both Shanks and Gildarts are more than capable of getting serious when the going gets tough, especially when their loved ones and allies are threatened. Outside of these situations, however, they are fairly laidback and easygoing overall. Shanks always preferred taking his time exploring the world with his crew rather than rushing from one place to another. Even though he fought in many battles, Shanks was also a pacifist at heart and did not actively seek chaos, disorder, or unnecessary bloodshed.
Similarly, Gildarts would fight in a way that prevents human casualties despite being a high-ranking magic-user. He also will not refuse an offer to battle, though he might postpone it if something important comes up.
3 Shanks And Gildarts Became Mentor Figures To The Protagonists
Shanks was the person who inspired Luffy to become a pirate and eventually the pirate king. Gildarts, meanwhile, inspired Natsu Dragneel to become a Dragon Slayer despite Gildarts initially warning Natsu to not fight the Black Dragon. While Luffy and Shanks have yet to reunite since their last encounter, though both of them hope to see each other soon. It’s rather rewarding to be the person that inspires someone to go on to great things, adventures, and achievements.
Meanwhile, Natsu and Gildarts worked together several times as members of the Fairy Tail Guild. Natsu even challenged Gildarts to a battle, though he ended up losing to Gildarts.
2 Shanks And Gildarts Are Both Amputees
One major commonality that both Shanks and Gildarts share is that they are both amputees. Shanks lost his left arm after saving Luffy’s life from the monstrous Lord of the Coast. As for Gildarts, he lost his left arm and left leg after fighting the Black Dragon and later showed these injuries to Natsu to warn him to not try to fight the dragon.
However, there was a key difference in how Shanks and Gildarts treated losing their limbs. Shanks never replaced his left arm, but Gildarts replaced his lost limbs with wooden prosthetics. Both options are totally valid choices. Not everyone with limb differences finds that prosthetics provide the assistance that they require. Some find that it even hinders them. While others feel like these aids are a great help and that they will provide great assistance for them in their everyday life.
1 Both Characters Watched The Protagonists’ Progress In Some Way
Though Shanks and Luffy still have not reunited in One Piece, Shanks was shown several times taking notice of Luffy’s efforts as a pirate and being proud of the latter’s achievements. Shanks also stated that his and Luffy’s time to meet again was coming closer, after hearing about Luffy’s actions in Big Mom’s territory. Meanwhile, in Fairy Tail, Gildarts stayed with the Fairy Tail Guild after his return to serve as its Fifth Guild Master.
He also worked well with its new members including Natsu and Gildarts expressed much interest and optimism in Fairy Tail’s new generation of mages. In return, Shanks and Gildarts’ mentees, Luffy and Natsu, both think fondly of their mentors and always looked forward to the next time they see them. It’s always a rewarding experience to mentor a younger character especially when one can track their progress and watch them grow in such tangible ways.
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