The Elbaf arc in One Piece has become a major focus for fans. Although it has been ongoing for over half a year, much about this storyline remains unexplored and is expected to continue for another year or two. This is especially true for the geography of Elbaf, a vast land shrouded in mystery. Recently, with the release of One Piece Volume 112 SBS, Oda revealed fascinating details about this “land of giants,” including the inspiration behind its creation.
Elbaf: A Land Familiar to Fans
While the Straw Hat Pirates only recently arrived at Elbaf in the manga, the land itself is not new to fans. Elbaf was introduced early in One Piece. When the Straw Hats first entered the Grand Line, they visited Whiskey Peak followed by Little Garden.
Here, the famous giants Dorry and Brogy were introduced. Fans later learned that most giants come from the legendary land of Elbaf. Dorry and Brogy are captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates and have been battling each other on Little Garden for 100 years to settle their rivalry.
Elbaf was established as a country the Straw Hats would eventually visit as early as the Arabasta Saga. Now, in the Final Saga, that moment has finally arrived.
Oda Reveals Elbaf’s Norse Inspiration
In One Piece Volume 112 SBS, Oda shared a lot about Elbaf, including the inspiration behind this land. It’s no surprise that Elbaf draws from the Viking era and Norse mythology. However, Oda offered a more detailed answer that satisfied fans’ curiosity:
Question: I really love the atmosphere of the Elbaf village! Is there a real country or town that inspired this village?
Answer: I’m really glad to hear that. Designing Elbaf took quite some time. Thank you very much. For the design, I mainly based it on Viking-era buildings from Northern Europe (Scandinavia). From there, I imagined the culture and geography. Actually, it’s the same village from Volume 86, but I drew it from an angle that hides the fact it sits atop a giant tree.
A Unique Take on Time in Elbaf
Beyond its Norse and Scandinavian roots, Elbaf has another intriguing aspect. As hinted multiple times in the manga, Elbaf seems to slow down the perception of time, making it pass three times slower than usual. This could explain some of the time discrepancies experienced in One Piece and opens up exciting possibilities for upcoming story developments in the land of giants.
According to Gamerant