Found a shortcut for tracking side characters in long-running shonen

Been rewatching One Piece from the start and realized if you just note the hair color or unique accessory of any new character introduced, you can skip the wiki checks because the show always gives them a distinct visual cue within 5 minutes of their first line - has anyone else figured out a better system for keeping 900+ episodes straight?

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rivera.keith4mo ago

That's a pretty solid method actually. I read somewhere that Oda specifically designs his characters with those visual markers so the audience can tell them apart in crowded scenes, especially in the manga where color isn't always available. The accessory trick is smart too, like how you can always spot a Revolutionary Army member by the feathered capes or a Vice Admiral by the "Justice" coat. I've been using a notebook app on my phone to log the first appearance of any character that gets more than five lines, just the episode number and a quick description, and it's saved me from losing track of who's who after the big arcs blend together.

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caseywest4mo ago

Wait, not all Vice Admirals wear the "Justice" coat... some of them ditch it mid-arc.

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