- Dr. Vegapunk is the smartest human being on the planet and works as the chief scientist of the World Government in One Piece.
- He consumed the Nomi Nomi no Mi (Brain-Brain Fruit) that enabled him to gain and store an indefinite amount of knowledge.
- He used these devil fruit powers to split his brain into six satellites, namely Shaka, Lilith, Edison, Pythagoras, Atlas, and York.
The anime adaptation of the Egghead arc in One Piece has fans at fever pitch about seeing the true genius, Dr. Vegapunk, who was first mentioned by Koby in episode 315 (manga chapter 433). Fans have been patiently waiting to see how the man looks, his role in the One Piece universe, and so on. Well, we almost got a glimpse at him in episode 610 (manga chapter 684), but his appearance was only teased at that point. And now, at last, after a long wait, we know this Einstein-level mastermind will be making his anime debut in the Egghead arc next week. Manga fans like myself already know a lot about him. So, let me introduce you to Dr. Vegapunk and his six other bodies (satellites) in this guide.
Spoilers Warning: This article contains major spoiler about Dr. Vegapunk and his satellittes in One Piece. So we highly recommend you to watch the anime and read the manga (upto the latest chapter) first in order to avoid ruining your intended experience.
Who is Dr. Vegapunk in One Piece?
Dr. Vegapunk is the chief scientist of the World Government and is famously known as the smartest man on the planet. He is the genius behind numerous astounding inventions in One Piece, including sea stones, Pacifistas, Seraphims, and many others.
As a result, he leads the science unit of the Marines, commonly known as the Special Science Group (SSG).
Before working full-time with the Marines, he oversaw the MADS, which was an illegal scientific research crew that the World Government later disbanded. During that period, he collaborated with some renowned scientists we know already, like Caesar Clown, Vinsmoke Judge, Queen, and Buckingham Stussy.
Vegapunk was born and grew up on Karakuri Island, which is said to be more technologically advanced than any other island out there. You might vividly remember this island as one of the Straw Hats members Franky was sent to this island by Bartholomew Kuma. This man currently resides on Egghead Island, where Straw Hats will have their first formal encounter with him.
Dr. Vegapunk’s Devil Fruit Powers
Although Vegapunk already hailed from a technologically superior Karakuri island, he eventually consumed a devil fruit to clinch the title of the smartest man on the planet. He ate the Nomi Nomi no Mi (Brain-Brain Fruit), a Paramecia-type devil fruit that enables the user to gain and store an indefinite amount of knowledge about everything in the world. Thus, technically, it makes him the most intelligent being in the One Piece universe.
In one of the past scenes, we can see Vegapunk with an unusually large head. This is primarily due to his devil fruit powers, as he kept learning more new information, which led to his brain getting bigger and bigger. However, he devised a brilliant plan to separate his brain from his body, which was a success, and created different bodies. He managed to split his brain into 6 satellites, namely:
- Shaka
- Lilith
- Edison
- Pythagoras
- Atlas
- York
Fun Fact: As you might have already guessed, yes! Vegapunk’s appearance was inspired by the real-life genius Albert Einstein, based on the photo of him sticking his tongue out. Various aspects about him are inspired by many other renowned scientists, such as Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, etc.
Dr. Vegapunk’s Six Bodies (Satellites) in One Piece
With the help of his devil fruit’s power, Vegapunk was able to create Punk Records. It is a system using which Vegapunk can remove his brain and keep them separate. So, if you are wondering how he can access his brain after that, I’ve got you; it’s a fascinating concept.
Vegapunk created an antenna-like design that is capable of connecting to the system (using brain waves) where his brain is kept, and he can access all of its features. In this way, he doesn’t need to worry about his head getting bigger and longer.
A while back, as the smartest man on the planet, he was preoccupied with many businesses, and it was so hard for him to keep track of them all. This is when Vegapunk decided to divide himself into six other bodies of himself, which he referred to as satellites. These six satellites are linked to Punk Records and synchronize their experiences and knowledge with it once a day so that they all can stay on the same track and the information pipeline between them stays intact. Moreover, each satellite stands out as they represent a distinct facet of Vegapunk’s character.
All six of his bodies identify themselves as Vegapunks. However, each of them has a name, and the main body of Dr. Vegapunk is known as Stella. To this day, we still don’t know by which process he was able to split himself, but you can learn about each satellite of Vegapunk below:
1. Shaka
- Based on: Good
Alright, the first satellite or sub-body of Dr. Vegapunk we have here is Shaka. His designated title is Punk-01, and it’s because he was created as the first satellite. He personifies the “good” character trait of Vegapunk. His helmet shares a similar resemblance to the famous electronic music duo Daft Punk, doesn’t it?
Shaka is the representation of the good within Vegapunk, and as a result, he is seen as an incredibly rational and considerate person. He remained loyal to Vegapunk until he died at the hands of fellow satellite, York.
2. Lilith
- Based on: Evil
Up next, we have Lilith, who is the very first satellite you meet at the beginning of the Egghead arc. In contrast to Shaka, Lilith symbolizes the ‘evil’ trait of Dr. Vegapunk. Don’t worry, she wasn’t that offensive to the Straw Hats.
Her designated title is Punk-02 and resembles Nami a lot. Of course, we know almost most of the female characters’ designs share that!
Lilith being the personification of Vegapunk’s evil aspect directly makes her a very deceitful person, one who is cruel and untrustworthy. However, she is also caring towards her nakama (friends). She is the most courageous and audacious of all the other satellites!
3. Edison
- Based on: Thinking
Next, we have Edison whose designated title is Punk-03. He is a mechanical robot (a tiny one) who embodies the “thinking” aspect of Dr. Vegapunk. So, you can pretty much guess that he’s one of the backbones of Vegapunk’s inventions and discoveries. His primary role is to brainstorm ideas and devise strategies and plans for not just new inventions but also during crises.
Edison was also seen as having an understanding and empathetic character when compared to his fellow satellites. Oftentimes, he would say, “Eureka!” whenever he came up with a new idea. This is a clear tribute to one of the most famous physicists, Archimedes, the father of mathematics.
4. Pythagoras
- Based on: Wisdom
The fourth satellite is none other than Pythagoras, who must have been inspired by the renowned Greek philosopher. Punk-04 is his designated title, and similar to Edison, he also has a metallic robotic body. He personifies the wisdom aspect of Dr. Vegapunk and his role is very much like his fellow satellite, Edison.
As he is bestowed with Vegapunk’s wisdom, he oversees the technical involvements and discoveries of the creator. Dealing with analyzing and compiling data, Pythagoras is inarguably one of the best contributors to various path-breaking inventions.
He is also seen as a very calm and considerate person who is also intelligent at the same time. Well, however, his life came to an end when one of their creations, S-Snake (a seraphim) killed him.
5. Atlas
- Based on: Violence
Who would have thought that this kid-like satellite would be the one to adopt the “violence” aspect of Dr. Vegapunk? She may look like a kid, but her height is almost identical to that of the gigantic Kaido. Atlas’ designated title is Punk-05, and she is the hot-headed satellite among the gang.
The inheritance of violence automatically made her a quick-tempered character. As a result, she was always seen as a rash and reckless individual in the story. Although Atlas is a hothead, she is also a loquacious girl whose expertise mainly relies on engineering.
Due to her enormous size, she eventually has a massive strength to clash with others. You will have to wait for the anime to get the full picture.
6. York
- Based on: Greed
York is the final satellite, and so her designated title is Punk-06. She symbolizes the “greed” aspect of Dr. Vegapunk, and therefore, that makes her betray her kin later in the story. Similar to Atlas, she is also seen to have great height and great strength. She is regarded as extremely lethargic and a person with insatiable greed among her crew.
York was in charge of doing her fellow satellite’s duties, such as food intake, getting sleep, and many more. One could say York carrying out these duties alone made her lazy as well. She is incredibly manipulative, and due to her greediness, she became a traitor and switched teams to become an ally of the World Government. As a result, she killed her fellow satellite, Shaka, on Egghead Island.
And that’s everything you need to know about Dr. Vegapunk and his satellites in One Piece. It was beyond exciting to finally see this genius and learn everything about him in this arc. Now we know exactly why he is revered as the smartest man on this planet.
With how things are shaping up, Vegapunk will probably become a temporary crew member of the Straw Hat Pirates. What do you think about that? Let us know in the comments below!
Dr. Vegapunk is certainly a good person, although one of his satellites, which embodied his greed aspect, later turned out to be a traitor within them.
The main body, called Stella, is the original Vegapunk. You can easily identify him based on his old appearance.
Unfortunately, Shaka and Pythagoras are confirmed to be dead after the former was killed by York and the latter by his creation, S-Snake.
