Sanji deserved better: The Toei controversy that rallied the One Piece fandom

It has been over two decades since One Piece started and gained popularity worldwide. It is known for its intricate and vast world-building, never-heard-before story, and unforgettable characters. Among almost 1174 characters introduced in this series, there is one that has recently opened a conversation among fans.

And that is none other than the Straw Hat Pirate member Sanji. He is a chef, chivalrous fighter, and hopeless romantic who has been a fan favorite character for a good reason. But in recent years, especially after the Whole Cake arc, fans started noticing minor inconsistencies around his character in the anime. And the center of this issue was Toei Animation and their portrayal of Sanji.

But before exploring more about the controversy, it would be better to know more about Sanji. He isn’t just the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates — he is a character defined by paradox.

Born a prince of the German 66 family, he rejected royalty and found dignity in cooking for others. He is as capable in combat as he is in cuisine. He is comedic relief, a romantic fool, and, in the darker arcs, a broken son trying to reconcile his past with his present.

Oda, the creator of One Piece, has taken years to build up on his character as he slowly revealed his backstory and trauma. But since Toei Animation decided to tweak a little, it changed his character completely. This might be overlooked, but those who are anime-only viewers will take this information without realizing that the main creator has not shown Sanji like this.

Fans started pointing out that Toei Animation has been preferring Zoro over Sanji, and it comes across as favoritism. Sanji in One Piece is a character who fights to protect life but never uses his hands to hurt, a prince who fled privilege to earn his place, and a crew member who would rather suffer alone than be a burden to his nakama. Yet he is sidelined and shown to be someone who is just obsessed with women.

Therefore, when the anime failed to deliver that story faithfully, fans were right to speak up. Because of the Toei controversy, fans who had previously seen Sanji as comic relief or a pervy stereotype are changing their perspectives.

Why does it matter to maintain Sanji’s integrity in the One Piece anime?

While many fans do ask if it really matters if few changes are made because anime are famous for adding in some tweaks or fillers according to their interest. But this time it wasn’t just about screen time or animation quality. This was about respecting the emotional journey of a beloved character.

Sanji in One Piece is a flirtatious character, but that is not all there is to him. For a character whose whole identity is wrapped around pride, self-control, and a refusal to let others see his pain, the anime’s version felt intrusive. It broke the unwritten contract between creator, character, and audience.

Maybe it would not have mattered if the animation studio tried this once or twice, but this has happened for a while now, and that is why the fandom is speaking up. Finally, the way Sanji has been animated comes across as vulgar, which does not reflect how Oda intended him to be seen. That deserves to be respected.

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To sum it up, the Sanji in One Piece deserves a better topic is not just about a trend. Fans have collectively sent a message to Toei Animation that adapting a story from manga is not just about bringing the story to life. It is about maintaining its integrity and respecting the creator.

Toei’s portrayal of Sanji in One Piece did not outright slander his character, but these subtle changes make him seem a little off, and this was not fair. In the end, Sanji’s story is still a triumph, and while anime might have tweaked him a little, the manga and the fandom carried his legacy forward.

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