In recent weeks, an old debate among One Piece fans has resurfaced and gone viral about whether there is an anti-Sanji bias at Toei Animation. Longtime viewers have pointed to what they believe is uneven treatment between Sanji and other Straw Hat crew , especially Zoro. Now, the conversation has reached the creative team itself. Animator Vincent Chansard addressed the topic head-on during a YouTube interview, revealing that even Toei staff have started asking themselves, “Do we need to do something differently?”
The question is not just rhetorical. Episode director Megumi Ishitani recently became the target of fan backlash, according to Anime Corner, over perceived changes in Sanji’s anime portrayal, despite not working on the specific episode in question. As criticism turned into harassment, the issue grew more public, prompting a wave of for Ishitani and renewed scrutiny over how the beloved cook is animated. With fans dissecting every frame, the people behind One Piece can no longer ignore the optics.
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Vincent Chansard noted that the idea of bias is not dismissed outright among the staff. While he does not believe there’s an intentional agenda, he its there are noticeable patterns in how major scenes are assigned. Episodes featuring Zoro often get higher-profile animators, while Sanji's spotlight moments do not always receive the same treatment. This discrepancy, he suggested, might stem more from narrative structure and timing than favoritism, but it is enough to raise eyebrows internally.
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Chansard pointed out that when Sanji does get his due, like in the Sanji vs. Queen fight, Toei brings out some of their top talent. That episode included major names like Akihiro Ota and Tu Yong-Ce. However, the rarity of these high-caliber showcases compared to Zoro’s repeated highlights may explain why fans feel the scales are tipped. Chansard acknowledged the imbalance as a viewer himself, even if he believes it’s unintentional from the production side.
The Ishitani Incident and Fan Responsibility
The Cost of Misplaced Blame in Anime Fandoms
Megumi Ishitani, one of One Piece's most acclaimed directors, found herself under fire for animation decisions she did not even make. Following Episode 1123, some fans accused her of downplaying Sanji’s presence, flooding her social media with comparisons and complaints. Ishitani eventually pushed back, reminding fans not to direct broad criticisms at individuals working within a massive collaborative system.
Her response highlights a growing issue in anime fandom about holding creators able for creative decisions without full context. Even with access to episode credits and staff lists, many fans react emotionally to perceived slights, losing sight of the bigger picture. While ionate debate is part of the fandom, personal attacks only serve to drive away the very creatives who make the series like One Piece special.
- Created by
- Eiichiro Oda
- First Film
- One Piece: The Movie
- First TV Show
- One Piece
- Cast
- Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi
- Video Game(s)
- One Piece: Unlimited World Red, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, One Piece Odyssey
- Character(s)
- Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami (One Piece), Nico Robin, Usopp (One Piece), Vinsmoke Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Franky (One Piece), Jimbei (One Piece)
