Summary

Toei Animation staff acknowledge discussions about Sanji's portrayal.
Vincent Chansard admits noticeable patterns in assigning big scenes.
Anime changes, like added scenes and downgraded combat, intensify criticisms.

Over the last week, One Piece animator Vincent Chansard has addressed growing fan concerns about an alleged anti-Sanji bias at Toei Animation. Speaking in an interview, Chansard revealed that even the studio staff have privately discussed the perception that Sanji is being mistreated, while emphasizing that there is no intentional agenda behind the scene assignments.

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The conversation around Sanji’s portrayal has been simmering for years but recently intensified following episodes in the Egghead arc. While manga readers have long admired Sanji for his combat abilities and personal code, anime-only viewers have increasingly been exposed to a version of the character defined more by gags than substance. The disconnect between the manga and anime portrayals has caused frustration across the One Piece fandom—particularly when Sanji’s moments are downplayed or altered outright.

Vincent Chansard Breaks Silence on the Anti-Sanji Accusations

Toei Staff Admit to Internally Discussing Sanji’s On-Screen Treatment

This controversy caught the attention of the One Piece creative team itself. Vincent Chansard, an animator at Toei, spoke about the issue during a YouTube interview.

Obviously, with colleagues we’ve been like is there actually something we should do differently? Obviously, when it comes to the top people in One Piece or the people who are in the deciding positions who distribute the scene, [they] will go like you are going to do this scene, you are going to do this scene, you are going to do the storyboard for this scene.

Chansard also did not completely dismiss the idea of bias. While he believes there is no intentional agenda against Sanji, he acknowledged that there are noticeable patterns in how big scenes are assigned to animators.

Interestingly, Chansard pointed out that when Sanji does get a major fight—like the Sanji vs. Queen battle—Toei brings in some of its top talent. That episode was animated by industry standouts like Akihiro Ota and Tu Yong-Ce. However, these moments remain rare compared to Zoro’s frequent spotlight episodes, which could explain why fans continue to feel that Sanji is overlooked in the anime adaptation.

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Recent Episodes Feature Controversial Changes Not Found in the Manga

A recent flashpoint for this debate came in Episode 1123. Toei added an anime-original scene where Sanji flirted with Jewelry Bonney—who is, despite her appearance, only 12 years old. The manga does not include any such interaction. In Oda’s version, it was simply a meal scene where Sanji cooked for everyone equally. The anime’s addition was immediately criticized for being distasteful and unnecessary.

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Toei attempted damage control in a later episode, showing Sanji’s surprised reaction to the revelation that Bonney is a child. But many fans saw this as overcompensation that still failed to address the deeper issue—that Sanji was placed in a situation he was never part of in the source material. These creative liberties continue to stir accusations of bias.

Other Anime-Only Changes That Undermine Sanji

Downgraded Combat Feats and Comedy-Only Depictions Spark Backlash

Episode 1105 added to the frustration. In the manga, Sanji saves Vegapunk’s satellite Edison before a Seraphim attack lands, displaying his speed and agility. But in the anime, the timing is altered—Sanji arrives after the attack and is even thrown into a wall by S-Shark in a filler moment. Zoro, meanwhile, is depicted dodging S-Hawk’s attacks with cinematic precision.

Fans have also pointed out how previous episodes, like 1061, downplayed Sanji’s Ifrit Jambe techniques. Attacks that severely damaged Queen in the manga had little visible effect in the anime. Combined with an exaggerated focus on his nosebleeds and "simp" behavior, many believe that Toei has gradually eroded Sanji’s dignity.

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But not all fans agree that there’s a vendetta at play. Some believe the criticism has been overblown and rooted in cherry-picked examples. Animators like Henry Thurlow have urged fans to step back and take a breath, pointing out that similar controversies have flared up in other fandoms, including Naruto and Bleach. But even Thurlow’s defense hasn’t quelled the ongoing scrutiny of Sanji’s portrayal.

One thing is certain: One Piece remains one of the most passionately followed series in anime history. And as long as characters like Sanji are central to the story, fans will continue holding Toei accountable.

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