This post contains spoilers for One Piece.

As the main lead in One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy is almost always in the spotlight. Due to this reason, Luffy is also the most popular character from the series. Even people who haven't watched One Piece know about Luffy. Needless to say, the main reason behind his popularity is the brain of Eiichiro Oda.

One Piece: Every Straw Hat Pirate's Age, Height, And Birthday

The Straw Hat Pirates are one of the youngest, most ambitious crews in One Piece. Here are the characters' ages, heights, and birthdays.

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Like all manga authors, Eiichiro Oda has put a great deal of effort into creating Luffy. He has worked hard to come up with Luffy's design, persona, and powers, all of which are integral to the pirate's fame. Without Oda's ingenuity, Luffy would not have been so appealing. As a result of the author's efforts, Luffy is widely believed to be the best-written character in One Piece, but the truth is slightly different.

Sanji Is The Best Written Character In One Piece

While there's no denying that Luffy is an amazingly well-written character, he is not the best, as that honor belongs to Sanji, a fellow Straw Hat. Like his captain, Sanji is also popular among the masses, as evidenced by his ranking in the popularity polls. So the question is, why is Sanji so adored by fans? The answer is rather simple—he is arguably the best all-around character in One Piece.

Some people may feel that the statement is exaggerated, but there is plenty of evidence proving Sanji is head and shoulders above the competition. First, it's important to take a look at Sanji's backstory. While the Straw Hats were on Baratie, it was revealed that Sanji and Zeff met in the unlikeliest of conditions. Zeff and his crew were trying to loot the ship that Sanji was on. When all the people were rounded up, Sanji revealed that his dream was to find the All Blue. Everyone around him began laughing, but at that moment, Zeff saw himself in the young boy. So, when a tidal wave threw Sanji off the ship, Zeff jumped into the water to rescue him.

Zeff cuts off his own leg in the manga - One Piece

Subsequently, he found Sanji and swam to an isolated rock. Zeff gave Sanji a bag of food while keeping the other for himself. Days passed, and yet there was still no sign of help. As a kid, Sanji didn't have the same level of control, and after running out of food, he decided to attack Zeff. But he was shocked to see that Zeff had eaten his leg, as his bag was only full of loot. Zeff had given all the food to Sanji so that the latter could survive. Upon realizing his mistake, Sanji broke down in tears, and his respect for Zeff increased significantly. Once they were rescued, Sanji stayed with Zeff as they founded Baratie, a restaurant on the sea.

Because My Father Would Be Sad. —Sanji

The time that Sanji spent on the island with Zeff not only showed how determined he was to survive but also that he was mature enough to accept his mistakes. Seeing Zeff sacrifice so much for a boy he barely knew changed Sanji for the better, especially after factoring in how badly he was treated by the Vinsmokes. Sanji considered Zeff his real father, which is why he went with Capone Bege when they threatened to kill him.

Sanji's Past As A Vinsmoke Was Beautifully Executed By Oda

Sanji was tormented by his family
He remained true to his ideals

When the story moved to the Whole Cake Island arc, Sanji's family was revealed. In a major flashback, it was revealed how Sanji was mistreated by his siblings and by his own father, with Reiju and Sora being the exceptions. Sora, in particular, was kind to Sanji, for she knew that her son was compassionate and loving. She was happy that at least one of her kids hadn't been corrupted by Judge's mad desire for power. For most of his childhood, Sanji spent time with Sora and cooking new things for her. He was also kind towards animals, which did not sit well with his father and brothers. All four of them would bully him at every chance they got. In fact, Judge put a mask on Sanji and imprisoned him so that no one would know that he was connected to the Vinsmoke family. Ultimately, Sanji escaped the torture and, with Reiju's help, left behind his old life.

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Sanji's past as a member of the Vinsmoke Family caused serious mental damage. As he was still a kid, it wasn't easy for him to comprehend why his own flesh and blood hated him so much. He second-guessed everything and became a person who didn't want to rely on others. This was another reason why Sanji went with Capone because he wanted to share all the burden by himself. When he first countered Luffy in the Whole Cake Island arc, he chose to maintain the facade of being done with the Straw Hats. Again, this was because of Sanji's desire not to depend on anyone else.

Sanji Never Changed Even After Years Of Torture

Later in the arc, Sanji had the perfect opportunity to exact revenge against the Vinsmoke Family. Sanji could have let them be killed by the Big Mom Pirates, but that would have meant that Judge had successfully killed his compassion. Besides, it was not how Zeff raised him. So, Sanji rescued the Vinsmokes, proving that he was not devoid of emotions like them. It was also a slap in his father's face as he always believed Sanji was a weakling.

The Robin Moment In Onigashima Changed Everything

Sanji Proved That He Wasn't The Same As Before

If Oda had stopped adding to Sanji's character in Whole Cake Island, he would still have been one of the best-written characters in One Piece. But the author wanted to add one more, arguably the most important moment, to demonstrate Sanji's growth. During the Onigashima Raid, Sanji was tricked and captured by Black Maria. Normally, Sanji could have escaped easily, but his chivalrous nature prevented him from hurting a woman.

Black Maria gave Sanji an ultimatum—call Nico Robin or die. To the surprise of everyone, Sanji shouted for Robin and asked for her help. A lot of fans felt that it was pathetic from Sanji, but that wasn't the case. Sanji's decision proved that he was ready to share his burden with others. It also signified that he had faith in his crewmate to get the job, which is exactly what Robin did.

Sanji Will Finally Get His Yonko-Level Power Up In Elbaf With Conqueror's Haki one piece — Sanji holds up a plate while baring his teeth.

The level of detail and intricacy with which Oda planned Sanji's backstory and his development is unmatched. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it is Oda's best work in terms of writing a character. Obviously, Sanji is not perfect and has his flaws, but so does everyone. Fans who are unhappy with Sanji being a pervert should remember that his actions are grossly exaggerated in the anime. He is much more respectable in the manga, as his gag is limited to only a few occasions.

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