Sanji is a top character in One Piece. He’s part of the Monster Trio, along with Zoro and Luffy. He’s intelligent, strong, and always willing to protect his crew. Sanji is a fan favorite of the character, developed deeply through the manga. However, through the One Piece anime produced by Toei Animation, there have been increasing fan worries that Sanji is being mishandled, with shots that undermine his dignity, undercut his presence, or flatly misrepresent him.
1. Sanji Gets Heart Eyes Over Bonney (Manga Chapter 1090, Anime Episode 1123)
In Episode 1123, Sanji encounters Jewelry Bonney and immediately responds with over-the-top heart-eyes, as if he’s in love at first sight. But this scene never occurs in the Manga, Chapter 1090. It’s a total anime-only insert by Toei.
What makes this extremely inappropriate is that Bonney is revealed to be 12 years old due to her Devil Fruit power. Inserting a scene where Sanji responds romantically towards a child character isn’t just inaccurate, it’s creepy and out of character. Sanji, having grown up a great deal since the time-skip, would not respond this way, and this scene unfairly presents him as immature and creepy.
2. Sanji Barking Like a Dog (Manga Chapter 1075)
In a funny line, Sanji says to Stussy, “You can consider me your loyal dog.” In the manga (Chapter 1075), it’s a quick, lighthearted line with no additional exaggeration. Toei, however, takes it too far in the anime by actually animating Sanji barking, making a lighthearted line into an over-the-top and humiliating scene.What is a brief gag is turned into an over-the-top scene that takes away the dignity of Sanji. It’s these kinds of moments that leave fans to wonder if Toei holds Sanji’s development in high regard.
3. Sanji Cut Out of a Straw Hat Frame (Manga Chapter 1089)
In Chapter 1089, there’s a panel in which the Straw Hat members are in a group in a pose where they defeated York. But in the anime version, Sanji is cut out of the frame. There was no narrative reason to remove him. His omission felt deliberate, prompting fans to speculate whether Toei was trying to downplay his importance in the crew dynamic. It also disrespects Sanji’s status as a character.
4. Sanji Thrown by Seraphim Jinbe (Manga Chapter 1065)
In Chapter 1065, when the Straw Hats battle S-Shark (Seraphim Jinbe), there isn’t a single moment where Sanji is overwhelmed. But in the anime, Toei adds an artificial scene in which S-Shark grips Sanji and thumps him against the ceiling. This completely invented moment makes Sanji appear weak in a scene where he originally held his own. For anime-only viewers, this change sends the wrong message about Sanji’s capabilities and importance.
5. "Star" Line Changed to Favor Zoro (Manga Chapter 1022)
In Chapter 1022, Marco addresses Sanji and Zoro joining the battlefield, addressing them as “stars” who will soon be going on stage. It’s an acknowledgment of them being the Pirate King’s wings. This spectacular moment in the manga depicts the dynamic and significance of the characters Sanji and Zoro.
But in the anime, Marco says, “Here comes the star, yoi,” singular. This change removes Sanji from the moment entirely, making it seem like Zoro is the sole highlight. A duo moment becomes a solo spotlight, once again minimizing Sanji’s role.
6. Sanji’s Big Moment vs Queen Was Downplayed (Manga Chapter 1034)
In Chapter 1034, Sanji beats Queen using his newly activated Germa genes and his strong attack, Ifrit Jambe, after rejecting the Germa Raid Suit. It was a turning point, highlighting his uniqueness, strength, and beliefs. However, in the anime, the fight felt underwhelming. The animation lacked impact, the pacing was off, and unnecessary repeated frames of yelling instead of the actual attack that sent Queen flying disrupted the tension. Sanji’s battle felt rushed and less important.
Why does Toei hates Sanji?
Some fans believe:
- Toei favors Zoro and gives him better treatment in terms of dialogue and animation.
- Toei fails to respect Sanji’s development and continues to reuse old jokes.
- What Toei deems “comedy” tends to harm Sanji’s reputation.
Others claim it’s not on purpose, simply bad creative choices by the anime staff. Whether or not on purpose, the outcome is the same: anime-only viewers misinterpret Sanji, and manga readers are left disappointed.
Sanji Deserves a respectful portrayal onscreen
Sanji is more than comic relief. He’s one of the most devoted and selfless One Piece characters. He’s endured trauma, been subjected to impossible choices, and has always put his crew first. His manga development was written brilliantly by Oda. However, Toei Animation still misinterprets him with tone-deaf revisions and cringeworthy comic cuts. Whether they’re inventing scenes, excluding him from group portraits, or even changing essential lines, they just continue whittling away at what makes Sanji excellent. Sanji has the right to be represented with the dignity and complexity Oda envisioned.
