The Straw Hat crew might be sailing into their final saga, but a good chunk of One Piece fans are not happy with the direction things are going, especially those who have backed Sanji for years. While the anime continues to deliver top-tier visuals, there’s a growing sense that Sanji’s portrayal has taken a hit. And fans aren’t staying quiet about it.
Episode 1124: The Scene That Set Things Off
Episode 1124 dropped in early April 2025 and looked incredible on the surface. But the moment that sparked heated backlash was a flashback where Sanji thanks Nami for saving him from S-Shark, the Seraphim based on Jinbe. This moment was never in the manga, and that’s where the trouble starts.
In Toei Piece Nami saves Sanji pic.twitter.com/UOchInr50e
— DEMON LEG (@muginokaizoku) April 6, 2025
In the original material, Sanji takes hits from S-Shark without showing any sign of injury. In the anime, however, he’s shown kneeling and clutching his shoulder like he’s hurt. It changes the tone of the entire fight and makes him appear weaker than what fans have come to expect.
What made this worse was how Zoro was portrayed in the same arc. While Sanji is shown needing help, Zoro takes on two Seraphim at once and wins. Manga readers know that both characters struggled, but the anime tweaks the presentation in a way that fans say creates an uneven dynamic between the two.
The Vanishing Act
Another major issue appears in Episode 1123. After the Straw Hats successfully capture York, there’s a celebratory group shot, one that mirrors a memorable manga panel. But Sanji is nowhere to be seen. He’s absent, even though other characters like Franky, who had less impact in the scene, are shown.
“They don’t have an agenda against sanji”
— Nutty II (@NuttyReturns) April 5, 2025
THEY LITERALLY REMOVED HIM FROM THIS SCENE FOR NO REASON pic.twitter.com/EpewO7p0Xe
Fans say it feels deliberate. Sanji played a crucial role in capturing York, and leaving him out of that shot feels like a clear attempt to downplay his contributions.
Bonnie, Nami, and Sanji’s Awkward Anime Behavior
The backlash didn’t end with fight scenes and omissions. Sanji’s typical gag behavior was turned up in ways that many viewers found off-putting. In both the new opening and Episode 1123, he reacts to Bonnie with his usual exaggerated affection.
But manga readers know something anime-only fans don’t yet: Bonnie is 12 years old. That piece of information comes later in the story, and makes the anime’s decision to add those reactions especially uncomfortable.
In the manga, Sanji never behaves like that toward Bonnie. His attention is directed at Stussy in those scenes instead. Changing that context shifts his character from goofy to creepy, and longtime fans noticed.
And then there’s the Nami situation. In a scene not found in the manga, Sanji is shown following Nami around on all fours, acting like a dog. This one pushed fans further over the edge. Yes, Sanji is loyal to Nami, but this portrayal strips away the complexity of his personality and turns him into a caricature.
A Pattern Fans Are Calling Out
Toei Slander Fully Explained – Is Sanji’s Hate Justified?
byu/NoothinGreata inPiratefolk
It’s not just these two episodes, either. Fans say they’ve seen this kind of portrayal before. The “Fan Letter Special,” directed by Megumi Ishitani, portrayed Sanji as the butt of the joke while the other Straw Hats were celebrated.
According to Ishitani, it was meant to poke fun at how people judge based on appearances, referencing his early wanted poster. But fans who admire Sanji for his strength, heart, and cooking skills weren’t laughing.
The feeling many have now is that this isn’t a one-off problem. It’s a pattern. Sanji’s being sidelined, ridiculed, and reworked in ways that ignore the qualities that made him a fan favorite to begin with.
Why This Hurts More Than Usual
Sanji is one of the most popular characters in One Piece, almost always in the top three in fan rankings. He’s a skilled fighter who only uses his legs, saving his hands for cooking. He has a deep sense of honor, especially when it comes to women, and he’s got one of the most layered backstories in the series. Born into royalty but rejecting a cold, violent family, Sanji found purpose among the Straw Hats.
So when the anime makes choices that make him seem weaker, creepier, or just irrelevant, it hits a nerve. It’s not just about one scene or one joke, it’s about seeing a character they’ve loved for years being reduced to something he’s not.
Fans Push Back And Point Fingers
The frustration has been directed at Toei Animation, the studio behind the anime. Viewers are accusing the studio of distorting the characters for the sake of comedy or plot convenience, even when it comes at the expense of the source material.
Some of that anger has even reached staff like Megumi Ishitani, despite her having nothing to do with the episodes in question. She responded on social media asking fans to direct their concerns more fairly, noting that anime production involves many people, and not every decision comes from the director.
That didn’t stop the online debate. It’s continuing across Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube, where fans are comparing manga panels to anime scenes and pointing out every inconsistency they can find.
Despite all this, the anime continues to look better than ever. Since the Wano arc, the production quality has been consistently high. But while the art gets better, many feel the story is starting to drift off course.
And when it affects a character like Sanji, who stands as one of the most loyal, emotional, and skilled members of the crew, it hits differently. Fans aren’t just nitpicking. They’re reacting to something that feels like a loss.
Sanji isn’t just comic relief. He’s not just a flirt. He’s a deeply written character who’s earned his place in the Straw Hats and in the hearts of fans. Right now, those fans feel like he’s being rewritten, and they’re not staying quiet about it.
