Fans have waited six months without a new episode of One Piece. This is the longest hiatus in the anime's history, which also coincides with its 25th anniversary. But this weekend, the cult anime finally resumed airing with episode 1123. However, instead of celebrating the return, some fans are crying injustice.
Sanji sacrificed once again
Episode 1123 was supposed to relaunch the plot. It was supposed to mark an important step in the Egghead arc. However, as soon as it was released, social media was inflamed by the fact that Sanji was almost erased from certain key scenes. In the scene where the Straw Hats capture York, manga fans loved the involvement of all the members, including Sanji. But in the anime, the cook doesn't even appear.
“They don’t have an agenda against sanji”
— April 5, 2025
THEY LITERALLY REMOVED HIM FROM THIS SCENE FOR NO REASON pic.twitter.com/EpewO7p0Xe
"They have nothing against Sanji." THEY LITERALLY REMOVED HIM FROM THIS SCENE FOR NO REASON
An Internet user on X
For many, this choice doesn't go over well. This isn't a minor oversight. It's a blatant modification. A symbolic erasure. A humiliation for the one who was once considered number 3 of the crew, just behind Luffy and Zoro.
A shocking scene with Bonney
But the worst happens in the next scene. Sanji appears, but not to fight. He has heart eyes in front of Bonney, as usual with women. Except that this time, the gag causes discomfort. Because even if Bonney seems adult, she is canonically a 12-year-old child because her appearance changes thanks to her powers.
However, in the manga, Eiichiro Oda has always avoided this kind of ambiguity. Sanji never flirts with Bonney. He never displays his usual excessive reactions.
From hero to jester?
Indeed, this is not the first time that fans have complained about Sanji's treatment. For several arcs, they have denounced a progressive deterioration of his role.
In the manga, this shift is already criticized. Some actually blame Oda to move away from the character's complexity. Sanji is more than a hot-blooded cook. He's a strategist, a formidable fighter, a man with a strict moral code.
Toei Animation in the Crosshairs
In reality, Toei Studios is not new to this. It is known for stretching certain scenes, adding jokes, or changing dialogue. In some cases, these liberties enrich the anime. But here, fans feel that Toei sabotaged a key moment.
Of course, some defend the studio. They point out that Sanji has always had these kinds of reactions. But for a large part of the audience, this argument is no longer sufficient.
It's not a question of consistency. It's a question of respect for the character.
Ironically, the rest of the episode is acclaimed. The animation, the fights, and the opening credits were very well received.
From now on, fans are asking us to make the effort to respect the character. To stop reducing him to a clown. And above all, to give him back his number 3 spot, the one he should never have lost.
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