One Piece Fans Accuse Toei of Bias in Zoro vs S-Hawk Scene

Despite fans praising the incredible animation and fighting choreography in One Piece Episode 1109, some also believe that the Zoro vs S-Hawk scene showcases Toei’s potential bias.

Currently, the Egghead Island Arc is airing in the One Piece anime and in Episode 1109, we were able to witness the epic clash between Zoro and S-Hawk. Directed by Nanami Michibata, this highly anticipated battle features some of the biggest names in the industry, including Shoutarou Ban and Vincent Chansard.

After signing a one-year contract with Toei Animation, this marks the first appearance of Vincent Chansard. The episode includes the highly anticipated showdown between the Kid Pirates and the Red-Hair Pirates. Despite receiving positive feedback from the fandom, it also sheds light on Toei’s recurring favoritism.

Despite being loyal fans, many Sanji supporters have consistently voiced their disapproval of the animation studio’s unfair treatment. This sentiment is especially evident during the Egghead Island Arc, where the studio mistakenly portrays one of Sanji’s impressive speed feats in Episode 1105.

#ONEPIECE1109 There’s a clear difference… 😏 pic.twitter.com/LUQ9AriPcP

— Damian | Phoenix Pirates 🏴‍☠️ ☠️ ⚔️ (@Damienccmeyer) June 23, 2024

Despite the consistent issue with pacing, it is evident that Sanji bears the brunt of it while Zoro tends to have more moments to showcase his coolness. The extended version of their fight against S-Hawk in the anime, which is considered canon, showcases the impressive fighting choreography of both characters.

In contrast to Episode 1095 where S-Shark easily tosses Sanji a few meters away, the partiality is evidently displayed. Despite both scenes being anime canon, Toei undermines Sanji’s abilities in one while exaggerating Zoro’s in the other.

Despite the fact that his gags are frequently multiplied in order to create more scenes for the anime, this ultimately only serves to worsen Sanji’s running joke. Additionally, in comparison to the manga where Zoro and Sanji are often portrayed as being relatively equal in strength, the anime presents Sanji as weaker which only adds to the issue.

A fan, who shared a link to a post on social media, expressed their frustration by saying, “It’s ironic that they claim to not have any bias, yet they went as far as altering two manga panels. One of them portrayed a negative perspective, while the other showed a positive one.”

“It’s evident that Toei strongly favors Zoro over Sanji. While Zoro is undeniably stronger, the way they portray Sanji almost belittles him,”comments another person on Twitter.