Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece has been one of the most beloved and iconic manga series for over two decades. However, despite its success, fans have long criticized Toei Animation’s anime adaptation of One Piece, claiming that the studio has failed to do justice to Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece. From pacing issues to unnecessary objectification of its female characters — the complaints regarding Toei’s adaptation have been increasing over time.
Amid the criticism, the idea of WIT Studio’s remake of One Piece has garnered significant attention from fans. Due to its past record of delivering top-notch animation, fans believe this remake could breathe new life into the One Piece franchise, offering a more faithful adaptation that respects the core of Oda’s storytelling.
Issues Regarding Toei Animation: Over S*xualization of Female Characters in One Piece
Toei Animation has been adapting One Piece since its anime debut in 1999. While their contribution to One Piece‘s success is undeniable, the studio has received its fair share of criticisms regarding multiple issues.
With the complaints surrounding pacing issues, filler arcs, and inconsistent animation quality, another criticism has been simultaneously voiced out by the fans — their portrayal of female characters.
Toei Animation’s tendency to over-s*xualize the designs of female characters in One Piece has become a valid reason for irk among fans. Characters like Nami, Robin, or others have been transformed into caricatures of the typical fan-service archetype, with their designs often prioritizing s*xual appeal over realism or character depth. For example, @peronyawns has shared a panel of Nami’s drawing in the manga, by comparing her portrayal in the anime side by side.
In the manga, Eiichiro Oda’s female characters are diverse, strong, and complex, playing vital roles in the story without relying on over-the-top fan service. in the anime, many of these characters are subjected to exaggerated proportions and unnecessary objectification that often diminishes their importance and distracts from their original growth.
By the way Toei animates these women, it’s highly doubtful they had an actual woman overlook those designs. This over-s*xualization has led to a disconnect between the manga and the anime, with many fans feeling that Toei has compromised the integrity of Oda’s storytelling in favor of appealing to a male-dominated audience.
What a WIT Studio Remake could mean for One Piece
Due to the growing criticisms of Toei, fans have been eagerly anticipating the WIT Studio Remake of One Piece. WIT Studio’s track record of producing anime with stunning animation quality, respect for the source material, and a cinematic approach to storytelling, makes fans look forward to the remake version over the original one.
Unlike Toei, WIT has shown a commitment to staying true to the original designs and personalities of characters, avoiding unnecessary fan service that detracts from their roles in the story. For example, in Attack on Titan, WIT Studio remained faithful to Hajime Isayama’s original character designs, ensuring that characters like Mikasa, Historia, or Annie retained their complexity without being objectified.
Fans hope that this studio would handle female characters like Nami, Nico Robin, and Boa Hancock in One Piece with similar integrity, while showcasing their strength and depth rather than reducing them merely to s*xualized figures.
As fans continue to express their frustrations with Toei, the prospect of WIT Studio taking the reins offers hope for a brighter future for the One Piece anime. This remake would not only correct Toei’s mishandling of the series but also allow fans to enjoy Luffy’s journey in a way that truly honors Eiichiro Oda’s original vision.
One Piece is currently available to watch and read on Crunchyroll and Viz Media, respectively.
