Veteran One Piece animator Vincent Chansard has finally weighed in on a long-running fan controversy: whether Toei Animation is biased against Sanji. During a recent appearance on the Brago D. Ace YouTube channel, Chansard acknowledged the theory—popular in certain fan circles—but made it clear that there’s no deliberate attempt to downplay the Straw Hat cook.
The animator didn’t shy away from the topic. “You’re bringing up everything we’ve discussed with colleagues!” he said, revealing that even insiders at Toei joke about the idea. “Obviously, the people who are in the deciding position who attribute these scenes — there is no agenda in these people.”
Ishitani Incident Highlights Fan Tensions
Sanji (Credits: Toei Animation)
Much of the backlash reached a peak during the airing of Episode 1123, when episode director Megumi Ishitani was targeted online for allegedly downplaying Sanji in a key group scene and altering a fight sequence with S-Shark. Ironically, Ishitani wasn’t involved in the episode, but that didn’t stop fans from flooding her social media with criticism.
Known for her acclaimed direction on several One Piece episodes, Ishitani responded by asking fans not to target individuals with collective outrage about adaptation decisions. The episode served as a flashpoint in a broader conversation about perceived bias toward characters like Zoro receiving more cinematic treatment.
Chansard’s Take: It’s Not Bias, It’s Logistics
Sanji (Credits: Toei Animation)
Chansard noted that, during Wano, Sanji’s fight against Queen received top-tier animation talent, including Akihiro Ota and Tu Yong-Ce. “The biggest names were on the Sanji vs. Queen episode,” he said. “I never really felt like this was a genuine concern.”
However, he did admit that, as a fan , the disparity between Zoro and Sanji scenes was visible. His personal theory? Scenes with more plot density—like those involving Zoro—are more likely to be given to higher-tier animators simply because of how the episodes are structured. “It could be… just naturally how things are happening,” he said. “I could be wrong. But that’s my analysis.”
Still, Chansard left the door open for change. “I’m curious to see how it evolves in the next episode,” he said, noting his dual perspective as both a One Piece fan and animator.
For more on One Piece’s behind-the-scenes and what’s coming next, check out Toei Animation’s official X account and Vincent Chansard’s animator page .
The final chapter of Demon Slayer is gearing up to be a cinematic event like no other—but with its rising hype comes rising risk. After exclusive previews of the Infinity Castle movie trilogy aired during a global rescreening of Mugen Train , some fans recorded and leaked scenes online. Now, Demon Slayer’s production team has issued a stern warning: illegal spoilers won’t just get you banned—they could land you behind bars.
In a strongly worded statement posted to the anime’s official @kimetsu_off account , the creators cited Japan’s “Law on Prevention of Filming Secretly in Movies,” warning that secretly recording any part of the film and sharing it online is a criminal offense . This isn’t just empty posturing—violators may face up to 10 years in prison , fines of up to 1 million yen , or both.
Infinity Castle Leaks Trigger Serious Legal Warning
Demon Slayer Season 4 (Credits: Ufotable)
The leaked scenes came from a preview shown during a rerelease of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train , which played in select global theaters. While the sneak peek was meant to reward loyal fans, some took the opportunity to illegally record scenes from the trilogy’s first installment, set to premiere in Japan this July 2025.
To prevent this from escalating, Demon Slayer’s team is taking proactive steps. Their official X post not only condemned the act but also explained that under the Film Piracy Prevention Act and Copyright Act , uploading leaked content online could lead to harsh legal consequences. It’s a move that shows how serious the anime industry is becoming about piracy—especially when dealing with one of its most profitable franchises.
A Global Event Worth Protecting from Spoilers
Demon Slayer Season 4 (Credits: Ufotable)
Instead of wrapping up the anime on TV, Demon Slayer is closing out its story with a high-budget film trilogy—a decision inspired by the enormous success of Mugen Train , which became Japan’s highest-grossing movie of all time. With emotional highs, major character moments, and the ultimate showdown between the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan Kibutsuji, these films are expected to be a global cultural milestone for anime fans.
But the studio wants to preserve the experience for everyone, free from leaks and premature spoilers. In an industry increasingly plagued by piracy—especially as sites like HiAnime and others rival even Disney+ in traffic—the Demon Slayer franchise is drawing a bold line in the sand.
With fans anxiously awaiting the July release and an international rollout expected soon after, the warning is clear: post spoilers, and you might pay the price—in yen or in jail time.
