Summary
- Sanji's strong chivalry towards women, despite being controversial, defines his character and beliefs.
- Sanji's ability to sense when women are in trouble leads to crucial alliances and character growth.
- Sanji's unwavering principles of not fighting women, despite criticism, showcase his strength of conviction and loyalty.
Sanji is one of the most popular characters in One Piece. Not only is he an incredibly strong fighter, but he's also a fun and charismatic character who is a mix of cool and goofy. From his skills as a chef to his all-kicking fighting style, Sanji has a lot of things going for him. Unfortunately, not all of his traits are well-received by fans, and there's one specific characteristic that many dislike.
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Chivalry is one of Sanji's most prominent character traits, and his love and respect for women come up quite often. The reason many fans dislike Sanji's brand of chivalry is that it often gets in the way of the crew's goals or directly puts him in danger. While it may be somewhat controversial, it stems from a good place and helps Sanji stand out from the rest of the Straw Hats.
Sanji Gets Soaped
Fighting Women Is Prohibited
Many fans changed their opinions about Sanji after the Enies Lobby arc due to his loss against Kalifa. Even with Robin's life on the line, he couldn't bring himself to harm a woman when she was actively trying to kill him. It's during this scene that Sanji proclaims that he would never kick a woman, even if it meant he would die. Since it was something he learned from a young age, it was basically a part of his personality that he couldn't change.
Sanji has acknowledged that this is a significant weakness of his, and it has been a topic of discussion among fans since the arc was released. Although his chivalry is consistently evident throughout the series, this is the first time it had actual ramifications. If Nami hadn't defeated Kalifa later, the entire crew could have been defeated. Yes, it's a major flaw, but it's also something that defines his character. Belief and conviction are huge themes in One Piece, and this is an example of Sanji's core beliefs.
Sanji's Danger Sense
Helping Tashigi And G-5
In many cases, Sanji prioritizes the well-being of women over that of men. This is evident throughout the Straw Hats' travels, particularly when the crew gets into trouble or experiences a particularly severe accident; his instinct is to save Nami and Robin first and foremost. He'll even save enemies if they're a woman, as seen on Punk Hazard when he leaves his friends to help Tashigi after Vergo attacks her.
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Given the situation the marines were in, there's no doubt that Luffy and the others would have also helped their government enemies, but it's Sanji's strange sixth sense that's impressive here. It took only a single teardrop for him to run to Tashigi's aid, putting himself in danger from Vergo and Caesar's poisonous gas. When the fight is over, he even takes the time to save the unconscious marines before they can be turned into statues.
An Awkward Family Dinner
Protecting The Head Chef
One of Sanji's most iconic and most chivalrous moments happened when he left the Straw Hats. During his first dinner with his family after many years, an argument broke out between him and Niji over the food they were served. In a fit of anger, Niji threw his food at their chef, Cosette. Of course, Sanji uses his incredible speed to intercept the plate and save her.
Although this may not seem like much, it's actually very important to Sanji's character. Despite his traumatic past, he doesn't hesitate to oppose his family, and he's even willing to fight them in order to maintain his beliefs and ideals. If not for Zeff being held hostage, he would have actually been able to take action, especially when Cosette is more directly harmed by Niji later on.
Saving Viola
A Woman's Tears
Due to his love of women, Sanji often falls prey to femme fatales and others whom he finds attractive. In Dressrosa, Viola initially tricks him by acting like a damsel in distress, and he follows her because he truly believes she needs help. While this could be seen as naivety or stupidity on Sanji's part, his kindness and compassion convince Viola to betray Donquixote and attack her own men. This becomes crucial in uncovering the secrets of the Warlord and ultimately saving his friends.
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Once again, Sanji's ability to sense when women are in trouble is on display, and his sixth sense told him that Viola's tears were coming from a place of anguish and sincerity. This is one of the rare instances where Sanji's chivalry doesn't backfire, but instead helps him and his cause. Viola ends up being a very powerful ally and an important figure in the future.
Captured By Black Maria
When Chivalry Hurts
The Wano arc features one of the most controversial Sanji scenes, which has sparked a surge in discussions about his overall character. That scene is his confrontation with Black Maria, one of Kaidou's commanders. Due to his personal creed, Sanji was unable to fight the giant spider woman, which led to his easy capture and injury. He didn't even use Haki to protect himself, just in case she hurt her fists.
Although many believe this verged on the assassination of Sanji's character, it's actually a great example of how strong his convictions are and how uncompromising he is when it comes to women. For better or for worse, it's clear that Sanji will maintain his stance on fighting women. However, this moment did give Robin a chance to shine, providing Sanji with growth in a different way, as he almost never asks for help, even from his closest friends.
Pudding's Betrayal
Real Men Cry
Although Sanji is incredibly passionate, there are very few times when his feelings are reciprocated, so when he meets Pudding, he's actually happy that someone likes and understands him. His feelings toward her are genuine, making the whole marriage fiasco seem a little less terrible. That's why learning the truth about Pudding hurts so much. This is likely one of the rare instances where Sanji has ever truly been heartbroken by romantic feelings.
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While crying and feeling sad may not seem particularly chivalrous, it's important to note that Sanji doesn't get mad or angry at Pudding. He's always been quick to sympathize and forgive women, and she's no exception. If anything, he blames himself, and despite this betrayal, Sanji is still kind and courteous towards Pudding even when she's trying to kill him during the wedding. His sincerity and compassion eventually make her fall in love with him anyway.
- Release Date
- October 20, 1999
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
Cast
-
Mayumi TanakaMonkey D. Luffy (voice) -
Kazuya NakaiRoronoa Zoro (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
- Franchise(s)
- One Piece
- Creator(s)
- Eiichiro Oda
- Seasons
- 21
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 1122
