Recently, the One Piece anime once again became a hot topic of discussion on social networks, especially after the return of the character Bonney in a recent episode. This return was described as “spicy”, making one of the anime’s animators, known as KDA_Artist, the center of criticism.
Controversy on social networks
The controversy began when KDA_Artist shared a behind-the-scenes look at Bonney’s return to the anime. The male artist expressed his hope that fans will enjoy the scenes featuring the character, thereby highlighting her importance in the episode. However, the post quickly became the focus of tension in the online community targeting the artist and One Piece production team.
Artist responses and Toei Animation’s perspective
The artist in question responded to criticism, mocking the situation by apologizing for drawing another character, specifically a shirtless Jinbei. Toei Animation, the studio responsible for producing the anime, has yet to officially comment on this controversy. Many fans believe that any discussion regarding character design should be directed towards One Piece manga creator Eiichiro Oda, as Bonney’s design originated from him.
Bonney character design in One Piece
The controversy surrounding Bonney’s design takes on an additional dimension when considering an important detail about the character. Although she appears to be in her 20s, Bonney is actually just a 12-year-old girl. Thanks to the power of her devil fruit, she has the ability to manipulate her age at will.
This fact causes character designs to be viewed in a different light, especially in a context where supporting characters are often exempt from fan service. However, it is important to note that the One Piece animation team followed the source material created by Oda, which means that the character’s presentation in the anime matches her conception in the manga.