Fanservice, a term originating from the anime/manga community, refers to scenes or content added to a work to please fans or specific audiences.
Recently, there has been a growing discussion regarding fanservice in One Piece among online communities. The author, Eiichiro Oda, responded to a question from a fan about the presence of fanservice in the One Piece franchise. This response was included in the supplementary section of chapter 105 of the One Piece manga.
Specifically, Oda stated:
- Question: “This question is quite serious. One Piece often features images of women showcasing their figures (fanservice), but generally, there are no suggestive scenes like nudity. Is there any reason or condition to interpret this?”
- Eiichiro Oda: “No… I don’t focus on fanservice. Since I was a teenager, there have been many mangas with fanservice scenes, but most of them are executed contrary to the intention or desires of the female characters… so I think the portrayal of women should reflect their own characteristics. Especially in the case of ‘Happiness Punch,’ it was a significant revolution in depicting female heroes in manga.”
This information has attracted numerous discussions from fans. Below are a few noteworthy opinions:
- “The scene in the bathroom at Wano, where Sanji wears the Raid Suit in a provocative manner, raises the question of whether this is intentional?”
- “A significant revolution is necessary for the portrayal of female heroes; let’s support Oda-sensei.”
- “Although I don’t think he strictly adheres to this principle, it’s at least good to know that he considers this.”
- “I’ve mentioned since the start of the timeskip that I dislike the frequent fanservice in this story to the point that it bothers me, especially concerning my favorite female character, Nami. I loved her not because of her appearance.”
- “The female characters in One Piece feel different from those in other mangas, like in Jujutsu Kaisen.”
- “I think many people don’t understand. Oda didn’t say there isn’t any in the story; he stated that the female characters act according to their own desires, which shouldn’t contradict their intentions. For example, in the case of Nami using ‘Happiness Punch,’ it was her own decision, as it was necessary at that moment.”
