One Piece Figurine Controversy: Jewelry Bonney’s Troubling Design

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Without a doubt, “One Piece” stands as one of the most remarkable shonen sagas ever penned, renowned for its expansive universe and delightful characters. This acclaimed series has solidified its place among the “Big 3”, accompanied by widespread recognition and an enthusiastic fanbase. As popularity surges, so does the production of merchandise. Given the extensive roster of characters in “One Piece” and its rich history, it’s not surprising that a figurine has been created for nearly every character, even those who only make brief appearances in the main narrative. Although many of these collectibles may go unnoticed outside of dedicated fans willing to invest in them, a recent figure from MegaHouse/MegaHobby has sparked debate.

The action figure modeled to resemble Jewelry Bonney during her Egghead arc design was met with disapproval by “One Piece” fans because it depicted her in a mature, “pin-up girl” style despite the character being only 12 years old at that time in the story. The statue’s description as part of the “Evolutionary History” collection reads, “This figure showcases her dynamic pose, highlighting her wild personality, captivating allure, and boundless energy.

Four years ago at the Buster Call exhibition, I witnessed a shift in focus from upholding traditional values of One Piece merchandise. They boldly deconstructed the overt sexualization in female figurines by strikingly altering their faces. However, recently they’ve unveiled a new, more mature-themed figure of Bonney, who, it should be noted, is depicted as being 12 years old.

— sandman (@sandman_AP) January 26, 2025

One Piece’s Fan Service “Issue” Is Difficult To Navigate For Fans

In the discussion among One Piece enthusiasts, while some are unfazed by the series’ occasional use of fan service, a significant segment of the community has been debating the potential impact of consistently featuring sexualized character designs. This debate was sparked further with the release of the contentious Bonney action figure. In a related post initiated by Sandman, a user shared a quote from Oda in response to another commenter’s query about drawing female characters. During this Q&A, Oda briefly explained that he visualizes a female character as three overlapping circles with an X shape.

The manga artist included a comment along with his response that some female readers might express dissatisfaction about the character’s body type, encouraging them to “keep going and stay focused.” Although many readers view this remark as a joke, and acknowledge that Oda often varies in his depiction of women, there is ongoing speculation among fans regarding whether he had any input on Bonney’s representation in MegaHouse’s recent figure. This topic has resurfaced, potentially casting the mangaka in an unfavorable light.

Sources: MegaHouse Official, X (Formerly Twitter)

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2025-01-30 01:39