Let’s Face It, One Piece’s Censorship Makes Absolutely No Sense

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Regarding the topic of censorship in “One Piece,” it’s often the 4Kids dub that springs to mind for many, with its substitution of toy guns, finger pistols, and lollipops for cigarettes in Sanji’s case. Many might believe these days are a thing of the past for the series; however, the anime continues to soften the blood and violence present in the manga, even up until the Whole Cake Island Arc. Despite this, a recent episode has shown that the censorship in “One Piece” is actually becoming more severe, and it’s starting to seem nonsensical altogether.

In the ongoing storyline of “One Piece,” we’re delving into the heartwarming past of Bonney and Kuma. This flashback is offering fans a fresh outlook on the father-daughter duo, revealing tender moments like Bonney as a feisty child in Episode 1132. However, the anime strangely edited out one particular scene where young Bonney gave her peers the middle finger after they taunted her about her condition, replacing it with a simple fist instead. It’s perplexing why this scene was omitted, more so considering that the anime previously portrayed sexualization towards this same child during the Egghead Arc.

One Piece’s Censorship Is Completely Nonsensical & Bonney Proves It

In the initial phase of the Elbaf Arc, when Luffy and Bonney initially arrived at Egghead, an anime scene was incorporated that showed them changing their clothes. Notably, during Bonney’s transformation, some suggestive angles were captured, particularly from behind as she squeezed out her wet garments, which closely mirrors the manga. However, the anime added an extra scene of its own creation, featuring a frontal shot of Bonney putting her top back on, which, looking back, seems less appropriate now that the series has disclosed Bonney’s actual age. It’s puzzling why the anime chose to depict Bonney in such a provocative manner given she was only twelve at the time, but drew the boundary at having her make an obscene gesture, as it doesn’t seem logically consistent.

It’s noteworthy that this isn’t the first time the anime has edited out a particular gesture; an earlier instance was during the Straw Hats’ initial encounter with Law at the auction house on Sabaody, which occurred more than 500 episodes back. Despite this long history, censorship in One Piece remains prevalent. What adds to the annoyance is that the anime moved to a late-night slot specifically to accommodate the mature audience that has followed the series for years. Given the approaching Final Saga and the increasing intensity of fights, it’s uncertain if the anime will accurately portray the manga without unnecessary censorship.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

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2025-07-10 23:09