One Piece Animator Apologizes Over AI Allegation After Minor Mistake

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For years, the One Piece anime has been praised for its animation quality, but it frequently faces criticism. Common complaints include issues with pacing, changes from the original manga, inconsistent character portrayals (particularly Sanji), and concerns about whitewashing. Recently, a trend has emerged where fans jokingly suggest official artwork looks like it was created by AI, seemingly to stir up discussion. While some see these comments as harmless fun, others strongly criticize them, pointing out the disrespect shown to the animators who work incredibly hard to create the show for their audience.

Anime is known for its hand-drawn animation, which is a very time-consuming process. Recently, Episode 1149 sparked a debate after a fan, @NuttyReturns, shared an insensitive joke about a small animation error and faced criticism. The post quickly gained over 3,000 likes, but also reached the animator, who explained the situation, defended their work, and apologized for the mistake. The incident led to widespread support for the animator, alongside a discussion about how insensitive jokes can be hurtful when directed at someone’s dedicated effort.

One Piece Animator Tatsuya Miki Apologizes After a Slight Error in Episode 1149

The recent episode of the series centered around Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, one of the Five Elders, and his attempt to halt Vegapunk’s broadcast. During a fight scene, viewers briefly noticed what appeared to be six fingers on Nusjuro’s hand – an obvious animation error. While usually minor, this mistake was quickly spotted by many attentive fans.

After the issue came to light, Miki apologized on X (formerly Twitter). He explained that someone outside of Japan pointed out he had drawn the wrong number of fingers in his artwork, and he was very sorry for the mistake. He was especially upset that it hadn’t been caught during the review process.

Miki explained he’s not a fan of AI, preferring traditional methods. His post quickly gained a lot of support online. He later shared some upsetting news in a reply to one of the encouraging comments. Miki revealed he’s stepping away from working on One Piece to focus on a different project, and it will likely be several years before he returns to it.

Miki is a talented animator who has contributed to popular series like Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and One-Punch Man. Although he hasn’t worked extensively on One Piece, his recent work on the show has been impressive. Sadly, he’s currently too busy with other projects to continue, but hopes to rejoin the One Piece team in a few years.

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2025-11-12 17:40