Key Takeaways:
– Sanji, a central character in Eiichiro Oda's One Piece, was originally designed as a gun-slinger.
– The present Sanji focuses on kick-based martial arts to avoid damaging his hands that he uses for cooking.
– If the original design of Sanji had persisted, some of his primary characteristics, including being a cook and his kicking prowess, would not exist.
– His character could have overlapped with Usopp, the designated marksman of the Straw Hat Pirates.
– One Piece fans relished comparing Sanji's original design to other anime characters.
Sanji's Original Design
It's hard to imagine our favorite Black Leg Style martial arts creator as a gun-slinger. However, according to revelations by Eiichiro Oda some years back, that was Sanji's initial design. In the present version of One Piece, Sanji not only cooks delicacies for the Straw Hat Pirates but also employs kick-based martial arts for combat. This makes him one of the strongest members of the Straw Hat Pirates.
In the old design, Sanji shunned his now-iconic Black Leg Style for twin pistols. His attire involved a black hat with a blue ribbon, a green sleeveless jacket over a white shirt, and a blue scarf. Interestingly, his hair color was black with normal eyebrows in contrast to his current blonde hair and curvy eyebrows. It's clear that Eiichiro Oda had initially envisioned Sanji quite differently than now.
Sanji: The Kicking Master We Nearly Didn't See
Sanji is synonymous with his signature moves, cooking, and his flirtations. Yet, these characteristics might never have existed if Eiichiro Oda had stuck to Sanji's first design. As a gun-slinger, Sanji would have used his hands in battles, a stark contradiction to his current image that protects his hands for cooking.
This switch would also have meant farewell to Sanji's iconic attacks like Diable Jambe, Irfit Jambe, Hell Memories, Sky Walk, Blue Walk, and more. Instead, we'd have seen him perfecting trick shots with his guns.
Sanji and Usopp: The Potential Overlap
Sanji's original character overlapped with Usopp, the sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates. If Sanji remained a gun-slinger, there could have been two marksmen in the crew. This is unlike Brooks and Zoro, who, despite being swordsmen, have distinctive characters.
The Reactions to Sanji's Transformation
Fans of One Piece have enthusiastically received the revelation about Sanji's transformation. Their reactions are filled with humorous comparisons of the initial design with other anime characters. Some compared him to Levi from Attack on Titan, while others saw a resemblance with Luffy's brother, Ace. A section of the fans expressed their wish for the traditional gun-holding character in the series.
One Piece continues to charm its fans with intriguing characters as it unfolds its stories. You can explore more of One Piece on Viz Media, or you can watch the anime on Crunchyroll. Sanji's character development highlights the creative evolution in the world of anime, ensuring an exciting rollercoaster ride for the fans.
Sanji's journey from being perceived as a gun-slinger to becoming the beloved kicking master showcases the brimming creativity that sparks life into the world of One Piece. By deviating from his original image, Eiichiro Oda has offered an unusual yet striking character arc we can't get enough of.
