The popular anime series One Piece has faced various criticisms and controversies over time, but the most recent backlash targeted at director Megumi Ishitani seems unjustified.
On February 4th, 2024, fans expressed frustration that the One Piece anime adaptation does not follow the original manga source material word-for-word. They harshly criticized the scriptwriters for making even minor changes, claiming such writers should be banned from working on the anime.
私はズタズタになった
虚しい— 䂖谷牛乳 (@ishigyunyu) February 1, 2024
This intense vitriol deeply upset director Ishitani, who took to Twitter to express her anguish, saying she felt hollow and devastated that fans could attack her and the production staff so aggressively over relatively small creative differences between the anime and manga.
While adaptations often make slight alterations, this recent fan outrage seems an extreme overreaction, especially considering how it distressed someone as passionate about the series as Ishitani.
There is room for thoughtful criticism, but personal attacks on the talented people who work hard to bring the story to life crosses a line and damage the spirit of the One Piece community.
The Controversy Surrounding Director Ishitani’s Comments on Changes in the One Piece Anime
Director Ishitani was defending the One Piece anime scriptwriters who make minor adaptations from the manga source material. She explained that as an adaptation to a different format, some dialogue and connotations necessarily change to better suit the anime medium, though the core story remains intact.
Her comments came in the context of the tragic suicide of manga artist Ashihara Hinako. Hinako took her own life after facing intense criticism when the live-action TV adaptation of her manga drastically altered the original story without her input or approval.
Ishitani drew a connection to this case to highlight how script changes in adaptations, even if not completely faithful, are often beyond the original creator’s control.
However, One Piece fans misunderstood Ishitani’s intentions, believing her comments showed disrespect towards manga author Eiichiro Oda or the canonical story.
This fan outrage stemmed from an unrelated video where Japan’s Scriptwriters Association appeared to dismiss the creative input of manga authors. Still, Ishitani meant to defend, not attack the rights of mangaka.
The overreaction seems unjustified, though it’s clear passions run high regarding changes from the cherished manga. There is room for feedback on adaptations, but personal attacks on well-meaning creators like Ishitani go too far.
Perhaps this can spark more constructive discussions around adapting works across mediums.
When Ishitani made comments defending minor script changes in the One Piece anime adaptation, it sparked intense backlash from Japanese fans on Twitter. Some said she and other anime staff behind such adaptations should be barred from the industry entirely.
In responding to fans, Ishitani clarified that she and the production team have tremendous respect for manga author Eiichiro Oda and his seminal work. She noted that even executives at Shueisha, the publishing company behind One Piece, respect both the manga and anime staff.
Ishitani apologized for any misunderstanding caused by her initial comments. She requested fans not to misinterpret her perspectives, explaining she only wants the best for the One Piece anime and aims to faithfully capture the spirit of Oda’s storytelling.
As the controversy continued, Ishitani thanked the English-speaking One Piece fan community for their kind words and support during this difficult situation precipitated by the Japanese fandom’s harsh reaction.
She reiterated her positive intentions but this rage highlights the intense pressures facing anime producers adapting such a beloved manga.
More About One Piece
The One Piece manga series, written and illustrated by acclaimed mangaka Eiichiro Oda, has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine since 1997.
As of November 2023, there are 107 collected tankobon volumes, cementing its status as one of the longest-running and most popular manga of all time.
Beyond the seminal manga, One Piece has spawned a multimedia franchise powerhouse over the last 25+ years.
This includes a feature film produced by Production I.G., an ongoing hit anime series by Toei Animation that began airing in 1999, fourteen additional animated films, an original animation video release, and thirteen television specials.
The latest major One Piece release, 2022’s One Piece Film Red movie, continues the franchise’s momentum with its strong performance at the Japanese box office.
Between Oda’s visionary manga storytelling and the anime team bringing those stories to life, One Piece has captured fans’ imaginations for decades.
