Character Discussion Why Lolda gave Sanji three traumatic backstories
- Thread starter Dickie D. Dick
- Start date
I don't think it‘s fit so much as purpose.
Oda has done the most work on Sanji and continues to do so even to this day. We still don't know how that mfers powers really work.
We do know from Oda himself the character existed in some version as early as he wanted a counterpart to his samurai character (eventually Zoro) in the form of a knight or gunslinger for contrast.
Somewhere along the line, Oda decided he would turn that character into not only a Shanks-like, but the mirror for all Shanks-likes in the story, which is to say, a lot of important characters.
Born to kings, leaders, tyrants and nobles, hidden names, secret origins, complicated familial ties and the overriding theme of love - it's Sanji's purpose, in part, to reflects this side of characters.
It's also what makes it easy for Oda to organically place Sanji where he needs to be at the right time. That is why Sanji is also the only one beside Luffy with a penchant for turning enemies into allies.
Oda has done the most work on Sanji and continues to do so even to this day. We still don't know how that mfers powers really work.
We do know from Oda himself the character existed in some version as early as he wanted a counterpart to his samurai character (eventually Zoro) in the form of a knight or gunslinger for contrast.
Somewhere along the line, Oda decided he would turn that character into not only a Shanks-like, but the mirror for all Shanks-likes in the story, which is to say, a lot of important characters.
Born to kings, leaders, tyrants and nobles, hidden names, secret origins, complicated familial ties and the overriding theme of love - it's Sanji's purpose, in part, to reflects this side of characters.
It's also what makes it easy for Oda to organically place Sanji where he needs to be at the right time. That is why Sanji is also the only one beside Luffy with a penchant for turning enemies into allies.
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I didn't even make the Red Leg Zeff connection. Don't think I've seen that one before. 
After Luffy, Sanji is the most plot relevant Strawhat. From the beginning, he was the only East Blue recruit not from there. We learned he was from the North Blue almost 200 chapters after his introduction. Sanji's was the only initial flashback that didn't address where he came from. We just found that mfer on a boat and very few stopped to consider how odd it was (though the Mr Prince thing did spin a few theories).
The parallels with Shanks are absolutely there and absolutely intentional. Oda made him an actual fucking secret prince of a powerful nation relevant to their interest in the New World. We even had Sanji put on a performance around his blood relatives, much like Shanks did in the Holyland. The Germa cloning science and Kuma/PX Clones, and the links between Judge and Vegapunk - I mean, c'mon.
They're both secret nobles with secret origins stories considered black sheep among their blood relatives, possesses peculiar eye features and live lives heavily shaped by the love for their found families and chosen parental figures in particular.
Do you know who else that sounds like? Someone also very relevant to Shanks. Who also targeted for knighthood and eventual possession.
I've little doubt Shanks saving Luffy was a genuine act of love that inadvertently liberated him from Imu's clutches.
Given Thriller Bark's relevance to this current arc, I find it highly interesting to look back on Sanji's shadow rebelling in the name of love also.
After Luffy, Sanji is the most plot relevant Strawhat. From the beginning, he was the only East Blue recruit not from there. We learned he was from the North Blue almost 200 chapters after his introduction. Sanji's was the only initial flashback that didn't address where he came from. We just found that mfer on a boat and very few stopped to consider how odd it was (though the Mr Prince thing did spin a few theories).
The parallels with Shanks are absolutely there and absolutely intentional. Oda made him an actual fucking secret prince of a powerful nation relevant to their interest in the New World. We even had Sanji put on a performance around his blood relatives, much like Shanks did in the Holyland. The Germa cloning science and Kuma/PX Clones, and the links between Judge and Vegapunk - I mean, c'mon.
They're both secret nobles with secret origins stories considered black sheep among their blood relatives, possesses peculiar eye features and live lives heavily shaped by the love for their found families and chosen parental figures in particular.
Do you know who else that sounds like? Someone also very relevant to Shanks. Who also targeted for knighthood and eventual possession.
I've little doubt Shanks saving Luffy was a genuine act of love that inadvertently liberated him from Imu's clutches.
Given Thriller Bark's relevance to this current arc, I find it highly interesting to look back on Sanji's shadow rebelling in the name of love also.
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Suppose we'll just pretend your jimmies weren't rustled.